| Greeks defy Europe with overwhelming referendum 'No' Posted: 05 Jul 2015 10:57 AM PDT  By Karolina Tagaris and Lefteris Papadimas ATHENS (Reuters) - Greeks voted overwhelmingly "No" on Sunday in a historic bailout referendum, partial results showed, defying warnings from across Europe that rejecting new austerity terms for fresh financial aid would set their country on a path out of the euro. With nearly a fifth of the votes counted, official figures showed 60.4 percent of Greeks on course to reject a bailout offer from creditors that was the official issue of the ballot. Officials from the Greek government, which had argued that a 'No' vote would strengthen its hand to secure a better deal from international creditors after months of wrangling, immediately said they would try to restart talks with European partners.
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| Kerry urges Iran to make 'hard choices', says U.S. ready to walk Posted: 05 Jul 2015 09:39 AM PDT  By Arshad Mohammed and John Irish VIENNA (Reuters) - An Iranian nuclear agreement is possible this week if Iran makes the "hard choices" necessary, but if not, the United States remains ready to walk away from the negotiations, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday. Speaking after his third meeting of the day with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Kerry said they had made "genuine progress" in talks over the last few days but "several of the most difficult issues" remain. "If hard choices get made in the next couple of days, made quickly, we could get an agreement this week, but if they are not made we will not," he said outside the hotel where talks between Iran, the United States and five other powers are being held.
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| Fans cheer as Princess Charlotte christened on royal estate Posted: 05 Jul 2015 10:51 AM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Prince William and his wife, Kate, marked a milestone for their newborn baby Princess Charlotte on Sunday — a christening ceremony on Queen Elizabeth II's country estate that was steeped in royal tradition.
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| Captured New York fugitive moved to prison from hospital Posted: 05 Jul 2015 07:53 AM PDT  Captured prison escapee David Sweat was released on Sunday from a New York hospital where he had been treated for gunshot wounds and moved to a prison more than 250 miles (400 km) from the one he fled, authorities said. Sweat, captured last Sunday following a three-week manhunt, will be locked up alone in a cell for 23 hours a day and placed on suicide watch at Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, in the state's Finger Lakes region, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said. Sweat, 35, and accomplice Richard Matt escaped from maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York on June 6.
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| Maine man dies after trying to light firework on his head Posted: 05 Jul 2015 11:07 AM PDT Devon Staples, 22, of Calais, Maine, was drinking and celebrating the holiday in a friend's backyard when he placed the fireworks mortar tube on his head around 10 p.m., said Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. McCausland said it was unclear whether the firework was already lit, or whether Staples lit it once it was on his head. The tube Staples was using was a reusable mortar shell but said McCausland said investigators did not know what type of firework he was attempting to shoot. |
| America celebrates July 4 with hot dogs and barbecues amid tightened security Posted: 04 Jul 2015 09:03 PM PDT  Americans marched in star-spangled parades, ran relay races, gathered for fireworks shows and crowned a new world hot dog eating champion as they celebrated Independence Day in traditional style on Saturday. Possible security threats, wildfires in the West and rainy weather on the East Coast apparently did little to dampen the spirits of celebrants decked out in red, white and blue from their headbands to their shoelaces. Crowds at Boston's Old State House erupted in applause and cannons shot out tri-color confetti after the annual July Fourth reading of the Declaration of Independence.
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| A family divided: Emotions run high as Greeks vote Posted: 04 Jul 2015 11:09 PM PDT  ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Dimitris is voting "yes" because he fears Greece would be in danger if it leaves the European Union. His daughter Alexandra is voting "no" because she is tired of richer European nations bossing Greece around.
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| Obama speechwriter reveals secret same-sex marriage at White House Posted: 04 Jul 2015 10:51 AM PDT  During a special presentation of the popular live storytelling podcast The Moth at this year's Aspen Ideas festival, former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett shared a story about how, years before gay marriage would become legal nationwide, he secretly performed a same-sex marriage at the White House.
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| Tunisia declares state of emergency after beach attack Posted: 04 Jul 2015 06:18 PM PDT  President Beji Caid Essebsi on Saturday declared a state of emergency following last week's beach massacre claimed by jihadists that he said had left Tunisia facing a "special type of war". In a televised address to the nation, Essebsi said the state of emergency, effective from Saturday for a 30-day period, was decided on after consultations with the parliament speaker and prime minister. A state of emergency, granting special powers to the police and army, was in force for three years up until March 2014, following longtime secular president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's ouster in a 2011 revolution.
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| Presidential candidates campaign in July Fourth parades Posted: 04 Jul 2015 12:37 PM PDT  Alongside the patriotic music and waving flags Saturday in parades across Iowa and New Hampshire were clear reminders of a presidential race coming up next year: Red balloons promoting "Jeb! 2016," a tractor draped in a Rick Perry banner and dutiful volunteers holding signs and chanting for their chosen candidates.
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| IS video shows mass execution in ruins of Syria's Palmyra Posted: 04 Jul 2015 11:00 AM PDT  The Islamic State group on Saturday released a video showing 25 Syrian government soldiers being executed by teenagers in the ancient amphitheatre in the city of Palmyra. It shows the soldiers in green and brown military uniforms being shot dead on the amphitheatre's stage in front of an enormous version of the group's black and white flag. IS reportedly carried out more than 200 executions, including of civilians, in and around Palmyra in the period when it captured the city.
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