Reuters: Top News

Iranian plane crashes after fire, killing 168

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:40:23 -0400

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A Tupolev aircraft crashed in Iran on Wednesday on its way to Armenia killing all 168 people on board and one senior Iranian official said the plane had caught fire in the air after suffering technical problems.

Survey points to improving U.S. factory outlook

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:39:30 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial output declined at a slower pace in June and a key regional U.S. factory survey posted its strongest reading in a year this month, suggesting the recession was loosening its grip.

July equals deadliest month of Afghan war

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:59:17 -0400

KABUL (Reuters) - The death toll for foreign troops in Afghanistan halfway through July equaled the highest for any month of the eight-year-old war, tallies showed on Wednesday, as a U.S. escalation has met unprecedented violence.

Sotomayor cool under Republican grilling

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:01:38 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor fended off Republican attacks on Tuesday, saying "diversity on the bench is good for America" and promising rulings based on law, not racial bias.

House Democrats vow healthcare plan by August

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:12:31 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's plans to overhaul the $2.5 trillion healthcare industry got a boost on Tuesday as Democrats in the House of Representatives offered sweeping legislation and predicted passage on schedule by August.

Iran could have atomic bomb within 6 months: report

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:44:56 -0400

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency believes Iran is capable of producing and testing an atomic bomb within six months, much sooner than most analysts estimate, according to a report in German weekly Stern.

Ex-GM CEO Wagoner retires with $8.6 million

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:50:32 -0400

DETROIT (Reuters) - Former General Motors Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, ousted in March by the Obama administration, will retire in August with a package worth $8.6 million in the first five years, the company said on Tuesday.

New Zealand quake tsunami warnings cancelled

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:36:58 -0400

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand and Australia canceled tsunami warnings on Wednesday after an earthquake struck the south of New Zealand, causing minor damage but no injuries.

Obama mulls rental option for homeowners: sources

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:24:19 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. officials are weighing a plan to let borrowers who have fallen behind on mortgage payments avoid eviction by renting their home instead, sources familiar with the administration's thinking said on Tuesday.

Moody's cuts Calif rating, budget talks press on

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:03:49 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Moody's cut its rating on Tuesday on about $72 billion of California's debt to near junk status, citing the state's budget crisis, but a top lawmaker said a deal to close a $26.3 billion gap was near.