Yahoo! News: World News

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• 'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after new ceasefire deal
• Islamic State says it's holding 'Israeli spy' in Syria
• U.S. commander in Afghanistan offers drawdown options
• Jordan's air force resumes raids against Islamic State
• Violence flares in Venezuela on anniversary of 2014 fatalities
• Top-seeded Bouchard, Kerber lose in Diamond Games 2nd round
• Puppies, rings, mullets highlight Daytona 500 media day
• Tomic defeats 4th-seeded Dolgopolov at Memphis Open
• US House leader: Obama force proposal needs toughening
• Lajovic upsets Verdasco to reach Brazil Open quarterfinals
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• Islamic State fighters seize parts of western Iraqi town: officials
• Anna Fenninger captures giant slalom title at worlds
• Former Guantanamo detainee in Argentina, calls for asylum
• Football art auction raises millions for charity
• Venezuela's currency plunges in debut of exchange rate
• Jamaica extradites first lottery scam suspect to US
• Violent clashes in Venezuela on protest movement anniversary
• World's oceans clogged by millions of tons of plastic trash
• New Orleans jury could soon decide 'guest worker' lawsuit
• Rights group: Iran must halt execution of man jailed as teen
• Andy Murray advances to quarterfinals in Rotterdam
• Rooney still Hodgson's leading striker, Kane set for England
• Senate panel OKs bill barring most transfers from Guantanamo
• Argentine player Leto struck on head while weight training
• Pacific island of Tonga celebrates its 1st Catholic cardinal
• Medical records sought for Saudi facing Guantanamo trial
• No negotiations on Greece at EU summit, officials to meet Friday
• Saudi women's rights campaigners 'freed from prison'
• Sex and power, an age-old heady combination
• Marathon talks produce Ukraine peace deal; cease-fire Sunday
• Ex wife of dead Argentine prosecutor says 'stop politicizing' case
• International sailing competition held in Wisconsin
• Chinese mobile sensation dips toes in US with accessories
• Wawrinka recovers to join Murray in Rotterdam quarters
• Former wife of dead Argentine prosecutor criticizes probe

'Glimmer of hope' for Ukraine after new ceasefire deal Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:55 PM PST By Vladimir Soldatkin and Pavel Polityuk MINSK (Reuters) - Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a deal offering a "glimmer of hope" for an end to conflict in eastern Ukraine, but the United States and NATO said further intense fighting on Thursday ran counter to the spirit of the accord. The agreement, announced after more than 16 hours of discussions in the Belarussian capital Minsk, was followed swiftly by allegations from Kiev of a new, mass influx of Russian armour into rebel-held eastern Ukraine. It calls for a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists starting Sunday, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy. Fighting has intensified in recent days as the rebels try to take control of Debaltseve, a strategic transport hub that would link the two separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, where elections are contemplated under the accord.

Islamic State says it's holding 'Israeli spy' in Syria Posted: 12 Feb 2015 12:02 PM PST By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Islamic State said on Thursday it was holding an Israeli Arab who had posed as a foreign fighter in order to spy for Mossad, an account denied by Israel and by the man's family, who said he had been kidnapped. In an interview published by Islamic State's online English-language magazine Dabiq, Muhammad Musallam, 19, said he had joined the insurgent group in Syria so as to report to the Israelis on its weapons caches, bases and Palestinian recruits. After his conduct aroused the suspicion of Islamic State commanders, Musallam was quoted as saying, he broke cover by phoning his father in East Jerusalem, leading to his capture. "I say to all those who want to spy on the Islamic State, don't think that you're so smart and that you can deceive the Islamic State.

U.S. commander in Afghanistan offers drawdown options Posted: 12 Feb 2015 11:00 AM PST By David Alexander and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said on Thursday he has presented his commanders with options on troop withdrawals in 2015, even as U.S. lawmakers accused the Obama administration of rushing to cut the U.S. military presence after 13 years of war. Army General John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee his options would offer U.S. leaders flexibility in how they withdraw forces during the year. About 10,000 U.S. troops are currently in Afghanistan to train and assist Afghan forces, but the number is slated to drop to 5,500 by year's end. A senior administration official said on Wednesday that Obama was considering a request from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to slow the pace of withdrawals.

Jordan's air force resumes raids against Islamic State Posted: 12 Feb 2015 02:05 PM PST By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordanian air force jets bombed the hideouts of Islamic State militants in Syria on Thursday, state television said, resuming the intensified raids that it first launched last week in retaliation for the killing of a pilot. King Abdullah has vowed to avenge the burning to death of pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh by Islamic State and has ordered his commanders to prepare for a bigger military role in the U.S.-led coalition fighting the militants in both Syria and Iraq. "Daesh" is a derogative term for the militants. The raids are the first the Jordanian military have announced since three straight days of aerial bombing that ended last Saturday.

Violence flares in Venezuela on anniversary of 2014 fatalities Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:36 PM PST By Andrew Cawthorne and Javier Farias CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL (Reuters) - Venezuelan security forces faced off with stone-wielding protesters on Thursday as supporters of President Nicolas Maduro also rallied on the anniversary of last year's fatal unrest. The flare-ups, in the volatile western city of San Cristobal and the capital Caracas, recalled four months of protests and violence in 2014 killing 43 people and underlined just how tense the South American OPEC nation remains. In San Cristobal, National Guard soldiers and police fired teargas and buckshot against demonstrators who hurled pipes and Molotov cocktails when a march was blocked. Five security officials and three demonstrators were hurt in the nearly two-hour standoff, some shops vandalized, and four students arrested in that city, witnesses and authorities said.

Top-seeded Bouchard, Kerber lose in Diamond Games 2nd round Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:48 PM PST ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Top-seeded Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and second-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany lost in the second round of the Diamond Games on Thursday.

Puppies, rings, mullets highlight Daytona 500 media day Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:43 PM PST DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP) — Daytona 500 media day included lots of talk — about puppy love, wedding rings and a growing mullet — and conversations about four-time champion Jeff Gordon and possibly his final ride in NASCAR'S most prestigious race.

Tomic defeats 4th-seeded Dolgopolov at Memphis Open Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:38 PM PST MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Bernard Tomic of Australia defeated fourth-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 7-5 at the Memphis Open on Thursday.

US House leader: Obama force proposal needs toughening Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:35 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. congressional Republicans vowed Thursday to toughen President Barack Obama's day-old legislation to authorize military force against Islamic State fighters, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi warned, "It's going to be hard" to find common ground.

Lajovic upsets Verdasco to reach Brazil Open quarterfinals Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:33 PM PST SAO PAULO (AP) — Serbia's Dusan Lajovic defeated seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Brazil Open on Thursday.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:32 PM PST SAN JOSE, California (AP) — Each year about 8.8 million tons of plastic ends up in the world oceans, a quantity much higher than previous estimates, according to a new study that tracked marine debris from its source. That's the equivalent of five grocery bags full of plastic debris dotting each foot of coastline around the world, said study lead author Jenna Jambeck, an environment engineering professor at the University of Georgia.

Islamic State fighters seize parts of western Iraqi town: officials Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:31 PM PST Islamic State insurgents took control on Thursday of large parts of the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, threatening an air base where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, officials said. Al-Baghdadi, about 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Ramadi in Anbar province, has been besieged for months by the radical Sunni Islamist militants who captured vast swathes of northern and western Iraq last year. Militants attacked al-Baghdadi from two directions earlier in the day and then advanced on the town, intelligence sources and officials in the Jazeera and Badiya operations commands said.

Anna Fenninger captures giant slalom title at worlds Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:30 PM PST BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Anna Fenninger's ski tips nearly crossed going from one turn to the next late in her run, lurching her violently forward.

Former Guantanamo detainee in Argentina, calls for asylum Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:28 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A former Guantanamo detainee who was resettled in Uruguay has appeared in neighboring Argentina wearing a prison-style orange jumpsuit and asked the country to grant asylum for detainees still at the U.S. detention facility.

Football art auction raises millions for charity Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:25 PM PST A London auction of football-themed works raised more than $4 million for children's charities on Thursday, including a portrait of Barcelona star Lionel Messi by Damien Hirst that alone fetched $556,000. The Sotheby's London auction featured 18 works donated from artists including Japan's Takashi Murakami, US sculptor Richard Serra, Egyptian artist Wael Shawky and Saudi Arabia's Manal al Dowayan. A circular Murakami work showing the footballer about to kick a ball on a floral background, "Lionel Messi and a Universe of Flowers", sold for $483,000. A football designed by Murakami and signed by Messi sold for $69,000, while the most expensive item sold was a 1999 work by US artist Jeff Koons entitled "Donkey (Yellow)" that went for $850,000.

Venezuela's currency plunges in debut of exchange rate Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:23 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's bolivar currency plunged Thursday during the debut of a new exchange rate system aimed at easing the country's crippling economic crisis.

Jamaica extradites first lottery scam suspect to US Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:21 PM PST KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A Jamaican man was extradited Thursday from the Caribbean island to Florida on charges that he was involved in a lottery scam ring that defrauded elderly Americans out of their retirement savings.

Violent clashes in Venezuela on protest movement anniversary Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:10 PM PST SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela (AP) — Protesters clashed with police in this anti-government stronghold Thursday amid a storm of tear gas, rocks and rubber bullets as Venezuelans staged dueling marches on the anniversary of last year's bloody protest movement.

World's oceans clogged by millions of tons of plastic trash Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:10 PM PST By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world's oceans are clogged with plastic debris, but how much of it finds its way into the seas annually? Enough to place the equivalent of five grocery bags full of plastic trash on every foot (30 cm) of every nation's coastline around the globe. Experts have sounded the alarm in recent years over how plastic pollution is killing huge numbers of seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles and other creatures while sullying ocean ecosystems.     China was responsible for the most ocean plastic pollution per year with an estimated 2.4 million tons, about 30 percent of the global total, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. "In short, you name it and it is probably somewhere in the marine environment," said Kara Lavender Law, a research professor of oceanography with the Massachusetts-based Sea Education Association.

New Orleans jury could soon decide 'guest worker' lawsuit Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:10 PM PST NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Weeks of trial in a years-old lawsuit claiming a marine services company defrauded guest workers from India and subjected them to forced labor are nearing an end in New Orleans.

Rights group: Iran must halt execution of man jailed as teen Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:05 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian Kurdish man who was arrested when he was 17 years old and alleges he was tortured into confessing has been informed he will be hanged next week, rights group Amnesty International said Friday.

Andy Murray advances to quarterfinals in Rotterdam Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:05 PM PST ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Top-seeded Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Tennis Tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Vasek Pospisil of Canada on Thursday.

Rooney still Hodgson's leading striker, Kane set for England Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:02 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Shunted back in midfield for Manchester United, Wayne Rooney was reassured by England coach Roy Hodgson on Thursday that his status as the national team's leading striker was secure.

Senate panel OKs bill barring most transfers from Guantanamo Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:01 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican-led Senate panel on Thursday narrowly approved legislation that would bar most transfers of terror suspects from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a major roadblock in President Barack Obama's push to close the detention center.

Argentine player Leto struck on head while weight training Posted: 12 Feb 2015 04:01 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine footballer Sebastian Leto was in a Buenos Aires hospital on Thursday after he was struck on the head by weightlifting equipment while training.

Pacific island of Tonga celebrates its 1st Catholic cardinal Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:59 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Churches dot the heavily Christian, tiny island of Tonga everywhere and choirs can be heard singing on any day of the week.

Medical records sought for Saudi facing Guantanamo trial Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:40 PM PST GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Lawyers for a Saudi prisoner charged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. argued for access to more of his medical records and to allow him to meet with officials from his government as the latest pretrial hearing in the case ended nearly a week ahead of schedule Thursday.

No negotiations on Greece at EU summit, officials to meet Friday Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:35 PM PST By Jan Strupczewski and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders did not enter into any negotiations on Greece's economic problems on Thursday, leaving the talks to officials who are to meet on Friday, the chairman of the EU summit Donald Tusk said. "The leaders did not enter into a negotiation on Greece," Tusk told a news conference after Thursday's Brussels summit. Greece, where the anti-austerity government of Alexis Tsipras took power in January, needs money to keep it afloat while it negotiates with the euro zone on what should replace a 240-billion euro bailout scheme that expires in two weeks. Euro zone countries want Athens to ask for a technical extension of the current program to buy itself time until something else is agreed.

Saudi women's rights campaigners 'freed from prison' Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:29 PM PST Two Saudi women's rights activists, one of whom tried to defy a ban on female driving, have been freed after more than two months in jail, a campaigner said on Friday. "Yes, Loujain is free," said the campaigner who spoke with Loujain Hathloul after she left prison. Maysaa Alamoudi, detained at the same time as Hathloul, has also been let out of jail, her family confirmed, according to the activist who spoke with AFP. She and Alamoudi had been held since December 1, after Hathloul tried to drive into the kingdom from neighbouring United Arab Emirates in defiance of the ban.

Sex and power, an age-old heady combination Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:24 PM PST From Caesar to Napoleon, John F. Kennedy to Silvio Berlusconi, Cleopatra to Catherine the Great, history is full of anecdotes about the sexual antics of politicians and world leaders. Power and a voracious sexual appetite are often intrinsically linked, as highlighted in sometimes graphic detail by the trial of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of "aggravated pimping". "Since the dawn of time, there has been something erotic about power," says psychoanalyst Jean-Pierre Winter. Those who set their sights on conquering power often have similar character traits, adds Jean-Pierre Friedmann, another psychoanalyst and author of two books on the issue.

Marathon talks produce Ukraine peace deal; cease-fire Sunday Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:17 PM PST MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The peace deal reached Thursday for Ukraine, if it holds, would be a partial win for both Moscow and Kiev: Ukraine retains the separatist eastern regions and regains control of its border with Russia, while Russia holds strong leverage to keep Ukraine from ever becoming part of NATO.

Ex wife of dead Argentine prosecutor says 'stop politicizing' case Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:12 PM PST By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The investigation into the death of an Argentine prosecutor who leveled criminal charges against the president has become too politicized and needs the involvement of a regional human rights commission, the dead man's ex wife said on Thursday. Minutes before the Senate passed a bill creating a new state security service to replace the tarnished intelligence secretariat (SI) at the heart of the scandal, Sandra Arroyo called for calm as investigators probe the death of Alberto Nisman.

International sailing competition held in Wisconsin Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:12 PM PST FOND DU LAC, Wisconsin (AP) — An international sailing competition is being held in Wisconsin on a frozen Lake Winnebago.

Chinese mobile sensation dips toes in US with accessories Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:10 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Xiaomi, one of China's hottest companies, is bringing its blend of cheap yet fashionable technology and crowd-pleasing antics to the U.S.

Wawrinka recovers to join Murray in Rotterdam quarters Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:05 PM PST Stan Wawrinka joined Andy Murray as the pair of seeds each posted difficult wins on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals of the ATP Rotterdam World Tennis event. Wawrinka, last year's Australian Open winner, struggled until breaking loose with his big game in the final set as he defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-2 for his second win over the Spaniard in three weeks. Murray saved five break points to hold off determined Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals. The Scottish top seed and 2009 champion will next meet eighth seed Gilles Simon after the Frenchman needed just 67 minutes for a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Jeremy Chardy.

Former wife of dead Argentine prosecutor criticizes probe Posted: 12 Feb 2015 03:04 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The ex-wife of the prosecutor whose mysterious death has rocked Argentina criticized the investigation Thursday, calling for an international commission to take up the case and accusing the lead investigator of releasing too much information.

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