| Desperate Nepalese sleep in open as aftershocks spread fear Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:07 PM PDT  By Gopal Sharma and Sanjeev Miglani KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Thousands of desperate Nepalese spent another night in the open in the early hours of Monday, terrorized by strong aftershocks that continued to shake the country two days after a massive quake struck, killing almost 2,500 people. Across the capital, Kathmandu, and beyond, exhausted families whose homes were either flattened or at risk of collapse laid mattresses out on streets and erected tents to shelter from rain.
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| Fighting escalates across Yemen, air strikes on capital Sanaa Posted: 26 Apr 2015 11:17 AM PDT  By Mohammed Mukhashaf and Mohammed Ghobari ADEN/CAIRO (Reuters) - Air raids, naval shelling and ground fighting shook Yemen on Sunday in some of the most widespread combat since a Saudi-led alliance intervened last month against Iranian-allied Houthi militia who have seized large tracts of the country. There were at least five air strikes on military positions and an area near the presidential palace compound in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa at dawn on Sunday, while warships pounded an area near the port of the southern city of Aden, residents said. The strikes on Sanaa were the first since the Saudi-led coalition said last week it was scaling back a campaign against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and arch Sunni Muslim regional adversary of Shi'ite Muslim Iran, feels menaced by the Shi'ite Houthi advance across Yemen since last September, when the rebels captured the capital.
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| Syrian jets pound insurgent-held town: monitor Posted: 26 Apr 2015 09:23 AM PDT  Syrian jets killed at least 34 people in air strikes on the town of Jisr al-Shughour in northwestern Syria on Sunday, a group monitoring the war said, one day after it was seized by Islamist fighters closing in on government-held territory by the coast. Syrian state television said the military had ambushed some militants close to Jisr al-Shughour, which was captured on Saturday for the first time in the four-year conflict by a hardline Islamist alliance including al Qaeda. The Observatory said around 20 air strikes since late on Saturday had killed at least 34 people including insurgents and civilians, some of them children. Syrian television also reported that the insurgents had killed civilians, but the Observatory said only supporters of the government had been detained, and no one killed.
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| No military solution to boat migrant crisis: U.N. chief to paper Posted: 26 Apr 2015 10:53 AM PDT  There is no military solution to migrants drowning in the Mediterranean, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said on Sunday, as European leaders search for ways to manage the flow of people leaving North Africa in rickety boats. The disaster has shocked the European Union into pledging more money for rescues. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, Ban said the United Nations was ready to help tackle the problem. Asked about a proposal by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to "capture and destroy" the boats that traffickers use, Ban said the U.N. focused on security and protecting human rights.
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| U.S. Secretary of State Kerry to meet with Iran foreign minister Monday Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:53 PM PDT  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday in New York, a senior State Department official said on Sunday. The meeting on the sidelines of the five-year review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that begins on Monday will come as the United States and five other global powers try to secure a final nuclear deal with Iran by a June 30 deadline. Kerry will also meet on Monday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the State Department official said. Under a tentative deal reached April 2 between Iran and the other countries, Tehran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, agreed to slash the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges it operates and to allow more intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency in exchange for sanctions relief.
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| Ukraine's ceasefire under pressure as one more serviceman killed Posted: 26 Apr 2015 05:12 AM PDT  By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - A fragile ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists came under renewed pressure on Sunday with the Ukrainian military reporting a serviceman had been killed and seven others wounded in rebel attacks. The casualties, which follow the death on Saturday of another serviceman in shelling in the south east, occurred as the Ukrainian military and the rebels accused each other of violating a peace deal signed in Minsk, Belarus, in February. The latest violence has revived concerns that the deal, brokered by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, could collapse, even though international monitors say violations were relatively limited. More than 6,100 civilians, separatists and pro-Kiev service staff have been killed so far in the conflict.
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| Australia says Indonesia gave 72 hours notice of executions Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:48 PM PDT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Indonesia has given two Australians on death row 72 hours notice of their executions, Australia's foreign minister said Monday. |
| Chelsea's title bid on hold, Everton overpower United Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:45 PM PDT  Chelsea will have to keep the champagne on ice for at least a week after their seemingly inevitable progress towards the Premier League title was checked by a goalless draw away to Arsenal on Sunday. Had they beaten their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, Jose Mourinho's men would have travelled to Leicester City on Wednesday knowing that victory over the resurgent Foxes would have been enough to secure Chelsea's first English title since 2010. Sunday's fiery clash ended with Arsenal going level on points with second-placed Manchester City, with both clubs 10 points adrift of Chelsea, who like the Gunners have five league matches left to play this season.
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| Japan's prime minister goes to US to showcase close ties Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:43 PM PDT  TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in the U.S. on Sunday for a weeklong visit to showcase the success of the alliance built from Tokyo's defeat in World War II, while promoting a political agenda based on still stronger military and economic ties.
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| O'Sullivan on brink of world quarter-finals Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:35 PM PDT  Five-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan was on the verge of a quarter-final place in this year's snooker World Championship after going 12-4 up against Matthew Stevens on Sunday. O'Sullivan made two rapid hundreds but once again at this year's tournament he found himself flirting with disciplinary action after being spoken to by referee Olivier Marteel towards the end of the afternoon session. Marteel had a word with O'Sullivan after the player made a hand gesture, believed to be directed at himself, after Stevens missed a red. Although a breach of the rules, O'Sullivan's action was not deemed sufficiently severe to warrant any punishment and it was a similar story on Sunday, although a tournament spokesman said any further unsavoury gestures could see the player docked a frame.
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| Kerry to see Iranian FM as nuke talks hit end phase Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:35 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart will meet this week for the first time since they laid out the framework for a nuclear deal earlier this month.
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| Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:33 PM PDT KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Shell-shocked and sleeping in the streets, tens of thousands of Nepalis braced against terrifying aftershocks Sunday while digging for survivors of the massive earthquake that ripped across this Himalayan nation a day earlier, killing more than 2,500 people. Acrid, white smoke rose above Nepal's most revered Hindu temple, where dozens of bodies were being cremated at any given time. |
| Palmeiras takes the lead in Sao Paulo state final Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:31 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — Striker Leandro Pereira scored in the first half to give Palmeiras a 1-0 win over Santos in the first leg of the Sao Paulo state final Sunday. |
| Shocks terrify survivors of Nepal quake that killed 2,500 Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:28 PM PDT  KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Shell-shocked and sleeping in the streets, tens of thousands of Nepalis braced against terrifying aftershocks Sunday while digging for survivors of the massive earthquake that ripped across this Himalayan nation a day earlier, killing more than 2,500 people.
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| Billy Andrade and Joe Durant win Legends of Golf Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:14 PM PDT RIDGEDALE, Mo. (AP) — Joe Durant had a hole-in-one and teamed with Billy Andrade to win the Champions Tour's Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf on Sunday at Big Cedar Lodge. |
| Sudan accuses UN-AU peacekeepers of killing seven civilians in Darfur Posted: 26 Apr 2015 04:11 PM PDT  Sudan's government on Sunday accused peacekeepers in Darfur of killing seven civilians, disputing the UN-African Union mission's version of events in which it said its forces had repelled two attacks by gunmen. The UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) had said 40 gunmen fired on a patrol in South Darfur's Kass area on Thursday, before the peacekeepers returned fire and killed four assailants, and another patrol came under fire the next day. It said the peacekeepers fired at residents protesting over the incident at the mission's base in the area later the same day, killing one person, and another when they fired on a second protest on Friday. Only four attackers were killed in the incident on Thursday, according to UNAMID, and none on Friday.
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| Eden Hazard voted player of year by fellow pros in England Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:57 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Eden Hazard's breathtaking individual displays for Chelsea were honored by his fellow professionals in English football on Sunday when he picked up the player of the year award.
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| Three U.S. citizens among dead in avalanche after Nepal quake Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:54 PM PDT (Reuters) - Three Americans died in a massive avalanche triggered by the devastating Nepal earthquake, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday, including a medic and a filmmaker who were at a base camp for Mount Everest climbers. Nearly 2,500 people were confirmed killed in the 7.9 magnitude quake, making it the worst such disaster to hit Nepal since 1934 when 8,500 died. The medic, Marisa Eve Girawong, was a physician's assistant who worked for Madison Mountaineering, a Seattle-based guide service, according to Kurt Hunter, the company's co-founder and chief technology officer. "We're deeply saddened by her loss." Girawong, who was from Edison, New Jersey, according to media reports, was among more than a dozen people who perished in the Mount Everest avalanche. |
| Officials: US woman dies at Dominican plastic surgery clinic Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:52 PM PDT SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Dominican authorities have shut down a plastic surgery clinic as they investigate the death of a U.S. woman who traveled to the Caribbean country to undergo a liposuction procedure, officials said Sunday. |
| Chile begins volcano clean-up under eruption threat Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:51 PM PDT  Residents whose homes were buried under mounds of stinking volcanic ash in southern Chile began the painstaking clean-up Sunday, under the threat of more eruptions from the volatile Calbuco volcano. More than 6,500 people living nearby were told to evacuate after Calbuco erupted on Wednesday and Thursday, belching out a massive column of ash and lava, and triggering a spectacular showcase of Mother Nature's formidable powers. The ash cloud drifted eastwards over Argentina, sparking travel misery for some flying in and out of several major cities or resorts in the region. Back at the foot of the volcano giant, in the small tourist town of La Ensenada, its 1,500 inhabitants begin to see light as they embarked on the big clean-up, aided by army personnel who were rushed to the area when a state of emergency was declared.
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| Olympiakos draws 2-2 at Panionios in Greek league Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:44 PM PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Newly-crowned champion Olympiakos came back from being two goals down to draw 2-2 at Panionios in the Greek league on Sunday. |
| Japan's prime minister kicks off US visit in Boston Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:38 PM PDT  BOSTON (AP) — Japan's prime minister has arrived in the U.S. for a closely watched visit beginning with a stop at Boston's John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
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| Ji So-yun of Chelsea Ladies voted player of year in England Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:36 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Chelsea Ladies midfielder Ji So-yun has collected the top accolade in English women's football. |
| Ex- Guantanamo detainees keep up protest in Uruguay Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:30 PM PDT MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners protested for a third day Sunday in front of the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay, saying Washington should provide them with housing and financial support because of their prolonged incarceration. |
| Centenary of 1.5 million Armenian deaths marked in NYC Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:30 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of people packed Times Square on Sunday to demand the U.S. government recognize the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I as genocide.
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| Justin Rose wins in New Orleans for 7th PGA Tour title Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:27 PM PDT  AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Justin Rose birdied the final two holes Sunday to win the Zurich Classic.
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| Madrid wins 4-2 thriller at Celta to stay in title hunt Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:27 PM PDT  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Javier Hernandez scored twice as Real Madrid fought back for a thrilling 4-2 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday to keep the pressure on Spanish league leader Barcelona.
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| Lyon goes back to the top after 4-2 win away to Reims Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:26 PM PDT PARIS (AP) — Alexandre Lacazette scored a league-leading 26th goal of the season as Lyon returned to the top of the French league on goal difference from Paris Saint-Germain after a 4-2 win at Reims on Sunday. |
| Bayern wins Bundesliga; Chelsea close to EPL title Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:25 PM PDT  Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title for the 25th time with four games to spare Sunday, while Chelsea took a step closer to winning the Premier league after nullifying Arsenal's threat in a gritty 0-0 draw.
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| As nuclear powers meet, NYC rally demands end to weapons Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:24 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — Global activists presented 8 million petitions to the U.N. disarmament chief on Sunday demanding a world free of nuclear weapons, kicking off a conference by world powers to review progress toward eventually achieving total disarmament.
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| No time to lose: Global response to Nepal quake gears up Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:22 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — There is still time to save lives — that's why governments and aid agencies Sunday rushed doctors, volunteers and equipment to Nepal without waiting for the dust to settle.
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| Togo awaits results of presidential vote marked by low turnout Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:19 PM PDT  Only just over half of voters turned out for Togo's presidential polls, election officials said Sunday, boosting the chances of incumbent Faure Gnassingbe winning a third term and extending his family's almost 50-year rule over the tiny west African nation. Of some 3.5 million voters called to polling stations on Saturday, only 53 to 55 percent took part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) said. The CENI has another five days to announce the outcome. Turnout was significantly lower than in 2010, when nearly two thirds of registered voters took part.
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| Putin says 'no regrets' over Crimea annexation Posted: 26 Apr 2015 03:10 PM PDT  "I think we did the right thing and I don't regret a thing," Putin said of his decision to take back the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine, during the interview in a state television documentary. Explaining the motivation behind Crimea's takeover, Putin said it was righting a historic wrong after Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred the peninsula from Russia to Ukraine in 1954, then only a symbolic move since both were in the USSR.
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| Israel says airstrike on Syrian border targeted militants Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:52 PM PDT JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military said Sunday it launched an airstrike on its border with Syria after spotting militants carrying a bomb in the Israeli-held Golan Heights. |
| Winehouse family criticizes 'misleading' movie about singer Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:49 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — The family of Amy Winehouse has criticized a documentary about the late singer that is due to have its premiere at next month's Cannes Film Festival.
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| Ten people drown as canoe capsizes in Mali: police Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:41 PM PDT  Ten people drowned on Sunday after their canoe capsized in Mali, a police source told AFP, the first major river accident in the impoverished west African nation in 18 months. The source said the dugout canoe appeared to have encountered difficulties after being hit by "a violent wind" on the Niger river, which bisects the town of around 5,000 in southwestern Mali.
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| Israel army kills four men on Syria border: security source Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:38 PM PDT  Israeli armed forces on Sunday killed four people when they tried to plant bombs near the Golan Heights on the country's border with war-torn Syria, a security source said. The army said on its official Twitter account that the operation targeted "terrorists" armed with explosives who "were en route to imminent attack on our forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement praised "the vigilance" of Israeli troops. "Every attempt to attack Israeli soldiers or civilians will be met with a decisive response like this operation which thwarted an attack," the statement from his office said.
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| Nepal hospitals overflowing, rural towns cut off: aid groups Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:34 PM PDT  Aid groups and governments worldwide intensified efforts Sunday to help earthquake-hit Nepal, but blocked roads, downed power lines and overcrowded hospitals posed formidable challenges in an already poor country. As the death toll in the Himalayan nation surpassed 2,500, the US together with European and Asian nations sent emergency crews to reinforce those scrambling to find survivors in the devastated capital Kathmandu and in cut-off rural areas. "Tragically, more bodies are being pulled from collapsed buildings every hour," the Australian Red Cross said in a statement. Mike Bruce, regional communications manager for the Plan International aid organisation, said many areas -- both rural and in some of the larger towns -- had suffered landslides and roads were blocked.
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| Kerry to meet Iran FM Zarif on Monday: US official Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:32 PM PDT  US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Iranian counterpart in New York on Monday, the first time since their marathon talks which sealed the outlines of an emerging nuclear deal. Kerry will hold talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the 2015 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference at the United Nations, a senior State Department official said Sunday. It would be the first meeting between the top diplomats since the April 2 deal reached in Lausanne, Switzerland setting out the parameters for a historic accord to curtail Iran's suspect nuclear program. Work on the framework Iran agreement must be completed by June 30 but it is already earning praise as a potential happy ending to one of the world's most vexing nuclear disputes.
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| Baltimore police arrest 34 after violent protests Posted: 26 Apr 2015 02:27 PM PDT  Police arrested 34 people when protests over the death of a black man in custody spiraled into violence in Baltimore, authorities said, calling for calm in the tense US city. Six police officers were also injured in the disturbances late Saturday, a spokesman said, in the latest demonstrations in the United States over what critics say are overly aggressive police tactics, particularly when it comes to confronting African Americans. Baltimore, a blue-collar city about an hour from the capital Washington, was on edge Sunday and police were out in force, as a wake was held for the 25-year-old Freddie Gray. "A small contingent of yesterday's protesters caused violent disruptions downtown and in west Baltimore last night and early this morning after what had been mostly peaceful protests throughout the day," police spokesman Jeremy Silbert said.
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