Reuters: World News

World's biggest cruise ship is a floating resort

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:32:18 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Reuters) - Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas is the largest, widest, tallest, most expensive cruise ship afloat, a cornucopia of amusements aimed at quashing the notion that cruising is a sedentary vacation, said chief executive Richard Fain.

Obama says will "finish the job" in Afghanistan

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:55:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama vowed on Tuesday to "finish the job" of an unpopular and costly eight-year war in Afghanistan, and officials said he could announce an increase of around 30,000 troops next week.

Iran says needs guarantees to send uranium abroad

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:51:49 GMT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran could consider sending its low-enriched uranium abroad, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, apparently softening its opposition to a U.N. plan aimed at keeping a check on its nuclear ambitions.

Obama says will "finish the job" in Afghanistan

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:40:44 GMT

Crew member killed in attack on tanker off Benin

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:54:54 GMT

COTONOU (Reuters) - Pirates attacked an oil tanker off Benin, killing a Ukrainian crew member and stealing the contents of the ship's safe, the head of the West African country's navy said on Tuesday.

U.S. not expecting quick Afghan troop hikes by allies

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:54:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. allies will likely wait weeks before deciding whether to send more troops to Afghanistan rather than responding immediately to President Barack Obama's coming announcement on U.S. forces, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Escort's book describes night with Berlusconi

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:11:41 GMT

ROME (Reuters) - The escort at the heart of a sex scandal involving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gave graphic details of their alleged lovemaking in a book published on Tuesday and said she had been attacked and threatened since.

U.S. airlines fined for stranding travellers on plane

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:47:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Tuesday imposed its first-ever punishment against airlines for stranding passengers aboard aircraft, fining three carriers $175,000 (106,000 pounds) for a six-hour ordeal in Minnesota.

Netanyahu says Hamas prisoner deal may not happen

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:43:42 GMT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli prisoner exchange with Hamas has not yet been agreed and may not happen, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, after a senior cabinet colleague predicted a breakthrough within weeks.

Soldiers kill 18 militants in Pakistan Khyber area

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:37:27 GMT

LANDIKOTAL, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani soldiers killed 18 militants on Tuesday in a campaign to break a network orchestrating attacks on Western forces' supplies to Afghanistan and carrying out bombings, a security official said.

Iran says needs guarantees to ship nuclear fuel

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:32:54 GMT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran could consider sending its low-enriched uranium abroad, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, signalling a possible softening of its opposition to a plan aimed at easing Western concern over its nuclear ambitions.

Sarkozy promises crackdown on crime in the suburbs

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:20:44 GMT

LE PERREUX-SUR-MARNE, France (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a rare foray into the suburbs of Paris on Tuesday to promise that a surge in the number of security cameras would make life better there.

EU's Barroso hopes for new Commission by end-January

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:50:48 GMT

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - The next European Commission, the powerful regulatory arm of the European Union, should be in place by the end of January, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday.

Hague prosecutor accuses Congo warlords

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:48:20 GMT

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Two Congolese militia leaders commanded forces that raped, killed and looted civilians in an attack that killed 200 people during the Congo war, a war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Philippines massacre toll reaches 46

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:03:44 GMT

AMPATUAN, Philippines (Reuters) - The Philippines placed two southern provinces and a city under emergency rule on Tuesday after gunmen killed 46 people in a brutal election-related massacre that has shocked the country.

Hague prosecutor accuses Congo warlords

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:38:37 GMT

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Two Congolese militiamen were the top commanders of forces that raped, killed and looted civilians in a brutal attack that left 200 dead, a war crimes prosecutor said Tuesday.

Spain arrests 36 from youth group linked to ETA

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:41:24 GMT

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police have arrested 36 members of Segi, an outlawed youth group linked to the Basque guerrilla organisation ETA, in a sweep which is still underway, court officials said on Tuesday.

China executes two for tainted milk scandal

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:01:55 GMT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Tuesday executed two people for their role in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six children and further sullied the made-in-China brand.

Obama aims to reassure Singh on U.S.-India ties

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:17:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday for talks considered critical to showing Washington's commitment to New Delhi in a region where its rivals, China and Pakistan, are U.S. priorities.

Belgian pleads guilty in U.S. jet parts sale to Iran

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:06:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Belgian man pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of conspiring to illegally export F-5 fighter jet engines and parts from the United States to Iran, the Justice Department said.

Eight charged in U.S. for Somali war recruiting

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:54:20 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Authorities unsealed terrorism-related charges Monday against eight defendants they said recruited young Somali-American men to return to their homeland to fight for an Islamist militant group.

Tajikistan fails to curb abuse of women - Amnesty

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:13:31 GMT

ALMATY (Reuters) - The government of the Central Asian state of Tajikistan is failing to protect women from violence and abuse, human rights group Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday.

Congo warlords in the dock at Hague court

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:19:19 GMT

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The world's first permanent war crimes court opens its second trial Tuesday when two Congolese warlords face charges they ordered subordinates to attack civilians, rape women and enlist child soldiers.

Forecaster WSI sees cold February for northern Europe

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:28:37 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Scandinavia will likely be colder than average this winter but Britain and northern parts of mainland Europe should enjoy slightly milder than normal weather until an unusually chilly February, private U.S.-based weather forecaster WSI Corp. said on Monday.

Peacekeepers should prepare to leave Darfur - Sudan

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:20:24 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Khartoum's U.N. envoy, rejecting a bleak U.N. assessment of the situation in Sudan's conflict-torn western Darfur region, said on Monday it was time for international peacekeepers to prepare to leave.