Biggest protests in 20 years sweep Brazil

By Todd Benson and Asher Levine SAO PAULO (Reuters) - As many as 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities on Monday in a swelling wave of protest tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. The marches, organized mostly through snowballing social media campaigns, blocked streets and halted traffic in more t

U.S. says it will buy Russian helicopters for Afghan military

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday it will spend $572 million to buy 30 Russian-built military helicopters that will be used by Afghan security forces. The Mi-17 helicopters will be used by Afghanistan's National Security Forces Special Mission Wing, which supports counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and special operations missions. The contract with Rosoboronexport, the Russian

Putin faces isolation over Syria as G8 ratchets up pressure

By Kate Holton and Jeff Mason ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin faced further isolation on the second day of a G8 summit on Tuesday as world leaders lined up to pressure him into toning down his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Following an icy encounter between the Kremlin chief and U.S. President Barack Obama late on Monday, the G8 leaders

Peru protesters push to stop $5 billion Newmont mine

By Mitra Taj PEROL LAKE, Peru (Reuters) - Thousands of opponents of a $5 billion gold project of Newmont Mining circled a lake high in the Andes on Monday, vowing to stop the company from eventually draining it to make way for Peru's most expensive mine. Lake Perol is one of several lakes that would eventually be displaced to mine ore from the Conga project. Water from the lakes would be transfe

U.S. right to arm Syrian rebels, says Israeli president

By Crispian Balmer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres has thrown his weight behind U.S. plans to arm Syrian rebels, shrugging off fears the weapons could be turned on Israel and exacerbate the conflict. In a wide-ranging interview with Reuters before his 90th birthday, Peres dismissed the idea that Israel could launch a unilateral military strike against Iran's nuclear faciliti

Obama sees Iran's election of moderate as hopeful sign

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday that Iran's election of a moderate as its next president is a sign that Iranians want to move in a different direction, but he was uncertain whether it would lead to a breakthrough over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. In an interview with public television anchor Charlie Rose, Obama said the United States and its allies wo

Supreme Court: For right to remain silent, a suspect must speak

Prosecutors can use a suspect’s silence during informal police questioning as evidence of guilt at a subsequent trial, the US Supreme Court said on Monday.

Supreme Court limits judges' discretion on minimum sentences

Judges will no longer be permitted to autonomously determine a fact in a criminal case if that fact increases a mandatory minimum punishment for the defendant, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, saying any such fact must be decided by a jury.

Whitey Bulger trial: Star witness tells of bungled murders

The trial of crime-boss James “Whitey” Bulger took a dive Monday into sordid stories of mob-related murder, mistrust, and deadly mistakes.

Obama, Putin in stare-down over (no, not the Super Bowl ring) Syria war

So, did The Ring come up in the conversation?

G8 exposes rift among leaders on Syria

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) — Deep differences over Syria's fierce civil war clouded a summit of world leaders Monday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin defiantly rejecting calls from the U.S., Britain and France to halt his political and military support for Syrian leader Bashar Assad's regime.

Rowhani's 'path of moderation' also shows limits

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's newly elected president showcased his reform-leaning image Monday by promising a "path of moderation" that includes greater openness on Tehran's nuclear program and overtures to Washington. He also made clear where he draws the line: No halt to uranium enrichment and no direct U.S. dialogue without a pledge to stay out of Iranian affairs.

Anger in southern Egypt over Islamist governor

LUXOR, Egypt (AP) — Angry tourism workers and activists in Luxor threatened Monday to block a newly appointed Islamist governor from his office because of his links to a former militant group that killed scores of people in a 1997 attack in the ancient city and devastated Egypt's sightseeing industry.

Unions give lift to Turkish protest movement

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish labor groups fanned a wave of defiance against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's authority, leading rallies and a one-day strike to support activists whose two-week standoff with the government has shaken the country's secular democracy.

9/11 accused in Guantanamo court but trial distant

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Five Guantanamo Bay prisoners accused of helping orchestrate the Sept. 11 terror attack returned to court Monday as arguments resumed over preparations for a trial that remains distant.

Protesters back in streets of Brazilian cities

SAO PAULO (AP) — More than 100,000 people took to the streets in largely peaceful protests in at least eight cities Monday, demonstrations that voiced the deep frustrations Brazilians feel about carrying heavy tax burdens but receiving woeful returns in public education, health, security and transportation.

Dreams turn bitter for Bangladeshi garment workers

TEKANI, Bangladesh (AP) — Moushumi's family now has one of the largest homes in their village — two bedrooms plus a living area with walls made of sturdy brick. Her father and brother will soon have a small business out front, selling furniture her dad will make. There will be money to pay for her younger sister to get married when it's time.

Obama: NSA secret data gathering 'transparent'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama defended top secret National Security Agency spying programs as legal in a lengthy interview Monday, and called them transparent — even though they are authorized in secret.

Chinese supercomputer named as world's fastest

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese university has built the world's fastest supercomputer, almost doubling the speed of the U.S. machine that previously claimed the top spot and underlining China's rise as a science and technology powerhouse.

Tropical depression forms off the coast of Belize

MIAMI (AP) — A tropical depression has formed off the coast of Belize and forecasters say it is expected to bring as much as five inches of rain to parts of Belize, Guatemala, northern Honduras and southern Mexico.

Uncertainty over US stimulus drags shares lower

TOKYO (AP) — Jitters over a possible change in U.S. stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve helped pull share prices mostly lower in early Asian trading Tuesday.

Airborne laser reveals city under Cambodian earth

SYDNEY (AP) — Airborne laser technology has uncovered a network of roadways and canals, illustrating a bustling ancient city linking Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temples complex.

Obama: Iranian people want a 'different direction'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Monday that Iran's election of a relative moderate shows that the country's people want to change course. But he stressed that Tehran still needs to show the international community that it's not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.

Military plans would put women in most combat jobs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in elite special operations forces.

Obama, Putin to sign new deal on reducing nuclear threat

By Roberta Rampton INNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin said they would sign an agreement on securing and destroying nuclear material to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, replacing a 1992 deal that expired on Monday. Obama and Putin met privately at the G8 summit to talk about pressing security issues and agreed to work together

Another round of protests in Brazilian cities

SAO PAULO (AP) — Protesters massed in at least seven Brazilian cities Monday for another round of demonstrations voicing disgruntlement about life in the country, raising questions about security during big events like the current Confederations Cup and a papal visit next month.

UK report: Saatchi cautioned over assault on wife

LONDON (AP) — Art collector Charles Saatchi has been cautioned over a dramatic assault on his TV presenter wife Nigella Lawson captured by a tabloid photographer just outside a fancy London restaurant.

Protests build in Brazil as discontent spreads

By Todd Benson and Asher Levine SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities on Monday in a growing protest that is tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. The marches, organized mostly through snowballing social media campaigns, blocked streets and halted traffic in more

Chinese activist says he's being forced out by NYU

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest, said Monday that New York University is forcing him and his family to leave at the end of this month because of pressure from the Chinese government. The university on Monday again denied Chen's allegations.