The Lede Blog: Australia Restricts Company Logos on Cigarette Packs

The Lede Blog: Australia Restricts Company Logos on Cigarette Packs
UN report slams Assad forces for war crimes
Dallas declares virus emergency
VIDEO: Olympic flag in Rio de Janeiro
Australia upholds tobacco branding ban
Branson 'sad' at franchise loss
UAE tells its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately: state news agency
Comedy: Gay Male Comics Await the Spotlight
Hypersonic jet fails speed test
Syrian warplanes hammer rebel border town
Security Guard Shot in Arm in Downtown DC
Man United agree Van Persie deal
Nigeria cancels famous festival
Chinese Account Of Murder Doubted
Iraq car bombs, blast kill 9, wound 34: sources
'Thirty dead' in Syria air strike
VIDEO: Iran quake: Foreign aid now welcome
Germany re-opens Facebook probe
Uganda president reappoints officials accused of graft
UK's Prince Philip hospitalised in Scotland

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT

Australia's highest court upheld a law that restricts the use of tobacco company logos on cigarette packages.

UN report slams Assad forces for war crimes

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:46 PM PDT

UN accuses Syria of policy of violence against civilians, as humanitarian chief says 2.5 million citizens now need aid.

Dallas declares virus emergency

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:39 PM PDT

A state of emergency is declared in Dallas as the city seeks to contain the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, which has claimed 14 lives in Texas.

VIDEO: Olympic flag in Rio de Janeiro

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT

The Olympic flag is now flying in Rio de Janeiro in an area that was once one of the city's most dangerous favelas, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville says.

Australia upholds tobacco branding ban

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:16 PM PDT

SYDNEY — Australia's High Court has rejected a challenge by the world's biggest tobacco companies seeking to overturn a law requiring cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging.

The law, approved by Parliament last year, requires cigarettes to be sold in drab dark packaging starting in December, without logos but featuring graphic images of smoking-related diseases. Brand names can still be used, but only in a standard font, size and position.

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Branson 'sad' at franchise loss

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:14 PM PDT

Sir Richard Branson says it is "extremely disappointing" that Virgin Rail has lost the West Coast Mainline franchise to rival FirstGroup.

UAE tells its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately: state news agency

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:15 PM PDT

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates told its citizens on Wednesday to leave Lebanon immediately, the state news agency said, after a spate of kidnappings by gunmen belonging to a Lebanese Shi'ite clan.

Comedy: Gay Male Comics Await the Spotlight

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:06 AM PDT

There is no shortage of gay male comedians, but there has yet to be a standout gay stand-up.

Hypersonic jet fails speed test

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:15 PM PDT

The US Air Force says its attempt to fly a hypersonic jet at Mach 6 (3,600mph; 5,795 km/h) over the Pacific failed and the aircraft was lost.

Syrian warplanes hammer rebel border town

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:17 PM PDT

Dozens of people, including children, reported killed by air strikes on rebel-held Azaz town some 45km north of Aleppo.

Security Guard Shot in Arm in Downtown DC

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:12 AM PDT

A security guard for a conservative Christian lobbying group has been shot in the arm.

Man United agree Van Persie deal

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:43 AM PDT

Manchester United agree a £24m deal to sign Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on a four-year contract.

Nigeria cancels famous festival

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:27 AM PDT

A centuries-old festival held during Muslim Eid celebrations is cancelled in northern Nigeria, a region hit by increasing insecurity, due to the poor health of Kano's emir.

Chinese Account Of Murder Doubted

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:16 AM PDT

Friends of Neil Heywood have questioned the account by Chinese prosecutors during last week's trial of Gu Kailai of how and why the British businessman was killed—especially the claim that he threatened the son of Ms. Gu and ousted party official Bo Xilai.

Iraq car bombs, blast kill 9, wound 34: sources

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:23 AM PDT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two car bombs and a third blast killed at least nine people in Iraq on Wednesday, officials and security sources said, the latest in a spate of attacks raising fears of a return to widespread violence.

'Thirty dead' in Syria air strike

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:24 AM PDT

Syrian warplanes attack the northern town of Azaz, reportedly killing 30 people, and as tensions escalate in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia urges its citizens to leave.

VIDEO: Iran quake: Foreign aid now welcome

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Iran has said it is now welcoming foreign aid for victims of earthquakes that struck at the weekend, leaving entire villages flattened.

Germany re-opens Facebook probe

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:44 AM PDT

Data protection authorities in Germany re-open investigations into Facebook's use of facial recognition software.

Uganda president reappoints officials accused of graft

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:30 AM PDT

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni reappointed three senior government officials on Wednesday 10 months after they stepped down over corruption allegations, a move analysts said undermined the veteran leader's promises to fight graft.