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No regrets: Julian Assange marks year in Ecuador's embassy in London

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:29:06 -0400

LONDON - A year ago, Julian Assange skipped out on a date with Swedish justice. Rather than comply with a British order that he go to the Scandinavian country for questioning about sex crimes allegations, the WikiLeaks founder took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London.

CORRECTED - WikiLeaks' Assange fears U.S., says will stay in London embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:15:21 -0400

(Removes extraneous 'not' from last par) By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will not leave the sanctuary of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London even if Sweden stops pursuing sexual assault claims against him because he fears arrest on the order of the United States. In an interview with Reuters and others to mark the one-year anniversary of taking refuge in the cramped diplomatic building, Assange said he remained hopeful he might be able to leave but offered little evidence to suggest he would be finding new living quarters anytime soon. ...

WikiLeaks' Assange fears U.S., says will stay in London embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:15:21 -0400

Asia business sentiment rises in second quarter, global growth risk still dominates

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:00:48 -0400

By Miyoung Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows. The Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Index climbed six points to 71 in June, its highest level in five quarters and the third consecutive quarterly rise. A reading above 50 indicates a generally positive outlook. ...

WikiLeaks' Assange fears US, says will stay in embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:33:24 -0400

By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will not leave the sanctuary of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London even if Sweden stops pursuing sexual assault claims against him because he fears arrest on the order of the United States. In an interview with Reuters and others to mark the first anniversary of taking refuge in the cramped diplomatic building, Assange said he remained hopeful he might be able to leave but offered little evidence to suggest he would be finding new living quarters anytime soon. "I wouldn't say I wouldn't leave," he said. ...

WikiLeaks' Assange fears U.S., says will stay in embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:32:11 -0400

Australia, Iran and S.Korea head for Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:16:58 -0400

By Patrick Johnston (Reuters) - Australia and Iran booked their fourth World Cup finals appearances with nervous 1-0 victories in a dramatic finale to Asian qualifying on Tuesday. South Korea joined them and Japan in qualifying for the finals after sneaking through on goal difference and Uzbekistan and Jordan retained hope of making it five Asian sides in Brazil after taking the third spots in the groups to set up a playoff. The teams will meet over two legs in September with the winners taking on the fifth-placed side in South America in a similar playoff in November for a place at the ...

Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday, June 19

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:30 -0400

Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday - - - - NBA Heat win in OT to force Game Seven MIAMI - The Miami Heat produced an extraordinary comeback to beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 in overtime early on Wednesday to force a decisive seventh game in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals. ...

Asia markets mostly down as investors await Fed meeting's results

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:02:52 -0400

SEOUL, South Korea - Asian markets were mostly lower Wednesday as investors waited for an update on the U.S. economy from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Australian serial sex offender jailed for life for rape, murder of Irish woman

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:17:25 -0400

MELBOURNE, Australia - A serial sex offender was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for raping and murdering an Irish woman while he was free on parole after previous convictions for raping five women.

Asian businesses optimistic; sentiment in India falls

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:52:10 -0400

Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by sector

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:32:03 -0400

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia ...

Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by economy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:26:53 -0400

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia ...

HIGHLIGHTS-Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by sector

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:19:17 -0400

MUMBAI, June 19 (Reuters) - Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD ...

HIGHLIGHTS-Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by economy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:19:13 -0400

SYDNEY, June 19 (Reuters) - Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD ...

Asia business sentiment rises in Q2, global growth risk still dominates

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:06:45 -0400

* ThomsonReuters/INSEAD sentiment index at 71 vs 65 in Q1 * Global economy remains biggest concern * Sentiment in China continues at record low * "Extreme fears" are beginning to fade-economist ...

Charges pending against Afghans accused of prison abuse: Australia

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:48:12 -0400

By Rob Taylor CANBERRA (Reuters) - Afghan authorities will lay charges against officials at a prison run by the country's internal security service, Australia said on Wednesday, just weeks after Canberra blocked prisoner transfers over fears of detainee mistreatment. Afghan authorities were taking action after Australia stopped handing over insurgent suspects to an NDS-run detention facility at the coalition base in Tirin Kot, in southern Uruzgan province, Australia's Defense Minister Stephen Smith said. ...

Tinkler gives up half of Whitehaven stake to lender

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:50:58 -0400

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Struggling Australian tycoon Nathan Tinkler has given up nearly half of his stake in Whitehaven Coal Ltd for about $285 million to pay down debt to a U.S. hedge fund, easing concern about a forced selldown that had weighed on the miner's value. The U.S. fund, Farallon Capital Management picked up a 9.9 percent stake from Tinkler and entities associated with him, taking its holding in Whitehaven to 16.6 percent, it said in a shareholding notice to the Australian stock exchange. Farallon is buying the shares at a minimum of AS$2. ...

Malaysia-Market factors to watch on June 19

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:16:00 -0400

Following is a list of events in Malaysia as well as news company-related and market news which could have an influence on the local market. ----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2315 GMT ------------ ...

NASA wants backyard astronomers to help track asteroids

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:15:34 -0400

By Deborah Zabarenko WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NASA called on backyard astronomers and other citizen-scientists on Tuesday to help track asteroids that could create havoc on Earth. The U.S. space agency has already identified 95 percent of the potentially planet-killing NEOs - near Earth objects - with a diameter of .62 miles or more, a size comparable to the space rock many scientists believe wiped out the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. ...

Genting lifts stake in Echo after Crown sells out

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:41:58 -0400

(Repeats story first published late on Tuesday; no change to text) SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - Malaysian gambling giant Genting Bhd has increased its stake in Australia's Echo Entertainment Group, just ...

Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:01:07 -0400

(Updates Kabel Deutschland; Adds Siemens, PPR, Dell, Astellas Pharma, Nokia, Lekoil, Nordea, Chevron) June 18 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT ...

Australia, Iran and South Korea head for Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:06:12 -0400

'Lost' Medieval City Discovered Beneath Cambodian Jungle

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:39:24 -0400

A lost city known only from inscriptions that existed some 1,200 years ago near Angkor in what is now Cambodia has been uncovered using airborne laser scanning.

Tennis-Eastbourne International men's singles round 1 results

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:35:53 -0400

June 18 (Infostrada Sports) - Results from the Eastbourne International Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Tuesday Julien Benneteau (France) beat 5-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 7-6(4) 6-2 Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat Marinko Matosevic (Australia) 6-3 6-2 Ivan Dodig (Croatia) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 6-3 6-4 Martin Klizan (Slovakia) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-3 6-2 Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 7-6(3) 7-6(5) Bernard Tomic (Australia) beat James Ward (Britain) 6-3 6-4

TD Economics expects global growth to pick up following slow start to 2013

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:19:52 -0400

TORONTO - TD Economics says it continues to expect global economic growth will pick up in the second half of this year, even though the first months of 2013 have been softer than anticipated.

Tennis-Eastbourne International women's singles round 1 results

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:04:13 -0400

June 18 (Infostrada Sports) - Results from the Eastbourne International Women's Singles Round 1 matches on Tuesday Jamie Hampton (U.S. ...

Australia books place at 2014 World Cup with 1-0 victory over Iraq

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:39:47 -0400

SYDNEY - Australia qualified for the 2014 World Cup by beating Iraq 1-0 on Tuesday, with Josh Kennedy heading home the winner in the 83rd minute to reward a bold substitution by coach Holger Osieck.

Second-string Brumbies hand Lions first defeat

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:44:43 -0400

By Ian Ransom CANBERRA (Reuters) - The ACT Brumbies, shorn of the heart of their first-choice team, soaked up enormous pressure to secure a famous 14-12 victory over a ragged British and Irish Lions side in Canberra on Tuesday and hand the tourists their first defeat. Bullocking centre Tevita Kuridrani scored the sole try in the first half and fullback Jesse Mogg slotted three penalties for the hosts who held on grimly as the Lions roared back late in the second half in front of more than 21,000 frenzied fans at Canberra Stadium. ...

Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Monday, June 17

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:01 -0400

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Monday - - - - SOCCER World Cup qualifiers Kennedy's late header sends Australia to Brazil SYDNEY - Substitute Josh Kennedy's goal seven minutes from time sent Australia into the World Cup finals for the fourth time, ending a nervous night for 80,523 rain-soaked fans packed into Sydney's Olympic Stadium. (SOCCER-WORLD/AUSTRALIA (PIX), moved, by Nick Mulvenney, 500 words) U.S. ...

Pentagon, contractors take aim at F-35 operating costs

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:41:15 -0400

By Andrea Shalal-Esa PARIS (Reuters) - With development and technology challenges on the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter increasingly under control, the company and the U.S. military are taking aim at a more vexing problem: the cost of flying and maintaining the new warplane. U.S. officials worry the current $1.1 trillion price tag for operations and maintenance - sometimes called "sustainment" - will erode international support for the new Joint Strike Fighter, which is critical to ensuring the plane can be as affordable as advertised. ...

AIRSHOW-Pentagon, contractors take aim at F-35 operating costs

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:34:39 -0400

Rugby-Second-string Brumbies hand Lions first defeat

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:30:40 -0400

* Lions suffer first defeat of tour * Second-string Brumbies deserving winners (Adds fresh quotes) By Ian Ransom CANBERRA, June 18 (Reuters) - The ACT Brumbies, shorn of the heart of their first-choice team, soaked up enormous pressure to secure a famous 14-12 victory over a ragged British and Irish Lions side in Canberra on Tuesday and hand the tourists their first defeat. ...

GSK negotiating $1 bln sale of thrombosis drugs to Aspen

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:03:47 -0400

By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline is discussing the sale of its thrombosis drug brands Arixtra and Fraxiparine, along with a related French factory, to Aspen Pharmacare in a deal that could be worth some $1 billion. Britain's biggest drugmaker said on Tuesday that Aspen had offered to buy the medicines, sales of which are in decline, and it was now in exclusive talks with the South African company about a deal, which is subject to consultation with employees. ...

GSK negotiating $1 billion sale of thrombosis drugs to Aspen

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:03:17 -0400

Soccer-Kennedy's late header sends Australia to Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:56:39 -0400

(Adds more quotes) * Substitute makes difference in 1-0 win over Iraq * Australia reach World Cup finals for fourth time By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - Substitute Josh Kennedy's dramatic goal seven minutes from time sent Australia to the World Cup finals for the fourth time on Tuesday, ending a nervous night for 80,523 rain-soaked fans packed into Sydney's Olympic Stadium. Six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, Kennedy rose alone in the middle of the penalty area to head Mark Bresciano's cross past the dive of Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri and into the net. ...

Kennedy's late header sends Australia to Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:52:34 -0400

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY (Reuters) - Substitute Josh Kennedy's goal seven minutes from time sent Australia into the World Cup finals for the fourth time on Tuesday, ending a nervous night for 80,523 rain-soaked fans packed into Sydney's Olympic Stadium. Six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, Kennedy rose alone in the centre of the penalty box to head Mark Bresciano's cross past the despairing dive of Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri and into the net. ...

New 'Mixed' Language Discovered in Northern Australia

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:46:42 -0400

A new language, one that combines elements of English with traditional indigenous speech, has been discovered in northern Australia, according to a new study.

Soccer-Australia beat Iraq 1-0 to qualify for 2014 World Cup

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:25:27 -0400

SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - Australia left it late but beat Iraq 1-0 to become the second country to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in front of 80,000 rain-soaked but euphoric fans at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday. Substitute striker Josh Kennedy headed the ball home seven minutes from time to give the Socceroos the win they needed to secure second place in Asian qualifying Group B and the ticket to Brazil that goes with it. ...

US-TELEVISION Summary

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:23:02 -0400

TV chef Nigella Lawson's husband cautioned by police for assault LONDON (Reuters) - Art collector Charles Saatchi has been cautioned by police for assaulting his wife, the celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, after being photographed grabbing her by the throat in an incident that has fueled a debate in Britain about domestic violence. Photographs of Saatchi, 70, a former advertising tycoon, grasping a tearful Lawson around the neck while the couple were having dinner outside a London restaurant about a week ago were published in a tabloid newspaper on Sunday. ...