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• Shelling kills four boys on Gaza beach; Israel, Hamas set five-hour truce
• Iraqi army retreats from Tikrit after assault stalls
• More Ukrainian soldiers killed as fighting rages in east, peace move flops
• Confident Assad launches new term in stronger position
• Libyan air controllers strike to protest against airport shelling
• Iran, powers seek to agree terms for extending nuclear talks: diplomats
• U.S. sanctions will take Russia relations to a dead end -Putin
• Police: Stolen British Open golf cart hurts guard
• Police: US man found dead at Jamaica beach resort
• At least five Tunisia soldiers dead after militant attack
• US, Europe escalate economic sanctions on Russia
• EU to target Russian firms with sanctions, block loans
• EU summit fails to reach deal on top jobs
• EU leaders call on Israelis, Palestinians to end violence
• EU horse-trading for bloc's new top diplomat fails
• Syria's President Assad sworn in for new seven-year term
• Obama: US using all means to get Israel cease-fire
• UN working to start cross-border aid to Syria
• Kerry, Hagel to visit India to push strategic ties
• UN force for C. Africa taking shape
• Obama, seeing Iran progress, hints at more time
• Dhoni has no regrets over Anderson charge
• Hamas agrees to five-hour Gaza ceasefire
• Iraq Sunni insurgency seeks end to Shi'te political domination
• Honduras wants 'mini-Marshall plan' for U.S. aid on migrants
• EU leaders fail to agree on top jobs, to resume end August
• U.N. Security Council threatens action against South Sudan
• Russia set to reopen Soviet-era spy post on Cuba: source
• UN chief urges solution on Dominican citizenship
• Iran nuke talks likely to be extended past July 20
• Obama says Iran talks may need more time
• Egypt sentences 7 to life for sexual assaults
• Iturbe joins Roma in $30 million deal from Verona
• Haitians trek to waterfall to venerate saint
• Obama: Significant gaps on Iran nuclear talks
• Israel agrees to 'humanitarian' pause in Gaza
• Newcastle signs French forward Emmanuel Riviere

Shelling kills four boys on Gaza beach; Israel, Hamas set five-hour truce Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:06 PM PDT By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Allyn Fisher-Ilan GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli shelling killed four Palestinian boys on a Gaza beach on Wednesday, an incident the military called tragic, and Israel and Hamas said they would cease attacks for five hours on Thursday for a humanitarian truce requested by the United Nations. Palestinian militants fired more than 130 rockets into Israel on the ninth day of a war in which Israeli attacks have killed 216 Palestinians, including six in two air strikes on Wednesday. Most of the casualties were civilians, health officials in Gaza said. In Israel, a civilian has been killed by one of more than 1,000 Palestinian rockets fired and more than half a dozen people have been wounded.

Iraqi army retreats from Tikrit after assault stalls Posted: 16 Jul 2014 02:35 AM PDT By Raheem Salman and Maggie Fick BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces have withdrawn from the militant-held city of Tikrit after their new offensive met heavy resistance, in a blow to the government effort to push back Sunni insurgents controlling large parts of the country. The failure highlights the difficulties of Baghdad's struggle to recapture territory from the insurgents who seized Mosul, Tikrit and other cities last month in a rapid offensive which threatens to fragment Iraq on ethnic and sectarian lines. It is unclear if the election of Salim al-Jabouri as speaker will break the broader deadlock over Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's bid to serve a third term. Government troops and allied Shi'ite volunteer fighters retreated from Tikrit before sunset on Tuesday to a base four km (2.5 miles) south after coming under heavy mortar and sniper fire, a soldier who fought in the battle said.

More Ukrainian soldiers killed as fighting rages in east, peace move flops Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:37 AM PDT By Richard Balmforth and Anton Zverev KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Moscow separatists battled to break through lines of government forces near the border with Russia in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, and a tentative step towards agreeing a ceasefire in the intensifying three-month conflict failed. Fighting has escalated sharply since Ukrainian forces pushed rebels out of their stronghold in the town of Slaviansk 10 days ago. The past several days have seen Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of firing across the border. Ukraine's military said 11 more troops were killed in the space of 24 hours, mostly in clashes near the frontier.

Confident Assad launches new term in stronger position Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:53 AM PDT By Marwan Makdisi DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Bashar al-Assad was sworn in for a new term as Syria's president on Wednesday, after an election which his opponents dismiss as a sham but which he said proved he had achieved victory after a "dirty war" to unseat him. Those close to Damascus say he now believes his Western and regional foes will be forced to deal with him as a bulwark against Sunni Islamist militants who advanced across northern Iraq last month. At his inauguration he delivered a defiant speech, vowing to recover all Syria from Islamist insurgents and warning that Western and Arab countries would pay dearly for supporting rebels he described as terrorists. Looking calm and confident, the president of 14 years repeatedly took aim at the West and Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab monarchies who have funded and armed the rebels that have taken control of much of the north and east of his country.

Libyan air controllers strike to protest against airport shelling Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:55 PM PDT Air controllers in western Libya have gone on strike to protest against the shelling of Tripoli's main airport, halting flights in much of the oil producing country, an official said on Thursday. The air controllers refused to go to work at the control tower in Tripoli, which regulates traffic for all of western Libya, a spokesman for the transport ministry said. Authorities had closed Tripoli International Airport after a militia on Sunday attacked the airport area controlled by a rival militia, part of growing turmoil in the North African country. On Wednesday, Libya reopened the western Misrata airport, which also had been closed after the airport attack, but it will have to close again due to the strike because Tripoli air controllers are also responsible for Misrata.

Iran, powers seek to agree terms for extending nuclear talks: diplomats Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:10 PM PDT By John Irish and Parisa Hafezi VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers are working to finalize the terms of a likely extension in negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program beyond a July 20 deadline and an announcement may come as early as Friday, Western diplomats said. Western nations fear Iran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing a nuclear weapons capability. Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. "We hope to be gone before Sunday and wrap up (the extension) before the weekend," a Western diplomat said.

U.S. sanctions will take Russia relations to a dead end -Putin Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:59 PM PDT Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that U.S. sanctions will take relations with Russia to a "dead end" and damage U.S. business interests in his country. "Sanctions have a boomerang effect and without any doubt they will push U.S.-Russian relations into a dead end, and cause very serious damage," he said to reporters on a visit to Brazil. The U.S. government on Wednesday, because of what it views as Russia's interference in Ukraine, imposed its most wide-ranging sanctions yet, on key players in the country's economy, including Gazprombank and Rosneft Oil Co, and other major banks and energy and defense companies. "This means that U.S. companies willing to work in Russia will lose their competitiveness next to other global energy companies," he said.

Police: Stolen British Open golf cart hurts guard Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:55 PM PDT HOYLAKE, England (AP) — A man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of assault after he took a golf cart from the course staging the British Open and drove it into a security guard, the second police intervention involving a wayward cart in consecutive majors.

Police: US man found dead at Jamaica beach resort Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:54 PM PDT KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Police in Jamaica say a missing U.S. man has been found dead on the compound of a resort in northern Jamaica where he was vacationing.

At least five Tunisia soldiers dead after militant attack Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:49 PM PDT At least five Tunisian soldiers were killed after gunmen attacked military checkpoints near the Algerian border, where the army has been conducting an operation to flush out Islamist militant fighters, the TAP state news agency and a defense official said on Wednesday. The gunmen, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and rifles, attacked the checkpoints in the Mount Chaambi area, according to the reports. "They attacked military checkpoints in Mount Chaambi, there are dead and wounded in this attack with RPGs and rifles," Rachid Hawela, a defense ministry spokesman said. The TAP news agency said five soldiers were killed and nine more wounded in the attacks.One of the Arab world's most secular states, Tunisia has adopted a new constitution and a caretaker government has taken over as a way to ease tensions between a leading Islamist party and secular opponents after its 2011 revolt against autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.But the small North African country has struggled with the rise of hardline Islamist militants.

US, Europe escalate economic sanctions on Russia Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:47 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Struggling to defuse the persistent crisis in Ukraine, both the U.S. and European Union imposed new economic sanctions on Russia Wednesday, with President Barack Obama declaring that Russian leaders must see that their actions supporting rebels "have consequences."

EU to target Russian firms with sanctions, block loans Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:39 PM PDT By Barbara Lewis and Adrian Croft BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Wednesday to sanction Russian companies that help destabilize Ukraine and to block new loans to Russia through two multilateral lenders. The decision is a significant ratcheting-up of European pressure on Russia although it falls short of the hard-hitting economic measures against Russia for which the United States and hawks in the EU were pushing. Simultaneously, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the most wide-ranging sanctions yet on the Russian economy, targeting key institutions including Gazprombank and Rosneft Oil Co, as well as other energy and defense companies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arriving for the summit, said the EU leaders would talk about new sanctions "because we believe that the Russian contribution to peace in Ukraine is not yet sufficient".

EU summit fails to reach deal on top jobs Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:38 PM PDT EU leaders failed to reach an agreement at a summit Wednesday over who should get the top jobs to steer the 28-nation bloc over the next five years. The summit "ended without an accord," one diplomat said, on who should take the plum job of EU foreign affairs chief or be the new president of the European Council, which represents the 28 leaders and sets overall policy. Early hopes for a decision on who would replace Britain's Catherine Ashton as foreign affairs head, faded from the start, putting the summit in difficulty. Without agreement on this key position, naming a new president of the European Council became even more difficult as current head Herman Van Rompuy tried to put together a package deal.

EU leaders call on Israelis, Palestinians to end violence Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:38 PM PDT European Union leaders on Wednesday called on Israelis and Palestinians to end violence and said they welcomed efforts, particularly from Egypt, to broker a cease-fire following more than a week of warfare. The leaders, meeting in Brussels, urged both sides to "de-escalate the situation, to end the violence, to end the suffering of the civilian populations notably by allowing access to humanitarian assistance, and return to calm." In a statement, the EU leaders welcomed Egypt's efforts to mediate and called on the Islamic Hamas, which rules Gaza, to agree to a cease-fire. U.S. President Barack Obama also said on Wednesday he supported Egypt's attempt to achieve a Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. The EU leaders condemned the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.

EU horse-trading for bloc's new top diplomat fails Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:35 PM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders failed to agree on who should get the prestigious job as the 28-nation bloc's new foreign policy chief to succeed Catherine Ashton, who also chairs the international negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

Syria's President Assad sworn in for new seven-year term Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:30 PM PDT Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in Wednesday for a new seven-year term in a red carpet ceremony in Damascus, after an election his opponents had slammed as a "farce". Assad swore by the Koran before the country's parliamentarians in an extraordinary session, 40 months into a conflict estimated to have killed more than 170,000 people. I congratulate you for your revolution and for your victory," Assad told his supporters. More than 1,000 people were invited to the inauguration ceremony, with Assad arriving at the presidential palace in a black sedan car before being met on a red carpet by a military band.

Obama: US using all means to get Israel cease-fire Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:29 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States will use all its diplomatic resources and relationships to secure a deal on a cease-fire to end violence between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

UN working to start cross-border aid to Syria Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:25 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations said Wednesday it has already positioned supplies for the first convoys that will deliver aid from several neighboring countries to rebel-held areas in Syria, and hopes to reach 2.9 million people.

Kerry, Hagel to visit India to push strategic ties Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:23 PM PDT By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - America's top diplomat and the head of its Defense Department will visit India in coming weeks seeking to revitalize a relationship the United States sees as a crucial counterbalance in Asia to an increasingly assertive China. Secretary of State John Kerry will represent the United States in an annual session of Strategic Dialogue with India scheduled for July 31, and he will be followed to New Delhi by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in early August, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. They will be the most senior U.S. officials to visit India for talks with the new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since his May election. Modi is expected to visit the United States in September.

UN force for C. Africa taking shape Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:17 PM PDT A UN peacekeeping force for Central African Republic will begin deploying in two months, with some 2,500 troops joining African and French forces, UN and French officials said Wednesday. Bangladesh, Pakistan and Morocco have agreed to contribute three battalions to the new UN force, said France's UN Ambassador Gerard Araud. The first contingents will begin arriving around September 15 and will beef up the 6,000 African troops serving in the African Union's MISCA force. The head of UN peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, said the new UN force will work to strengthen security at a "significantly superior" level than the current MISCA operation.

Obama, seeing Iran progress, hints at more time Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:17 PM PDT US President Barack Obama signaled Wednesday that talks with Iran on its nuclear program may need to extend beyond a weekend deadline, saying negotiations have shown a "credible way forward." Obama said he was consulting with Congress -- where there is strong criticism of his quest for a diplomatic deal with Iran -- as negotiators meet in Vienna ahead of Sunday's expiration of a temporary deal. "So over the next few days, we'll continue consulting with Congress and our team will continue discussions with Iran and our partners as we determine whether additional time is necessary to extend our negotiations." - Iran has 'met its commitments' -

Dhoni has no regrets over Anderson charge Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:03 PM PDT India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni insisted Wednesday his side had been right to complain about the conduct of England's James Anderson. England seamer Anderson was charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday for allegedly "abusing and pushing" India's Ravindra Jadeja during last week's drawn first Test at Trent Bridge. If the charge is upheld, Anderson could be banned for as many as four Tests.

Hamas agrees to five-hour Gaza ceasefire Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:03 PM PDT Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Hamas on Thursday agreed to join a temporary Gaza ceasefire requested by the United Nations on humanitarian grounds.

Iraq Sunni insurgency seeks end to Shi'te political domination Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:01 PM PDT By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Sunni insurgents and tribal leaders said on Wednesday after a closed meeting they would keep fighting until they take over the Iraqi capital and bring down a U.S. imposed political order that brought Shi'ites to rule the country and marginalised them. Sunni cleric Abdul Malik Al-Saadi, who praised the "mujahdeen" (holy warriors) leading the revolt, said tribes were the backbone of a broad based insurgency battling against Iraqi Shi'ite Islamist Prime Minister Nuri Maliki's rule. He said these forces had now captured large parts of western and northern Iraq. The Islamic State, the Al Qaeda offshoot, is only a part of the uprising, the Sunni's top religious figure said.

Honduras wants 'mini-Marshall plan' for U.S. aid on migrants Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:45 PM PDT By Gustavo Palencia TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran officials on Wednesday called for U.S. aid to Central America to reduce violence that has fueled a surge of child migration to the United States, with the foreign minister calling for a "mini-Marshall plan" to attack the broader underlying problems. Honduran President Juan Hernandez said Washington should help Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras fight gangs with a plan similar to U.S. anti-drug programs in Colombia and Mexico, as well as funds to lift growth in the impoverished region. "One has to recognize that our countries can't do it alone," he said at a conference about the unaccompanied minors fleeing for the United States. "We need help from the United States, from Mexico, because this is everyone's problem." Honduran Foreign Minister Mireya Aguero told the conference that efforts to step up security at the U.S. border were not working and that U.S. aid would be better spent in Central America.

EU leaders fail to agree on top jobs, to resume end August Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:44 PM PDT BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders failed to agree at a summit on Wednesday on sharing out top jobs in the 28-nation bloc, postponing the decision until they meet again at the end of August, diplomats said. The leaders were deadlocked over opposition to Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini's candidacy for the role of EU foreign policy chief, and demands by central and east European countries for the job to go to someone from their region, the sources said. (Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Jan Strupczewski)

U.N. Security Council threatens action against South Sudan Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:42 PM PDT By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council warned on Wednesday it is ready to consider "appropriate measures" against warring parties in South Sudan if they do not stop the violence in the world's youngest nation and negotiate a transitional government. The United States and the European Union have already imposed sanctions on military leaders on both sides. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power has urged the Security Council to also consider imposing targeted sanctions. South Sudan has been in political turmoil since President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar last year, triggering a conflict that reopened deep ethnic tensions in the world's youngest country, which only won independence from Sudan in 2011.

Russia set to reopen Soviet-era spy post on Cuba: source Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:41 PM PDT By Lidia Kelly MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has reached a provisional agreement with Cuba to reopen a big Soviet-era base on the Caribbean island from which it once spied in the United States, a Russian security source said on Wednesday. "A framework agreement has been agreed," the source told Reuters, confirming a report in the daily Kommersant newspaper that the reopening was approved in principle during a visit to Cuba last week by President Vladimir Putin. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to comment, noting there was no formal announcement from Moscow. Other U.S. officials were skeptical, questioning whether Russia would go through with what would be an expensive initiative with possible limited returns.

UN chief urges solution on Dominican citizenship Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:39 PM PDT SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Dominican legislators on Wednesday to find a humanitarian solution to a fiercely debated court decision that could render thousands of people of Haitian descent stateless.

Iran nuke talks likely to be extended past July 20 Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:36 PM PDT VIENNA (AP) — Facing stubborn disputes on the terms of a deal, Iran and six world powers have tentatively decided to adjourn their nuclear talks two days early but plan to extend them past their planned July 20 end date, diplomats said Wednesday.

Obama says Iran talks may need more time Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:35 PM PDT Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama signaled Wednesday that talks with Iran on its nuclear program may need to extend beyond a weekend deadline, saying negotiations have shown a "credible way forward."

Egypt sentences 7 to life for sexual assaults Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:34 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court sentenced seven men to life in prison on Wednesday for sexual assaults on women during public rallies in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, in the first such heavy sentences since the government vowed to crack down on rampant sexual violence.

Iturbe joins Roma in $30 million deal from Verona Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:34 PM PDT ROME (AP) — Promising Argentine forward Juan Manuel Iturbe is joining Italian runner-up Roma in a €22 million ($30 million) transfer from Hellas Verona.

Haitians trek to waterfall to venerate saint Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:33 PM PDT SAUT D' EAU, Haiti (AP) — Followers of Haiti's most celebrated patron saint, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, gathered at the Saut d'Eau waterfall Tuesday to pay her tribute and make requests.

Obama: Significant gaps on Iran nuclear talks Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:25 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that there are "still significant gaps" and more work to do to reach a deal to get Iran to curb its nuclear program.

Israel agrees to 'humanitarian' pause in Gaza Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:24 PM PDT GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel agreed to a five-hour "humanitarian" pause in its 9-day-old bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 200 Palestinians, including four boys struck on a beach Wednesday by shells fired from a navy ship.

Newcastle signs French forward Emmanuel Riviere Posted: 16 Jul 2014 03:24 PM PDT NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle has added Emmanuel Riviere to its collection of French players by signing the forward from Monaco.

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