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France's Hollande wants Greece to stay in euro zone
CAMP DAVID (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday he wanted Greece to stay in the euro zone, but expected the country to meet its commitments. "The message I gave was the hope that Greece stays in the euro zone, respects its commitments and is supported by Europe to stimulate its growth," he said. Hollande said he had wanted to discuss Spanish and other bank recapitalization, but the G8 had not been the forum to deal with the issue. (Reporting By John Irish and Elizabeth Pineau. Editing by Warren Strobel)
G8 leaders back Greece in euro zone, call growth "imperative"
CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - G8 leaders said Saturday it is their "imperative" to promote growth and jobs to reinvigorate the global economy, and gave their backing to Greece remaining in the euro zone. "We agree on the importance of a strong and cohesive Eurozone for global stability and recovery, and we affirm our interest in Greece remaining in the Eurozone while respecting its commitments," the leaders said in a statement after meeting at this presidential retreat. ...
Woman gets 20 years for firing warning shot
Marissa Alexander had never been arrested before she fired a bullet at a wall one day in 2010 to scare off her husband when she felt he was threatening her. Nobody got hurt, but this month a northeast Florida judge was bound by state law to sentence her to 20 years in prison.
G8 to call on IEA for "action" on oil if needed: sources
CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - Group of Eight leaders agreed on Saturday to call on the International Energy Agency to take "appropriate action" if there are further disruptions to the oil market in the coming months, sources familiar with the G8 draft communiqué said. "There have been increasing disruptions in the supply of oil to the global market over the past several months, which pose a substantial risk to global economic growth. In response, major producers have increased their output while drawing prudently on excess capacity," the statement will say, according to the sources. ...
Torch starts its 8,000 mile journey
British sailing hero Ben Ainslie kicked off the torch relay for the 2012 London Olympics on Saturday with a stroll through teary, flag-waving crowds who cheered the arrival of the flame.
Student dies, 7 hurt in blast near Italian school
A bomb exploded Saturday outside an Italian high school named after a slain anti-Mafia prosecutor, killing a student and wounding several others, officials said, and rattling a country already tense over a spate of attacks on government officials and buildings.
France's Hollande says G8 agree on Annan Syria peace mission
CAMP DAVID (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday that G8 countries had agreed to continue supporting U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan's Syrian peace efforts. "I insisted that all the participants support Kofi Anan's mission so that observers can provide protection of the Syrian people from their leaders," Hollande said referring to U.N. personnel operating in the country. (Reporting By John Irish and Elizabeth Pineau)
Europe's economic woes dominate G8 gathering
CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - President Barack Obama pledged at a Group of Eight summit on Saturday to work with Europe to balance growth with debt reduction as world leaders try to prevent the worsening euro zone crisis from destabilizing the global economy. At the wooded Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains, Obama and leaders from other major economic powers are seeking ways to soothe financial markets after worries about Spain's banking problems and the risk of a Greek exit from the euro zone sent world stocks to their lowest levels this year. ...
Blind Chinese activist leaves Beijing for U.S.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China allowed a blind legal activist, Chen Guangcheng, to leave a hospital in Beijing on Saturday and board a plane bound for the United States, a move that could signal the end of a diplomatic standoff between the two countries. Chen's escape from house arrest in northeastern China last month and subsequent stay in the U.S. embassy caused huge embarrassment for China and led to a diplomatic rift while U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting Beijing for talks to improve ties between the world's two biggest economies. The U.S. ...
Crews chisel rock to free man stuck in Iowa cave
Rescuers chiseled away rock Saturday in an effort to free a man trapped overnight in a cave at an Iowa state park.
Rookie Clauson crashes during qualifying session
Rookie Bryan Clauson has been taken to the infield medical center after crashing during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500.
Michelle Obama hosts G-8 spouses at White House
While President Barack Obama hosted world leaders Saturday for high-level economic talks at Camp David, Michelle Obama engaged in some soft diplomacy with their spouses.
Italy's Monti shows G8 bank guarantee plan: report
MILAN (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has taken a secret plan to create a European system of guarantees for bank deposits to the G8 summit, the Corriere della Sera newspaper said on Saturday, as savers' anxiety builds in debt-ridden euro zone countries. The proposal aims to guarantee bank deposits "with a view to ... stopping the hemorrhaging of funds from one country to another, from the south to the north," the newspaper reported, without citing any sources. The plan was discussed on Friday at the Group of Eight summit under way in the United States, it said. ...
Iowa river searched for 4 missing after boat crash
Crews searched Saturday for four people missing after an overnight boat crash on the Mississippi River in Iowa, although one official said it was mostly a recovery effort.
Castroneves posts Indy's fastest practice lap
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves has put himself back in contention for Indy's fifth pole.
Chen 'happy' to leave China, worried about relatives
Blind activist Chen Guangcheng told a friend Saturday just before flying to the United States that he was "happy" to be leaving China but worried about the safety of relatives left behind.
Cardinal's presence felt at Pa. church-abuse trial
Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua died just weeks before his longtime aide went on trial in the alleged cover-up of sexual assaults by priests within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Cool weather aids in fight against Colo. wildfire
Lower temperatures and higher humidity Saturday were expected to help crews assigned to a wildfire that has scorched 12 square miles in northern Colorado.
Michelle Obama host G-8 spouses at White House
While President Barack Obama hosts world leaders at Camp David, Michelle Obama is entertaining their spouses at the White House.
Syria bomb kills 9, Damascus blames foreign plot
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A car bomb blew up at a Syrian military post in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Saturday, killing nine people, an attack that Syria said was the latest proof that an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad is a foreign plot. The official SANA news agency said the blast had been the work of a suicide bomber, and had killed nine and wounded about 100, including guards, at what it called military installations. It said residences had been damaged. ...
Obama wants new banking rules put in place soon
President Barack Obama says the big trading loss at JPMorgan Chase shows the need to finally put in place banking rules he signed into law two years ago. He also is calling on Congress to stop trying to weaken the regulations.
One dead, five badly hurt in Italy school blast
Italy was in shock on Saturday after a 16-year-old girl died and five other teens were gravely injured in a bomb blast at a school, as investigators cast doubt on possible involvement by the mafia.
3 men charged with terror conspiracy ahead of NATO
Three men arrested earlier this week when police raided a Chicago apartment were being held Saturday on terrorism conspiracy charges, accused of trying to make Molotov cocktails ahead of the NATO summit.
Gunter Sachs art collection to be auctioned in UK
A modern art collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Salvador Dali, will be sold next week in London, Sotheby's said Saturday.
Iowa river searched for 4 missing in boat crash
Rescue crews are searching the Mississippi River in Iowa for four people missing after an overnight boat collision.
Fire risk prompts recall of nearly 87,000 Jeeps
Chrysler is recalling nearly 87,000 Jeep Wranglers in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere due to a risk of fires.
Obama: G-8 leaders put focus on eurozone crisis
The United States and other members of the Group of Eight industrial nations agree that Europe's financial crisis must be addressed with a mix of growth and austerity measures, President Barack Obama said Saturday as leaders gathered for a shirt-sleeve discussion that also will cover world concerns about ups and downs in oil prices.
Political vulnerabilities in Sen. Rubio's past?
For freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, a rising GOP figure seen as a possible Mitt Romney running mate, there are questions about whether potential vulnerabilities in his personal and political background might hold him back.
Jackie Chan is landing his last punch as an action star, but says he is stepping into retirement having made one of the most important films of his career.
Man stuck in cave at Iowa park; woman rescued
Rescue crews are working to free a man trapped in a cave at an Iowa state park.
Lady Gaga arrives in Philippines amid protests
Pop singer Lady Gaga arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to cheers from fans and protests from young Christians calling for the cancellation of her upcoming concerts.
4 missing, 8 hurt in boat crash on river in Iowa
Officials in Iowa say four people are missing and eight others hurt after a boat collision on the Mississippi River.
Austria giving 18 mn euros to train Afghan police
Austria will give 18 million euros ($23.6 million) for police training in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, a top official said.
3 charged with terror conspiracy ahead of NATO
Three men arrested earlier this week when police raided a Chicago apartment were being held on terrorism conspiracy charges Saturday stemming from allegations that they tried to make Molotov cocktails ahead of the NATO summit, but the first major dress rehearsal of this weekend's large-scale protests was relatively peaceful.
Mourners gather in NY for funeral of Mary Kennedy
Mourners gathered Saturday at a modest stone church north of New York City for the funeral of Mary Richardson Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
NATO chief to hold talks with Pakistani leader
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Islamabad to back efforts to stabilise Afghanistan ahead of talks Saturday with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, on the eve of a NATO summit.
SpaceX aborts capsule launch to ISS
Engineers aborted the launch of a privately built spacecraft on a landmark mission to the International Space Station at the last second on Saturday due to a rocket engine problem.
Gay marriage could be big voting issue in Colorado
Minutes after President Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage on May 9, Colorado's Democratic governor choked back tears as he ordered state lawmakers to reconsider a civil-unions measure defeated the day before by Republicans.
Will Smith slaps journalist who tries to kiss him
Hollywood star Will Smith slapped a male television reporter who he said tried to kiss him on the lips as he walked down the red carpet for the Moscow premiere of "Men in Black III."
Afghan security issues weighed at NATO summit
A look at Afghan security issues to be discussed at the NATO summit in Chicago.
