International

Act fast to curb global warming, or extract CO2 from air: U.N.

The study, drawing on the work of more than 1,000 experts, said a shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy such as wind, solar or nuclear power was affordable and would shave only about 0.06 percentage point a year off world economic growth. “We have a window of opportunity for the next decade, and maximum the next two decades” to act at moderate costs, said Ottmar Edenhofer, co-chair of a Berlin meeting of the Intergovernmental […]

Ukraine moves to retake Slovyansk buildings from Russia sympathizers

Ukraine’s government has launched an assault on separatists in an eastern town of Slovyansk. The move comes one day after pro-Russia activists seized government buildings in the city amid warnings of a crackdown by Kyiv. On Sunday, Ukraine’s government launched an “anti-terrorist operation” in Slovyansk, a town about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Russian border, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said. “Units from all of the country’s force structures are participating,” Avakov wrote on his […]

No new clues reported as Chinese plane returns from search for missing Malaysian airliner

(Reuters) — A Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft returned to Perth International airport on Sunday (April 13) to resume the search for debris from the missing Malaysian airliner as efforts continue to home in on the aircraft’s black box flight recorders. Sunday’s search consisted of the P8 Poseidon and 10 other aircraft along with 14 ships, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said. The air and sea search continues trying to narrow the underwater search area for the deployment of the Autonomous […]

With new leader for Obamacare, White House shifts to election mode

(Reuters) – Kathleen Sebelius’ departure as President Barack Obama’s health secretary signals a new chapter in the White House’s efforts to defend Obama’s signature healthcare law and help Senate Democrats who face tough battles for re-election in conservative states this fall. In the tightly orchestrated transition that included Sebelius’ resignation late Thursday and Obama’s quick appointment of well-regarded budget director Sylvia Mathews Burwell as Sebelius’ replacement, the political calculus was clear: Having stood by Sebelius during a […]

Catholic Pope asks for forgiveness for “evil” of priestly child abuse

(Reuters) — Pope Francis made his first public plea for forgiveness on Friday (April 11) for the “evil” committed by priests who molested children, using some of his strongest words yet on the Roman Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis. The Argentine-born pontiff said the Catholic Church, which last month named a high-level group on the scandal including an abuse victim, had to take an even stronger stand than before against the scandal that has haunted it […]

Australian PM says searchers confident of position of MH370’S black box

(Reuters) — Search and rescue officials in Australia are confident they know the approximate position of the black box recorders from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in China on Friday (April 11). “We are confident that we know the position of the black box flight recorder to within some kilometres. But confidence in the approximate position of the black box is not the same as recovering wreckage from almost four and a half kilometres (2.8 miles) beneath […]

U.S. Health Secretary resigns after overseeing Obamacare botched rollout

(Reuters) — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is resigning after overseeing the botched rollout of President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare reforms, aWhite House official said on Thursday (April 10). Her departure removes a lightning rod for Republican critics as Obama and his Democrats try to retain control of the U.S. Senate in November midterm elections, where problems with Obamacare reforms will be a top issue. The Oct. 1 launch of the new Obamacare health insurance marketplace, which was […]

Tractor-trailer slams into high school tour bus, killing 9 and injuring 32 in California

(Reuters) – A tractor-trailer slammed into a tour bus carrying high school students in northern California on Thursday, killing at least nine people and injuring 32, the California Highway Patrol said. Fran Clader, CHP spokeswoman, said the driver of the FedEx truck lost control of the vehicle, crossed over a divider on Interstate 5 and slammed first into a car and then the tour bus. Clader said the bus was carrying high school students and other passengers […]