U.S. reports 279 Zika cases in pregnant women, Obama pushes Congress on funds

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health officials said 279 pregnant women in the United States and U.S. territories have tested positive for Zika infection, prompting a new call from President Barack Obama for more funding to fight the outbreak spreading through the Americas.

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Egypt finds human remains and belongings from plane crash at sea

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt said on Friday that its navy had found human remains, wreckage and the personal belongings of passengers floating in the Mediterranean, confirmation that an EgyptAir jet had plunged into the sea with 66 people on board.

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Protesters return to Baghdad's Green Zone, sparking violence

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces opened fire on protesters who stormed into Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone and entered at least one government building, drawing calls for revolt from a powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

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Mexico to extradite drug boss Guzman to U.S., won't face death penalty

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico approved the extradition of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States on Friday after receiving guarantees he would not face the death penalty, and the kinkgpin's lawyers vowed to block the move.

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Oklahoma introduces measure to impeach Obama over bathroom rights

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma's Republican-dominated legislature has filed a measure calling for President Barack Obama's impeachment over his administration's recommendations on accommodating transgender students, saying he overstepped his constitutional authority.

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U.S. targets spying threat on campus with proposed research clampdown

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leading U.S. universities are pushing back against a proposed State Department rule that would bar foreign students from more research projects and classes involving information seen as vital to national security.

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Russia proposes joint air strikes on Syria rebels but U.S. is cool

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has proposed to the U.S.-led coalition that they stage joint air strikes on Syrian rebels, including militant Islamist group Nusra Front, who are not observing a ceasefire, but the United States responded coolly on Friday.

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Exclusive: EU regulators to conditionally clear AB Inbev, SABMiller deal - sources

BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev is set to win conditional EU approval for its $100 billion-plus takeover of SABMiller after agreeing to substantial asset sales, three people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

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UK on Trump invite to 10 Downing Street: Not just yet

LONDON/WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Friday that British Prime Minister David Cameron had asked him to visit, but a UK spokesman said no invitation had been extended.

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New U.S. food label rules to require added sugars to be detailed

(Reuters) - The United States plans a major overhaul of the way packaged foods are labeled, the Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday. Serving sizes will be adjusted to reflect how much people actually eat, and for the first time labels will list added sugars.

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Asian shares edge lower as crude oil spirals down

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares were subdued in early trade on Friday, but still on track for a steep weekly loss in the wake of China's shock currency devaluation earlier in the week.

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Japan's Abe set to issue WW2 anniversary remarks amid conflicting pressures

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was poised on Friday to issue a statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, remarks that will be closely analyzed abroad...

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China investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port, firms assess damage

TIANJIN, China (Reuters) - Investigators searched for clues on Friday to identify what caused two huge explosions at a warehouse used to store toxic chemicals and gas at a busy port in northeast...

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Greek ruling party heads toward split before bailout vote

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party looked set to split after the leader of its far-left faction called on Thursday for a new movement to fight a bailout deal that...

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U.S. believes Islamic State likely used mustard agent in Iraq attack: WSJ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes Islamic State militants likely used mustard agent in an attack on Kurdish forces in Iraq earlier this week, the first indication the militant group...

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Currency war fears ease; oil hits six-year low

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond yields rose in major markets on Thursday after China's central bank reassured investors there was no reason for its currency to keep falling, but oil prices fell to six-year...

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Fidel Castro celebrates 89th birthday with leftist allies

HAVANA (Reuters) - Retired Cuban President Fidel Castro celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday with two of his country's closest leftist allies from Latin America, a day ahead of a historic visit...

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Huge blasts at Chinese port kill 50, injure more than 700

TIANJIN, China (Reuters) - Two huge explosions tore through an industrial area where toxic chemicals and gas were stored in the northeast Chinese port city of Tianjin, killing at least 50 people,...

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State of emergency in Ferguson, Missouri, extended at least 24 hours

(Reuters) - The government of St. Louis County extended for at least 24 hours a state of emergency in Ferguson, Missouri, which has been the scene of protests a year after an unarmed black teenager...

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Shortages push some Venezuelans to queue overnight for food

MARACAIBO (Reuters) - As dawn breaks over the scorching Venezuelan city of Maracaibo, smugglers, young mothers and a handful of kids stir outside a supermarket where they spent the night, hoping to...

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