| Diplomats and U.N. staff flee Yemen as Houthis target Aden Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:31 PM PDT  By Sami Aboudi and Mohammed Mukhashaf ADEN (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's navy evacuated dozens of diplomats from Yemen on Saturday and the United Nations pulled out international staff after a third night of Saudi-led air strikes trying to stem advances by Iranian-allied Houthi fighters. Residents reported heavy clashes between the Houthis and mainly Sunni tribal fighters in the south of the country, while the air campaign sought to stall a fresh offensive by the Shi'ite Muslim group on Aden from the east. Riyadh's intervention, a surprise move from a conservative monarchy better known for flexing its muscle in oil markets than through military might, is planned to last a month but could extend for five or six, a Gulf diplomatic source said. He said satellite imagery had shown in January that the Houthis had repositioned long-range Scud missiles in the north, close to the Saudi border and aimed at Saudi territory.
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| Gunmen kill 15 in Nigeria during tense election Posted: 28 Mar 2015 11:57 AM PDT  By Tim Cocks and Bate Felix ABUJA (Reuters) - Gunmen killed at least 15 people including an opposition politician near polling stations in northeast Nigeria on Saturday, casting an ominous shadow over the closest electoral contest since the end of military rule in 1999. The tense race pits President Goodluck Jonathan against former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari for the favor of an electorate divided along a complex mix of ethnic, regional and in some cases religious lines. Islamist Boko Haram insurgents launched several attacks on voters in the northeast, killing three in Yobe state and three more in Gombe state, police said. The militants, who are trying to revive a medieval Islamic caliphate in religiously mixed Nigeria, reject democracy and their leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to kill those who go to vote.
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| Crash pilot was psychiatric patient, planned big gesture: paper Posted: 28 Mar 2015 11:10 AM PDT  The Bild newspaper published an interview with a woman who said she had a relationship in 2014 with Andreas Lubitz, the man French prosecutors believe locked himself alone in the cockpit of the Germanwings Airbus on Tuesday and steered it into the French Alps, killing all on board. "He did it because he realized that, due to his health problems, his big dream of working at Lufthansa, of a having job as a pilot, and as a pilot on long-distance flights, was nearly impossible." "He never talked much about his illness, only that he was in psychiatric treatment," she told the paper, adding they finally broke up because she was afraid of him. He became upset about the conditions we worked under: too little money, fear of losing the contract, too much pressure." A Lufthansa spokesman declined to comment. The company and its low-cost subsidiary Germanwings took out full-page advertisements in major German and French newspapers on Saturday, expressing "deepest mourning".
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| Islamist groups seize Syrian city Idlib for first time Posted: 28 Mar 2015 11:03 AM PDT  By Mariam Karouny BEIRUT (Reuters) - Islamist groups including al Qaeda's Nusra Front have seized the city of Idlib for the first time in Syria's civil war, fighters and a monitoring group said on Saturday. By taking Idlib, capital of a northwestern province of the same name, hardline Islamist insurgents now control a second province after Raqqa, the stronghold of the Islamic State group which has been the target of U.S.-led air strikes. Sunni Islamist groups have formed an alliance which includes Nusra, the hardline Ahrar al-Sham movement and Jund al-Aqsa, but not Islamic State, their rival.
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| Iran, powers struggle to overcome disputes in push for nuclear deal Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:27 PM PDT  By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish and Louis Charbonneau LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of France and Germany joined the top U.S. and Iranian diplomats on Saturday to help break an impasse in nuclear negotiations as major powers and Iran closed in on a two- or three-page accord that could form the basis of a long-term deal. The negotiations, in progress for nearly 18 months, aim to hammer out an accord whereby Iran halts sensitive nuclear work in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of a war in the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have been in Lausanne for days to try to reach a preliminary deal by a self-imposed deadline of March 31, and they held several rounds of talks on Saturday. We await our counterparts' readiness." Western officials close to the talks said it was up to Iran to compromise on the remaining sticking points, which include Tehran's ambitions concerning nuclear research and development and the immediate removal of U.N. sanctions.
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| U.S., allies target Islamic State in Tikrit, other Iraqi cities Posted: 28 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and coalition forces conducted 18 air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq during a 24-hour period, with eight strikes near militant-held Tikrit, the U.S. military said on Saturday. The Tikrit strikes destroyed 11 fighting positions, a vehicle, and a potential car bomb, it said in a statement. Some strikes also hit three Islamic State fighting and tactical units. Elsewhere in Iraq, forces struck targets near Fallujah, Mosul, Tal Afar, Ar Rutbah and Bayji, as well, it said. ...
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| Scottish secessionists vow to shake up UK parliament Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:57 PM PDT  The Scottish National Party pledged Saturday to "shake up" the British parliament if they seize the balance of power at the general election in May. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said her pro-independence party would act in the interests of left-wingers across the United Kingdom if they are in a position of influence after the May 7 polls. Scotland's first minister used her speech to reach out to people in the rest of the United Kingdom with a "message of friendship and solidarity". "I won't pretend that the SNP doesn't still want Scotland to be independent," she told a party conference in Glasgow, in reference to the September referendum vote to remain part of the three-centuries-old union with England.
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| Boko Haram kills 41, prevents hundreds voting in Nigeria Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:35 PM PDT  ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Boko Haram extremists killed 41 people, including a legislator, and scared hundreds of people from polling stations in the northeast, but millions voted across Nigeria Saturday in the most closely contested presidential race in the nation's history.
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| Newcastle unbeaten after 4 matches in National Rugby League Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:34 PM PDT SYDNEY (AP) — Newcastle remained the only undefeated team in the National Rugby League after beating Penrith 26-14 in a fourth round that also saw the defending champion South Sydney Rabbitohs lose for the first time this season. |
| Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:32 PM PDT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia announced on Sunday that it would join negotiations to establish a new a Chinese-led Asian regional bank that has emerged as a potential challenge to United States influence in a part of the world where the Obama administration has tried to forge stronger ties. The U.S. has expressed concern the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, will allow looser lending standards for financial transparency, the environment and labor rights. The U.S. also worries the new bank will undercut the World Bank, where the U.S. has the most clout, and the Asian Development Bank, where it is the second-largest shareholder after Japan. |
| Brook stops Dan after 4 rounds to keep IBF welterweight belt Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:30 PM PDT SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Kell Brook won his first defense of the IBF welterweight belt when mandatory and outclassed challenger Jo Jo Dan retired after their fourth round and four knockdowns on Saturday. |
| Kevin Sutherland takes Champions Tour lead Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:21 PM PDT SAUCIER, Miss. (AP) — Kevin Sutherland birdied three of the final six holes Saturday for a 5-under 67 and the second-round lead in the Champions Tour's Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. |
| Jimmy Walker leads hometown Texas Open Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:11 PM PDT  SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jimmy Walker opened a four-stroke lead over fellow Texan Jordan Spieth, shooting a 3-under 69 on Saturday in his hometown Texas Open.
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| Netherlands, Italy need late equalizers in 2016 qualifiers Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:11 PM PDT  The Netherlands and Italy needed late equalizers to rescue draws in European Championship qualifying on Saturday. And a pair of goals plus an assist by Gareth Bale put Wales atop its group.
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| US opens women's hockey worlds with win over Canada Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:09 PM PDT  MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Jocelyne Lamoureux, Kacey Bellamy and Kendall Coyne scored power-play goals in the first period and the United States opened the women's world hockey championships with a 4-2 victory over Canada on Saturday.
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| New Zealand obsessed by World Cup final Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:07 PM PDT  New Zealand Prime Minister John Key decided not to attend Lee Kuan Yew's funeral and left behind a bruising byelection defeat to be in Melbourne Sunday as he led his nation's obsession with the World Cup final. After failing six times in the semi-finals, New Zealand have finally made the ultimate showdown of ODI cricket's glamour tournament. A huge outpouring of accolades for the New Zealand team -- and personable captain Brendon McCullum with his "living the dream" approach -- has dominated the news. Airlines laid on extra flights from New Zealand to Melbourne after the Black Caps' sensational semi-final victory over South Africa and all of them sold out.
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| Serena and Venus Williams to play Fed Cup against Italy Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:06 PM PDT  KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams say they plan to play for the U.S. Fed Cup team next month against Italy.
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| Power leads Penske sweep in qualifying for IndyCar opener Posted: 28 Mar 2015 04:02 PM PDT  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — IndyCar champion Will Power led a Team Penske sweep in qualifying for the long-awaited opener.
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| Serena Williams easily wins opening match at Miami Open Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:59 PM PDT  KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Serena Williams punctuated points Saturday with theatrics worthy of a Grand Slam final. There were squeals, knee kicks, pirouettes and fist pumps, sometimes all at once.
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| One Direction plays on in S.Africa as fans mourn Malik's exit Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:52 PM PDT  Best-selling boy band One Direction bounded onto the stage in Johannesburg Saturday for their first show since fans across the world were plunged into teenage distress over heartthrob Zayn Malik quitting the group. Adoring young fans said they feared the departure of Malik, 22, could mean the break-up of One Direction, but the performers made no mention of their missing bandmate as they tore into a string of hits, including "What Makes You Beautiful". "Thank you for choosing to spend your evening with us," singer and songwriter Harry Styles told a packed-out Soccer City stadium in the South African city, to loud cheers from the crowd.
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| Huntelaar saves Dutch with late equalizer against Turkey Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:47 PM PDT  AMSTERDAM (AP) — Klaas-Jan Huntelaar deflected a Wesley Sneijder shot to score an injury-time equalizer for the Netherlands to draw Turkey 1-1 on Saturday and keep alive its hope of qualifying for next year's European Championship.
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| Argentina, without Messi, beats El Salvador 2-0 Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:40 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Ever Banega scored on a deflected shot, Federico Mancuello added a late goal and Argentina beat El Salvador 2-0 in a friendly match Saturday.
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| Al Sadd deny deal done to sign Xavi Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:37 PM PDT  Qatari side Al Sadd released a statement on Saturday denying that a deal had been concluded to sign Barcelona and Spain great Xavi Hernandez. Al Sadd also said they "would make any further and official announcements only if further developments take place". Their statement came after pictures posted on social media by Al Sadd first-team manager Abdullah Al-Berik claimed that the 35-year-old 2010 World Cup winner had signed for what is one of Qatar's top sides. "Al Sadd have just managed to sign Barcelona captain Xavi and this is a picture of him with sporting director Muhammed Ghoulam," Berik wrote on Instagram.
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| Konate brace gives Senegal coach winning debut Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:33 PM PDT  Substitute Moussa Konate scored twice as Senegal confirmed their dominance over Ghana with a 2-1 friendly international victory in France on Saturday. Konate replaced recalled Demba Ba just past the hour mark and struck twice within 11 minutes as the Teranga Lions repeated a 2-1 win over the Black Stars at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegalese success meant a winning debut for coach and former star Aliou Cisse, who was appointed when French coach Alain Giresse parted with the Lions after a Cup of Nations first-round exit.
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| Italy held 2-2 in Bulgaria; Croatia tops Group H by 2 points Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:12 PM PDT  A late equalizer from striker Eder on debut rescued a 2-2 draw for Italy at Bulgaria in European Championship qualifying, although the Azzurri dropped two points behind Croatia in Group H on Saturday.
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| Suspect package prompts Madrid post office evacuation Posted: 28 Mar 2015 03:07 PM PDT  A package containing "a suspicious white substance" on Saturday prompted the evacuation of a Madrid post office, with 23 people undergoing decontamination as a safety precaution, the emergency services said. Investigators were still analysing the content and the results may take a few days, a spokesman for Madrid's SAMUR municipal rescue service told AFP. The incident happened at a post office located inside the Spanish capital's Cybele Palace, which also houses Madrid's city hall. "As a precaution, the 23 people who were inside the post office, six customers and staff members, have been decontaminated," he added.
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| 2-goal Bale leads Wales to 3-0 over Israel, top in Group B Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:58 PM PDT  BRUSSELS (AP) — Gareth Bale put Wales in prime position to qualify for its first major championship in over half a century by scoring twice and setting up another goal to help beat Israel 3-0 for first place in Group B on Saturday.
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| Technical glitches, Boko Haram violence hit Nigerian election Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:48 PM PDT  Problems with new technology on Saturday forced voting to be extended in presidential elections in Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria, as renewed Boko Haram violence hit the knife-edge polls. The Islamist militants were suspected of killing at least seven people in separate attacks in northeastern Gombe state, including at polling stations, while on Friday, 23 people were beheaded in Borno state. President Goodluck Jonathan was the most high-profile victim of the glitches with handheld readers, which scan biometric identity cards to authenticate voters to help cut electoral fraud. His main opponent, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, had no such problems and was accredited without a hitch in his hometown of Daura, in northern Katsina state.
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| Some British Airways frequent flier accounts hacked Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:47 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Some British Airways frequent flier accounts have been hacked, but the airline says that most personal information is safe. |
| Ben King holds lead at Criterium International Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:27 PM PDT PORTO-VECCHIO, France (AP) — Ben King retained the overall lead at the Criterium International after Fabio Felline and Bob Jungels secured a 1-2 finish for the Trek Factory Racing team in a short time trial on Saturday. |
| Prince Bishop wins Dubai World Cup, California Chrome 2nd Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:17 PM PDT  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Prince Bishop pulled away from favorite California Chrome on the home straight and won the $10 million Dubai World Cup by 2 ¾ lengths at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.
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| Lights out as world observes Earth Hour Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:13 PM PDT  Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower switched off its lights, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate went dark and Hong Kong's famed skyline dimmed Saturday as landmarks the world over observed Earth Hour, the global climate change awareness campaign. This year's event comes as the French capital will be hosting a crucial UN climate conference in December that will bring together the international community to discuss efforts to limit global warming. Millions of people around the world were taking part in the annual Earth Hour organised by conservation group WWF, with a string of well-known sights plunging into darkness.
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| Penske expects Ambrose back in V8 Supercar this season Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:10 PM PDT ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Marcos Ambrose has a long-term contract with Roger Penske and is expected to be driving again in Australia's V8 Supercars Series this season. |
| Islamic fighters led by al-Qaida in Syria seize major city Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:02 PM PDT  BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic fighters led by al-Qaida's branch in Syria seized almost full control of the northwestern city of Idlib on Saturday, taking over major roundabouts and government buildings in a powerful blow to President Bashar Assad whose forces rapidly collapsed after four days of heavy fighting, opposition activists and the extremist group said.
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| Sudan rebels attack garrison, kill dozens Posted: 28 Mar 2015 02:01 PM PDT  Khartoum (AFP) - Sudanese rebels said they captured a garrison in conflict-hit South Kordofan and killed 54 troops Saturday, with the army denying the claim.
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| Ukraine leader says he will not let oligarchs sow 'chaos' Posted: 28 Mar 2015 01:56 PM PDT  Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday pledged to stop oligarchs from sowing "chaos" after the governor of a key industrial region quit following a row over a state oil firm. Billionaire Igor Kolomoisky reluctantly offered to step down this week as governor of the key industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk after a dispute over control of the country's largest oil producer ended up with armed men storming the offices of two state-controlled oil firms. Kolomoisky, a banking tycoon, was appointed to the post after the ouster of Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych last year.
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| Nigerian refugees in Chad root for Buhari but can't vote Posted: 28 Mar 2015 01:55 PM PDT  The bloody insurgency -- which has claimed more than 13,000 lives over the past six years -- has seen some 18,000 Nigerians escaping to Chad, 74,000 to Cameroon and 125,000 to Niger. At a makeshift camp near N'Djamena, around 100 refugees -- taxi drivers, farmers, merchants -- voiced strong opinions on the contest for power between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.
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| 4 killed while trying to recover gasoline after Mexico crash Posted: 28 Mar 2015 01:47 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — An attempt to take gasoline from a crashed tanker truck led to four deaths and 26 injuries when the vehicle exploded, Mexican officials said Saturday. |
| Questions and answers about the Arab peacekeeping force Posted: 28 Mar 2015 01:43 PM PDT  CAIRO (AP) — Arab League member states have agreed in principle to form a joint inter-Arab military peacekeeping force. While details of how such a force would actually operate remain thin, the agreement is a telling sign of a new determination among Saudi Arabia, Egypt and their allies to intervene aggressively in regional hotspots, whether against Islamic militants or spreading Iranian power. Here's a look at some of the questions surrounding the plan:
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| Chilean president describes 'bleak' scene in flood-hit north Posted: 28 Mar 2015 01:42 PM PDT  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet pointed to a "bleak" situation in the country's flood-hit north Saturday, after deadly rains swept through the normally arid area last week. The president spent two days in the devastated Atacama region and in nearby Antofagasta, where floods left at least 10 dead, 19 missing and hundreds of people homeless. The downpour began late Tuesday in the Atacama region, home to the world's most arid desert, and lashed the area for hours, turning riverbeds that had been dry for years into torrents. Victor Zamora, one of the 33 Chilean miners who captured worldwide attention in 2010 after spending more than two months in a collapsed mine, lost his house in flooding that washed away most of his village.
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