Reuters: World News

Group linked to Algeria gas plant attack claims Niger raids

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:42:18 GMT

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - An al Qaeda-linked group that carried out the raid on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria in January has claimed to have participated in Thursday's attacks in Niger.

China says hopes visit of North Korean envoy can ease tension

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:40:03 GMT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China hopes that this week's visit by a senior North Korean envoy can ease tension in the region and help spur efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday.

Korean women scrap meeting Japanese mayor over brothel remarks

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:35:04 GMT

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Two elderly South Korean women forced to work in Japanese war-time military brothels cancelled a meeting on Friday with the mayor of the city of Osaka after he refused to withdraw remarks asserting the brothels were "necessary" at the time.

Ugandan leader removes army chief named in succession plot claim

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:51:05 GMT

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has removed his head of the military Aronda Nyakairima, and moved him to a civilian position as the minister for internal affairs, a statement from the military said on Friday.

Syria opposition struggles to forge transition plan before talks

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:48:26 GMT

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Syria's divided opposition leaders have failed to back a plan by their outgoing leader for President Bashar al-Assad to cede power gradually to end the country's civil war, highlighting the obstacles to international peace talks expected next month.

Russia says Syrian government agrees in principle to conference

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:38:56 GMT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday the Syrian government had agreed in principle to attend an international peace conference proposed by Russia and the United States, and criticised what it called attempts to undermine peace efforts.

Suspect in Czech family killings arrested in Washington - police

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:24:10 GMT

PRAGUE (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have arrested a man wanted for murdering four members of a family in the Czech Republic, Czech police said on Friday.

Turkey bans alcohol advertising, curbs sales

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:07:05 GMT

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey banned alcohol advertising and increased restrictions on alcohol sales on Friday in a move likely to anger secularist Turks who accuse the government of having an Islamic agenda.

Swedish police seek reinforcement after further clashes

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:57:49 GMT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Police in the Swedish capital are to seek reinforcements after youths again set cars ablaze and threw stones at police for a fifth night running, officials said on Friday.

U.S. official hints at renewed Iranian sanctions waiver for India

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:16:00 GMT

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has made "tremendous progress" in reducing oil imports from Iran, a senior U.S. government official said on Friday, in a sign the South Asian nation is likely to get a third waiver from sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran's nuclear programme.

Magnitude 8.2 earthquake strikes Russian Far East

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:02:36 GMT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast on Friday, briefly prompting a tsunami scare but causing no casualties or substantial damage, Russian emergency authorities said.

Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:48:13 GMT

(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Obama seeks end to perpetual U.S. 'war on terror'

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:06:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twelve years after the "war on terror" began, President Barack Obama wants to pull the United States back from some of the most controversial aspects of its global fight against Islamist militants.

Korean "grannies" cancel meet with Osaka mayor over war brothel remarks

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:14:26 GMT

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Two elderly South Korean women forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels abruptly cancelled a meeting with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto after he refused to withdraw remarks asserting the brothel system was "necessary" at the time.

Venezuela prosecutor to open probe over leaked recording

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:25:25 GMT

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's prosecutor's office said on Thursday it would open an investigation into in a recording the opposition says features a top government ally accusing the deputy head of the ruling Socialist Party of corruption and conspiring against the new president.

Canadian businessman goes on trial in Cuba for corruption

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:33:07 GMT

HAVANA (Reuters) - A Cuban court on Thursday wrapped up the first day of testimony in the graft trial of a Canadian businessman whose prosecution is part of a corruption crackdown that has shaken the country's foreign business community.

Obama shifts U.S. from 'perpetual war-footing,' limits drone strikes

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:24:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday shifted the United States away from a "boundless global war on terror," restricting deadly drone strikes abroad and signalling that America's long struggle against al Qaeda will one day end.

Islamists kill 21 in suicide attacks in Niger

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:59:15 GMT

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Islamist suicide bombers struck an army barracks and a French-run uranium mine in Niger on Thursday, officials said, killing 21 people and wounding dozens more in attacks that showed militant violence spreading in West Africa.

Repatriating detainees to Yemen key to closing Guantanamo

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:47:11 GMT

WASHINGTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's pledge on Thursday to lift a ban on transfers of detainees to Yemen from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, addresses one of the core obstacles to clearing out the detention camp.

Obama shifts U.S. from 'perpetual war-footing,' limits drone strikes

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:40:01 GMT

One dead, about 10 injured in Guinea opposition protest

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:13:13 GMT

CONAKRY (Reuters) - One person was killed and about were 10 injured when security forces and supporters of Guinea's president clashed with protesters marching in the capital on Thursday against planned legislative elections.

Islamists kill 21 in suicide attacks in Niger

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:04:01 GMT

In deeply religious Oklahoma, prayer brings solace after tornado

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:45:54 GMT

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - In deeply religious Moore, Oklahoma, God and prayer are frequently mentioned as sources of strength for residents reeling from the fourth damaging tornado in 15 years.

Polish PM wants early party leadership election - media

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:26:21 GMT

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants to bring forward an election for the leadership for his party so he can face down rivals emboldened by the worsening state of the economy, local media said on Thursday.

Syrian opposition scrambles to save credibility ahead of peace talks

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:17:54 GMT

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition in exile met on Thursday to decide whether to attend a peace conference that the United States and Russia see as a crucial path to ending two years of civil war.