Reuters: Top News

Former policeman jailed for killing fiancee

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:25:07 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - A former policeman was jailed for life on Monday for bludgeoning his police constable fiancee to death with a lump hammer and trying to cover up her murder by staging a car crash.

Remains of British hostage found in Lebanon

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:53:26 GMT

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A forensics team has found the remains of a British journalist kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Lebanon 24 years ago, the British embassy said on Monday.

Europe H1N1 flu deaths doubling every 2 weeks - experts

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:05:25 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The number of H1N1 swine flu deaths in Europe has doubled almost every two weeks since the middle of October and 169 people died of the virus in the past week, disease surveillance experts said Monday.

Gunmen kill 21 in Philippine political war

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:38:47 GMT

MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen abducted and killed at least 21 people in the southern Philippines on Monday, apparently to prevent a woman filing her husband's nomination to run for provincial governor in elections next year, the military said.

Brown calls for plan on global imbalances

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:34:31 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown, aware his chances of re-election may hinge on the economy emerging from recession, called on Monday for a global growth strategy to tackle trade and currency imbalances.

Cadbury hits new high as bidders circle

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:17:14 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Speculation of a bid battle for Cadbury between Kraft Foods and other rivals who are considering making takeover offers lifted shares in the British confectioner to a new high, analysts said on Monday.

Two Afghan ministers suspected of embezzlement

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:40:27 GMT

KABUL (Reuters) - Two Afghan cabinet ministers are being investigated under suspicion of embezzlement, a deputy attorney general said on Monday, at a time when President Hamid Karzai faces tough Western pressure to clean up his government.

Floods close schools and roads in Cumbria

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:24:58 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Schools and roads were closed across flood-hit areas of Cumbria on Monday as hundreds of families and businesses counted the cost of the damage caused by the heaviest downpours on record.

Second standards MP faces questions over claims

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:02:38 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - A second member of the parliamentary committee that reviews the conduct of MPs is facing questions over his expenses, after the committee chairman stepped down last week.

China families protest mine disaster, toll hits 104

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:30:27 GMT

HEGANG, China (Reuters) - Relatives of victims of a gas blast at a northeast Chinese coal mine scuffled with police and demanded answers from the owners on Monday as state media put the toll from the latest in a series of mine disasters at 104.

Khmer Rouge torturer had broad autonomy, lawyer says

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:27:17 GMT

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer ran a camp "dedicated to death" with broad autonomy, a lawyer said on Monday in closing arguments at the U.N.-backed "Killing Fields" tribunal in Cambodia.

Two Afghan ministers suspected of embezzlement

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:15:24 GMT

KABUL (Reuters) - Two Afghan cabinet ministers are being investigated for suspicion of embezzlement, a deputy attorney general said on Monday, at a time when President Hamid Karzai is under pressure to clean up his government.

Henry considered quitting over handball - report

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:21:06 GMT

PARIS (Reuters) - Thierry Henry considered ending his France career over the uproar that surrounded the striker's blatant handball in last week's World Cup playoff victory over Ireland.

Four charged with terror-related offences

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:16:44 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Police charged four men with terrorism-related offences on Sunday after an operation by counter-terrorism officers in northwest England earlier this month.

Federer, Murray win Tour Finals openers

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:26:52 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer blazed past Fernando Verdasco after an early stumble Sunday while Andy Murray marked the start of London's five-year hosting of the ATP Tour Finals with a three-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro.

Commonwealth should "shame" undemocratic members - report

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:04:39 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - The Commonwealth must do more to promote democracy and get tough on autocratic regimes, even if that means publicly "shaming" some of its members, said a report to be presented to its political leaders on Monday.

Four charged with terror-related offences

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:40:13 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Police charged four men with terrorism-related offences on Sunday after an operation by counter-terrorism officers in northwest England earlier this month.

Cameron says tough agenda needs majority win

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:11:27 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - David Cameron said on Sunday his Conservative Party needs a clear majority in the next general election to push through painful measures to get the recession-hit economy back on track.

Kraft weighs higher Cadbury bid - source

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:00:47 GMT

PHILADELPHIA/ZURICH (Reuters) - Kraft Foods may raise its offer for Cadbury or offer more cash in its bid if rival takeover offers emerge, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday.

Floods pose bridge hazard in northern England

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:44:26 GMT

COCKERMOUTH, England (Reuters) - Engineers and emergency workers checked hundreds of bridges for damage on Sunday, fearful some could collapse and isolate villages, as heavy rain lashed northwest England.

Healthcare reform faces challenges in U.S. Senate

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:37:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's U.S. healthcare overhaul plan has cleared an important Senate hurdle but lawmakers warned on Sunday of challenges ahead in winning support for passage, even among Obama's own Democrats.

Irish unions cancel some strikes due to flooding

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:12:05 GMT

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's trade unions said a public sector strike planned for Tuesday would be cancelled in areas worst hit by this week's flooding.

Leaked Iraq war report details lack of cohesion - report

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:07:06 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's forces were sent to war in Iraq poorly prepared and ill-equipped by a government that was also "hopelessly optimistic" about post-war reconstruction, the Sunday Telegraph quotes leaked documents as saying.

Iran launches war games to protect nuclear sites

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:24:36 GMT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's armed forces launched large-scale air defence war games on Sunday to show off the country's deterrence capabilities in the face of pressure from the West over its nuclear programme.

China mine explosion death toll reaches 92

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:38:19 GMT

HEGANG, China (Reuters) - The death toll from China's latest coal mine disaster reached 92 on Sunday, state television said, and hopes dimmed that more survivors would emerge after a gas blast at a colliery in the nation's far northeast.