SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday said North Korea should face reality and consider bringing about a "transformation", adding that Seoul will monitor changes in the secretive North. Lee's comments were included in a televised speech to mark Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule from 1910-1945, and follow signs that North Korea's new young leader, Kim Jong-un, may be planning to carry out reforms. Lee also urged North Korea to adhere to UN resolutions aimed at deterring Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. … Indian PM pledges to attract more foreign investment
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used his Independence Day speech on Wednesday to promise to improve conditions for foreign investment in the country after a sharp downturn in economic growth. Insight: Chavista militants may be wild card after Venezuela vote
CARACAS (Reuters) – Sitting in front of a mural of Jesus and the Virgin Mary armed with AK-47s, three red-shirted children are clutching assault rifles and copies of Venezuela's constitution. The photo, taken in a poor Caracas neighborhood and posted online earlier this year by the militant left-wing group "La Piedrita" (The Little Stone), triggered outrage across the South American nation and beyond. … Tibetans protest Chinese police 'brutality': group
Hundreds of Tibetans demonstrated in northwest China on Tuesday after police beat four people, an exile group and a US broadcaster said, following a recent string of self-immolations in the region. Colombia court rules strike at country's main coal railway illegal
BOGOTA (Reuters) – A Colombian court declared a strike at the country’s main coal railway illegal on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the union’s action for higher salaries, and giving the privately held railway operator the ability to fire workers who walked off the job three weeks ago, officials said. The 23-day strike by workers at the railway operated by Fenoco has shut off more than 50 percent of coal exports from Colombia, the world’s No.4 coal exporter, causing major coal producers to declare limited force majeure and cutting the country’s exports by an estimated 4 million tonnes this year. …
New storm hits north Philippines; at least 2 dead
A second tropical storm in as many weeks battered the northern Philippines on Wednesday, killing at least two people, as forecasters warned that the still-reeling capital could see more flooding. 
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Mitt Romney slammed Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday for making what Romney called an "outrageous charge" — evidence, he said, of "an angry and desperate presidency." Romney, using some of his most pointed language to date on … 
Asian stocks fell Wednesday, with contradictory economic data out of the U.S. dragging down market enthusiasm. 
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain's RWE npower will start commercial operations of its 2,000 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power station at Pembroke in September, the utility said on Tuesday. Npower had already announced that the 1 billion pound combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station would become operational during the third quarter of 2012 but had not cited a specific month. "With the full commercial operation of our new 1 billion pounds power station in Pembrokeshire next month … … 
CARACAS (Reuters) – U.S. officials will be allowed access on Wednesday to an American citizen arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of being a mercenary, President Hugo Chavez said. Clearly implying a plot was afoot less than two months before a presidential election, the socialist leader has said the man was detained entering illegally from Colombia a week ago and sought to destroy some coordinates in a notebook at the time. Foes have scoffed at Chavez's statements, saying it is typical of him to invent tales of U.S.-backed aggression against him at election time. … 
By AP | August 14, 2012 | + (MANILA, Philippines) -- A second tropical storm in as many weeks battered the northern Philippines after making landfall Wednesday, killing at least two people, as forecasters warned that the still-reeling capital could see … 
The regime of President Bashar Assad is near collapse and now controls only 30 percent of Syria, the country's former prime minister said Tuesday in his first comments since defecting to Jordan last week. The comments by Riyad Farid Hijab, … 
By REUTERS Saudi King Abdullah welcomes Muslim leaders to Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca, seats Iranian President Ahmadinejad by his side in apparent conciliatory gesture. Leaders of Muslim countries are expected to suspend Syria's … 
LOD, Israel -- Three days into Josh Warhit's first-ever visit to Israel, as a 16-year-old on a summer tour, war broke out in Lebanon, which transformed the group's itinerary -- and his life plan. On Tuesday, with talk rampant about the possibility of an … 
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Brent crude futures slipped below $114 on Wednesday after settling at a three-month high as supply disruption worries eased after the United States said it did not believe Israel had made a decision on whether to attack Iran. Concern about the potential for a military conflict in the Middle East over Iran's disputed nuclear program has supported oil prices this year, pushing Brent to a high of more than $128 per barrel in March, despite a worsening demand growth outlook. A surprise jump in stockpiles in the United States is also weighing on prices. … 
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh forecast economic growth of more than 6.5 percent for this fiscal year on Wednesday, a more optimistic take than a recent spate of private projections that saw growth slowing to as low as 5.5 percent. "Last year our GDP grew by 6.5 percent. This year we hope to do a little better," Singh said in his annual Independence Day speech, promising that faster infrastructure development would boost growth. "Recently we have taken new measures to accelerate infrastructure development. … 
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on Wednesday made a fresh demand that Japan takes responsibility for wartime sex slavery amid an escalating territorial dispute between the two countries. 
WASHINGTON -- In one tight Florida House race, a hastily assembled TV commercial to begin airing Wednesday takes aim at a top target of Democrats, highlighting his votes "to end Medicare as we know it." Republicans in Montana are advertising on behalf … 
By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason | CHILLICOTHE, Ohio/OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden triggered outrage from Mitt Romney on Tuesday by saying the Republican would put people "in chains" if elected president as the US presidential … 
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese cabinet member paid homage at a controversial shrine for war dead on Wednesday — the 67th anniversary of Tokyo's defeat in World War Two — a move likely to further strain relations with China and South Korea. Bitter memories of Japanese militarism run deep in China and South Korea and, despite close economic ties, relations with Beijing and Seoul have become increasingly fraught recently. Bickering over rival territorial claims to rocky, uninhabited islands are the latest sign of how the region has yet to resolve differences over its past. … 
Australia's Olympic athletes were welcomed home by a big crowd at Sydney airport on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard defending their achievements despite a poor medal haul. 
New Zealand said it was considering making cyber-bullying a criminal offence, amid concerns that existing laws offer inadequate protection from online harassment. 
By JANET HOOK and MARK PETERS AP Rep. Paul Ryan, the GOP vice-presidential contender, talks to supporters Tuesday in Lakewood, Colo. RACINE, Wis.--The southeastern Wisconsin district that is home to Rep. Paul Ryan should be risky terrain for the … 
Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom has announced plans to launch a new online music venture this year as he prepares to fight a US attempt to extradite him from New Zealand to face online piracy charges. 
With gunmen standing in the background, a Syrian rebel video purported Tuesday to show their latest captive: a lone Lebanese Shiite suspected of links to pro-regime Hezbollah whose abduction appears part of a wider strategy shift to target perceived backers of Bashar Assad. 
A 90-year-old man accused of being a Nazi war criminal on Wednesday won his fight to stay in Australia, after the High Court blocked his extradition to Hungary. 
PARIS -- French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that his government would use "all means" necessary to quell violence after overnight rioting in northern France left more than a dozen police officers injured and several buildings damaged or … 
A tropical storm slammed into the Philippines on Wednesday, dumping heavy rains and causing renewed flooding and landslides in a nation hit by weeks of destructive monsoon weather. 
Previously unpublished extracts from the diary of iconic Welsh actor Richard Burton have revealed his "aching" love for screen siren Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married twice. 
Australian Bernard Tomic booked a third-round spot at the ATP Cincinnati Masters, the teen's 6-4, 6-3 defeat of American Brian Baker settling up a likely meeting with Roger Federer. 
Asian countries dominate a league table of economies most at risk from earthquakes, floods, storms and other natural hazards, according to research published on Wednesday. 
(CBS News) Vice President Joe Biden has clarified a comment he made earlier today in which he said presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney would "put you all back in chains" by unshackling Wall Street. The comment, to a crowd that appeared to be … 
AN emergency summit of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has begun with a proposal to suspend conflict-racked Syria, a move strongly opposed by Iran. A draft final statement obtained by AFP said the summit "approves the suspension … 
WASHINGTON -- Iran is playing a growing role supporting the Syrian regime and is helping to build and train a militia to fight opposition forces, US defense officials said Tuesday. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, … 
KABUL, Afghanistan -- In one of the year's deadliest days for Afghan civilians, at least 39 people were killed and more than 100 hurt Tuesday in attacks that spanned the country from north to south, including the brutal tactic of a suicide bombing … 
BEIRUT -- The regime of President Bashar Assad is near collapse and now controls only 30% of Syria, the country's former prime minister said Tuesday in his first comments since defecting to Jordan last week. The comments by Riyad Farid Hijab, … 
TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian shares steadied on Wednesday as strong U.S. retail sales and data showing Germany and France avoiding a contraction last quarter bolstered investors' risk appetite, with weak euro zone growth sustaining hopes for more stimulus. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was almost unchanged after a 0.7 percent increase the day before. Japan's Nikkei stock average opened up 0.3 percent, helped by a weaker yen. … 
Video Video Death sentence for militants in Egypt Egypt's defence minister ordered out EGYPTIAN President Mohammed Morsi appears to have pulled off his high-risk counter-coup against the army generals who ruled the country in the aftermath of last … 
* President Correa and foreign minister deny media rumors * Decision on asylum for WikiLeaks founder expected this week By Eduardo Garcia QUITO, Aug 14 (Reuters) – Ecuador denied a report on Tuesday that it had granted amnesty to WikiLeaks founder … 
OLYMPICS NEWS: ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS have launched a hate campaign against two Tunisian Olympic medallists accusing them of inappropriate behaviour and dress. The action came as debate grows over the role of religion and women in the country that … 
Immigrants were met by throngs of family members, flags, banners, a stage and live music as they landed in Ben Gurion International Airport. By The Associated Press | Aug.15, 2012 | 1:30 AM Some of yesterday's new arrivals praying at Ben-Gurion airport … 
PARIS -- President François Hollande of France said Tuesday that his Socialist government would do everything necessary to ensure that law and order prevailed after rioting overnight in the northern city of Amiens. The rioting, which followed several … 
NAIROBI: Eight Ugandan servicemen walked away from their helicopter after it crashed in Kenya en route to war-torn Somalia while two soldiers were confirmed dead in another crash, officials said Tuesday. Theirs were among three Russian-made Mi-24 … 
LONDON (Reuters) – Deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and Business Secretary Vince Cable are leading a push to reopen talks on UK banking reform, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Senior members of the left-leaning Lib Dems want to re-examine whether banks' retail operations should be allowed to market complex derivative products, in light of the recent Libor rate-rigging scandal. … 
Japanese cabinet minister Jin Matsubara on Wednesday visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, seen by neighbouring nations as a symbol of the country's militaristic past. 
QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuador denied a report on Tuesday that it had granted amnesty to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and the country's foreign minister said only he and President Rafael Correa could make the decision. Assange has been taking refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for the past eight weeks to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on sex crime allegations. The former computer hacker, who enraged Washington in 2010 when his WikiLeaks website published thousands of secret U.S. … 
By By BRIAN MURPHY - 1 minute ago BEIRUT (AP) -- With gunmen standing in the background, a Syrian rebel video purported Tuesday to show their latest captive: a lone Lebanese Shiite suspected of links to pro-regime Hezbollah whose abduction appears part … 
Paul Ryan went on offense Tuesday in response to criticism over his Medicare plan, using an interview with Fox News coupled with a new TV ad to claim President Obama's health care plan treats the treasured entitlement like a "piggy bank," while the … 
By Fiona MacDonald and David Lerman on August 14, 2012 The Syrian regime is "collapsing emotionally and politically," former Prime Minister Riad Hijab said in his first public appearance since defecting to Jordan. In Washington, US Defense Secretary … 
Syria would accept Lakhdar Brahimi as the new UN-Arab League mediator, but the veteran envoy wants formal UN Security Council support before accepting the post, diplomats said Tuesday. 
Egypt's Islamist president has given himself the right to legislate and control over the drafting of a new constitution. He has installed at the top of the powerful military a defense minister likely to be beholden to him. 
Israel may rule out a unilateral attack in Iran should the US toughen its stance with regards to the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, a senior official in Jerusalem claimed. "The problem is that the Iranians are not identifying determination on the … 
AMIENS, France - Months of tension between police and young people in a troubled district of northern France exploded on Tuesday, with dozens of youths facing off against riot officers in a night of violence. Seventeen officers were injured, …