Reuters: Top News - Breaking News - World News [March ‘11 Diet]

[Reuters]

TOKYO (Reuters) - A ship carrying 100 people was swept away by the tsunami which smashed into northeastern Japan Friday following a massive earthquake, Kyodo news agency reported.

Source: Ship with 100 people swept away in tsunami: Kyodo

[Reuters]

VIENNA (Reuters) - Japan has told the U.N. nuclear wathchdog that a heightened state of alert has been declared at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after Friday's major earthquake, the Vienna-based agency said.

Source: Heightened state of alert at Japan atom plant: IAEA

[Reuters]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Regardless of whether hedge fund chief Raj Rajaratnam ends up testifying at his criminal trial, jurors are going to hear a lot from him.

Source: Rajaratnam tapes to get lots of play at trial

[Reuters]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. airlines canceled most of their flights to and from Japan on Friday, although limited service remained after the country suffered a major earthquake that hobbled operations at Tokyo's main international airport at Narita.

Source: U.S. airlines halt most service in Japan after quake

[Reuters]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retail sales posted their largest gain in four months in February as shoppers stepped up purchases of autos, clothes and other goods even as they spent more for gasoline.

Source: Shoppers shake off high gasoline costs in February

[Reuters]

HONOLULU (Reuters) - Hawaii ordered evacuations of its coastal areas and braced for a possible tidal wave set off by Friday's earthquake in Japan as a tsunami warning was extended to most of the Pacific basin, including northern California and Oregon.

Source: Hawaii orders evacuations in Pacific tsunami threat

[Reuters]

SAN FRANCISC0/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thousands of people thronged Apple stores on both U.S. coasts as the iPad 2 went on sale on Friday, signaling a strong appetite for a device that dominates the fledgling market it created.

Source: Big crowds greet Apple's iPad 2

[Reuters]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders agreed on Saturday to strengthen the euro zone bailout fund, make its loans cheaper and lower the interest rate on loans extended to Greece, a move to get on top of the year-long debt crisis.

Source: Euro zone leaders agree to strengthen bailout fund

[Reuters]

SANAA (Reuters) - One person died and scores were hurt on Sunday when Yemeni police fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters in Sanaa demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule, medical sources said.

Source: One dead as Yemen police open fire on protesters

[Reuters]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior lawmakers in both parties said on Sunday that Congress will pass a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown this week, but warned there are still big obstacles to long-term deals on the budget and debt.

Source: Lawmakers confident on short-term budget deal