Yahoo! News: World News

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• Greece, euro zone fail to agree on debt, to try again on Monday
• Leaders hold Ukraine peace talks as fighting surges
• Costa Concordia captain sentenced to 16 years for 2012 shipwreck
• EU leaders to urge stricter border checks in counter-terror drive
• Canada 'inclined' to extend mandate of forces in Iraq: minister
• Thousands protest against Houthi rule in Yemen after embassies close
• Calls to treat killing of US Muslim students as hate crime
• Minsk talks on Ukraine crisis could last six more hours: Kiev presidential aide
• Ex-San Diego Chargers quarterback Jesse Freitas found dead
• Australia asks Indonesia for mercy for 2 death row prisoners
• Global TV deals set to take Premier League rights over $13bn
• Rejected Eurogroup draft spoke of 'extending' Greek bailout
• Australia captain Michael Clarke won't play World Cup opener
• Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT
• Tests planned on mysterious 'milky rain' in U.S. Pacific Northwest
• Hesson close to deciding NZ starting XI for World Cup opener
• Official says hostage takers shoot selves in Taiwan prison
• Fleeing war at home, Ukrainians seek security in Poland
• Australia seeks last-ditch deal to save pair from execution in Indonesia
• Woods says he'll return when his game is ready
• Canada turnaround to keep big-lens observatory open
• Greek debt talks with eurozone end without breakthrough
• Lawsuit by conservationists says U.S. agency indiscriminately kills Idaho wildlife
• US skier Shiffrin defends world slalom title in hometown
• Oil sector must take lead in climate debate: Shell CEO
• Chelsea maintains 7-point lead over Man City as top 2 win
• Once scorned, New Delhi election victor gets 2nd chance
• Costa Concordia captain sentenced to 16 years in prison
• Petkovic saves 8 match points in Antwerp
• Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov announces retirement
• Sri Lanka seeks delay in UN report into alleged war crimes
• Obama asks fresh war powers, says IS group 'going to lose'
• Brazil drops Cup scalping claim against British executive
• Ten-man West Ham holds on for 0-0 draw at Southampton
• Britain greenlights driverless cars on public roads
• Messi leads Barcelona's 3-1 win over Villarreal in Copa semi
• Puerto Rico prepares to debate value-added tax proposal

Greece, euro zone fail to agree on debt, to try again on Monday Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:02 PM PST By Renee Maltezou and Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greece's new leftist government and its international creditors failed to agree on a way forward on the country's unpopular bailout and will try again on Monday, with time running out for a financing deal. In seven hours of crisis talks in Brussels that ended after midnight, euro zone finance ministers were unable to agree even a joint statement on the next procedural steps. "We had an intense discussion, constructive, covering a lot of ground, also making progress, but not enough progress yet to come to joint conclusions," Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the chairman of Eurogroup finance ministers, told a midnight news conference. We were unable to do that." Greece would have no further contact with experts from the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank before Monday, he said.

Leaders hold Ukraine peace talks as fighting surges Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:21 PM PST By Pavel Polityuk and Elizabeth Pineau MINSK (Reuters) - The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine held peace talks in Belarus on Wednesday, while in Ukraine pro-Moscow separatists tightened the pressure on Kiev by launching some of the war's worst fighting. Ukraine's army said 19 of its soldiers were killed in pro-Russian separatist assaults near the railway town of Debaltseve, some of the worst losses it has reported in nine months of war. Rebels who tore up a five-month-old truce in January are trying to encircle government forces in Debaltseve, a strategic location that would let them link up their main strongholds. Fighting has already killed more than 5,000 people, and Washington is now openly talking of arming Ukraine to defend itself from "Russian aggression", raising the prospect of a proxy war in the heart of Europe between Cold War foes.

Costa Concordia captain sentenced to 16 years for 2012 shipwreck Posted: 11 Feb 2015 02:48 PM PST By Silvia Ognibene and Isla Binnie GROSSETO, Italy (Reuters) - The former captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in the 2012 shipwreck, which killed 32 people off the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio. Francesco Schettino was commanding the vessel, a floating hotel as long as three football pitches, when it hit rocks off the island, tearing a hole in its side. Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of 26 years for Schettino, who has admitted some responsibility but denied blame for the deaths that occurred during the evacuation. Investigators severely criticised Schettino's handling of the disaster, accusing him of bringing the 290 metre-long (950 feet) vessel too close to shore.

EU leaders to urge stricter border checks in counter-terror drive Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:43 PM PST By Barbara Lewis and Adrian Croft BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders are set to call on Thursday for stricter checks on travelers entering the passport-free Schengen area and increased information-sharing as part of a revamped counter-terrorism strategy following the Paris attacks. Spain had suggested that the agreement governing the 26-nation Schengen zone might have to be amended to permit more border checks on people suspected of terrorist links after 17 people were killed in a wave of violence in France last month that began with an attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. EU leaders meeting in Brussels later on Thursday will say that more can be done under the existing rules to strengthen checks on travelers entering or leaving the Schengen zone without changing the agreement or undermining the right to free movement within the passport-free area, which covers western Europe. Concern has risen since a Frenchman believed to have returned recently from fighting with rebels in Syria was arrested in May over the killing of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels.

Canada 'inclined' to extend mandate of forces in Iraq: minister Posted: 11 Feb 2015 03:18 PM PST Canada is inclined to extend the six-month mandate of its military mission in Iraq, which comprises special forces on the ground as well as fighter bombers, Defence Minister Jason Kenney said on Wednesday. Kenney said the right-of-center Conservative government had not yet taken a formal decision to keep the forces in Iraq beyond the end of March. "Our government believes that Canada has a role in fighting the so-called Islamic State terrorists, stopping their campaign of genocide, and we are inclined to continue with that fight," he told CTV television. Canada has six fighter bombers taking part in U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State attacks as well as around 70 special forces members in northern Iraq.

Thousands protest against Houthi rule in Yemen after embassies close Posted: 11 Feb 2015 01:58 PM PST By Mohammed Ghobari SANAA (Reuters) - Yemenis in the capital Sanaa and the central city of Taiz held the largest protests yet against a takeover by a Shi'ite Muslim militia group on Wednesday after the United States, Britain and France shut their embassies over security fears. The militants, bedecked in tribal robes and automatic rifles, shot in the air and thrust daggers at the crowds opposing their rule. The Iranian-backed Houthi movement has called its seizure of power a revolution and says it wants to rid the country of corruption and economic peril -- though Yemen's rich Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab neighbors say it is a coup. Yemen had long been at the forefront of the U.S.-led war against al Qaeda, but the long-standing alliance between Washington and Sanaa appears to have ended for now.

Calls to treat killing of US Muslim students as hate crime Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:20 PM PST Police investigating the murders of three Muslim students in the United States said they were studying whether the fatal shootings were religiously motivated, as calls mounted for the killings to be treated as a hate crime. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after Tuesday's slayings in the North Carolina university town of Chapel Hill which sparked outrage amongst Muslims worldwide. Police emphasized that initial investigations indicated a dispute between Hicks and his victims over parking spaces may have been the catalyst for a shooting spree which claimed the lives of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19.

Minsk talks on Ukraine crisis could last six more hours: Kiev presidential aide Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:20 PM PST Talks between leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine on the Ukraine crisis in Minsk, Belarus, could continue for at least another five to six hours, a Ukrainian presidential aide said early on Thursday. There's a battle of nerves underway," aide Valeriy Chaly said in a Facebook post.

Ex-San Diego Chargers quarterback Jesse Freitas found dead Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:14 PM PST PETALUMA, California (AP) — A man found dead in a parked car in Northern California has been identified as former San Diego Chargers quarterback Jesse Freitas, authorities said Wednesday.

Australia asks Indonesia for mercy for 2 death row prisoners Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:10 PM PST CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's foreign minister on Thursday called on the Indonesian government to show the same mercy to two Australian drug traffickers on death row as Indonesia seeks from countries where Indonesian citizens face execution.

Global TV deals set to take Premier League rights over $13bn Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:08 PM PST LONDON (AP) — The English Premier League's television rights windfalls may soar over $13 billion once the 2016-19 international sales are completed this year. And with 11 of this season's 20 clubs already under foreign ownership, the world's richest soccer league expects the new deals will make its clubs even better propositions for would-be investors.

Rejected Eurogroup draft spoke of 'extending' Greek bailout Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:07 PM PST A draft statement by euro zone finance ministers on how to handle Greece's finances spoke of "extending" its current bailout deal as a "bridge" to a new package, according to a copy of the draft that was rejected by Athens. The new Greek government, elected on a mandate to end deeply unpopular international bailout terms, has insisted there can be no "extension" once that deal expires at the end of the month.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won't play World Cup opener Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:05 PM PST MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Captain Michael Clarke has been ruled out of Australia's Cricket World Cup opener against England on Saturday.

Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:02 PM PST NEW DELHI (AP) — There were the public falling-outs with his political allies. There was the crushing defeat when he ran for Parliament against the man who became prime minister. More than anything, there was the scorn he earned by quitting last year as New Delhi's top official after just 49 days in office. Arvind Kejriwal, the former tax official with the chronic cough and the ill-fitting sweaters, the man who had remade himself into a champion for clean government, seemed lost in the political wilderness. The crusading politician was suddenly a punchline.

Tests planned on mysterious 'milky rain' in U.S. Pacific Northwest Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:58 PM PST By Courtney Sherwood PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Scientists from two U.S. Pacific Northwest laboratories plan to conduct tests of unusual precipitation that fell across the region over the weekend in hopes of pinpointing the origins of so-called "milky rain" that has mystified residents, officials said on Wednesday. Officials at both the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Benton Clean Air Agency, both in Washington state, said they had collected samples of the rain, which left a powdery residue on cars across a wide swath of the two states. Scientists at the Richland lab said they believe the rain may have carried volcanic ash from an erupting volcano in Japan, while the clean air agency said its staffers believe dust from central Oregon was the culprit. The National Weather Service has said it believes the powdery rain was most likely a byproduct of dust storms hundreds of miles away in Nevada, although it could not rule out volcanic ash from Japan as a possible culprit.

Hesson close to deciding NZ starting XI for World Cup opener Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:57 PM PST CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Mike Hesson is close to finalizing his New Zealand starting XI for Saturday's Cricket World Cup opener against Sri Lanka — not that anyone outside the squad will find out what the combination is.

Official says hostage takers shoot selves in Taiwan prison Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:55 PM PST TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A top justice official in Taiwan said six armed inmates who held a warden and a head guard hostage at a prison in the island's south committed suicide early Thursday after releasing the hostages.

Fleeing war at home, Ukrainians seek security in Poland Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:54 PM PST For a rising number of Ukrainians, Poland is looking like the promised land as the war at home forces them to seek safe haven in their European Union neighbour. Insecurity, spiralling prices, division of the country in the east and fear of military conscription are pushing more and more Ukrainians to leave. "It's very difficult to get refugee status in Poland. I've asked for it so I can stay in the European Union, but there's little chance I'll get it," frets Albert Habbazov, an engineer in his twenties working in Poland's eastern city of Bialystok.

Australia seeks last-ditch deal to save pair from execution in Indonesia Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:51 PM PST By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is pursuing a last-ditch deal with Indonesia to save two of its citizens from imminent execution on drugs charges, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday, in a case that threatens to strain already fragile relations. Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, are among eight prisoners due to be executed after Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected their clemency pleas last month. Five foreigners were among six people executed for drug offences last month, the first executions in Indonesia since Widodo took office in October. Indonesia has since rejected Australian pleas for clemency for Chan and Sukumaran.

Woods says he'll return when his game is ready Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:48 PM PST PEBBLE BEACH, California (AP) — Tiger Woods said Wednesday his game is "not acceptable" to compete in tournaments and he will return when he thinks it is.

Canada turnaround to keep big-lens observatory open Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:44 PM PST Canada vowed Wednesday to keep open an observatory in eastern North America where the first dark skies reserve was created, hours after its director said budget cuts would force its closure. "Our government will pay to keep the Observatoire Astronomique du Mont-Mégantic open for the two years," International Development Minister Christian Paradis said in a Twitter message. Earlier, Rene Doyon, a professor at the University of Montreal, who is responsible for keeping the observatory up and running, told AFP the observatory was scheduled to close on April 1. "Our federal financing to operate the observatory is being cut," he said.

Greek debt talks with eurozone end without breakthrough Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:43 PM PST BRUSSELS (AP) — Talks between Greece and its creditors in the 19-country eurozone broke down Thursday without agreement or even a plan of action on how to move forward on the country's debts and bailout.

Lawsuit by conservationists says U.S. agency indiscriminately kills Idaho wildlife Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:38 PM PST By Laura Zuckerman SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - U.S. conservation groups accused the federal Wildlife Services in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday of indiscriminately killing a multitude of wildlife like wolves and mountain lions in Idaho to benefit ranchers and farmers. The groups asked a U.S. judge in Idaho to force the agency to stop violating federal environmental and wildlife protection laws by conducting campaigns in Idaho such as aerial gunning of wolves without assessing the impacts on public lands and wild animals as required. The Center for Biological Diversity and five other conservation groups complained in the lawsuit that Wildlife Services, which operates under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, kills thousands of Idaho wolves, foxes, cougars, birds and other creatures considered nuisances to farm or ranch operations, all at taxpayer expense. "This lawsuit will shine a bright light on this rogue agency that spends millions of dollars annually to indiscriminately shoot, poison and trap wildlife species," said Laird Lucas, head of litigation for Advocates for the West, a Boise-based environmental law firm that was involved in the suit.

US skier Shiffrin defends world slalom title in hometown Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:33 PM PST BEAVER CREEK, Colorado (AP) — Olympic and world slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin had to wait a week, but she's finally set for the world championships competition in her backyard.

Oil sector must take lead in climate debate: Shell CEO Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:30 PM PST By Ron Bousso LONDON (Reuters) - The oil industry needs to take a leading role in the fight against climate change to introduce "realism and practicality" into the debate, the head of Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday. Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden also criticized governments of taking at times counterproductive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental organisations have accused the oil industry of not doing enough to reduce emissions and increase the use of renewable fuels. Shell backed a resolution last month proposed by activist investors to force the company to recognize climate change risks by improving its transparency.

Chelsea maintains 7-point lead over Man City as top 2 win Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:28 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Premier League leader Chelsea left it late to beat Everton 1-0 on Wednesday and maintain its seven-point advantage over Manchester City as the champions won 4-1 at Stoke.

Once scorned, New Delhi election victor gets 2nd chance Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:27 PM PST NEW DELHI (AP) — There were the public falling-outs with his political allies. There was the crushing defeat when he ran for Parliament against the man who became prime minister. More than anything, there was the scorn he earned by quitting last year as New Delhi's top official after just 49 days in office.

Costa Concordia captain sentenced to 16 years in prison Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:21 PM PST GROSSETO, Italy (AP) — A court convicted the Costa Concordia's commander of the manslaughter deaths of 32 people in the cruise liner's capsizing off the Italian coast and sentenced him Wednesday to some 16 years in prison, blaming him for causing the 2012 shipwreck and for doing what sea captains should never do — abandoning ship while passengers and crew were still aboard.

Petkovic saves 8 match points in Antwerp Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:19 PM PST ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Third-seeded Andrea Petkovic fought off eight match points to reach the quarterfinals of the Diamond Games tournament with a 6-7 (7), 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over local favorite Belgian Alison Van Uytvank on Wednesday.

Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov announces retirement Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:17 PM PST SAN JOSE, California (AP) — An emotional Evgeni Nabokov announced his retirement Wednesday from the National Hockey League, just two days after the goaltender was traded by Tampa Bay to the San Jose Sharks, the team that drafted him out of Kazakhstan in 1994.

Sri Lanka seeks delay in UN report into alleged war crimes Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:11 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Urging international patience, Sri Lanka's new government that won a surprise election victory last month called Wednesday for a postponement in the publication of a U.N. investigation into allegations of war crimes committed during the island nation's civil war.

Obama asks fresh war powers, says IS group 'going to lose' Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:08 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama urged Congress on Wednesday to authorize military action against the Islamic State militants who are cutting a swath across the Middle East, vowing their forces "are going to lose." Yet he ruled out large-scale U.S. ground combat operations reminiscent of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Brazil drops Cup scalping claim against British executive Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:08 PM PST Brazilian authorities have dropped their case against a British businessman accused of being involved in a $100-million ticket scalping racket at last year's World Cup, his company reported Wednesday. Ray Whelan, who worked as executive consultant for ticketing hospitality agency and FIFA partner MATCH, managed lucrative contracts for VIP tickets and fan hospitality packages but was arrested last July as Brazilian authorities probed a scalping ring. Whelan denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation, which centered on mobile phone conversations between him and Lamine Fofana, the French-Algerian alleged leader of the scalping operation.

Ten-man West Ham holds on for 0-0 draw at Southampton Posted: 11 Feb 2015 04:07 PM PST SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Southampton slipped to fourth in the Premier League on Wednesday after being held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man West Ham.

Britain greenlights driverless cars on public roads Posted: 11 Feb 2015 03:55 PM PST Britain gave the green light to the testing of futuristic driverless cars on public roads on Wednesday, with the launch of a multi-million-pound scheme to develop the technology. Officials said the driverless cars would improve road safety and were an opportunity for Britain's automotive manufacturing industry to create skilled jobs. "We are launching officially four trials of semi-autonomous vehicles, the first step on the route to driverless technology," Transport Minister Claire Perry told AFP at the unveiling of a prototype driverless car in Greenwich, southeast London. Britain is Europe's third biggest car producer and hopes to be a leader in developing driverless cars, which are also being tested in US cities including by Internet giant Google.

Messi leads Barcelona's 3-1 win over Villarreal in Copa semi Posted: 11 Feb 2015 03:46 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up another to help Barcelona beat Villarreal 3-1 on Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal.

Puerto Rico prepares to debate value-added tax proposal Posted: 11 Feb 2015 03:44 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico legislators prepared to hold public hearings on a proposed 16 percent value-added tax after the governor filed a measure Wednesday that revealed more details about efforts to overhaul the U.S. territory's tax system.

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