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• Obama administration authorizes $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan
• Rouhani: U.N.'s closure of probe into Iran's nuclear past is political victory
• Venezuelan officials accused of taking drug pay-offs in U.S. indictment
• Yemen's truce in danger of collapse; prisoner swap blocked
• Kerry to chair U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria on Friday: State Department
• Brazil judge drops objection to Rousseff impeachment proceedings
• US seeks to return auctioned dinosaur skull to Mongolia
• Man stabs himself in head at London airport: police
• Haiti senators seek to halt release of election results
• Japan returns to deficit as exports fall 3 pct
• Costa Rica detains suspect in killing of US woman
• Brazil court orders 48-hour WhatsApp block
• U.S., Cuba agree on restoring commercial flights: AP
• US, Cuba reach understanding on restoring commercial flights
• Colombia's Supreme Court absolves army colonel in 1985 raid
• Top Asian News 12:27 a.m. GMT
• Japan court says requiring same surname in marriage is legal
• France's Le Pen under investigation for tweeting grisly IS images
• Currency changes put Argentine economy on new path
• Judge declares mistrial in Freddie Gray police case
• Valencia wins under Neville, advances in Copa del Rey
• Baltimore mayor says city prepared for any violence after Gray mistrial
• After Iran missile test, U.S. lawmakers call for continued sanctions
• Ex-Yankee Jones agrees to 1-year contract to play in Japan
• Congress spending bill repeals COOL meat labeling
• Venezuela's soccer chief fighting extradition to US
• Roma crashes out of Cup to 2nd-division Spezia on penalties
• Parents of executed US journalist slam France's Le Pen
• Indicted head of Brazil soccer says being treated unfairly
• Dutch PM contrite in parliamentary grilling over deal with druglord
• Officials say US, Cuba reach understanding on restoring commercial airline flights
• Australia swim coach has contract extended to 2020
• Investors put pressure on miners to respond to climate change
• Dortmund advances in German Cup; Bayern drawn at Bochum
• Brazil attorney general seeks key lawmaker's ouster
• Anti-IS group says 1 of its journalists killed in Syria
• El Salvador concerned over spike in child migration to US

Obama administration authorizes $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:38 PM PST It is the first such major arms sale to Taiwan in more than four years. The White House said there was no change in the longstanding U.S. "one China" policy. Past U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan have attracted strong condemnation in China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

Rouhani: U.N.'s closure of probe into Iran's nuclear past is political victory Posted: 16 Dec 2015 11:42 AM PST By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin DUBAI (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday a U.N. watchdog's closure of investigations into Iran's past nuclear activities is a political victory for the country, lifting the main obstacle to implementing Tehran's deal with world powers. The 35-nation governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution on Tuesday ending the IAEA's 12-year-long inquiry into suspicions of "possible military dimensions" (PMD) to Iran's nuclear work. "Now the main obstacle to implement the (July nuclear deal between Iran and six powers) is lifted..., Iran will start implementation of the nuclear deal within two or three weeks," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

Venezuelan officials accused of taking drug pay-offs in U.S. indictment Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:33 PM PST By Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior Venezuelan officials facing U.S. drug trafficking charges are accused in an indictment of taking payments from narcotics traffickers and alerting them to drug raids, according to a person with knowledge of the case. Nestor Reverol, the head of Venezuela's National Guard, and Edylberto Molina, a former deputy head of the anti-narcotics agency and currently a military attache posted in Germany, are named in the indictment that prosecutors are preparing to unseal, people familiar with the case told Reuters.

Yemen's truce in danger of collapse; prisoner swap blocked Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:34 PM PST By Mohammed Mukhashaf ADEN (Reuters) - A ceasefire between Yemen's Houthi group and a Saudi-led alliance was in danger of collapse on Wednesday, each side accusing the other of violating the truce, as peace talks went into a second day in Switzerland. Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri of the Saudi coalition said the Iran-allied Houthis had repeatedly broken the ceasefire supposed to begin at midday on Tuesday and that his forces were responding. The truce was intended to last seven days and coincide with the peace talks to try to end a nine-month-old civil war between the Houthis based in Yemen's north and Saudi-backed southern and eastern fighters loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Kerry to chair U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria on Friday: State Department Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:55 PM PST U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to push efforts to end the conflict in Syria, the State Department said on Wednesday. While in New York, Kerry will also host a meeting of the International Syria Support Group to discuss "efforts to foster a nationwide ceasefire and parallel political transition negotiations to end the conflict while intensifying the fight" against Islamic State militants, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Brazil judge drops objection to Rousseff impeachment proceedings Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:37 PM PST By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - A controversial secret congressional vote that stacked an impeachment committee with opponents of President Dilma Rousseff was found legitimate on Wednesday by the Supreme Court justice who suspended proceedings against her last week. Judge Luiz Fachin's unexpected recommendation must still be voted on by the full court, but it was a new setback for the unpopular Rousseff in her battle to block impeachment for allegedly breaching Brazil's budget laws last year. Fachin, who was named to the top court by Rousseff in June, also argued before his fellow justices that the Senate does not have any authority to review the grounds for impeachment once the lower house votes to accept the charges by two-thirds of its members.

US seeks to return auctioned dinosaur skull to Mongolia Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:53 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities said Wednesday they are seeking to return a Tyrannosaurus bataar skull to Mongolia after an anonymous buyer purchased it at auction in the United States in 2007 for $276,000.

Man stabs himself in head at London airport: police Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:48 PM PST A man was taken to hospital after he repeatedly stabbed himself in the head on Wednesday at London's Heathrow airport, police and British media said, triggering panic among passengers. "Sitting at Fortnum and Mason Heathrow T5 when a man runs past stabbing himself in the head -- security has contained the situation," tweeted passenger Neerav Valiram.

Haiti senators seek to halt release of election results Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:47 PM PST PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti's Senate has asked the president to stop electoral authorities from issuing final results for legislative races until a commission can be set up to verify two rounds of elections.

Japan returns to deficit as exports fall 3 pct Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:45 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Japan's trade balance slipped back into a deficit in November but was nearly 60 percent lower than a year earlier as a drop in imports outpaced a 3 percent decline in its exports.

Costa Rica detains suspect in killing of US woman Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:44 PM PST SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — A suspect has been arrested in the killing of a U.S. social worker found stabbed to death at a hotel in this Central American capital, authorities said Wednesday.

Brazil court orders 48-hour WhatsApp block Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:35 PM PST A court in Brazil on Wednesday ordered cellular service providers nationwide to block the popular WhatsApp smartphone application for two days. The unprecedented 48-hour blockage was to implement a Sao Paulo state court order and was to take effect at 0200 GMT Thursday, although it was not immediately clear if service providers would acquiesce to the order. The court said WhatsApp had been asked several times to cooperate in a criminal investigation, but had repeatedly failed to comply.

U.S., Cuba agree on restoring commercial flights: AP Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:35 PM PST (Reuters) - The United States and Cuba have reached "an understanding" on restoring commercial airline flights, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed officials. A U.S. State Department official said the two countries were making progress but still negotiating. Scheduled commercial flight service has been suspended for decades as a result of Cold War animosity, although charter flights connected the countries in the interim.

US, Cuba reach understanding on restoring commercial flights Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:34 PM PST HAVANA (AP) — The United States and Cuba have reached an understanding on restoring regularly scheduled commercial flights, Cuban and American officials said Wednesday on the eve of the anniversary of detente between the Cold War foes.

Colombia's Supreme Court absolves army colonel in 1985 raid Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:31 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's Supreme Court has thrown out the conviction of an army colonel who was found guilty of "disappearing" several people taken alive during a 1985 army raid on the high court after it was seized by guerrillas.

Top Asian News 12:27 a.m. GMT Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:27 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration announced Wednesday a $1.83 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the first offered by the U.S. to the self-governing island in four years. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has said the sale, which was expected, should be canceled to avoid harming its relations across the Taiwan Strait and between China and the U.S. The U.S. maintained there's no need for it to hurt the relationship, which has also been strained by China's island-building in the South China Sea and alleged cybertheft. The administration notified Congress that the proposed arms package includes two decommissioned U.S.

Japan court says requiring same surname in marriage is legal Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:27 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that requiring married couples to have the same surname is constitutional, dealing a blow to a longtime effort for gender equality in choosing names.

France's Le Pen under investigation for tweeting grisly IS images Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:21 PM PST French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was under investigation Wednesday after tweeting graphic images of Islamic State atrocities, among them a photo of the decapitated body of US reporter James Foley. The prosecutor's office in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre told AFP it had launched an investigation into "the dissemination of violent images" over the National Front (FN) leader's series of shock tweets. The images were tweeted with the caption "This is Daesh" (an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group) and showed Foley's bloodied body with his decapitated head on his torso, a man on fire in a cage, and a victim being driven over by a tank.

Currency changes put Argentine economy on new path Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:15 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina lifted deeply unpopular restrictions on buying U.S. dollars Wednesday, aiming to put an end to a byzantine monetary system that made it difficult for businesses to operate and spawned a booming black market.

Judge declares mistrial in Freddie Gray police case Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:08 PM PST The manslaughter trial of a Baltimore policeman accused over the death in custody of African-American Freddie Gray was declared a mistrial Wednesday after the jury failed to reach a verdict, putting the city on edge. Police were out in force in parts of the gritty East Coast city in a bid to avoid a repeat of the riots and looting that erupted after the death in April of the 25-year-old Gray, the latest in a series of high-profile cases of perceived police brutality in the United States. William Porter was the first of six police officers to stand trial over the death of Gray, who suffered a snapped spine while being transported unrestrained in the rear of a Baltimore police van.

Valencia wins under Neville, advances in Copa del Rey Posted: 16 Dec 2015 04:08 PM PST MADRID (AP) — Valencia beat third-tier club Barakaldo 2-0 for Gary Neville's first win as a head coach on Wednesday, advancing to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey 5-1 on aggregate.

Baltimore mayor says city prepared for any violence after Gray mistrial Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:59 PM PST A jury had deliberated for 16 hours on whether the officer, William Porter, was guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Freddie Gray's death from injuries he suffered while riding in a police van. After the jury reported it was unable to reach a verdict, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams issued his ruling. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake made the statement at a press conference hours after the mistrial was declared.

After Iran missile test, U.S. lawmakers call for continued sanctions Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:58 PM PST Dozens of U.S. Republican senators called on President Barack Obama on Wednesday not to lift sanctions on Iran, saying Tehran's recent ballistic missile testing showed "blatant disregard for its international obligations." Thirty-six of the 54 Republican senators, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, signed a letter urging Obama not to lift sanctions on Iran as planned under an international nuclear agreement announced in July. "That is why it is a mistake to treat Iran's ballistic missile program as separate from Iran's nuclear program," the letter said.

Ex-Yankee Jones agrees to 1-year contract to play in Japan Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:54 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Ex-New York Yankees first baseman Garrett Jones has agreed to a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

Congress spending bill repeals COOL meat labeling Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:53 PM PST US congressional leaders have moved to repeal mandatory country-of-origin meat labeling rules that the WTO said violated trade agreements and permitted Canada and Mexico to levy $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs. US manufacturers and trade groups hailed the provision in the "omnibus" $1.15 trillion spending bill agreed late Tuesday that is expected to pass Congress by the end of the week. On December 7 Canada and Mexico, the second- and third-largest US trade partners, won World Trade Organization approval to impose up to $1 billion a year in trade sanctions against the United States over its Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law requirement on beef and pork.

Venezuela's soccer chief fighting extradition to US Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:53 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's longtime soccer chief is fighting his extradition to the U.S. from Switzerland and asking to be judged in his home country on charges of corruption at soccer's governing body.

Roma crashes out of Cup to 2nd-division Spezia on penalties Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:47 PM PST MILAN (AP) — Roma's miserable month continued as it crashed out of the Italian Cup on Wednesday, losing 4-2 on penalties to second-division Spezia.

Parents of executed US journalist slam France's Le Pen Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:40 PM PST The parents of US reporter James Foley, who was beheaded by the Islamic State group, expressed outrage Wednesday after French far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted a "shamefully uncensored" image of his decapitated body. Le Pen posted the image, plus two other graphic photos, in response to a journalist whom she accused of likening her party to the jihadist group. The images were tweeted with the caption "This is Daesh" (an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group) and showed Foley's bloodied body with his decapitated head on his torso, a man on fire in a cage, and a victim being driven over by a tank.

Indicted head of Brazil soccer says being treated unfairly Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:29 PM PST BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Marco Polo del Nero, the embattled head of the Brazilian football confederation, told a federal senate panel Wednesday that accusations made against him of racketeering and money laundering were "unfair."

Dutch PM contrite in parliamentary grilling over deal with druglord Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:27 PM PST Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and two of his ministers faced a storm of criticism in parliament Wednesday for their handling of a 15-year-old deal involving a former cabinet member and a notorious drug dealer. Major opposition parties late Wednesday stopped short of a vote of no confidence in Rutte, his fellow VVD party Justice Minister Ard van der Steur and his deputy Klaas Dijkhoff after an eight-hour debate.

Officials say US, Cuba reach understanding on restoring commercial airline flights Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:25 PM PST HAVANA (AP) — Officials say US, Cuba reach understanding on restoring commercial airline flights.

Australia swim coach has contract extended to 2020 Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:13 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Swimming Australia said Thursday it has extended the contract of national coach Jacco Verhaeren to the end of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Investors put pressure on miners to respond to climate change Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:13 PM PST An alliance of around 100 investors is calling on mining companies Anglo American Glencore and Rio Tinto to show that they are working to lessen the impact of climate change on their businesses. The group of European fund managers and pension funds including Aviva, Amundi and Schroders, which together manage over $4 trillion in assets, will file shareholder resolutions to the firms this month, investor coalition "Aiming for A" said on Wednesday. "We want Anglo American, Glencore and Rio Tinto fully to demonstrate awareness of the risks and opportunities that climate change poses to their businesses," Helen Wildsmith, founder of Aiming for A, said in a statement.

Dortmund advances in German Cup; Bayern drawn at Bochum Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:11 PM PST BERLIN (AP) — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored again Wednesday to help Borussia Dortmund beat Augsburg 2-0 and secure a quarterfinal against Stuttgart in the German Cup.

Brazil attorney general seeks key lawmaker's ouster Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:08 PM PST SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's attorney general went to the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking to strip the leader of the House of Deputies of his seat.

Anti-IS group says 1 of its journalists killed in Syria Posted: 16 Dec 2015 03:06 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian media activist group that reports on Islamic State group activities says that one of its journalists has been assassinated in Syria.

El Salvador concerned over spike in child migration to US Posted: 16 Dec 2015 02:57 PM PST SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador's foreign minister expressed concern Wednesday over a recent spike in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. through Mexico.

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