| Russia and Turkey refuse to back down in row over jet downing Posted: 25 Nov 2015 11:56 AM PST  By Nick Tattersall and Vladimir Soldatkin ISTANBUL/NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia (Reuters) - Russia sent an advanced missile system to Syria on Wednesday to protect its jets operating there and pledged its air force would keep flying missions near Turkish air space, sounding a defiant note after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet. The downing of the jet on Tuesday was one of the most serious publicly acknowledged clashes between a NATO member and Russia for half a century, and further complicated international efforts to battle Islamic State militants in Syria. President Tayyip Erdogan made no apology, saying his nation had simply been defending its own security and the "rights of our brothers in Syria".
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| U.S. sanctions businessman helping Syrian government buy oil from Islamic State Posted: 25 Nov 2015 10:44 AM PST By Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States sanctioned a Syrian businessman on Wednesday who it said was a middleman for oil sales between Islamic State and the Syrian government, the latest salvo in an effort to cut off the flow of funds to the militant group. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that it had also sanctioned three other individuals for providing support to the Syrian government, and businesses linked to them, including a Russian bank. The measures, the latest round of sanctions related to the ongoing civil war in Syria, freeze any U.S. assets and prohibit Americans from transactions with the targets. |
| Brussels lockdown ends but manhunt goes on Posted: 25 Nov 2015 08:56 AM PST  By Thomas Escritt and Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Brussels metro and schools reopened on Wednesday as the Belgian capital edged back to normal after a four-day security lockdown but the hunt went on for militants police fear may mount a Paris-style mass attack. Troops and armored vehicles outside reopened underground stations -- about half of the network remains closed -- and police outside schools provided a reminder of the threat the government said was so imminent that it raised its alert level on Saturday in Brussels to the maximum, where it remains. There was less evidence of the raids and searches that have been carried out periodically in the city since two suicide bombers from Brussels blew themselves up on Nov. 13 during the Islamic State attack on Paris.
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| Palestinian stabs Israeli soldier and is shot dead: army Posted: 25 Nov 2015 12:40 PM PST  By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian stabbed and critically wounded an Israeli soldier on Wednesday and was shot dead by troops, the army and a hospital official said, a day after a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to explore how to end eight weeks of violence. The attack occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank at a road junction near a cluster of Palestinian villages and Jewish settlements. Israeli media reported later that a top military officer said senior ministers should consider easing certain measures for Palestinians to reduce tensions, such as arming security forces and giving them armored vehicles to quell the violence.
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| Tunisia says suicide bomber carried out bus attack claimed by Islamic State Posted: 25 Nov 2015 09:37 AM PST  By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian authorities said on Wednesday a suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with plastic explosive blew up a presidential guard bus a day earlier, killing at least 12 troops in an attack claimed by Islamic State militants. Tuesday's explosion on a main boulevard in the capital drove home the vulnerability of Tunisia to Islamist militancy, following assaults on a seaside tourist hotel in June and the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March also claimed by Islamic State. One of the Arab world's most secular nations, Tunisia has increasingly become a target for militants after being hailed as a beacon of democratic change in the region since its 2011 uprising ousted autocrat Zine Abidine Ben Ali.
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| Russia's past and present collide at ceremony to honor former leader Posted: 25 Nov 2015 01:09 PM PST  By Denis Dyomkin YEKATERINBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday inaugurated a museum dedicated to Boris Yeltsin, the former president whose legacy, many former Yeltsin associates say, Putin has spent the past 15 years dismantling. When an ailing and unpopular Yeltsin announced on New Year's Eve 1999 that he was stepping down, he anointed Putin as his successor but since then the Russian leader has distanced himself from his predecessor. The ceremony to inaugurate the museum threw up some awkward moments when memories of the Yeltsin era -- a period of dismantling Soviet rule, embracing the West and rushing headlong to a market economy -- rubbed up against the different realities of Putin's Russia.
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| Van Gaal worried by United's attacking woes Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:49 PM PST  Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal conceded he was "worried" about his team's goal-scoring problems after a goalless draw with PSV Eindhoven left their Champions League campaign in the balance. Victory on Wednesday would have taken United into the last 16, but with Jesse Lingard blazing their best chance over the bar in the second half, they must now win away to Group B leaders Wolfsburg in their final match to be certain of a place in the knockout phase. United have scored only six goals in their last eight games, four of which have been 0-0 draws, but while Van Gaal admitted to feeling concerned, he drew encouragement from the handful of chances his side had created.
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| Dow predicts EPA review of herbicide safety resolved soon Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:44 PM PST By Karl Plume CHICAGO (Reuters) - Dow Chemical Co expects environmental safety concerns about its new herbicide Enlist Duo to be resolved, the company said Wednesday, after the government asked a federal appellate court to pull regulatory approvals while the chemical's safety is re-examined. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Enlist Duo for sale and use in several U.S. states over a year ago. Enlist Duo is a new combination herbicide aimed at combating weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate -- a widely-used herbicide in the United States and the active ingredient of Monsanto Co's Roundup product. |
| Sudan security arrests three opposition figures, alliance says Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:25 PM PST  Sudanese security agents arrested three opposition figures late Wednesday, despite efforts to persuade them to join national dialogue talks that started last month, the alliance they are all part of said. "This evening, the security apparatus arrested the head of the political committee, Siddig Yousif, chief of the legal committee, Yahya Hussein and Al-Azhari Ali," the National Consensus Forces said in a statement. Security agents arrested the three at their homes and took them to an unknown location, the statement from the opposition alliance said.
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| Turkish military says it didn't know downed jet was Russian Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:16 PM PST  Turkey's military said Wednesday it did not know the warplane it shot down on the Syrian border was Russian, adding that it was ready for "all kinds of cooperation" after Moscow called the incident a "planned provocation". In a statement issued after tensions surged between Ankara and Moscow and Turkey's NATO allies appealed for calm, the Turkish armed forces said they had made significant efforts to find and rescue the two pilots after shooting down the jet on Tuesday. The sole surviving pilot said he had received no warning and the aircraft did not violate Turkish air space, prompting the Turkish army to release audio recordings it said showed the Russian jet was repeatedly warned to change course.
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| Mexico rights body: Police used excessive force in 6 deaths Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:50 PM PST  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's governmental human rights commission said Wednesday that excessive use of force by federal police resulted in six civilian deaths in a confrontation last January, including a person who was shot dead while lying wounded on the ground and posing no threat.
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| Mud from Brazil dam burst is toxic, UN says Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:08 PM PST  Mud from a dam that burst at an iron ore mine in Brazil earlier this month, killing 12 people and polluting an important river, is toxic, the United Nations' human rights agency said on Wednesday. Citing "new evidence," the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement the residue "contained high levels of toxic heavy metals and other toxic chemicals." The agency did not identify the studies that were the basis for the evidence or say who conducted them. The owners of Samarco, Brazil's Vale SA and Australia's BHP Billiton, said they are taking every measure possible to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the dam break and to reduce the social and economic impacts of the disaster.
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| Franklin Resources loses bid to skip vote on climate change Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:04 PM PST By Ross Kerber BOSTON (Reuters) - In a setback for Franklin Resources Inc that could have implications for other asset managers, a U.S. regulator declined to let the California company skip a shareholder vote over its record on climate change, according to materials provided by activists on Wednesday. The decision by a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission official should help investors pressure other big fund firms to pay more attention to climate matters, said Sonia Kowal, president of Zevin Asset Management of Boston, the lead backer of the measure at Franklin Resources. A spokesman for Franklin Resources did not immediately comment. |
| Obama admin says states lack authority to block refugees Posted: 25 Nov 2015 04:01 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is reminding state officials across the country that states do not have legal authority to refuse to accept Syrian refugees. |
| US Republicans move to dump Trump Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:46 PM PST  Many say the populist crazy talk is typical of the White House primaries, but Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's increasingly incendiary remarks are leading some conservatives to brand him a "fascist" and party rivals to ramp up attacks against him. Republican experts are warning that Trump could do lasting damage to the GOP, and that his nomination in the party primaries would essentially hand the presidency to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Establishment conservatives even took the unfathomable step of using the F-word against a member of their own party.
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| Ibrahimovic scores on CL return to Malmo, Juve beats City Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:36 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrated his return to his first senior club with a goal as Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday while Juventus claimed top spot to qualify from Group D with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
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| Woman reports 'dynamite' text; passenger removed from plane Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:28 PM PST BALTIMORE (AP) — A police report says four passengers were removed from a flight at Baltimore's international airport after a fellow passenger said she saw one of them receive a text with the word "dynamite." |
| Argentina's president-elect announces diverse Cabinet Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:21 PM PST  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — President-elect Mauricio Macri named a new Cabinet on Wednesday that includes members from diverse Argentine political movements, business executives and a minister with the outgoing government.
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| Atletico beats Galatasaray 2-0, advances in Champions League Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:15 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Antoine Griezmann scored a goal in each half as Atletico Madrid comfortably defeated Galatasaray 2-0 on Wednesday to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the third straight season.
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| Redskins could play twice in London next season Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:06 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — The Washington Redskins could become the first NFL team to play two games in London in one season — in consecutive weeks, no less.
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| Bad blood as Taylor Swift's Kiwi video shoot ruffles feathers Posted: 25 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST  Conservationists in New Zealand on Thursday accused US singer Taylor Swift of endangering a rare bird species while shooting a music video near Auckland. The 25-year-old pop superstar slipped into New Zealand this week to film the video at Bethells Beach, a popular seaside town just outside the city. The chairwoman of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board Sandra Coney said Swift's production company was given permission to film on the beach, which is home to the critically endangered New Zealand dotterel.
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| British Columbia, Alaska sign pact on protecting shared waterways Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:56 PM PST  The Canadian province of British Columbia signed a memorandum of understanding with Alaska on Wednesday to protect transboundary rivers, watersheds and fisheries and be more involved in major mining developments in each other's territory. The two regions will also work toward allowing government representatives and scientists to be involved in each other's environmental assessment and permitting processes for mining projects. The memorandum comes after Alaskan environmental, fishing and First Nations groups called for tougher transboundary environmental legislation following a huge mining waste spill at the Mount Polley copper-gold mine in British Columbia in August 2014.
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| Thousands of children crossed US-Mexico border in October Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:53 PM PST  SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Nearly 5,000 unaccompanied immigrant children were caught illegally crossing the U.S. border with Mexico in October, almost double the number from October 2014, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
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| Juventus beats Man City 1-0 to join it in knockout stage Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:46 PM PST  TURIN, Italy (AP) — Juventus advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League and moved above Manchester City into top spot in Group D, with a 1-0 win over the Premier League side on Wednesday.
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| Top Asian News 10:36 p.m. GMT Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:36 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Because of man-made global warming and a strong El Nino, Earth's wild weather this year is bursting the annual heat record, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Wednesday. The United Nations weather agency's early report on 2015 says it is the hottest year on record, surpassing last year's record heat. It made the proclamation without waiting for the end of the year because it has been so extraordinarily hot and is forecast to stay that way. The report comes the week before more than 100 world leaders assemble in Paris to try to negotiate an agreement to fight climate change. |
| Preventable errors led to hospital attack, military says Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:36 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. airstrike that killed 31 civilians at a hospital in Afghanistan last month resulted from preventable errors by soldiers and airmen who violated rules of engagement and have been removed from duty while awaiting further investigation, military officials said Wednesday.
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| PSG routs Malmo 5-0, advances in Champions League Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:33 PM PST  MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Angel Di Maria scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain crushed Malmo 5-0 on Wednesday and secured a spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
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| Man United made to wait after PSV stalemate Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:32 PM PST  Louis van Gaal's Manchester United squandered an opportunity to reach the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven. On a night when Old Trafford marked 10 years since the death of United legend George Best, the hosts saw plenty of the ball but created few genuine chances, with Jesse Lingard hoisting their clearest opportunity over the bar mid-way through the second period. Coupled with Wolfsburg's 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow, the result -- United's first goalless home draw in the competition since September 2010 -- left Van Gaal's men needing to win their final Group B game at Wolfsburg on December 8 to be certain of a place in the knockout phase.
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| Australian wildfire kills at least 2 and injures 13 others Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:30 PM PST ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Out-of-control wildfires have caused at least two deaths, 13 injuries and have destroyed at least 16 homes near the southern Australian city of Adelaide, officials said on Thursday. |
| UN haggles over race for Ban's successor Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:29 PM PST  Britain is pushing the United Nations to kick off the search for the next secretary-general in earnest, giving candidates until spring to enter the race to be the world's top diplomat. A draft letter circulated by Britain to the UN Security Council lays out a timetable and criteria for choosing the successor to Ban Ki-moon, who steps down at the end of 2016 after 10 years on the job. The move, however, is facing opposition from Russia, and to some extent China, which are resisting attempts to change the mostly secretive selection process for the top UN post, diplomats said.
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| Moenchengladbach beats Sevilla 4-2 in Champions League Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:28 PM PST  MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Lars Stindl scored twice as Borussia Moenchengladbach defeated Sevilla 4-2 on Wednesday to eliminate the visiting side from the Champions League and boost its own chances of playing in the Europa League.
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| Fan pours drink on Celtics draft pick Thornton during game Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:28 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian basketball fan faces a possible life ban after tipping beer on the head of Boston Celtics 2015 draft pick Marcus Thornton during a domestic league game. |
| Outgoing Argentine president says she's not going away Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:27 PM PST  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — When Argentines chose a new president in recent elections, many voters seemed more concerned about what would happen with the old one.
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| California demands fixes for 16,000 more VW cars Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:23 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — California air quality regulators on Wednesday demanded a recall of up to 16,000 additional Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesels as the Volkswagen emissions scandal widened.
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| Ronaldo stars as Real Madrid beats Shakhtar 4-3 Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:21 PM PST  LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and set up two more as Real Madrid weathered a late Shakhtar Donetsk revival to win 4-3 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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| US 'concerns' over Russian missile system Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:16 PM PST  Russia's decision to deploy its most hi-tech air defense system to its base in Syria is raising "significant concerns" for the US military, a US official said Wednesday. Moscow says it is sending S-400 anti-aircraft missiles to Latakia in northwestern Syria, in a move that comes after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in the increasingly crowded air space along the border on Tuesday. The S-400 missiles have a range of about 400 kilometers (250 miles) -- meaning they could reach deep into Turkey or pose a potential threat to US-led coalition planes -- adding yet another dangerous element to an already volatile mix of competing military interests in Syria.
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| Biden calls for greater cooperation at Europe's borders Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:15 PM PST  US Vice President Joe Biden called at a Western Balkans summit Wednesday for greater cooperation at European borders to deal with the flow of migrants and to fight terrorist threats. Biden's attendance at the meeting of presidents in Zagreb was seen as highlighting Washington's renewed interest in the fragile Western Balkans as the region deals with an unprecedented influx of refugees and other migrants. "It is clear there is a need to improve cross-border cooperation, information sharing and to deal with the flow of refugees while stepping up our ability to counter terrorist threats as well," Biden said afer the summit.
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| Parks leads South Dakota State past Cleveland State 77-66 Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:11 PM PST CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Deondre Parks led a balanced attack with 18 points and South Dakota State won the Mayan Division of the Cancun Challenge with a 77-66 win over Cleveland State on Wednesday. |
| Schuerrle steers Wolfsburg to 2-0 win over CSKA Moscow Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:02 PM PST  KHIMKI, Russia (AP) — Andre Schuerrle scored one goal and made the other as Wolfsburg beat CSKA Moscow 2-0 on Wednesday in the Champions League.
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| 2 massacres in 12 hours leave 15 dead in Honduras Posted: 25 Nov 2015 02:01 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two massacres that killed 15 people in less than 12 hours rocked Honduras and left the country's top police official in tears Wednesday. |
