Browse Events

Council of Europe head says Russia must protect LGBT rights
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The head of the Council of Europe demanded on Wednesday that Russia allow gay rallies, weighing in on what has become an increasingly divisive issue since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency.

Pussy Riot member starts hunger strike to protest court ruling
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A member of the band Pussy Riot who was jailed over a protest against President Vladimir Putin in a Russian cathedral said on Wednesday she was starting a hunger strike after she was barred from a parole hearing.

Iran's rulers risk alienating voters by candidate bans
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's clerical rulers may have sought to remove any challenge to their grip by barring two vivid contenders from next month's presidential election, but they risk alienating voters already disillusioned by the violent aftermath of the 2009 poll.

FBI kills Florida man with suspected ties to Boston bomb suspect: NBC
MIAMI (Reuters) - An FBI agent shot and killed a Florida man with suspected links to the Boston Marathon bombings early on Wednesday, NBC News reported.

Kohl's names Starbucks' Gass chief customer officer
(Reuters) - Kohl's Corp said on Wednesday that Michelle Gass, who was instrumental in Starbucks Corp's U.S. turnaround several years ago, will join the department store in the new position of chief customer officer.

Pfizer to spin off Zoetis stake to shareholders
(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday it will spin off its majority stake in animal health business Zoetis Inc to shareholders by allowing them to swap Pfizer stock for Zoetis stock at a 7 percent discount.

IMF's Lagarde to be quizzed in French arbitration case
PARIS (Reuters) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde will be questioned by a French magistrate on Thursday over her role in a 285-million-euro ($366 million) arbitration payment made to a supporter of former president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Target cuts full-year forecast after weak first quarter
(Reuters) - Target Corp cut its full-year profit forecast on Wednesday while turning in a weak first quarter with disappointing sales, as a chilly start to spring kept shoppers from buying seasonal items like clothing.

Zale taps rival's ex-CEO as chairman, same-store sales edge up
(Reuters) - Zale Corp on Wednesday reported a modest bump in third-quarter same-store sales and said the former chief executive of its biggest rival, Kay Jewelers parent Signet Jewelers Ltd , will be its new chairman.

Iran denies link to group arrested for spying in Saudi Arabia
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran denied on Wednesday any link to members of a spying ring detained by its Sunni Muslim regional rival Saudi Arabia, according to Iranian media.

Boeing CEO McNerney says interest in 777X is high
(Reuters) - Boeing Co Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney said on Wednesday that customer interest in the 777X wide-body airplane is "high and still growing," and that he expects to formally launch the aircraft program later this year.

Futures up ahead of Bernanke testimony
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures rose in thin trading on Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated Congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy and monetary policy.

Europe closes in on tax havens; Austria agrees to swap bank data
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe moved closer to ending banking secrecy on Wednesday after Austria dropped objections to sharing data on foreign depositors and the EU focused on negotiating a similar agreement with Switzerland.

Lowe's results miss estimates, underperforming Home Depot
(Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc reported a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by colder-than-usual weather at the start of the spring selling season and strong competition from larger rival Home Depot Inc .

UK opposition party leader says Google tax behavior "wrong"
LONDON (Reuters) - Google Inc's tax affairs came under renewed scrutiny in Britain on Wednesday when the leader of the opposition Labour party accused the Internet company of wrongly going to "extraordinary lengths" to avoid paying tax.

Ukraine PM bars reporters from government meetings after protest
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov ordered a dozen local reporters to be barred from covering government meetings after they staged a silent protest on Wednesday over physical attacks on journalists at a rally.

UK wine retailer First Quench in $242 million pension risk deal
LONDON (Reuters) - British alcoholic drinks retailer First Quench is insuring a chunk of its pension liabilities with specialist provider Pension Insurance Corporation, improving retirement benefits for its 1,966 members.

Futures tick higher ahead of Bernanke testimony
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures edged up in thin trading Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated Congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy and monetary policy.

Target first-quarter profit down on weather-related sales weakness
(Reuters) - Target Corp posted a 0.6 percent decline in first-quarter sales at U.S. stores open at least a year on Wednesday after warning investors one month ago that its results would be disappointing as a chilly start to spring kept shoppers from buying seasonal items such as clothing.

Ireland feels the heat from Apple tax row
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland called on Wednesday for an international clampdown on multinationals shifting profits around the world to avoid tax, after criticism that Irish loopholes helped technology giant Apple to shrink its tax bill.