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| Suicide bombers attack Pakistan army base, one soldier dead Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 08:08 PM PST WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Two suicide bombers rammed their explosives-laden vehicle into the gate of an army base in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least one soldier and wounding eight, security officials said on Wednesday. The attackers, who drove in from Afghanistan, were stopped before they could get into the camp in the South Waziristan capital of Wana, where thousands of soldiers are stationed, army officials said. "Security forces intercepted the car and opened fire as it neared the camp. The two men then blew themselves up," said one army official who declined to be identified. ... Full Story | Top |
| Women can tell a cheating man just by looking at them: study Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 07:57 PM PST HONG KONG (Reuters) - Women can tell with some accuracy whether an unfamiliar male is faithful simply by looking at his face, but men seem to lack the same ability when checking out women, according to an Australian study published on Wednesday. In a paper that appeared in the journal Biology Letters, the researchers found that women tended to make that judgment based on how masculine-looking the man was. ... Full Story | Top |
| China economy may grow 8.2 percent in 2013: top think-tank Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 07:38 PM PST  BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economic growth may quicken to 8.2 percent in 2013 from an expected 7.7 percent this year in response to official growth-promoting polices, but downside risk remains from global uncertainties, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said on Wednesday. The country's top think tank said in its "blue book" report on China's economy that Beijing should boost budgetary help to the economy by borrowing and spending more, and cutting taxes that hinder economic efficiency. ... Full Story | Top |
| Boeing 787 in emergency landing as inspections ordered Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 07:11 PM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - On the same day one of its new Dreamliners made an emergency landing because of a mechanical problem, Boeing said U.S. regulators had ordered the entire fleet of 787 jets to be inspected for a possible fuel line problem. The twin mechanical issues, while not necessarily uncommon, were yet another headache for Boeing, a company still working to overcome the negative perception of production problems that delayed delivery of the 787 by 3-1/2 years. ... Full Story | Top |
| Senate unanimously passes defense spending bill Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 07:03 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted 98-0 on Tuesday to approve a wide-ranging defense bill that authorizes $631.4 billion in funding for the military, the war in Afghanistan and nuclear weapons. The bill, passed after five days of debate and consideration of hundreds of amendments, must be reconciled with the version passed by the House of Representatives before it can go to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. There are several key differences between the House and Senate bills, including whether to back continued work by the military on developing biofuels for jets and warships. ... Full Story | Top |
| California says federal immigration detention requests are voluntary Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:54 PM PST SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - California's attorney general said on Tuesday that state and local law enforcement agencies were not required to honor federal immigration detention requests, a declaration welcomed by immigrant rights activists. Attorney General Kamala Harris, the state's top law enforcement official, said complying with the federal program that helped deport a record 400,000 illegal immigrants last year is voluntary. ... Full Story | Top |
| Software guru McAfee says to seek asylum in Guatemala Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:39 PM PST  GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - U.S. anti-virus software guru John McAfee, who is on the run from police in Belize seeking to question him in a murder probe, has crossed into Guatemala and said on Tuesday he will seek political asylum there. McAfee has been in hiding for three weeks since police in Belize said they wanted to question him as "a person of interest" about the murder of fellow American Gregory Faull, with whom McAfee had quarreled. McAfee smuggled himself and his girlfriend, Samantha, across the porous land border that Belize shares with Guatemala. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. military court appoints new judge in Fort Hood massacre case Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:39 PM PST SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - The U.S. Army appointed on Tuesday a military judge who has presided over several closely watched cases to be the new judge in the court martial of alleged Fort Hood gunman Major Nidal Hasan, according to an Army statement. The appointment of Colonel Tara Osborn comes one day after the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces removed Colonel Gregory Gross from the case, questioning his impartiality. Osborn is currently chief judge for the Army's Second Judicial Circuit. ... Full Story | Top |
| Pentagon opens rocket launches to competition Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:38 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has approved a plan that will allow the U.S. Air Force to buy up to 36 rocket launches for government satellites from a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co , while opening up to 14 launches to competition from other companies, the Air Force said on Tuesday. The Pentagon has been moving aggressively to introduce more competition to defense procurement to help lower costs. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obama says Republican proposals would put nonprofits at risk Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:22 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Tuesday that Republican tax proposals could threaten the collapse of hospitals and universities benefiting from charitable deductions. "There's been a lot of talk that somehow we can raise $800 billion or $1 trillion worth of revenue just by closing loopholes and deductions," Obama said in a Bloomberg TV interview. "The only way to do that would be if you completely eliminated, for example, charitable deductions. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obama firm on "fiscal cliff" amid Republican disarray Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:20 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama held his ground on the "fiscal cliff" on Tuesday, insisting on higher tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, while Republicans showed increasing disarray over how far they should go to compromise with Obama's demands. With less than a month left to confront the budget cuts and tax increases that will begin taking effect in January unless Congress acts, Obama dangled the possibility of lowering tax rates as part of a broad U.S. tax code revamp in 2013. ... Full Story | Top |
| In protest, man chains himself to U.S. Embassy in Dominican Republic Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 06:08 PM PST  SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - A man behind a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic chained himself to the building's fence in protest on Tuesday, claiming that a botched DNA test led officials to wrongly deny his daughter American citizenship while also ruining his marriage. Miguel Familia, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican Republic, alleged that a DNA test ordered by the embassy to prove the girl was his daughter came back negative and she was denied residency in 2005. ... Full Story | Top |
| Osborne tries to sweeten pill for austerity Britain Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 05:26 PM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - More austerity looks certain when Chancellor George Osborne presents a half-yearly budget statement on Wednesday, even if he tries to juggle some spending around to ease the pain. A darker economic outlook means Osborne is likely to commit to further spending cuts years into the future to save his flagship deficit reduction plan, though he also plans some new investment to sweeten the pill in the short term. Osborne, who will update parliament with new growth and budget deficit figures just after 12:30 p.m. ... Full Story | Top |
| Hugh Hefner heads to altar again, with "runaway bride" Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 05:26 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is headed to the altar again - with the blonde Playmate who ditched him five days before their planned wedding in 2011. Hefner, 86, and his former "runaway bride" Crystal Harris, 26, obtained a marriage license in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Recorder spokeswoman Elizabeth Knox said. Celebrity website TMZ.com said the couple, who reunited earlier this year, are planning a New Year's Eve wedding. ... Full Story | Top |
| San Francisco tells nudists to get dressed Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 05:04 PM PST  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - San Francisco city leaders gave final approval on Tuesday to a ban on public nudity, a measure aimed at curtailing displays of nakedness that some residents and business owners say have gotten out of control in the famously tolerant city. San Francisco Board of Supervisors' action at City Hall prompted about a half dozen angry protesters to strip down to their socks. Standing at the ready with blankets, sheriff's deputies quickly covered up the demonstrators and led them from the majestic beaux-arts chamber. ... Full Story | Top |
| Man pleads guilty of plotting to blow up New York houses of worship Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:59 PM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - One of two New York men charged last year with plotting to blow up synagogues and churches in Manhattan pleaded guilty on Tuesday and faces a decade in prison. Ahmed Ferhani, 27, admitted to conspiring to attack the biggest synagogue in Manhattan as well as churches to send a message of violence to non-Muslims. Ferhani, who was arrested in May 2011, entered the plea in New York State Supreme Court. Justice Michael Obus said he intends to sentence Ferhani to 10 years in prison. ... Full Story | Top |
| Republican unity frays amid "fiscal cliff" tension Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:43 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans had wanted to show a united front against President Barack Obama's demand for tax hikes, but their tenuous coalition showed signs of strain on Tuesday. Just a day after House Speaker John Boehner unveiled a "fiscal cliff" counteroffer with some concessions on revenues, he faced a criticism from some conservatives and what appeared to be a wait-and-see approach from others. As lawmakers voiced their opinions, Boehner presided over a purge of some Republicans regarded as party dissidents from plum House committee assignments. ... Full Story | Top |
| Former top officials press lawmakers to solve "cliff" Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:40 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fifteen former top U.S. national security officials urged lawmakers on Tuesday to put the United States on a sustainable fiscal path and avert automatic spending cuts that start in January, warning that Washington's global leadership was at stake. The officials, who span eight presidential administrations and include former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Madeleine Albright and George Shultz, said they had formed a coalition to underscore the need for elected leaders to act. ... Full Story | Top |
| London Games were "value for money" - watchdog Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:12 PM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - Public funding of nine billion pounds for the London Olympics was money well spent after a successful Games, the National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report on Wednesday. The NAO found fault with an initial underestimate of how much public money was needed and the failure of private contractor G4S to supply enough security guards which meant British troops had to be drafted in just before the Olympics. However, its report was generally positive about a Games that the government hopes will help attract additional investment and tourists to Britain. ... Full Story | Top |
| Mali government, Islamists and separatists agree on peace talks Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:07 PM PST OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Mali's government and the two rebel groups that took control of the northern half of the country in April, have met for the first time and agreed to negotiate an end to the crisis, a minister from mediator Burkina Faso said on Tuesday. A delegation of Malian government officials met representatives of the separatist Tuareg MNLA, whose initial rebellion was hijacked by al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine. The Islamist militant group was also represented in the meeting in the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou. ... Full Story | Top |
| Bush calls for debating immigration reform "with a benevolent spirit" Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:02 PM PST DALLAS (Reuters) - Former President George W. Bush on Tuesday called on lawmakers to debate immigration reform "with a benevolent spirit" and bear in mind the contribution of immigrants in building the country. Bush's comments came at the opening of a daylong conference on immigration and economic growth sponsored by his namesake George W. Bush Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. "As our nation debates the proper course of action relating to immigration, I hope we will do so with a benevolent spirit and keep in mind the contribution of immigrants," he said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Olympics-London Games were "value for money" - watchdog Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 04:00 PM PST LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Public funding of nine billion pounds ($14.5 billion) for the London Olympics was money well spent after a successful Games, Britain's National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report on Wednesday. The NAO found fault with an initial underestimate of how much public money was needed and the failure of private contractor G4S to supply enough security guards which meant British troops had to be drafted in just before the Olympics. ... Full Story | Top |
| Boeing says FAA requires fuel line inspections on 787 jets Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 03:53 PM PST  (Reuters) - Boeing said Tuesday that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring inspections of all 787 Dreamliners currently in service to confirm that fuel line connectors have been properly installed. The FAA requirement, due to be issued Wednesday, "makes mandatory inspections already recommended by Boeing," the company said. FAA officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) Full Story | Top |
| Illinois moves to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 03:33 PM PST SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - Illinois took a major step on Tuesday toward granting drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, which would make it the most populous U.S. state to allow undocumented migrants to legally drive. The Democratic-controlled state Senate voted 41-14 to approve licenses for illegal immigrants to raucous cheers from Hispanics in the legislative gallery. If the measure becomes law, Illinois would join only two other states, Washington and New Mexico, in granting such drivers licenses. Utah allows driving permits. ... Full Story | Top |
| Evacuation extended for Louisiana town near explosives cache Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 03:22 PM PST (Reuters) - Some 800 residents of the town of Doyline, Louisiana, will be able to return to their homes full time on Thursday or Friday after the state clears out six tons of explosives that had been improperly stored at a nearby company. "We are progressing, working very hard to get this situation improved for them," State Police Captain Doug Cain said. Police have said the people were evacuated from the northwestern Louisiana town last Friday after a State Police trooper found a material called M6 propellant during an inspection of an industrial site used by Explo Systems Inc. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. court hearing set in Strauss-Kahn civil lawsuit Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 03:04 PM PST  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyers for former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the hotel maid who accused him of sexual assault were ordered on Tuesday to appear in New York state court next week to brief a judge on the status of settlement talks in the maid's civil case against him. The setting of the court date comes just days after a source familiar with the matter said the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement to settle the case. ... Full Story | Top |
| U.S. fails to win early limit on Net controls at global gathering Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:49 PM PST  DUBAI/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. and Canadian proposal to protect the Internet from new international regulation has failed to win prompt backing from other countries, setting up potentially tough negotiations to rewrite a telecom treaty. The idea, also supported by Europe, would limit the International Telecommunication Union's rules to only telecom operators and not Internet-based companies such as Google Inc and Facebook Inc. ... Full Story | Top |
| Iowa's Senator Grassley urges hearing on SEC security lapse Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:47 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Charles Grassley on Tuesday urged the Senate Banking Committee to hold a hearing to examine the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's failure to encrypt some computers containing highly sensitive stock exchange data. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, wrote in a letter to Senate Banking Chairman Tim Johnson that the panel has "a strong role to play and responsibility in ensuring the safety and security of our exchange platforms," and he urged Johnson to hold hearings on the issue. ... Full Story | Top |
| After meeting Obama, governors urge resolution of fiscal impasse Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:45 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic and Republican governors urged the White House and Congress on Tuesday to reach a deal to avoid year-end tax hikes and spending cuts, but they did not publicly recommend how the sides should bridge differences. "We're not saying it should be this plan or that plan, I think what we all agree on is something's got to get done," Delaware Governor Jack Markell told reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. ... Full Story | Top |
| Maxine Waters elected ranking member of House financial panel Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:32 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - California Democrat Maxine Waters was elected to serve as ranking member of the House Financial Service Committee, according to an announcement from Waters' office on Tuesday. In a statement, Waters said she looks forward to defending the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul and plans to focus on housing finance reform. "I understand that regulatory certainty is an important aspect of growing our economy, and remain committed to ensuring clear and transparent regulation, which creates the space for innovation, safety and soundness," she said. ... Full Story | Top |
| Judge allows California gay conversion therapy ban to take effect Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:30 PM PST  SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday cleared the way for a landmark California law that bars a controversial therapy aimed at reversing homosexuality in children and teenagers to take effect in January. California's Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed the ban into law in September, making the nation's most populous state the first to ban so-called conversion therapy among youths. U.S. ... Full Story | Top |
| Elizabeth Warren seen securing Senate banking spot: aides Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:28 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren is expected to secure a seat on the Senate Banking Committee, two congressional aides said on Tuesday, a move that would give the Wall Street critic a powerful platform from which to oversee financial firms. "We see her as an effective advocate for consumers," said one senior Democratic aide, in explaining the interest in putting Warren on the panel. The aide added that a final decision will not be made until the new Congress convenes next month. ... Full Story | Top |
| Republicans block U.N. treaty to protect people with disabilities Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:26 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Tuesday blocked a treaty to protect people with disabilities from discrimination despite a passionate plea from former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in World War Two. The Senate voted 61-38 to pass the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, falling short of the 66 votes needed to ratify the treaty. ... Full Story | Top |
| EU considers response to Israeli settlement building plans Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:25 PM PST BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union states struggled to agree on Tuesday on a common response to Israel's plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, highlighting the divisions within the bloc over how to tackle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. At a meeting in Brussels, ambassadors responsible for security issues discussed the possibility of all 27 EU states writing to Tel Aviv to express their displeasure or calling in Israeli ambassadors for consultations, as five EU countries have already done. ... Full Story | Top |
| Man pleads guilty in plot to attack New York houses of worship Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:22 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to 10 charges connected with a plan to blow up synagogues and churches in Manhattan last year. Ahmed Ferhani, 27, admitted to conspiring to attack the biggest synagogue in Manhattan as well as churches in order to send a message of violence to non-Muslims. Ferhani, who was arrested in May 2011, entered the plea in New York State Supreme Court. (Reporting By Chris Francescani; Writing by Dan Burns; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) Full Story | Top |
| Superstorm Sandy seen striking payrolls Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:20 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job growth likely slowed sharply in November as superstorm Sandy disrupted economic activity, making it hard get a clear picture of a labor market that has also been hobbled by fears of government austerity. Nonfarm payrolls are expected to have increased only 93,000 last month, a sharp step-down from October's 171,000 job gain, according to a Reuters survey of economists. The unemployment rate is seen holding steady at 7.9 percent. ... Full Story | Top |
| Arab Spring to take years to improve women's rights: activists Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:18 PM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - The Arab Spring has failed to deliver greater political power to women in the region or to offer them better protection from sexual harassment, but may yet yield female-friendly reform, a conference on women's rights heard on Tuesday. Human rights campaigners had hoped that women's involvement in protests that toppled governments in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen and overthrew Muammar Gaddafi in Libya would lead to more power for women in Arab states. The uprisings unseated a string of autocrats and triggered some change, including relatively free elections. ... Full Story | Top |
| Obama to fill key posts in weeks, Hagel on Pentagon short list Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:18 PM PST  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is expected to announce his nominees for secretaries of state and defense in the next two weeks, with former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel on the short list of potential choices to head the Pentagon, senior administration officials said on Tuesday. Hagel, whose appointment would give Obama's reshuffled second-term Cabinet a bipartisan cast, met the Democratic president at the White House this week to discuss a post on his national security team. But there was no sign that Obama had decided on any of the key nominations he will put forth. ... Full Story | Top |
| Basic hygiene at risk in debt-stricken Greek hospitals Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:14 PM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - Greek hospitals are in such dire straits that staff are failing to keep up basic disease controls such as using gloves and gowns, threatening a rise in multidrug-resistant infections, according to Europe's top health official. Greece already has one of the worst problems in Europe with hospital-acquired infections, and disease experts fear this is being made worse by an economic crisis that has cut health care staffing levels and hurt standards of care. ... Full Story | Top |
| Republicans see some leverage in "fiscal cliff" talks Tuesday, Dec 04, 2012 02:11 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republicans may have some leverage in their fiscal cliffhanger with President Barack Obama: the threat of forcing a disproportionate number of Democrats to pay the so-called alternative minimum tax. Under U.S. law, taxpayers each year must pay the greater of regular federal income tax, or the AMT. The latter requires taxpayers to give up certain tax breaks, typically exemptions and deductions for state and local taxes and medical costs. ... Full Story | Top |
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