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| Obama and aides confront skeptical Congress on Syria strike Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 07:19 PM PDT  By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and his top aides launched a full-scale political offensive on Sunday to persuade a skeptical Congress to approve a military strike against Syria, but faced a struggle to win over lawmakers from both parties and a war-weary American public. Obama made calls to members of the House of Representatives and Senate, with more scheduled for Monday, underscoring the task confronting the administration before it can go ahead with using force in response to a deadly chemical attack blamed on the Syrian government. ... Full Story | Top |
| Scornful Syria hails 'historic American retreat' as Obama hesitates Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 06:41 PM PDT  By Yara Bayoumy and Rachelle Younglai BEIRUT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syria hailed a "historic American retreat" on Sunday, mockingly accusing President Barack Obama of hesitation and confusion after he delayed a military response to last month's chemical weapons attack near Damascus until after a congressional vote. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said tests had shown sarin nerve gas was fired on rebel-held areas on August 21, and expressed confidence that U.S. lawmakers would do "what is right" in response. ... Full Story | Top |
| Verizon poised for historic $130 billion Vodafone deal Monday, Sep 02, 2013 12:31 AM PDT  By Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - Verizon Communications was poised on Monday to finally take full control of its U.S. wireless business with a $130 billion deal that would buy out Vodafone and bring an end to a decade-long corporate standoff. The British firm said late on Sunday it was in advanced talks with Verizon to sell its 45 percent stake in the Verizon Wireless joint venture for cash and common shares in what would be the world's third-largest deal of all time. ... Full Story | Top |
| Russia sends spy ship to Mediterranean: Interfax Monday, Sep 02, 2013 12:34 AM PDT MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is sending a reconnaissance ship to the eastern Mediterranean, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, as the United States prepares for a possible military strike in Syria. The reconnaissance ship Priazovye left Russia's naval base in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Sevastopol late on Sunday on a mission "to gather current information in the area of the escalating conflict," the report quoted an unidentified military source as saying. The Defense Ministry declined immediate comment. ... Full Story | Top |
| British soldiers to give their side of story at Iraq killings inquiry Monday, Sep 02, 2013 12:39 AM PDT  By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) - British soldiers start testifying on Monday at a public inquiry in London into allegations that they tortured and executed Iraqis in an episode which, if confirmed by the investigation, would go down as one of the worst atrocities of the Iraq war. Some 200 British soldiers are scheduled over the coming months to appear before the Al-Sweady Inquiry, named after one of 20 Iraqi men who died in disputed circumstances at or after a battle near the town of Majar al-Kabir on May 14, 2004. ... Full Story | Top |
| Afghan Taliban target U.S. army base as attacks mount Monday, Sep 02, 2013 12:55 AM PDT KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban fighters attacked part of a U.S. military outpost in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Monday, officials said, less than a week after targeting a Polish base in a nearby province. Attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians have also mounted this week killing dozens and adding to fears the drawdown of foreign troops, most of whom are due to leave the country by the end of next year, is allowing insurgents to regain lost territory. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. says its envoy took part in Israeli-Palestinian meeting Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 06:56 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Sunday for the first time that the U.S. envoy for Israeli-Palestinian peace had taken part in a meeting between the two parties since negotiations resumed in late July, but declined to say when or whether any progress was made. "Israeli and Palestinian delegations have been meeting continuously since final status negotiations resumed on July 29," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a brief written statement. "The negotiations have been serious, and U.S. ... Full Story | Top |
| Japan reiterates may consider discharging radiated Fukushima water into ocean Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 09:30 PM PDT  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulator reiterated on Monday that it may have to consider discharging into the ocean water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant that contains radiation below regulatory thresholds. Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) Chairman Shunichi Tanaka told reporters there was no evidence of new water leaks at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, following the discovery of high radiation levels in recent days. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 06:02 PM PDT  By Andrea Shalal-Esa WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday. The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt sends Mursi to trial as new constitution advances Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 02:52 PM PDT  By Tom Perry CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's army-backed authorities referred deposed President Mohamed Mursi to trial on Sunday on charges of inciting murder and violence, in an escalation of the crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood. The new government also named a constituent assembly almost devoid of Islamists and gave it 60 days to review amendments that would erase Islamic articles brought in last year by the Brotherhood and more hardline Islamic parties. ... Full Story | Top |
| Wildfire grows to California's fourth largest as crews make progress Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 05:29 PM PDT  By Jonathan Kaminsky (Reuters) - A large California wildfire that has blackened a swath of Yosemite National Park backcountry grew to the fourth largest in modern state history even as fire crews managed to slow the spread of the flames over the weekend, officials said on Sunday. The Rim Fire had charred nearly 223,000 acres by Sunday, mostly in the Stanislaus National Forest that spreads out from Yosemite's western edge. The blaze has blackened about 6 percent of Yosemite's wilder backcountry. ... Full Story | Top |
| South Africa's Mandela back home after long hospital stay Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 06:08 AM PDT  By Peroshni Govender JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela returned to his home on Sunday where he will continue to receive intensive care after three months in hospital with a lung ailment. Mandela, 95, had spent 87 days in a Pretoria hospital after he was rushed there in early June suffering from a recurring infection of the lungs, a legacy of the nearly three decades he spent in jail under apartheid. "Madiba's condition remains critical and is at times unstable. ... Full Story | Top |
| Ackermann feared suicide would thwart Zurich performance drive Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 01:50 PM PDT  By Edward Taylor and Philipp Halstrick FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Josef Ackermann resigned because he saw the suicide of Zurich Insurance Group's finance chief curbing his ability to drive through change to revive profits, a source close to the former chairman said on Sunday. Top managers at the Swiss insurer, now battling to reassure investors, told Reuters they were puzzled by Ackermann's abrupt departure after less than 18 months in the job and by his explanation that Pierre Wauthier's family blamed him for driving the Zurich CFO to kill himself - an allegation Ackermann denied. ... Full Story | Top |
| Japan government abandons hands-off approach to Fukushima clean-up Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 02:12 PM PDT  By Linda Sieg and Mari Saito TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government is moving to take a more direct role in the clean-up of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, as concerns grow over the ability of embattled operator Tokyo Electric to handle the legacy of the worst atomic disaster in a quarter century. The concerns have also revived debate about the future of Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) itself, including early-stage proposals to put its toxic nuclear assets under government control and leave the rest of the company as a provider of power to the nation's biggest economic region. ... Full Story | Top |
| Iranian dissidents killed in Iraq camp, U.N. demands inquiry Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 01:47 PM PDT By Kareem Raheem and Sylvia Westall BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least 47 people were reported killed at an Iranian dissident camp in Iraq on Sunday, the United Nations said, urging Baghdad to investigate the "tragic events" at a site north of the capital. The violence took place hours after a mortar bomb attack on the camp which the dissent group Mujahadin-e-Khalq (MEK) blamed on the Iraqi army. Two Iraqi security sources said that army and special forces had opened fire on residents who had stormed a post at the entrance to Camp Ashraf, a site that Iraq's government wants closed down. ... Full Story | Top |
| Scornful Syria hails 'historic American retreat' as Obama hesitates Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 02:14 PM PDT  By Yara Bayoumy and Thomas Ferraro BEIRUT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syria hailed a "historic American retreat" on Sunday, mockingly accusing President Barack Obama of hesitation and confusion after he delayed a military response to last month's chemical weapons attack near Damascus to consult Congress. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said tests had shown sarin nerve gas was fired on rebel-held areas on August 21, and expressed confidence that U.S. lawmakers would do "what is right" in response. Washington says more than 1,400 people, many of them children, were killed in the attack. ... Full Story | Top |
| Verizon, Vodafone to announce $130 billion U.S. deal on Monday Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 02:23 PM PDT By Soyoung Kim and Kate Holton NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Verizon Communications and Vodafone plan to announce a $130 billion deal on Monday that will give the U.S. telecom giant complete control of Verizon Wireless, subject to final board approval, people familiar with the matter said. Vodafone said in a statement late on Sunday it was in advanced talks with Verizon to sell its 45 percent stake in the joint venture for $130 billion, comprising cash and common shares, but that there was no certainty an agreement would be reached. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 03:48 PM PDT By Andrea Shalal-Esa WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday. The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obama and aides confront skeptical Congress on Syria strike Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 03:08 PM PDT  By Matt Spetalnick and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and his top aides launched a full-scale political offensive on Sunday to persuade a skeptical Congress to approve a military strike against Syria, but faced an uphill struggle to win over many lawmakers and a war-weary American public. ... Full Story | Top |
| Firefighters holding line against massive California wildfire Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 12:20 PM PDT  (Reuters) - Firefighters battling a colossal California wildfire that has eaten away at the Yosemite National Park backcountry managed overnight to largely stem the spread of the flames, authorities said on Sunday. The fire sent heavy smoke on Saturday into the popular touristic Yosemite Valley, an area famed for towering granite rock formations, waterfalls and pine forests, obscuring views of popular landmarks on a holiday weekend at the end of the summer tourist season. ... Full Story | Top |
| Analysis: Putin sees chance to turn tables on Obama at G20 Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 11:32 AM PDT  By Timothy Heritage MOSCOW (Reuters) - Less than three months after Vladimir Putin was cast as a pariah over Syria at the last big meeting of world leaders, the Russian president has glimpsed a chance to turn the tables on Barack Obama. The U.S. president's dilemma over a military response to an alleged poison gas attack in Syria means Obama is the one who is under more pressure going into a G20 summit in St Petersburg on Thursday and Friday. Obama stepped back from the brink on Saturday, delaying any imminent strike to seek approval from the U.S. Congress. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt names key constitution panel with few Islamists Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 11:31 AM PDT By Tom Perry and Shaimaa Fayed CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's army-backed government unveiled a constituent assembly on Sunday almost devoid of Islamists, and gave it 60 days to review amendments that would erase Islamic articles brought in by the Muslim Brotherhood and more hardline Islamic parties. The constitutional review is part of a road map unveiled by the administration that took power after the army deposed President Mohamed Mursi on July 3. Egypt will hold parliamentary and presidential elections only once the constitution is approved in a referendum. ... Full Story | Top |
| Afghanistan's Karzai rings the changes in security leadership Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 06:01 AM PDT  By Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai named his second new interior minister in a year on Sunday, appointing presidential hopeful Umer Daudzai in the security job and underlining a sense of political fragility ahead of next year's presidential vote. In the second major security appointment in as many days, the reshuffle could unsettle Western governments keen for stability as they prepare to withdraw most international combat troops by the end of 2014. ... Full Story | Top |
| Egypt expels Al Jazeera journalists in crackdown on Qatari channel Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 09:41 AM PDT CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt deported three Al Jazeera journalists on Sunday, days after the Qatari-owned channel carried appeals from leaders of ousted President Mohamed Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood to stage protests against the army-backed government. The Gulf emirate was a strong financial backer of Brotherhood rule and vehemently opposes the army's overthrow of Mursi and the ensuing bloody crackdown on his movement. ... Full Story | Top |
| Attacks killed 800 Iraqis in August: U.N. Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 05:25 AM PDT BAGHDAD (Reuters) - About 800 Iraqis were killed in August, the United Nations said on Sunday, condemning a wave of violence in the country that has reached levels not seen since 2008. Most of the 804 killed were civilians, targeted in shootings and bombings mainly claimed by the Iraqi wing of al Qaeda. More than 2,000 people were wounded, the U.N. figures showed. The number of people who were killed last month was however lower than in July, when the U.N. reported that there were 1,057 victims, the highly monthly toll since 2008. ... Full Story | Top |
| A hawkish Kerry emerges as point man in Obama's push to punish Syria Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 12:32 PM PDT  By Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the Senate takes up whether to back White House plans to attack Syria, there may be few more effective or passionate lobbyists for the administration than Secretary of State John Kerry, who was a member of that exclusive club for 28 years. In two appearances that many interpreted as foreshadowing an imminent strike, Kerry last week described Syria's use of chemical weapons as "a moral obscenity" and called Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "a thug and a murderer. ... Full Story | Top |
| Two governments continents apart face defeat despite booms Sunday, Sep 01, 2013 01:41 AM PDT  By Balazs Koranyi and Rob Taylor OSLO/CANBERRA (Reuters) - Two center-left governments on opposite sides of the globe are likely to lose power this month, despite both presiding over commodity-fuelled booms while other economies sank into crisis. Voters in Australia and Norway are almost certain to boot out their governments within a couple of days of each other, fed up with blunders and scandals, and worried that wealth created by high minerals and oil prices has not been spent wisely. ... Full Story | Top |
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