Yahoo! News: World News

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• Two suspects held over murder of Kremlin critic Nemtsov
• Friendly fire kills one, wounds three from U.S.-led coalition in Iraq
• U.S., France 'on same page' over Iran, want stronger deal
• Iraqi troops battle to advance in towns on edge of Tikrit
• Colombia, FARC rebels agree to remove landmines
• Four bombs in Nigeria's Maiduguri city kill at least 50
• Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State
• A year on, what's the latest in the hunt for Flight 370?
• Canada take control with Davis Cup doubles win
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• Obama in Selma: 'Our march is not over'
• Davis Cup: Serbia, France reach quarterfinals
• Ex-Sarkozy aide charged in case linked to Libya funding probe
• Boko Haram pledges allegiance to IS after carnage in Maiduguri
• Fan trouble mars Villa win in FA Cup quarterfinals
• Holmes gets an ace, 4 straight birdies to expand Doral lead
• Venezuela to install finger scanners to tackle shortages
• UN says Libyan factions to consult before talks next week
• Canadian military adviser killed in friendly fire in Iraq
• Color meets menswear, celebrities at Paris Fashion Week
• 5 dead, 2 expats, in shooting at restaurant in Mali capital
• Real Madrid loses 1-0 at Bilbao, puts Liga lead in jeopardy
• Chris Smith, Scott Brown share Puerto Rico Open lead
• AC Milan allows late equalizer in 2-2 draw with Verona
• Mystery deepens over ancient Greek tomb
• Colombia, leftist FARC in 'giant' step toward peace
• Five killed in Mali jihadist nightclub attack
• Colombia, rebels announce agreement on removing land mines
• Stormers top table after sinking Sharks
• Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State: audio clip
• Jamaica police charge man with murder in fire that killed 3
• Simone Biles rolls to American Cup title in home state
• Islamist group claims deadly Bamako nightclub attack
• World Cup: Afghanistan wins toss, bats vs New Zealand
• Mexico official: 14 police arrested for kidnap, extortion
• UN condemns 'destruction' of ancient Iraq city of Hatra
• Belenenses draws 1-1 at Setubal in Portugal
• Greek league resumes in front of empty stands
• Boko Haram leader pledges allegiance to Islamic State group

Two suspects held over murder of Kremlin critic Nemtsov Posted: 07 Mar 2015 06:58 AM PST By Darya Korsunskaya and Katya Golubkova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two suspects have been detained over the killing of Boris Nemtsov, Russian officials said, a week after he was shot dead near the Kremlin in the most high-profile killing of an opposition figure in years. Russian President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the detentions, officials said. "The individuals detained are, according to our investigation, involved in the organization and execution of the killing of Boris Nemtsov," the committee said in a statement. Russian state-controlled media reported the two were from the Caucasus, a violent and impoverished region on Russia's southern flank.

Friendly fire kills one, wounds three from U.S.-led coalition in Iraq Posted: 07 Mar 2015 10:43 AM PST One member of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State was killed and three were wounded in a friendly fire incident with Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said on Saturday. It said in a statement that the incident happened on Friday while the four were conducting an "advise and assist" mission.

U.S., France 'on same page' over Iran, want stronger deal Posted: 07 Mar 2015 09:44 AM PST By Arshad Mohammed and John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - The United States and France sought on Saturday to play down any disagreements over nuclear talks with Iran, saying they both agreed the accord now under discussion needed to be strengthened. "We are on the same page," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters after talks with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Paris. We know this." The aim of the negotiations is to persuade Iran to restrain its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions that have crippled its economy. Iran, a major oil exporter, wants the sanctions scrapped swiftly, the powers only in phases.

Iraqi troops battle to advance in towns on edge of Tikrit Posted: 07 Mar 2015 11:19 AM PST Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militia fighters struggled to advance on Saturday into the two towns of al-Alam and al-Dour near Tikrit, their progress slowed by fierce defense from Islamic State militants. "We are facing a strong resistance from terrorist groups and we are trying to surround Daesh inside al-Alam and al-Dour and cut all supply routes for them," said al-Alam mayor Laith al-Jubouri, referring to the Islamic State fighters. Army and militia fighters entered the southern and eastern parts of al-Dour on Friday. Canada said one of its soldiers was killed in a friendly fire incident, the first fatality for the country during its current military mission in Iraq.

Colombia, FARC rebels agree to remove landmines Posted: 07 Mar 2015 12:52 PM PST By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) - The Colombian government and leftist guerrillas on Saturday jointly announced an agreement to remove landmines and other explosives from the battlefield in a sign of progress in their two-year-old peace talks being held in Cuba. Colombia, at war for 50 years, is one of the most mined countries in the world, and removing the mines recently became a topic of discussion at the negotiating table. Landmines and discarded explosives have killed or wounded nearly 11,000 Colombians including 1,101 children since 1990, according to Colombian government statistics. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC) ranked the South American country second behind Afghanistan for the highest number of children killed or wounded by landmines, with 57 child casualties in 2013.

Four bombs in Nigeria's Maiduguri city kill at least 50 Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:03 PM PST By Lanre Ola MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Four bomb blasts killed at least 50 people in Maiduguri in Nigeria's northeast on Saturday in the worst attacks there since Islamist militants tried to seize the city in two major assaults earlier this year. There was no immediate claim for the bombings but they bore the hallmarks of the Islamist group Boko Haram, which has been waging a six-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic state in Africa's biggest economy. President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election on March 28, has been heavily criticized for failing to crush the group. Around noon on Saturday, the driver of a motorized tricycle detonated a bomb when the vehicle was prevented from entering a fish market on the Baga road in the west of Maiduguri, market trader Mohammad Ajia said after fleeing the scene.

Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:51 PM PST MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's home-grown Boko Haram group, newly weakened by a multinational force that has dislodged it from a score of northeastern towns, reportedly pledged formal allegiance to the Islamic State group.

A year on, what's the latest in the hunt for Flight 370? Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:44 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Nearly a year has passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, sparking one of the most perplexing mysteries of modern times. Since then, search crews have taken to air, land and sea in a thus-far fruitless hunt for the plane and the 239 people who disappeared with it.

Canada take control with Davis Cup doubles win Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:38 PM PST Vancouver (AFP) - Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil outlasted Japan's Go Soeda and Yasutaka Uchiyama in five sets on Saturday to put Canada one point from victory in their Davis Cup tie.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:33 PM PST BANGKOK (AP) — The towering Danish ship Kobenhavn set sail from Argentina one December day, bound for Australia with five dozen souls aboard. Eight days later, as it traversed the South Atlantic, it radioed a nearby ship. All seemed well. That was Dec. 22, 1928. The vessel was never heard from again. There were reports of a "phantom ship" spotted through the haze, but searches of the icy waters turned up nothing. A year passed.

Obama in Selma: 'Our march is not over' Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:29 PM PST In a forceful speech in Selma, Alabama on the 50th anniversary of the brutal repression of a peaceful protest, America's first black president denounced new attempts to restrict voting rights. "We gather here to celebrate them," he declared, standing on the spot where Alabama state troopers launched an assault on the marchers in scenes that shocked America.

Davis Cup: Serbia, France reach quarterfinals Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:18 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic shrugged off a sore finger and joined with Nenad Zimonjic in polishing off Croatia to send Serbia into the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.

Ex-Sarkozy aide charged in case linked to Libya funding probe Posted: 07 Mar 2015 04:06 PM PST A former French interior minister was on Saturday charged with tax evasion and forgery in connection with a probe into allegations that former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi helped finance Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential election campaign. Investigators discovered a 500,000-euro ($540,000) transfer in Claude Gueant's bank account during a raid in February 2013. Gueant, who was Sarkozy's right-hand man for a decade, claimed the money was the proceeds of the sale of two 17th-century Flemish paintings to a Malaysian lawyer.

Boko Haram pledges allegiance to IS after carnage in Maiduguri Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:58 PM PST Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in an audio message published online on Saturday, after three bombs wreaked havoc in northeast Nigeria, killing 58 and wounding scores. "We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi," Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said, referring to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The eight-minute speech, in which Shekau was not shown, was published on a Twitter account used by Boko Haram and subtitled in English, French and Arabic. Not only did Shekau announce last year that the captured town of Gwoza in Borno state was part of a caliphate but in recent weeks Boko Haram videos have increasingly resembled IS group propaganda.

Fan trouble mars Villa win in FA Cup quarterfinals Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:57 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Aston Villa's win over West Bromwich Albion in a heated FA Cup quarterfinal was marred by crowd trouble on Saturday, with seats thrown by visiting fans and home supporters invading the field during and after the game.

Holmes gets an ace, 4 straight birdies to expand Doral lead Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:57 PM PST DORAL, Fla. (AP) — J.B. Holmes and Dustin Johnson each made a hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth hole in a span of 20 minutes. Holmes was in a league of his own in the final hour Saturday at the Cadillac Championship.

Venezuela to install finger scanners to tackle shortages Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:48 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela will begin installing some 20,000 fingerprint scanners at supermarkets nationwide in a bid to stamp out hoarding and panic buying, which the government blames for long lines and widespread shortages of basic goods.

UN says Libyan factions to consult before talks next week Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:48 PM PST The United Nations said on Saturday talks with Libya's warring factions had made progress and delegates would return to Morocco next week for more negotiations after consultations at home on forming a unity government. Western leaders are backing the U.N. talks as the only way to end the turmoil in Libya, where two rival governments and armed factions are battling for control and Islamist militants have gained ground in the chaos. U.N.-backed talks in Morocco aim to achieve a unity government and a lasting ceasefire and put Libya's democratic transition back on track. Delegates will return to Morocco for more talks on Wednesday after discussing proposals with their supporters in Libya, the United Nations mission to Libya said in a statement.

Canadian military adviser killed in friendly fire in Iraq Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:18 PM PST TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian special forces soldier was killed and three others wounded in a friendly fire incident in northern Iraq, Canada's defense department said Saturday.

Color meets menswear, celebrities at Paris Fashion Week Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:14 PM PST PARIS (AP) — It was color-meets-menswear at Paris' celebrity-filled Fashion Week this Saturday, with Solange Knowles chatting to James Bond "Skyfall" star Naomie Harris at Vivienne Westwood before heading on a plane home.

5 dead, 2 expats, in shooting at restaurant in Mali capital Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:09 PM PST BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A masked gunman sprayed bullets in a restaurant popular with foreigners in Mali's capital early Saturday, killing five people including a French person and a Belgian national, officials and witnesses said.

Real Madrid loses 1-0 at Bilbao, puts Liga lead in jeopardy Posted: 07 Mar 2015 03:08 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish league leader Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, stumbling for a second straight week.

Chris Smith, Scott Brown share Puerto Rico Open lead Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:44 PM PST RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) — Chris Smith is 18 holes away from one of the more amazing recoveries on the PGA Tour.

AC Milan allows late equalizer in 2-2 draw with Verona Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:40 PM PST ROME (AP) — Substitute Nico Lopez equalized in the fifth minute of added time as Hellas Verona drew 2-2 at AC Milan in Serie A on Saturday, piling pressure on coach Filippo Inzaghi.

Mystery deepens over ancient Greek tomb Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:29 PM PST THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A geologist who took part in the excavation of the ancient burial mound in Amphipolis in northern Greece says the ancient tomb found together with a series of vaulted rooms wasn't built at the same time, but somewhat later than the rooms themselves.

Colombia, leftist FARC in 'giant' step toward peace Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:27 PM PST Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels announced Saturday they had reached a deal on demining, a stride forward on a key issue to negotiate peace after decades of conflict. Army and FARC leaders met for the first time in what one diplomat called "unprecedented" talks. "The government and the FARC have agreed to ask (Norwegian People's Aid) to lead and coordinate a cleanup and decontamination operation: for mines in rural areas as part of the armed conflict," a statement from the parties said, read out by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez. The Colombian conflict has killed 220,000 people and uprooted more than five million since the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was launched in 1964.

Five killed in Mali jihadist nightclub attack Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:24 PM PST Five people including two Europeans and a Malian policeman died in an assault claimed by an Islamist group on a Bamako nightclub Saturday, the first attack targeting Westerners in a city braced for jihadist violence since 2012. A spokesman for Al-Murabitoun, a jihadist group run by leading Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, claimed responsibility in an audio recording carried by Mauritanian news agency Al-Akbar, which frequently publishes what it says are statements from jihadist groups. "We claim responsibility for the latest operation in Bamako carried out by brave combatants from Al-Murabitoun to avenge our prophet against the unbelieving West which has insulted and mocked him," the recording said. Mali's government described the massacre as a "terrorist" attack by "those who have no other goal than to push away the prospect of peace" -- a statement seen as referring to jihadists who operate across swaths of the desert north.

Colombia, rebels announce agreement on removing land mines Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:21 PM PST HAVANA (AP) — Colombia's government and the country's biggest rebel movement announced an agreement Saturday to begin a pilot program for removing land mines as part of efforts to lower the intensity of a conflict that has lasted a half century.

Stormers top table after sinking Sharks Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:17 PM PST Western Stormers went top of the Super 15 table Saturday after an ultimately comfortable 29-13 victory over fellow South Africans Coastal Sharks in Cape Town. In a game of two halves at Newlands stadium, there was nothing between the teams after a frenetic opening half which finished 13-10 in favour of the Stormers. Victory took the Stormers from third to first in the combined southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship standings. The Cape Town outfit have 16 points after four rounds, the Australian ACT Brumbies 15 and the New Zealand Wellington Hurricanes 14.

Nigeria's Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Islamic State: audio clip Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:03 PM PST Nigeria's militant Islamist group Boko Haram pledged allegiance on Saturday to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, according to an audio clip posted online. The symbolic move highlights increased coordination between jihadi movements across north Africa and the Middle East and prompted an appeal from Nigeria's government for greater international help in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds during its six-year campaign to carve out an Islamist state in northern Nigeria. The pledge of allegiance was attributed to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau.

Jamaica police charge man with murder in fire that killed 3 Posted: 07 Mar 2015 02:03 PM PST KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Authorities in Jamaica have charged a man with murder and arson following a fire that killed two teenagers and a young girl.

Simone Biles rolls to American Cup title in home state Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:56 PM PST ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Simone Biles nailed her first landing and flashed a wide grin to what amounted to a hometown crowd in her return to competition.

Islamist group claims deadly Bamako nightclub attack Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:50 PM PST A jihadist group run by a leading Algerian militant claimed responsibility Saturday for the deaths of five people in an attack on a nightclub popular with foreigners in the Malian capital Bamako. A spokesman for the Al-Murabitoun group, headed by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, made the claim in an audio recording carried by the Mauritanian news agency Al-Akbar, which frequently publishes what it says are statements from jihadist groups. "We claim responsibility for the latest operation in Bamako carried out by brave combatants from Al-Murabitoun to avenge our prophet against the unbelieving West which has insulted and mocked him," the recording said, also mentioning the killing by French troops of a militant called Ahmed Telemsi.

World Cup: Afghanistan wins toss, bats vs New Zealand Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:50 PM PST NAPIER, New Zealand (AP) — Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss in his 50th one-day international and chose to bat Sunday in the Cricket World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand at McLean Park.

Mexico official: 14 police arrested for kidnap, extortion Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:48 PM PST CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Mexican troops have detained 15 federal police officers on charges of kidnapping the owner of a construction company in the northern border city of Matamoros and demanding a $2 million (31 million peso) ransom, a government official said Saturday.

UN condemns 'destruction' of ancient Iraq city of Hatra Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:45 PM PST The United Nations' cultural body on Saturday condemned the "destruction" by the Islamic State jihadist group of Hatra, a stunning Roman period ancient fortress city in the Iraqi desert. The destruction of the UNESCO world heritage site was reported two days after the Iraqi antiquities ministry said that IS bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud, and a week after the jihadists released a tape of them smashing artefacts in the Mosul museum. "The destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the appalling strategy of cultural cleansing under way in Iraq," UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said.

Belenenses draws 1-1 at Setubal in Portugal Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:29 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Belenenses drew 1-1 at Setubal in the Portuguese league's sole game on Saturday.

Greek league resumes in front of empty stands Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:28 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Asteras beat Atromitos 1-0 and Ergotelis won by the same score at Giannena in the two Greek league games played on Saturday after a one-week suspension of activity.

Boko Haram leader pledges allegiance to Islamic State group Posted: 07 Mar 2015 01:26 PM PST The leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram militants, Abubakar Shekau, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in an audio recording released Saturday. "We announce our allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims, Ibrahim ibn Awad ibn Ibrahim al-Husseini al-Qurashi," said the voice on the message, which was believed to be that of Shekau and was released through Boko Haram's Twitter account. Qurashi is better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the IS group which has proclaimed a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq. Shekau was not pictured, a contrast from most of Boko Haram's past messages in which the Islamist leader has been shown, often in close up shots.

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