Reuters: Top News

Hurricane Ida downgraded to Cat 1, heads to Gulf

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:31:10 -0500

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ida weakened to a Category 1 hurricane on Monday as it headed toward oil and gas facilities in the central Gulf of Mexico after killing 124 people in El Salvador following floods and mudslides.

Healthcare bill faces tough path in Senate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:10:21 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After a landmark win in the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama's push for healthcare reform faces a difficult path in the Senate amid divisions in his own Democratic Party on how to proceed.

Obama, Netanyahu to meet as U.S. peace effort flounders

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10:18 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama was due to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday amid floundering U.S. efforts to jump-start stalled Middle East peace talks.

Cold War frontier gone in Germany, remains in Korea

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:05:35 -0500

SEOUL (Reuters) - As a united Germany marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall on Monday, about 1 million soldiers face off across the Cold War's last great divide -- the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

Suicide bomber kills three in Pakistan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:49:27 -0500

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suicide bomber in an auto-rickshaw blew himself up in Pakistan on Monday killing three people when police stopped him at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city of Peshawar, police said.

More troops needed for Afghanistan: U.S. General Casey

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:46:28 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General George Casey, Army chief of staff, on Sunday became the latest U.S. military official to advocate sending more troops to Afghanistan as President Barack Obama nears a decision on a new strategy.

Iraq passes election law paving way for January poll

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:50:12 -0500

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi lawmakers passed a long-delayed election law on Sunday to pave the way for a January poll, after parliament sidestepped a potentially explosive row over the oil-producing city of Kirkuk.

World leaders line up to mark fall of Berlin Wall

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:29:11 -0500

BERLIN (Reuters) - World leaders past and present will join German crowds on Monday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall -- a stark symbol of the Cold War that divided a city and a continent.

Karzai says he's addressing corruption

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:37:02 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in an interview airing Monday he is taking steps to root out corruption in his government, but he also said foreign money was making the problem worse.

Thousands of Japanese protest U.S. base plan

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:45:22 -0500

GINOWAN, Japan (Reuters) - Thousands of Japanese gathered in sweltering heat on the southern island of Okinawa on Sunday to demand that a U.S. Marine base be moved out of the region, days ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.