Exclusive: Italy puts back balanced budget goal by a year: draft

Italy will delay by a year its plan to balance the budget in 2013 due to a weakening economic outlook, according to a draft document due to be approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Mario Monti on Wednesday. The draft Economic and Financial document (DEF), which has been obtained by Reuters, raises the budget deficit forecasts for 2012-2014 and slashes this year's economic growth outlook. Italy's budget deficit...

Chaos marks Egypt football riot trial

The opening day of the trial of 73 men accused of involvement in an Egyptian football stampede, which left more than 70 dead, has been marked with chaos and had to be briefly adjourned. Dozens of defendants began shouting and pleaded "not guilty", as the prosecutor read out charges on Tuesday in the capital, Cairo. Some chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest), denying the charges of premeditated murder and possession of weapons. "We will die like them, or bring them justice," the defendants cried, denying any role in the...

Obama rejects Netanyahu's claim on Iran nuclear 'freebie'

President Obama has firmly rejected a complaint by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran was given a "freebie" on its nuclear program. Netanyahu's complaint came Sunday, a day after key world powers met with Iran and announced that the next meeting would take place in late May. "My initial impression is that Iran has been given a freebie," Netanyahu said. "It has got five weeks to continue enrichment...

Microsoft announces three versions of Windows 8

Brandon le Blanc, head of communications at Windows, announced the versions on the official Microsoft blog. He wrote: "We have worked to make it easier for customers to know what edition will work best for them." Windows 8 will come in three versions: Windows 8, for home PCs and laptops, Windows 8 Pro, for enthusiasts and professionals, and Windows RT, for devices running low-power Arm processors, such as tablet devices...

US Military: Official's Statement 'Mischaracterized' by S. Korean Media

U.S. military officials say South Korean media took out of context a comment made Tuesday at a Seoul news conference by the new head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear III. “Numerous reports following the event have mischaracterized his comments regarding U.S. response to possible future provocation of a nuclear test by North Korea, speculating that the U.S. is considering specific responses,”...