Reuters: Top News

Healthcare bill faces first Senate test

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:05:41 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will cast its first crucial test vote on healthcare reform on Saturday, with Democrats close to reaching the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican opposition and open debate.

Obama asks for patience on economy

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:02:34 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Americans to show patience over the economy and argued that his just-concluded Asia trip was critical for U.S. exports, countering criticism he had returned empty-handed.

Iran to hold drills for protecting atom facilities

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:20:00 -0500

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will stage large-scale air defense war games next week to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander was quoted as saying on Saturday.

China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:02:54 -0500

BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Race to recreate Big Bang conditions reignited

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:48:49 -0500

ZURICH (Reuters) - After a year's delay, scientists at the world's biggest accelerator have restarted an experiment to recreate "Big Bang" conditions that had sparked suggestions the earth would be sucked in by millions of black holes.

Swine flu may have hit one peak; more to come

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:45:28 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the Northern Hemisphere, global health officials said on Friday, but they cautioned it was far from over.

U.S. to drop charges against one Blackwater guard

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:47:45 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Justice Department prosecutors asked a federal judge on Friday to dismiss the charges against one of five Blackwater security guards accused of killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad.

Ex-State Dept official pleads guilty to spying for Cuba

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:35 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former U.S. State Department official and his wife pleaded guilty on Friday to charges that they spied for almost three decades for the Communist-led Cuban government.

Cautious optimism as job losses slow

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:49 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of job losses slowed in many U.S. states in October, and the unemployment rate slipped in hard-hit Michigan, the Labor Department said on Friday, hinting the recession may be easing in some areas.