| Syrian rebels prepare to withdraw from Aleppo as truce begins Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:22 PM PST  By Laila Bassam and Angus McDowall ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels prepared to withdraw from Aleppo on Wednesday after a ceasefire agreement that ended years of fighting in the city and gave President Bashar al-Assad his biggest victory yet after more than five years of war. The agreement was a result of talks between Russia, Assad's main ally, and Turkey, a leading backer of the rebels, a Turkish government official said. The guns fell silent late on Tuesday in Aleppo.
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| Iran to work on nuclear-powered vessels after U.S. 'violation' of deal Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:05 PM PST  By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Shadia Nasralla BEIRUT/VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran ordered its scientists on Tuesday to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels in response to what it calls a U.S. violation of its landmark 2015 atomic deal with world powers. Nuclear experts said that President Hassan Rouhani's move, if carried out, would probably require Iran to enrich uranium to a fissile purity above the maximum level set in the nuclear deal to allay fears of Tehran building an atomic bomb. Rouhani's announcement marked Tehran's first concrete reaction to a decision by the U.S. Congress last month to extend some sanctions on Tehran that would also make it easier to reimpose others lifted under the nuclear pact.
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| U.S. strike kills Islamic State militants linked to Paris attacks Posted: 13 Dec 2016 11:05 AM PST  A U.S. drone strike in Syria last week killed two Islamic State leaders linked to the Nov. 13, 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people as well as a third militant convicted in absentia in Belgium for a disrupted plot, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The U.S. military said the strike took place on Dec. 4 in Raqqa, the Islamic State's defacto capital in Syria. "They were working together to plot and facilitate attacks on Western targets at the time of the strike," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters.
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| Syria’s civil war to mar Obama legacy Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:12 AM PST  By Matt Spetalnick and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The fall of the last rebel-held areas in the Syrian city of Aleppo could seal the fate of the "Obama Doctrine," deepening the world's worst humanitarian crisis in decades and staining U.S. President Barack Obama's legacy. With the U.S.-aligned rebels facing defeat by government forces backed by Russia and Iran, Obama's light-footprint approach to the Syrian conflict will suffer a serious blow weeks before he hands power to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. The rebel loss would underscore the failure of U.S. efforts to stem the carnage from Syria's nearly six-year-old civil war, leading some critics to predict that Obama's record will be tarnished just as President Bill Clinton's was by his refusal to intervene to halt the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
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| U.S. to halt some arms sales to Saudi, citing civilian deaths in Yemen campaign Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:24 PM PST  By Phil Stewart and Warren Strobel WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has decided to limit military support to Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen because of concerns over widespread civilian casualties and will halt a planned arms sale to the kingdom, U.S. officials told Reuters. The United States will also revamp future training of the kingdom's air force to focus on improving Saudi targeting practices, a persistent source of concern for Washington. The decision reflects deep frustration within President Barack Obama's government over Saudi Arabia's practices in Yemen's 20-month-old war, which has killed more than 10,000 people and sparked humanitarian crises, including chronic food shortages, in the poorest country in the Middle East.
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| Islamic State made weapons in Mosul up to military standards: report Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:06 PM PST  Islamic State militants have been producing weapons on a scale and sophistication which matches national military forces and have standardized production across their self-styled caliphate, an arms monitoring group said on Wednesday. Conflict Armament Research (CAR) said the jihadist group had a "robust supply chain" of raw materials from Turkey, and the technical precision of its work meant that it could not be described as "improvised" weapons production. "Although production facilities employ a range of non-standard materials and chemical explosive precursors, the degree of organization, quality control, and inventory management indicates a complex, centrally controlled industrial production system," it said in a report following visits last month to six facilities once operated by Islamic State in eastern Mosul.
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| Venezuela frees four jailed opponents of President Maduro Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:27 PM PST  By Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela freed on Tuesday another four opponents of President Nicolas Maduro, but activists demanded the immediate liberation of more than 100 others they say are also unjustly imprisoned. "I'm so happy after living through these storms," one of the four, bank messenger Gilberto Sojo, told Reuters ecstatically after his release overnight, surrounded by friends and family. Sojo and the other three - engineer Vladimir Araque, retired general Romer Mena and lawyer Leopoldo D'Alta - were arrested in 2014 and 2015 on various accusations of fomenting violence and plotting against the socialist government.
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| France votes to extend state of emergency to July 15 Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:19 PM PST  Paris (AFP) - France's parliament voted early Wednesday to extend a national state of emergency until July 15, after next year's elections.
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| Top Asian News 1:15 a.m. GMT Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:15 PM PST BEIJING (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's questioning of long-established U.S. policy toward Taiwan is sparking a growing backlash in China and warnings about a potentially dangerous disruption in relations between the world's two largest economies. Trump broke diplomatic precedent by talking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 2. Then, this past weekend, he said he might use America's recognition of Beijing as leverage for gaining advantages in trade and other areas. That is placing him perilously close to touching on China's bottom line that brooks no formal recognition of Taiwan or challenge to its claim to sovereignty over the island. |
| Tired of abductions, Mexican townsfolk kidnap drug boss' mom Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:10 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — In one of the stranger chapters of Mexico's drug war, angry people in a southern town kidnapped the mother of a gang leader to demand the release of their loved ones. |
| Tour de France winner Froome to ride in Australia Day race Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:09 PM PST  MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tour de France champion Chris Froome will join the field in a new Australia Day cycling race to be held on Melbourne's Formula One circuit on Jan. 26.
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| Mexican Senate votes to legalize medical marijuana Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:55 PM PST  Mexico's Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical marijuana on Tuesday after a national debate on narcotics policy in a country mired in brutal drug violence. In a major policy shift, President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed legalizing medical marijuana in April after his government organized forums to discuss changes to the laws. Senators voted 98-7 for the legislation, moving Mexico closer to joining several US states and other nations in Latin America in allowing cannabis for medical uses.
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| Column: No more Lady Gaga, and that might not be a bad thing Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:50 PM PST  I'll make this clear before anyone begins to get too upset: Bullying and hazing have no place in organized sports, or in civil society for that matter.
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| Japan calls on United States to ground Osprey flights after Okinawa crash Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:41 PM PST  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada called on the United States to ground its Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft on Wednesday after one of the U.S.-operated military transports went down in waters of southwestern Okinawa island injuring its crew. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the incident as "regrettable" on Wednesday. The Pentagon said in a press statement that a U.S. Marine Corp Osprey with five crew members "landed in shallow water off the coastline" on Tuesday. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Michael Perry)
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| The Latest: Michigan GOP chair picked to lead national party Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:40 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump's transition to the White House (all times EST):
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| Rebels to evacuate Aleppo in surrender deal as fighting ends Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:29 PM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian rebels reached a cease-fire deal to evacuate from eastern Aleppo in an effective surrender on Tuesday, as Russia declared all military action had stopped and the Syrian government had assumed control of the former rebel enclave.
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| Hansen says England can beat All Blacks record Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:27 PM PST  In-form England are capable of breaking New Zealand's record of 18 successive Test wins, provided they maintain mental discipline, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Wednesday. Hansen's men set their 18-match benchmark by defeating Australia in October before Ireland snapped the winning streak with a famous victory in Chicago last month. England have won 14 Tests on the trot and can surpass the All Blacks if they sweep all five of their matches in the Six Nations tournament early next year.
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| Iraqi gains reveal huge scale of IS arms industry Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:26 PM PST  Factories churning out tens of thousands of munitions and an entire street turned into a conveyor belt for car bombs: advances by Iraqi forces around Mosul have laid bare the scale of the Islamic State group's arms industry. In the more than two years since it seized control over swathes of the country, IS established a sprawling and highly organised system that experts say no other insurgent group has matched. The capability has seriously boosted the threat from the group as it battles ferociously to cling to territory in Iraq and Syria -- and the fresh intelligence could now prove vital in countering its plots to carry out attacks on the West.
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| 'Great uncertainty' for French in Brexit Britain: envoy Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:14 PM PST  France's ambassador to Britain Sylvie Bermann has warned of "great uncertainty" among the French community in the wake of the Brexit vote, in a House of Lords report published on Wednesday. Speaking to the Lords' EU Justice Sub-Committee, Bermann said the French community has "a lot of questions" about the consequences of Britain's June referendum to leave the European Union. "It is also worried, because in the aftermath of the referendum some French nationals were subjected to negative or aggressive language," Bermann said in comments published in the House of Lords report.
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| Johnson & Johnson ends talks to buy Actelion Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:11 PM PST Johnson & Johnson says it is ending talks to buy Swiss drugmaker Actelion Pharmaceuticals. |
| Mexico Senate passes medical pot bill; sent to lower house Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:09 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill approving the use of marijuana for medical purposes. |
| Venezuelan rush to unload bank notes before deadline Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:55 PM PST  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans took a break from lining up to buy food and medicine Tuesday and spent their day waiting in crowds to deposit bank notes about to become worthless.
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| Battle of Aleppo ends after years of bloodshed with rebel withdrawal Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:39 PM PST  By Laila Bassam, Angus McDowall and Stephanie Nebehay ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) - Rebel resistance in the Syrian city of Aleppo ended on Tuesday after years of fighting and months of bitter siege and bombardment that culminated in a bloody retreat, as insurgents agreed to withdraw in a ceasefire. The battle of Aleppo, one of the worst of a civil war that has drawn in global and regional powers, has ended with victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his military coalition of Russia, Iran and regional Shi'ite militias. For rebels, their expected departure with light weapons starting on Wednesday morning for opposition-held regions west of the city is a crushing blow to their hopes of ousting Assad after revolting against him during the 2011 Arab uprisings.
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| Arsenal caves in at Everton, misses out on top spot in EPL Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:31 PM PST  LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — With the tackles flying in and the noise levels ramping up inside Goodison Park, Arsenal's players faced a huge test of their Premier League title credentials in the final minutes of a tight game against Everton.
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| Tens of thousands hold anti-government protest in Poland Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:28 PM PST  Tens of thousands of Polish protesters took to the streets on Tuesday, to mark 35 years since a Communist-era martial law crackdown, while accusing the current rightwing government of undermining democracy. In Warsaw, demonstrators gathered in front of the former headquarters of the communist Polish United Workers' Party, and then marched to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party building. "Today, just like 35 years ago, the government is attacking us, and depriving us of our freedom," said Mateusz Kijowski, leader of the KOD pro-democracy movement.
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| Venezuela opposition pushes for president's trial Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:25 PM PST  Venezuelan opposition lawmakers relaunched efforts to drive President Nicolas Maduro from power on Tuesday after negotiations to ease the country's political and economic crisis stalled. Deputies in the National Assembly made a declaration ruling that the socialist president bore "political responsibility" for the crisis and urged state attorneys to investigate him with a view to prosecution. The opposition MUD coalition has been divided over whether to pursue talks with Maduro's government.
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| Residents of Syria's Aleppo share tormented goodbyes online Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:08 PM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — First came the distress calls from doctors in underground shelters and morgues. Then residents under relentless bombardment in the few remaining blocks under rebel control in Aleppo began posting emotional goodbyes on social media and in widely circulated messages.
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| As Aleppo falls, Trump faces test on posture toward Russia Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:07 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Aleppo's fall to Syrian government forces is shaping up as the first major test of President-elect Donald Trump's desire to cooperate with Russia, whose military support has proven pivotal in Syria's civil war. The death and destruction in the city is only renewing Democratic and Republican concern with Trump's possible new path. |
| Colombia court gives Santos power to quickly implement peace Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:06 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has gotten a major boost in his bid to deliver peace with the country's Constitution Court granting him "fast-track" authority to quickly implement reforms mandated by an accord with leftist rebels. |
| Mexico finds 2 border tunnels leading from Tijuana into US Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:05 PM PST  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican police and soldiers have discovered two clandestine tunnels in the border city of Tijuana that officials believe were built to smuggle drugs into California.
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| Malaysian court to decide on Anwar Ibrahim's last bid for freedom Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:05 PM PST  By Joseph Sipalan KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's highest court is due to decide on Wednesday whether to uphold opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's conviction and a five-year jail term for sodomy, or overturn it and set him free. Anwar, once a rising star in the ruling party, is the greatest threat to Prime Minister Najib Razak and his coalition, having led a three-party opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013. Wednesday's case is Anwar's last legal avenue to challenge his 2014 conviction for sodomizing a former aide - a charge that Anwar and his supporters say was a politically motivated attempt to end his political career.
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| Trump invites Senate clash with Tillerson State nomination Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:05 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is inviting a clash in the narrowly divided Senate by choosing Rex Tillerson for secretary of State in the face of well-publicized concerns from several GOP senators over the oil executive's ties to Russia.
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| New Zealand's populist Peters to rise in the gap left by Key Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:03 PM PST By Charlotte Greenfield WELLINGTON (Reuters) - One big winner from New Zealand prime minister John Key's surprise resignation is likely to be maverick politician Winston Peters, a popular protectionist who rails against foreign investment "lunacy" and plans to obstruct the government's pro-China stance. Peters and his New Zealand First party look set to again play kingmaker as the ruling National Party seeks a fourth term in government next year. Without the charismatic Key, who was replaced this week by his experienced but dull deputy Bill English, National will lose votes and likely be forced to find extra seats beyond its usual coalition partners to hold power in New Zealand's German-style mixed member proportional parliament, political analysts say. |
| Correction: Argentina-US-Human Rights story Posted: 13 Dec 2016 03:02 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — In a story Dec. 12 about newly declassified U.S. documents on Argentina's former military dictatorship, The Associated Press, citing Argentina's human rights secretary, erroneously said that some of the documents were from the presidency of Richard Nixon. It should have said the presidencies of Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. |
| West Coast states to fight climate change even if Trump does not Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:58 PM PST  By Ned Randolph CORONADO, Calif. (Reuters) - The governors of the three U.S. West Coast states on Tuesday vowed to step up their efforts to fight climate change in the face of the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has dismissed global warming as a hoax. Democratic governors Jerry Brown of California, Jay Inslee of Washington and Katherine Brown of Oregon made stark warnings that climate change was already harming the Pacific Ocean along which their states lie.
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| Bobsled, skeleton officials moving worlds out of Russia Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:57 PM PST  Avoiding what would have almost certainly been a widely boycotted world championships, international officials pulled this season's biggest bobsled and skeleton competition out of Russia on Tuesday after a number of sliders said they would not compete in a nation so enveloped in a doping scandal.
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| Under IS rule, Mosul descended into darkness, dread, pain Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:55 PM PST  MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — The first and second stones did not kill her. But the woman accused of adultery by Islamic State group extremists would not survive the third.
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| IS claims deadly Cairo church bombing Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:46 PM PST  The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a bomb attack on a Cairo church that killed 25 people, the first claim for one of the worst attacks on the Coptic Christian community in recent memory. IS identified the suicide bomber who carried out Sunday's attack by the pseudonym Abu Abdallah al-Masri in a statement circulated on social media on Tuesday. The group said it would continue attacks against "every infidel and apostate in Egypt, and everywhere".
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| Happiness still elusive in Russia, many ex-Soviet states 25 years after USSR: survey Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:39 PM PST By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - A quarter of a century after the collapse of the Soviet Union, life satisfaction in Russia and other ex-Soviet states remains stubbornly low, and enthusiasm for democracy and open market economics is wavering, a survey published on Tuesday showed. Just over half the respondents from former Soviet states also thought a return to a more authoritarian system would be a plus in some circumstances, the study by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank said. The EBRD, created 25 years ago to invest in former communist countries, questioned households across ex-Soviet bloc for more than a decade for its "Life in Transition" project, polling 51,000 households in 34 countries from Estonia to Mongolia. |
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