Yahoo! News: World News

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• Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after 21 Egyptians beheaded
• Battle rages for town where Ukraine rebels reject ceasefire
• Defiant Danes march after gunman attacks Copenhagen
• Israeli election chief puts curbs on Netanyahu speech to Congress
• Under Xi, China's defense budget seen defying economic slowdown
• Church sexual abuse crisis far from over, U.S. cardinal says
• Strong quake hits northern Japan, tsunami and evacuation warnings issued
• Ex-Dodgers MVP Guerrero hospitalized in Dominican Republic
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• Tighter online controls in China point to wider clampdown
• North Korea says not worried about ICC threat because not guilty
• Dolgopolov beats Gabashvili in Delray Beach 1st round
• Offshore earthquake triggers tsunami advisory in Japan
• Eurozone issues Greece an ultimatum; Athens hopeful of deal
• North Korea threatens strong response to DC rights meeting
• Mexico eyes homicide charges in maternity blast
• Obama offers condolences to Danish prime minister after Copenhagen attacks
• No new trial for Arab activist for lying about killing role
• Pedophile priest victims urge action from pope
• Magnitude 6.9 quake recorded off Honshu in north Japan - USGS
• Jazeera journalist confident ahead of Egypt retrial
• IS expansion in chaotic Libya prompts intervention calls
• American gored by bull in Spain out of intensive care
• Niger arrests more than 160 people for Boko Haram ties
• AP Source: Gunman in Copenhagen attacks just got out of jail
• Fighting racism theme of some Rio Carnival parades
• Man United rallies for 3-1 win at Preston in FA Cup
• Indonesia moving 2 Aussies, 5 other foreigners for execution
• Cameroon army says 5 soldiers, 86 Boko Haram militants killed
• Two thousand Hungarians protest in Budapest on eve of Putin visit
• Rio Tinder-themed Carnival street party facilitates flings
• Rising star Coric beats Istomin in 1st round of Open 13
• Egypt strikes IS in Libya, pushes for international action
• Cameroon holding over 1,000 Boko Haram-affiliated suspects: army
• Battle persists for Ukraine railway hub, despite peace deal
• U.S. 'gravely concerned' by fighting in eastern Ukraine
• Ukraine rebels bury dead who fell hours before ceasefire
• Icy storm paralyzes central U.S., pummels nation's capital
• Scotland to bat first against New Zealand
• Central African leaders talk strategy against Boko Haram

Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after 21 Egyptians beheaded Posted: 16 Feb 2015 10:01 AM PST By Ahmed Tolba and Yara Bayoumy CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian jets bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday, a day after the group there released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians, drawing Cairo directly into the conflict across its border. Egypt said the pre-dawn strike hit militant camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in the neighbouring oil-producing country, where factional fighting has unleashed virtual anarchy and created havens for jihadi Islamists. While Cairo is believed to have provided clandestine support to a Libyan general fighting a rogue government in Tripoli, the 21 decapitations pushed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi into open action, expanding his battle against Islamist militancy. Egyptian state television aired footage of fighter planes leaving a hangar with "Long live Egypt" emblazoned on their tails, followed by night-vision aerial footage showing bomb explosions and the aircraft returning in early daylight.

Battle rages for town where Ukraine rebels reject ceasefire Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:17 PM PST By Anton Zverev VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian rebels pounded encircled Ukrainian government forces on Monday and Kiev said it would not pull back heavy guns while a truce was being violated, leaving a European-brokered peace deal on the verge of collapse. The European Union kept pressure on Russia and the rebels by announcing a new list of separatists and Russians targeted with sanctions, to which Moscow promised an "adequate" response. The United States said it was "gravely concerned" by the fighting in and around the town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine after a ceasefire agreement that came into force on Sunday and said it was closely monitoring reports of a new column of Russian military equipment moving toward the region.

Defiant Danes march after gunman attacks Copenhagen Posted: 16 Feb 2015 11:59 AM PST By Ole Mikkelsen and Sabina Zawadzki COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Danes gathered at torch-lit memorials around the country on Monday, commemorating victims of deadly attacks on a synagogue and an event promoting free speech that shocked a nation proud of its record of safety and openness. Singing John Lennon's Imagine, defiant Danes promised to uphold their trademark open society and showed solidarity with the country's Muslim minority after reports the gunman was a Dane with Palestinian roots and a passion for Islamist issues. The 22-year-old gunman opened fire on a cafe in hosting a free speech debate on Saturday, killing one, and attacked a synagogue, killing a guard. He was later killed in a shootout with police in his neighborhood of Norrebro, a largely immigrant part of the city with a reputation for gang violence.

Israeli election chief puts curbs on Netanyahu speech to Congress Posted: 16 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST By Luke Baker JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The head of Israel's election commission acted on Monday to limit any pre-election boost Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may get from a March 3 speech to the U.S. Congress, in which he will warn of the threat from Iran's nuclear programme. The speech has caused controversy in Israel and the United States, where Democrats and the White House are angry that the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, invited Netanyahu to speak at a sensitive time in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and six big powers including Washington, and only two weeks before Israel's closely fought March 17 election. Following complaints from opposition parties, election chief Salim Joubran decided that Netanyahu's address should be broadcast with a five-minute delay in Israel, giving news editors time to cut any statements deemed partisan.

Under Xi, China's defense budget seen defying economic slowdown Posted: 16 Feb 2015 12:58 PM PST By Megha Rajagopalan BEIJING (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping is expected to authorize robust defense spending for this year despite China's slowing economy, determined to strengthen the country's armed capabilities amid growing unease in Beijing at Washington's renewed focus on Asia. While China keeps the details of its military spending secret, experts said additional funding would likely go toward beefing up the navy with anti-submarine ships and developing more aircraft carriers beyond the sole vessel in operation. The military budget will be announced at the start of the annual meeting of China's parliament on March 5. Last year, defense spending rose 12.2 percent to $130 billion, second only to the United States.

Church sexual abuse crisis far from over, U.S. cardinal says Posted: 16 Feb 2015 01:01 PM PST By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - The U.S. cardinal who heads the Vatican's commission on sexual abuse of children by clergy warned his fellow Roman Catholic bishops on Monday not to behave as if the problem had passed. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston told a conference at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University that some prelates were still reluctant to deal with the problem openly. "It would be perilous for us, as leaders of the Church, to consider that the scandal of clergy sexual abuse is for the most part a matter of history and not a pressing concern here and now," said O'Malley, whose commission advises Pope Francis on how to root out the abuse that has shamed the Church. O'Malley said last week, after the 17-member commission held its first full meeting at the Vatican, that the group is studying sanctions for bishops suspected of cover-ups or of failing to prevent abuse.[Id:nL5N0VH0RA] Victims groups have been urging the Vatican for years to make bishops more accountable for abuse in their dioceses, even if they were not directly responsible for it.

Strong quake hits northern Japan, tsunami and evacuation warnings issued Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:44 PM PST By Mari Saito TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck off northeastern Japan on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, and small waves were reported along the northern coast after Japan issued a tsunami warning. Japanese broadcaster NHK said small waves of between 10 cm and 20 cm (4-8 inches) reached the coast off Iwate prefecture, some 600 km (370 miles) from Tokyo. NHK said thousands of residents in the area were ordered to evacuate. "We are using the emergency broadcast to advise people to keep away from the sea ... the quake was pretty strong and lasted a long time so I thought there would be a tsunami warning," Kozo Hirano, an Otsuchi Town official in Iwate, told NHK.

Ex-Dodgers MVP Guerrero hospitalized in Dominican Republic Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:34 PM PST SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Former Dodgers third baseman Pedro Guerrero has been hospitalized in the Dominican Republic with bleeding on the brain, but a friend says the 1981 World Series co-MVP appears to be in good spirits and is speaking with people in the hospital.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:32 PM PST BEIJING (AP) — Working out of a Beijing office full of video game designers from around the world, Chinese-born Pin Wang and his startup Substantial Games should be the face of the innovative, forward-looking China that the country's leaders say they want to build. Pin and his team are attracting investors from across China while launching online games full of swords and sorcery that they hope will dazzle global eyeballs. But for several weeks, Pin's team has struggled with a decidedly down-to-earth problem that's hit countless companies nationwide: They're unable to access their email, shared documents and other online services blocked by China's Internet censors.

Tighter online controls in China point to wider clampdown Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:25 PM PST BEIJING (AP) — Working out of a Beijing office full of video game designers from around the world, Chinese-born Pin Wang and his startup Substantial Games should be the face of the innovative, forward-looking China that the country's leaders say they want to build.

North Korea says not worried about ICC threat because not guilty Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:22 PM PST By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - North Korea said on Monday it is not worried about a threat to refer the country to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, because it is not guilty and wants to attend a U.S. meeting on its rights situation to defend itself. The United Nations General Assembly urged the U.N. Security Council in December to consider referring North Korea to the ICC after a U.N. inquiry detailed wide-ranging abuses in the hermit Asian state comparable to Nazi-era atrocities. "We are not worried at all because at every move we can strongly respond to such a move and we are not guilty of any crime," North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Jang Il Hun, told a news conference at the country's mission to the United Nations. China, a strong ally of Pyongyang, is likely to veto any Security Council bid to refer North Korea to the ICC, say diplomats.

Dolgopolov beats Gabashvili in Delray Beach 1st round Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:21 PM PST DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Third-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine won just his second match of the ATP season with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round of the Delray Beach Open on Monday.

Offshore earthquake triggers tsunami advisory in Japan Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:10 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Japan issued a tsunami advisory Tuesday morning after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck off its northeastern coast.

Eurozone issues Greece an ultimatum; Athens hopeful of deal Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:01 PM PST BRUSSELS (AP) — European creditors issued Greece with an ultimatum Monday, saying the country must accept a key condition in bailout talks by the end of the week or face having to meet its debt commitments on its own — a prospect that many in the financial markets think would leave Greece little option but to leave the euro.

North Korea threatens strong response to DC rights meeting Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:55 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea says it will respond "very strongly" to a conference in Washington on Tuesday about its widespread human rights abuses and says the United States ignored Pyongyang's offer to attend and defend itself. Puzzled conference organizers said the event was open to the public.

Mexico eyes homicide charges in maternity blast Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:49 PM PST A Mexican gas company could face homicide charges and a $2.9 million fine over a tanker truck explosion that destroyed a maternity hospital, killing two babies and three adults, officials said Monday. Rodolfo Rios, Mexico City's chief prosecutor, blamed the January 29 explosion on "poor maintenance" of the truck owned by Gas Express Nieto, a company that provides propane to 31 hospitals in the capital.

Obama offers condolences to Danish prime minister after Copenhagen attacks Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:41 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama called Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt to offer condolences following attacks in Copenhagen, the White House said via Twitter on Monday. Obama expressed U.S. solidarity with its Danish allies and invited Denmark to participate in a summit to counter violent extremism this week. Police in Copenhagen shot dead on Sunday the gunman suspected of carrying out attacks on a synagogue and a free speech event on Saturday that killed two people and injured others. (Reporting By Julia Edwards; Editing by Tom Brown)

No new trial for Arab activist for lying about killing role Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:39 PM PST DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge in Detroit has denied a request for a new trial for a Chicago Arab activist convicted of lying about her role in two terrorist bombing deaths in Israel when she immigrated to the U.S.

Pedophile priest victims urge action from pope Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:37 PM PST Victims of sexually abusive priests from across the Americas joined forces Monday to urge Pope Francis to allow civilian justice to punish pedophiles and those who covered up their crimes. Pope Francis has called for "zero tolerance" of abusive priests since his election in March 2013.

Magnitude 6.9 quake recorded off Honshu in north Japan - USGS Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:22 PM PST TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 was recorded off Honshu in northern Japan on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake was measured at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles). Japanese broadcaster NHK also put the magnitude at 6.9. (Reporting by Chris Gallagher; Editing by Paul Tait and Stephen Coates)

Jazeera journalist confident ahead of Egypt retrial Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:21 PM PST Egyptian journalist Baher Mohamed who was bailed after 411 days in jail said he is confident ahead of a retrial, in an interview aired Tuesday by his employer Al-Jazeera. Mohamed, a producer for the satellite news channel, and his colleague Mohamed Fahmy, a dual Egyptian-Canadian national, were freed last week pending their retrial, with a hearing set for February 23. Their release came after an appeals court overturned jail terms of up to 10 years handed down by a lower court that convicted them and Australian colleague Peter Greste on charges of aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

IS expansion in chaotic Libya prompts intervention calls Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:21 PM PST The chaos in Libya since Moamer Kadhafi's downfall has proven fertile ground for the Islamic State group, prompting calls for foreign intervention to uproot the jihadists. It comes three weeks after IS opened a new front on Western targets in Libya when it claimed an attack on the luxurious Corinthia hotel in central Tripoli that killed nine people, including five foreigners. Islamist militants have thrived in Libya since Kadhafi was toppled and killed in the NATO-backed 2011 uprising, with authorities struggling to contain dozens of militant groups with diverse motivations and ideologies. The first is led by Khalifa Haftar, a former general who is backed by Libya's internationally recognised government and whose forces are fighting to drive Islamist fighters out of the country's east.

American gored by bull in Spain out of intensive care Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:11 PM PST MADRID (AP) — A 20-year-old American man who was badly gored during a bull-running festival is out of intensive care and improving, a spokesman for the Clinic Hospital in western Salamanca said Monday.

Niger arrests more than 160 people for Boko Haram ties Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:09 PM PST Niger has arrested more than 160 people suspected of links to Islamic militant group Boko Haram and a counter-terrorism unit is interrogating them, a police spokesman said late on Monday. The West African country has experienced a surge in violence from the group, whose heartland in northeastern Nigeria lies on the other side of Niger's southern border. Among those arrested since Feb. 6 was a prominent Boko Haram member called Kaka Bounou, thought to have played a role in plotting the Diffa attacks, Captain Adili Toro said on state television. Boko Haram militants have killed and kidnapped thousands as part of a bid to create a caliphate and have stepped up attacks on neighboring countries in the Lake Chad region, prompting an international offensive against them.

AP Source: Gunman in Copenhagen attacks just got out of jail Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:07 PM PST COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Danish gunman who attacked a free-speech seminar and a synagogue in Copenhagen was released about two weeks ago from a jail where he may have been radicalized while serving time for a vicious stabbing.

Fighting racism theme of some Rio Carnival parades Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:06 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Racial pride and battles against racism are themes for some of the flashy samba group's presentations and street parties as Rio de Janeiro's flamboyant Carnival parades enter their second night.

Man United rallies for 3-1 win at Preston in FA Cup Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:05 PM PST PRESTON, England (AP) — Manchester United had to come from behind to avoid an FA Cup upset at Preston, rallying with three second-half goals to beat the third-tier club 3-1 and reach the quarterfinals.

Indonesia moving 2 Aussies, 5 other foreigners for execution Posted: 16 Feb 2015 03:04 PM PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Eight convicted drug smugglers, including seven foreigners, will be transferred to an Indonesian prison island this week for imminent execution despite international appeals for clemency, an official said Monday.

Cameroon army says 5 soldiers, 86 Boko Haram militants killed Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:57 PM PST The Cameroonian army said five of its soldiers were killed in clashes with Boko Haram in the country's far north on Monday, which also left 86 of the Islamist militants dead. The "series of clashes" took place in the Waza region near the border with Nigeria, said Colonel Didier Badjeck, a spokesman for the Cameroonian defence ministry. The Cameroonian army had recovered one armoured vehicle from Boko Haram and damaged another, he added. The troops who were killed belonged to Cameroon's elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), which is on the front line in the fight against the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group.

Two thousand Hungarians protest in Budapest on eve of Putin visit Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:55 PM PST Hundreds of Hungarians took to the streets of Budapest on Monday to protest against Vladimir Putin, a day ahead of the Russian leader's visit to Budapest. Organisers told AFP the east-to-west route symbolised Hungarians' desire to remain rooted to the West rather than Russia. "We resent that (Prime Minister Viktor) Orban is making a fool out of Hungary by inviting Putin here to do secret deals while there is a war next door in Ukraine," Marton Gulyas, one of the organisers, told AFP. Putin is due to arrive on Tuesday and will hold talks with Orban in an apparent effort to show he has a friend inside the European Union and NATO.

Rio Tinder-themed Carnival street party facilitates flings Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:37 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Making out at one of Rio de Janeiro's alcohol-soaked Carnival street parties just got a little easier, with the debut Monday of a party dedicated to the hookup app Tinder.

Rising star Coric beats Istomin in 1st round of Open 13 Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:35 PM PST MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Rising teen star Borna Coric of Croatia beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-4, 7-5 to reach the second round of the Open 13 tournament on Monday.

Egypt strikes IS in Libya, pushes for international action Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:29 PM PST CAIRO (AP) — Egypt bombed Islamic State militants in neighboring Libya on Monday and called on the United States and Europe to join an international military intervention in the chaotic North African state after extremists beheaded a group of Egyptian Christians.

Cameroon holding over 1,000 Boko Haram-affiliated suspects: army Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:29 PM PST Maroua (Cameroon) (AFP) - More than 1,000 people suspected of being affiliated with the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group are being held in a prison in the far northern Cameroonian town of Maroua, an army official said Monday.

Battle persists for Ukraine railway hub, despite peace deal Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:25 PM PST LUHANSKE, Ukraine (AP) — Intense artillery exchanges between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists persisted Monday around a strategic town in eastern Ukraine — fighting that threatens to dash a cease-fire deal brokered by European leaders last week.

U.S. 'gravely concerned' by fighting in eastern Ukraine Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:25 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it is "gravely concerned" by fighting in and around Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine that flared up after a ceasefire agreement and said it is closely monitoring reports of a new column of Russian military equipment moving toward the region. "These aggressive actions and statements by the Russia-backed separatists threaten the most recent ceasefire," the U.S. State Department said in a prepared statement. "We call on Russia and the separatists it backs to halt all attacks immediately." (Reporting by Andy Sullivan)

Ukraine rebels bury dead who fell hours before ceasefire Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:16 PM PST After the coffins of four pro-Russian fighters killed hours before the Ukrainian ceasefire were lowered into the ground on Monday in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, their comrades fired Kalashnikov rifles into the icy air in a final salute. On Monday, Georgy Lubenik, just 19, was buried alongside three other rebels who died in ferocious fighting around the key east Ukraine town of Debaltseve. "They died in Logvinove, a village close to Debaltseve," said the unit's commander, giving his nickname "Hunter". "It was during the night, a few hours before the ceasefire started on February 15.

Icy storm paralyzes central U.S., pummels nation's capital Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:15 PM PST By Elizabeth Barber BOSTON (Reuters) - Record-breaking cold gripped the eastern United States on Monday while an icy winter storm crippled the nation's central states and then plowed into the mid-Atlantic, dumping snow ahead of Tuesday's morning commute. Heavy snowfall and ice moving from the Southern Plains eastward pounded Missouri, Arkansas, southern Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, the National Weather Service said. With the storm headed east and sleet and freezing rain expected to also take a swipe at the South, states of emergency were declared in North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, as well as in Washington, D.C. Airlines canceled more than 1,800 U.S. flights, with the hardest hit airports in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Scotland to bat first against New Zealand Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:13 PM PST New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to field in the World Cup Pool A match against Scotland at Dunedin's University Oval on Tuesday. Tournament co-hosts New Zealand named an unchanged side from the one that cruised to a 98-rum win in their first match against Sri Lanka, determined to maintain momentum against Scotland who are playing their first game at the tournament. McCullum said he put Scotland in to bat because the New Zealanders had found the University Oval wicket was lively early on when they played two one-day internationals at the venue against Sri Lanka last month.

Central African leaders talk strategy against Boko Haram Posted: 16 Feb 2015 02:12 PM PST Yaoundé (AFP) - Central African leaders met in Cameroon's capital Yaounde on Monday to discuss a joint strategy to tackle the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group, which has widened its attacks into neighbouring nations. Six heads of state attended the meeting held under the aegis of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), while four other countries sent delegates. "We have to eradicate Boko Haram," host and Cameroon President Paul Biya said at the meeting. Member nations Cameroon and Chad have already been directly affected by the bloody jihadist insurgency, which is estimated to have claimed 13,000 lives since the Boko Haram sect launched its uprising in 2009.

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