Yahoo! News: World News

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• Fighting rages in east Ukraine despite bid to revive truce
• Pro-Islamic State militants seize Libyan university: residents
• U.S. sees Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul in April-May time frame
• Turkey, U.S. sign deal to train, equip Syrian opposition, official says
• After Ukraine mediation, EU looks to embrace Lukashenko
• Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: witnesses
• England win toss and bat in New Zealand match
• Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT
• Video from police, public examined in US shooting
• England wins toss, bats in World Cup match vs. New Zealand
• 'Calamity' fears as massive Australian cyclone roars ashore
• 2 strong cyclones hit remote parts of northern Australia
• Sailor asks court to confiscate America's Cup champ's boat
• Coca-Cola caught up in southern Mexico protest, 10 injured
• French minister visits U.S. Internet firms about militants' messaging
• Australia rules out Sweden for $39 billion submarine contract
• A-League match postponed by effects of tropical cyclone
• US missionary arrested in Colombia for alleged rebel ties
• Venezuela arrests Caracas opposition mayor
• Leaders renew backing of tattered Ukraine ceasefire
• Caracas mayor who opposed government apparently arrested
• Some signs of tension emerge among Islamic State militants
• Clinton Foundation defends fundraising practices
• US Democrat delegation meets with Cuban vice president
• NY lawyer: Argentina not responding to negotiation requests
• Winter storms ease California drought
• Official: Mission to retake Mosul to begin in April, May
• Attorney general nominee defends British bank investigation
• Sanofi hires Bayer HealthCare's Brandicourt as new CEO
• Gerrard takes swipe at Balotelli over penalty row
• Goosen, Singh among leaders at Riviera
• Moscow court jails Navalny for 15 days, bars him from opposition rally
• Balotelli causes fuss with Liverpool winner in Europa League
• Priests reject nomination of bishop in Chile
• Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: local media
• Ex-wife of dead Argentine prosecutor rejects suicide claim
• Low oil prices risks negative inflation: Canada bank
• Celtic beaten by Inter, Lukaku leads Everton to win
• Mali, six armed groups agree to cease hostilities
• Fresh brawl in Turkish parliament over protest bill

Fighting rages in east Ukraine despite bid to revive truce Posted: 19 Feb 2015 10:37 AM PST By Gleb Garanich and Anton Zverev ARTEMIVSK/VUHLEHIRSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Fighting raged in eastern Ukraine on Thursday despite European efforts to resurrect a stillborn ceasefire, a day after pro-Russian separatists spurned the truce by forcing thousands of government troops out of a strategic town. Western nations are refusing to give up on a peace deal brokered by France and Germany last week even though the rebels disavowed it to seize the important railway hub of Debaltseve. Kiev fears they are massing for an assault near the major port of Mariupol. Thousands of weary and demoralised soldiers withdrew from Debaltseve on Wednesday in one of the worst defeats suffered by Kiev during 10 months of fighting in which more than 5,000 people have been killed.

Pro-Islamic State militants seize Libyan university: residents Posted: 19 Feb 2015 12:39 PM PST Militants claiming loyalty to Islamic State have seized the university in the central Libyan city of Sirte, residents said on Thursday, days after a video showed them staging a convoy parade. Islamist militants have made inroads into parts of the North African oil-producing country, exploiting a power vacuum created by a violent struggle for control between two competing governments. On Monday Egyptian planes struck suspected Islamic State targets in eastern Libya, after the group released a video showing the execution of 21 Egyptian Christians kidnapped in Sirte. On Wednesday Egypt and the official Libyan government asked the United Nations Security Council to lift an arms embargo and help build up the army to tackle the jihadists.

U.S. sees Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul in April-May time frame Posted: 19 Feb 2015 02:26 PM PST By David Alexander and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Iraqi and Kurdish military force of some 20,000 to 25,000 troops is being prepared to recapture the city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters, probably in the April-May time frame, an official at the U.S. Central Command said on Thursday. The official said Mosul was currently being held by 1,000 to 2,000 Islamic State fighters. No decision has been made on whether small numbers of U.S. military advisers might need to be on the ground close to Mosul to direct close air support, the official told a group of reporters on condition of anonymity. Mosul, which had a population of over 1 million people, was captured by Islamic State fighters in June and is the largest city in the group's self-declared caliphate, a stretch of territory that straddles the border between northern Iraq and eastern Syria.

Turkey, U.S. sign deal to train, equip Syrian opposition, official says Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:51 PM PST By Tulay Karadeniz and David Alexander ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Turkey signed an agreement on Thursday to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters, and Ankara will provide an equal number of trainers to work alongside their American military counterparts, a U.S. official said. The deal with Turkey formalized plans for one of four known sites to be used in a broader program to train Syrian rebels opposed to Islamic State militants. A deal for a facility in Jordan is imminent and locations in Saudi Arabia and Qatar could be ready in a few months, the U.S. official said. The effort to train and equip Syrian moderates to fight Islamic State rebels began to pick up steam after months of planning.

After Ukraine mediation, EU looks to embrace Lukashenko Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:01 PM PST By Adrian Croft and Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's hosting of Ukraine peace talks may have a side effect at home - helping thaw relations between the European Union and a man the West calls "Europe's last dictator". A meeting in Minsk on Friday with the foreign minister of neighbouring Latvia, travelling in his capacity as chair of the EU ministerial council, will mark another step in what diplomats say is an accelerating process that could see some easing of sanctions on Lukashenko and even an invitation to a May summit. Unlike Ukraine and other ex-Soviet republics tempted by free trade with the EU, Lukashenko has remained broadly aligned with Russia, signing up for President Vladimir Putin's Eurasian Union but also criticising Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: witnesses Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:28 PM PST By Brian Ellsworth CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan intelligence agents on Thursday arrested opposition leader and Caracas metropolitan mayor Antonio Ledezma, witnesses said, after accusations he was involved in a coup attempt against President Nicolas Maduro. The agents took him from his office in the banking district of Caracas, without giving a reason, according to witnesses including an opposition legislator and Ledezma's wife. "I just saw how they took Ledezma out of his office as if he were a dog," wrote opposition legislator Ismael Garcia via Twitter. The government in recent days cited an opposition document signed by Ledezma, a veteran opposition leader, that called for a "national transition" as evidence he was involved in a coup attempt.

England win toss and bat in New Zealand match Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:05 PM PST Wellington (AFP) - England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to bat in the World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand at Westpac stadium in Wellington on Friday.

Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:02 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Two powerful cyclones smashed into northern Australia on Friday, with authorities ordering coastal residents to flee their homes amid warnings the storms' violent winds and drenching rains could prove deadly. The twin storms, dubbed the "cyclone sandwich" by locals, struck early Friday, about 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) apart. Cyclone Lam hit a sparsely populated stretch of the Northern Territory, while the more powerful and potentially dangerous Cyclone Marcia began crossing over small towns along the east coast of Queensland state a few hours later, packing wind gusts up to 285 kilometers (180 miles) an hour.

Video from police, public examined in US shooting Posted: 19 Feb 2015 02:49 PM PST KENNEWICK, Washington (AP) — Authorities said Thursday they are still collecting video of the fatal police shooting of an unarmed Mexican man, and they're asking for patience as protests of the killing continue in the agricultural community.

England wins toss, bats in World Cup match vs. New Zealand Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:00 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — England won the toss and elected to bat Friday in a Cricket World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

'Calamity' fears as massive Australian cyclone roars ashore Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:00 PM PST A powerful cyclone roared ashore in a heavily populated area of Australia Friday with authorities warning of a "calamity" as howling winds and torrential rain saw residents hunkering down to wait out the terrifying conditions. Tropical Cyclone Marcia slammed into the Queensland coast just after 2200 GMT Thursday having been upgraded to a category five, the most severe. The tempest made landfall on the Capricorn coast near Shoalwater Bay, north of Yeppoon, a town of 16,000 people some 670 kilometres (415 miles) north of Brisbane. It is moving south towards Rockhampton, with the impact being felt over a wide area, and officials saying it could impact some 170,000 people in the region.

2 strong cyclones hit remote parts of northern Australia Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:52 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Two powerful cyclones smashed into northern Australia on Friday, with authorities ordering coastal residents to flee their homes amid warnings the storms' violent winds and drenching rains could prove deadly.

Sailor asks court to confiscate America's Cup champ's boat Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:49 PM PST A New Zealand sailor whose contract was terminated by America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA is asking a federal court to confiscate a prototype boat being tested by the syndicate as a seaman's lien against unpaid wages.

Coca-Cola caught up in southern Mexico protest, 10 injured Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:49 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Protests in the southern state of Guerrero around the disappearance of 43 students have meant regular blockades and attacks and robberies of vehicles delivering everything from milk to snacks in recent months.

French minister visits U.S. Internet firms about militants' messaging Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:45 PM PST France's chief internal security official is traveling to California's Silicon Valley to discuss his government's concerns about violent jihadist social media messaging with leading tech and Internet companies. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told a Washington news conference on Thursday that "all the Internet operators were welcoming me," including Twitter Inc, Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Facebook Inc. He said that when meeting with the companies on Friday, he would discuss several issues related to the use of social media by groups such as Islamic State, including the companies' own "codes of conduct" as well as strategies for using social media to counter violent messaging by militants.

Australia rules out Sweden for $39 billion submarine contract Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:42 PM PST By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will not partner with Sweden to build its next-generation submarine fleet, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday, narrowing the list of potential partners for the A$50 billion ($39 billion) program to Germany, France and Japan. "The last Australian submarine came off the production line in about 2001. As I understand it the last Swedish submarine came off the production line in about 1996, so it's almost two decades since Sweden built a submarine," Abbott told reporters. "We are working with the three countries that have continuous, relevant submarine experience." Sources have said Australia is strongly considering buying a version of the 4,000-tonne Soryu-class submarine built by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to replace its ageing Collins-class fleet.

A-League match postponed by effects of tropical cyclone Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:33 PM PST BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — An A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory was postponed Friday over safety concerns surrounding the effects a tropical cyclone on the Queensland state coast.

US missionary arrested in Colombia for alleged rebel ties Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:30 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Prosecutors sought jail Thursday for a U.S. missionary who has worked for decades in some of Colombia's most dangerous regions, charging him with collaborating with the country's main leftist rebel group.

Venezuela arrests Caracas opposition mayor Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:29 PM PST Masked intelligence service agents arrested the mayor of Caracas on Thursday, his wife and opposition figures said, in what appears to be the latest crackdown on criticism of the socialist government. Antonio Ledezma's arrest comes nearly a year to the day of that of Leopoldo Lopez, an opposition leader detained amid fierce protests against President Nicolas Maduro. The 59-year-old Ledezma tweeted in the afternoon that government police were on the way to his office to arrest him. His wife, Mitzy Capriles, took to his Twitter account to report his detention shortly after, and blamed Maduro.

Leaders renew backing of tattered Ukraine ceasefire Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:27 PM PST The leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia on Thursday pledged renewed support for a tattered ceasefire in eastern Ukraine despite violations -- including the storming of a key town by pro-Russian rebels. As the leaders condemned the fighting and urged both sides to observe the truce, there was strident opposition from the separatists and Moscow to a plea from Ukraine for international peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire. The Ukrainian army, meanwhile, said 90 troops had been captured and 82 were still missing after the rebels seized the strategic town of Debaltseve. One of the rebel leaders, Alexander Zakharchenko, said that 3,000 to 3,500 troops died in the assault, although such casualty counts on both sides are often greatly exaggerated for propaganda effect.

Caracas mayor who opposed government apparently arrested Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:26 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Men in camouflage uniforms smashed into the office of Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma on Thursday and carried the opposition figure away. An aide said some of the officers wore the uniform of the national intelligence service police.

Some signs of tension emerge among Islamic State militants Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:25 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — As the Islamic State group tries to expand and take root across the Middle East, it is struggling in Syria — part of its heartland — where it has stalled or even lost ground while fighting multiple enemies on several fronts.

Clinton Foundation defends fundraising practices Posted: 19 Feb 2015 04:05 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The charity founded by former President Bill Clinton defended its financial support from foreign governments on Thursday and said it would continue "appropriate" policies and practices if former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton runs for president again.

US Democrat delegation meets with Cuban vice president Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:59 PM PST HAVANA (AP) — The minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and a delegation of fellow Democrats have met with Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the man currently expected to take power after President Raul Castro leaves office in 2018.

NY lawyer: Argentina not responding to negotiation requests Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:56 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer appointed to lead negotiations between U.S. bondholders and Argentina over unpaid debts said Thursday the South American nation is not responding to requests to negotiate.

Winter storms ease California drought Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:41 PM PST By Sharon Bernstein SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Wet winter storms that dropped up to a foot (30 cm) of rain on parts of California have modestly eased the state's ongoing drought over the past three months, U.S. drought experts said on Thursday. The portion of California in the most extreme categories of drought has dropped by about 13 percent since mid-November, said Mark Svoboda, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska. The relief provided by two so-called atmospheric rivers is far from enough to make more than a dent in California's ongoing dry conditions, which are entering their fourth year. Part of the reason is that it was relatively warm during the most recent storms, which occurred in early February, leading to rain but not to the snow that is needed in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, which provides drinking water and protection from fire when it melts in the spring.

Official: Mission to retake Mosul to begin in April, May Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:34 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The operation to retake Iraq's second largest city from Islamic State militants will likely begin in April or May and will involve about 12 Iraqi brigades, or between 20,000 and 25,000 troops, a senior U.S. military official said Thursday.

Attorney general nominee defends British bank investigation Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:30 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's nominee for U.S. attorney general is defending her office's handling of a money-laundering investigation involving British bank HSBC, saying the deal carried stern penalties even though no individual executives were prosecuted.

Sanofi hires Bayer HealthCare's Brandicourt as new CEO Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:25 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — French drugmaker Sanofi says it is hiring Bayer HealthCare Chairman and CEO Olivier Brandicourt as its next CEO.

Gerrard takes swipe at Balotelli over penalty row Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:22 PM PST Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard accused Mario Balotelli of being disrespectful after the controversial Italian striker snatched penalty-taking duties away from Jordan Henderson during Thursday's 1-0 Europa League win over Besiktas. Gerrard was angry that Balotelli overruled Henderson when the stand-in Reds skipper tried to take an 85th-minute penalty in the last 32, first leg at Anfield. With the game goalless, Jordon Ibe won the spot-kick and England international Henderson appeared set to fulfil his role as the assigned penalty taker in the absence of the injured Gerrard.

Goosen, Singh among leaders at Riviera Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:21 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, among the top five players in the world a decade ago, were part of a five-way tie for the lead in the Northern Trust Open in what amounted to "throwback Thursday" at Riviera.

Moscow court jails Navalny for 15 days, bars him from opposition rally Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:19 PM PST A Moscow court late on Thursday jailed prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for 15 days for breaching a law that restricts demonstrations, barring him from a planned rally on March 1. Two days earlier another court had ended house arrest terms for Navalny and upheld a suspended three-and-a-half-year prison term for the protest leader over a theft case he says is politically motivated. Navalny left the courthouse on Thursday evening handcuffed and was whisked away in a police car. He appealed nonetheless to his followers to turn up for the rally against President Vladimir Putin's policies.

Balotelli causes fuss with Liverpool winner in Europa League Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:16 PM PST Maverick striker Mario Balotelli managed to upset his Liverpool teammates despite scoring a late penalty in a 1-0 win over Besiktas in the last 32 of the Europa League, one of several first-leg victories for expected title contenders on Thursday.

Priests reject nomination of bishop in Chile Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:14 PM PST SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A group of Chilean priests on Thursday demanded the resignation of a bishop, accusing him of covering up for a prominent priest who sexually abused altar boys.

Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: local media Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan security officials on Thursday arrested Caracas metropolitan mayor Antonio Ledezma, an opposition leader and fierce critic of President Nicolas Maduro, witnesses told local media. Officials from the Sebin intelligence agency took him from his office in Caracas, his wife and a municipal official told VIVOplay, an online news station. They said no reason was given for his detention. "They took him by force, they hit him, once again violating human rights," Helen Fernandez, general director of the office of metropolitan municipality of Caracas, told VIVOplay. ...

Ex-wife of dead Argentine prosecutor rejects suicide claim Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:13 PM PST The ex-wife of a dead Argentine prosecutor rejected claims he'd killed himself and called for independent oversight of the probe Thursday, a day after huge crowds called for justice in the case. Alberto Nisman was found dead last month, just days after accusing Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner of interfering in the investigation of a 1994 bombing of a Jewish center and covering up the role of Iranian officials. Judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado said nothing in her ex-husband's personality led her to suspect he took his own life. I do not see this possibility, much less so with the use of a gun," Arroyo Salgado said.

Low oil prices risks negative inflation: Canada bank Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:07 PM PST Low oil prices are creating a drag on inflation that could see it dip into the negative in Canada, the central bank's deputy governor said Thursday. "Currently, short-term inflation expectations are decreasing in Canada and elsewhere, owing to the fall in oil prices," she said. For this to constitute deflation, however, she said it would require a general decline in prices, and not just in gasoline prices.

Celtic beaten by Inter, Lukaku leads Everton to win Posted: 19 Feb 2015 03:01 PM PST Celtic's rematch with Inter Milan ended in a memorable 3-3 draw in Glasgow in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 on Thursday as Romelu Lukaku inspired Everton to a big win. Lukaku scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 Everton victory against Swiss side Young Boys that leaves the Toffees with one foot in the last 16, but the Premier League's other representatives in the competition still have work to do. A late Mario Balotelli penalty gave Liverpool a 1-0 win against Turkish league leaders Besiktas at Anfield, while Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 with Fiorentina at White Hart Lane, meaning they must now score in the return in Florence next week.

Mali, six armed groups agree to cease hostilities Posted: 19 Feb 2015 02:51 PM PST The Malian government agreed a deal with six armed groups Thursday to cease hostilities as part of UN-sponsored peace talks aimed at ending the crisis in the country's north. Thursday's ceasefire was signed in the presence of Lamamra and Mongi Hamdi, the head of the 9,300-strong UN peace mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The ultimate aim is to bring peace to northern Mali, which remains unstable despite French and international military intervention against Islamist rebels launched in 2013.

Fresh brawl in Turkish parliament over protest bill Posted: 19 Feb 2015 02:49 PM PST The Turkish parliament descended into fresh chaos Thursday with lawmakers exchanging punches for a second time over a controversial bill to boost police powers against protesters, local media reported. Ruling party and opposition lawmakers engaged in fisticuffs while one MP even fell down the stairs as parliament was about to begin a debate on the so-called homeland security bill, the private Dogan news agency reported. Opposition parties, strongly opposed to the government-driven bill, earlier this week vowed to stop the draft text from coming to the parliament floor by resorting to delaying tactics such as presenting motions on unrelated subjects. Before speeches on the bill began on Thursday, opposition parties voiced objections for more than three hours, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on its website.

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