Yahoo! News: World News

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• Syrian opposition to go to Geneva as peace talks open
• Syrian rebel splits deepen after failed 'merger' with al Qaeda arm
• Cameron plays hard to get as EU pushes reform offer
• Islamic State suicide bomber kills two at checkpoint in Yemen's Aden
• Kerry says he expects Canada to outline role against Islamic State
• France to recognise Palestinian state unless deadlock with Israel broken
• Top Asian News 1:09 a.m. GMT
• Analysis: Successful leader in Vietnam needs to be faceless
• Van Gaal toasts Man Utd's FA Cup success
• Brazil leader vows to win war against Zika-carrying mosquito
• Yao to help instruct at Basketball without Borders camp
• The Latest: Obama, Brazil's Rousseff discuss spread of Zika
• From DF to CDMX, Mexico City changes name and status
• Barrichello added to Wayne Taylor Racing lineup at Daytona
• US, Canada to seek new ways to fight IS after jets withdrawn
• Syrian rebel group says merges with others to boost Aleppo fight
• AP Interview: Colombia's Santos wants rebels off terror list
• France considers recognition of a Palestinian state
• Michigan black lawmakers want Detroit school manager fired
• Khang, Hull, Nomura tied for lead in LPGA Tour opener
• Woodland, Choi tied for lead at Torrey Pines
• Main Syrian opposition to join Geneva peace talks
• Chile president tearful as daughter in law charged
• France to revive plans for Israeli-Palestinian peace conference
• Jacques Rivette, French New Wave film director, dies at 87
• Argentina ends electricity subsidies to save $4 billion
• What We Know: A shaky start to peace talks on Syrian war
• Russia opposes arms embargo, sanctions on South Sudan
• Trudeau visits La Loche after school shooting
• Hezbollah leader committed to Aoun for Lebanon presidency
• Syrian opposition group joins Geneva 'political process'
• Global stocks gain as BoJ goes negative on interest rates
• Factbox: How EU offer to Britain's Cameron is shaping up
• Blind, Mata lift Van Gaal in Man Utd FA Cup win
• US stocks soar to finish tough month as tech stocks climb
• Venezuela opposition vows to oust president this year
• How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Friday

Syrian opposition to go to Geneva as peace talks open Posted: 29 Jan 2016 01:12 PM PST By Tom Miles and Tom Perry GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's main opposition group agreed to travel to Geneva, where the United Nations on Friday opened peace talks to end the country's five-year-old war, but said it wanted to discuss humanitarian issues before engaging in political negotiations. On the ground, opponents of President Bashar al-Assad said they were facing a Russian-backed military onslaught, with hundreds of civilians reported to be fleeing as the Syrian army and allied militia tried to capture a suburb of Damascus and finish off rebels defending it. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura had invited the Syrian government and an opposition umbrella group to Geneva for "proximity talks", in which they would meet in separate rooms.

Syrian rebel splits deepen after failed 'merger' with al Qaeda arm Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:41 PM PST By Mariam Karouny BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of al Qaeda's Syrian wing tried unsuccessfully at a recent meeting to convince rival Islamist factions to merge into one unit, several insurgency sources have told Reuters. Abu Mohamad al-Golani, head of the Nusra Front, even suggested he was willing to change the name of his group if the others, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham organization, agreed to the deal, the sources said. Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham are the most powerful groups in northern Syria: when they briefly teamed up with other Islamists last year in an alliance called the Fatah Army, the rebels scored one of their biggest victories by seizing the city of Idlib.

Cameron plays hard to get as EU pushes reform offer Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:30 PM PST By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - David Cameron told Brussels on Friday that a proposed "emergency brake" to curb European immigration to Britain was "not good enough" but he saw progress on a deal to persuade British voters to back continued EU membership. After lunch with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, whose staff described the meeting as "difficult but constructive", Cameron was at pains to play down talk that a draft package EU officials say could be ready this weekend will herald a deal at a mid-February summit and a summer referendum. Referring to an EU proposal to help him meet an election pledge to curb benefits for EU workers for four years, Cameron told the BBC: "There is now a proposal on the table.

Islamic State suicide bomber kills two at checkpoint in Yemen's Aden Posted: 29 Jan 2016 12:48 PM PST Two people were killed and five wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a police checkpoint in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Friday, the latest in a spate of deadly attacks by Islamic State militants. Police tried to stop the vehicle but it failed to slow down and blew up at the checkpoint in Aden's central Crater commercial neighborhood, local officials and witnesses said. Medical sources said there were two dead and that five wounded were taken to the local hospital in Aden.

Kerry says he expects Canada to outline role against Islamic State Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:47 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday he expects Canada to announce in the coming weeks what role it will play in an international coalition fighting Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who won an election last October promising to withdraw six fighter jets from a U.S.-led coalition attacking the militants, has yet to state what Canada plans to do once those planes are pulled out. "I am absolutely confident that the prime minister and his security team are working on ways to continue their significant contribution" to the coalition, Kerry told reporters after meeting his Canadian and Mexican counterparts in Quebec City.

France to recognise Palestinian state unless deadlock with Israel broken Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:07 PM PST By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - France will recognise a Palestinian state if a final push that Paris plans to lead for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians fails, its foreign minister said on Friday. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has repeatedly warned that letting the status quo continue risks killing off a two-state solution and playing into the hands of Islamic State militants. Last year he failed in efforts to get the United States on board to push for a U.N. Security Council resolution to set parameters for talks between the two sides and set a final deadline for a deal.

Top Asian News 1:09 a.m. GMT Posted: 29 Jan 2016 05:09 PM PST HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam's latest political turnover made one thing abundantly clear: being a strong, charismatic leader with a high domestic and international profile will only lead to your downfall. To be successful in Vietnamese politics, you have to work with consensus — and be, for the most part, faceless. Vietnam's Communist Party ended a weeklong congress on Wednesday sticking with the status quo by re-electing Nguyen Phu Trong as party general secretary, the country's No. 1 leader, for a second five-year term. A contender, reform-minded Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, was cut to size and ousted from the collective leadership because he was seen by party bosses to have become too big for his boots.

Analysis: Successful leader in Vietnam needs to be faceless Posted: 29 Jan 2016 05:09 PM PST HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam's latest political turnover made one thing abundantly clear: being a strong, charismatic leader with a high domestic and international profile will only lead to your downfall. To be successful in Vietnamese politics, you have to work with consensus — and be, for the most part, faceless.

Van Gaal toasts Man Utd's FA Cup success Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:42 PM PST Under-fire Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal looked forward to drinking "expensive" wine gifted to him by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward after his side reached the FA Cup last 16. Van Gaal conceded that his job was on the line prior to Friday's fourth-round tie at second-tier Derby County, but goals from Wayne Rooney, Daley Blind and Juan Mata gave the visitors a 3-1 win.

Brazil leader vows to win war against Zika-carrying mosquito Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:35 PM PST SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday announced a nationwide attack on the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, vowing to "win this war" against the insect that researchers in have linked to a rare birth defect.

Yao to help instruct at Basketball without Borders camp Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:31 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA great Yao Ming will help provide instruction at the Basketball without Borders camp during All-Star weekend in Toronto.

The Latest: Obama, Brazil's Rousseff discuss spread of Zika Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:23 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Latest on the Zika virus and fears it could be linked to birth defects (all times local):

From DF to CDMX, Mexico City changes name and status Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:20 PM PST Mexico's sprawling capital changed its official name on Friday as it launched steps to become virtually like a federal state. For the past two centuries, the city has been known as "DF" from its official name of Mexico Distrito Federal, or Federal District. Just like the US capital of Washington, Mexico City is distinct from the various states that make up the rest of the country, and it is closely controlled by the federal government which is based there.

Barrichello added to Wayne Taylor Racing lineup at Daytona Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:20 PM PST DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Wayne Taylor Racing added Rubens Barrichello to its lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Friday because star driver Jordan Taylor has not been feeling well.

US, Canada to seek new ways to fight IS after jets withdrawn Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:09 PM PST The United States and Canada vowed Friday to work together in the fight against the Islamic State, even if Ottawa plans to withdraw its jets from the campaign. Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers Stephane Dion of Canada and Claudia Ruiz Massieu of Mexico struck an upbeat tone at their annual get-together. Dion will now travel to Rome next week to join Kerry and two dozen more leaders from the US-led coalition to discuss new ways to work together against the threat.

Syrian rebel group says merges with others to boost Aleppo fight Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:04 PM PST A Syrian insurgent group said on Friday it had merged with a number of other rebel groups around Aleppo province to become a stronger fighting force in the country's five-year-old civil war. The group Failaq al-Sham, or Sham Legion, said on its Twitter feed it had merged with eight other fighting groups to form a new entity called the Northern Brigade. In early January, Failaq al-Sham pulled out of a coalition of Islamist factions operating in the northwest of the country, in order to redeploy around Aleppo where pro-government forces had been intensifying assaults.

AP Interview: Colombia's Santos wants rebels off terror list Posted: 29 Jan 2016 04:04 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Juan Manuel Santos would like the United States to remove the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia from its list of terrorist organizations and suspend drug warrants against guerrilla commanders if he seals a peace deal with Latin America's oldest leftist insurgency.

France considers recognition of a Palestinian state Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:59 PM PST PARIS (AP) — France will recognize a Palestinian state if its efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at an international conference fail, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday.

Michigan black lawmakers want Detroit school manager fired Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:58 PM PST The Michigan legislative black caucus voted on Friday to ask Governor Rick Snyder to fire Darnell Earley, the controversial Detroit Public Schools' emergency manager who had formerly presided over the city of Flint and its lead-contaminated water system. "Conditions have only worsened under Earley's tenure, as the city of Flint worsened with his involvement," said Representative Sheldon Neeley, a Flint Democrat and the caucus' first vice chair. "He is the problem, not the solution." Detroit Public Schools is under state oversight and pressure from declining enrollment.

Khang, Hull, Nomura tied for lead in LPGA Tour opener Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:55 PM PST PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Megan Khang shot a 5-under 68 in strong wind Friday for a share of the lead in the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, her first event as an LPGA Tour member.

Woodland, Choi tied for lead at Torrey Pines Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:54 PM PST SAN DIEGO (AP) — Phil Mickelson was expecting to post a low score on the North Course at Torrey Pines and go into the weekend with a chance to win the Farmers Insurance Open. By closing with three straight bogeys, he's going home after missing the cut.

Main Syrian opposition to join Geneva peace talks Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:48 PM PST Syria's largest mainstream opposition group said Friday that it would attend UN-led peace talks in Switzerland, easing fears that it would boycott a process aimed at ending the tangled civil war. The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said it would "take part in the political process to test the seriousness of the other side through discussions with the UN team", after four days of suspense over whether it would join. Despite Western pressure to attend, the HNC had previously said it would not take part in the Geneva talks without an agreement on relief reaching hundreds of thousands of people stuck in besieged Syrian towns.

Chile president tearful as daughter in law charged Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:46 PM PST A Chilean court Friday brought formal tax fraud charges against the daughter in law of President Michelle Bachelet in a scandal the leftist leader tearfully admitted was a "painful" ordeal. The case first came to light a year ago and has shocked the public in Chile, which is ranked by Transparency International as one of the least corrupt countries in Latin America. The court in the central city of Rancagua banned Natalia Compagnon from leaving the country and ordered her to check in with police each month for a year while judges investigate.

France to revive plans for Israeli-Palestinian peace conference Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:40 PM PST France is looking to quickly revive plans for an international conference to "bring about the two-state solution" to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday. "In the coming weeks, France will take... steps in order to organise an international conference gathering each of the parties' principle partners -- principally Americans, Europeans and Arabs -- in order to preserve and to bring about the two-state solution," he said in remarks to diplomats. France has in recent years raised the idea of hosting an international conference to revive peace efforts which would bring in all the key players in a show of support for a final settlement of the decades-long conflict.

Jacques Rivette, French New Wave film director, dies at 87 Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:31 PM PST PARIS (AP) — French director Jacques Rivette, a secretive pioneer of New Wave film acclaimed for expanding the boundaries of movie making and for creating rich roles for actresses such as Emmanuelle Beart, has died at 87.

Argentina ends electricity subsidies to save $4 billion Posted: 29 Jan 2016 03:13 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina announced an end to subsidies on electricity bills Friday, and officials said the move will save the government $4 billion this year.

What We Know: A shaky start to peace talks on Syrian war Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:54 PM PST Peace talks aimed at ending Syria's civil war are off to a shaky start, with the main opposition group at first boycotting the session, then agreeing to meet with U.N. officials — but still insisting it won't negotiate. Here's what we know about the sometimes confusing events that took place in Geneva:

Russia opposes arms embargo, sanctions on South Sudan Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:51 PM PST Russia said Friday it opposes an arms embargo on South Sudan and sanctions on its leaders for their role in the brutal two-year war. Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev said sanctions were "not conducive" for the peace process because the panel proposed putting the president and rebel leader on the sanctions blacklist. The panel submitted a confidential list of four names for sanctions: President Salva Kiir, rebel chief Riek Machar, army chief of staff Paul Malong and internal security chief Akol Koor.

Trudeau visits La Loche after school shooting Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:47 PM PST Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Friday the aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan where a student shot two classmates and two teachers dead last week. "Thanks for your respect, thank you," said La Loche acting mayor Kevin Janvier as he welcomed the prime minister and his entourage to the remote lakeside town of 3,000 inhabitants on the edge of the Arctic Circle.

Hezbollah leader committed to Aoun for Lebanon presidency Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:44 PM PST The head of Lebanon's Shiite movement Hezbollah on Friday said he backs Christian ally Michel Aoun for president, a key post that has been vacant for 18 months. "We remain committed to General Aoun as long as he remains the candidate," Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address. Nasrallah added however that Hezbollah would not force other political allies to back Aoun, 82.

Syrian opposition group joins Geneva 'political process' Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:43 PM PST Syria's largest mainstream opposition group on Friday said it would take part in the Geneva "political process", after four days of suspense over whether it would join UN-lead peace talks. The negotiations began in Geneva at about the same time the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee made its decision. "We have decided to take part in the political process to test the seriousness of the other side through discussions with the UN team to implement international obligations and humanitarian demands," the HNC said in a statement, which came after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir met with the Committee on Friday evening at a Riyadh hotel.

Global stocks gain as BoJ goes negative on interest rates Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:41 PM PST New York (AFP) - Stock markets around the world rebounded Friday, ending a volatile month with a bang after the Bank of Japan unexpectedly slashed interest rates into negative territory for the first time.

Factbox: How EU offer to Britain's Cameron is shaping up Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:38 PM PST (Reuters) - A draft EU reform package to help keep Britain in the European Union could be circulated on Monday following meetings between Prime Minister David Cameron and top EU officials. The following are key points of what Reuters has been told by sources close to the negotiations could be the proposal European Council President Donald Tusk will send to EU governments after talks over dinner with Cameron in London on Sunday: THE FORM Negotiators will work through the weekend to craft a single document laying out legislative and other measures responding to Cameron's November demands for reforms so he campaigns to keep Britain in the EU in a referendum by the end of next year. Depending on how Friday's talks in Brussels with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have gone, and on the Cameron-Tusk meeting, the document could set out in more or less detail a classic EU negotiating text, including blank spaces and alternative wordings in brackets, to be haggled over up to and during a summit chaired by Tusk in Brussels on Feb. 18-19.

Blind, Mata lift Van Gaal in Man Utd FA Cup win Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:26 PM PST Second-half goals by Daley Blind and Juan Mata brought relief for manager Louis van Gaal as Manchester United overcame second-tier Derby County 3-1 in the FA Cup on Friday. Van Gaal had admitted prior to the fourth-round tie that defeat at the iPro Stadium could cost him his job, having seen his side booed off following last weekend's abject 1-0 loss to Southampton at Old Trafford.

US stocks soar to finish tough month as tech stocks climb Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:18 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks soared on the last trading day of January, with Microsoft, Visa and other tech stocks making the biggest gains in a broad market rally Friday.

Venezuela opposition vows to oust president this year Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:13 PM PST Venezuela's opposition vowed Friday to drive President Nicolas Maduro from office this year, raising pressure on the socialist leader as he weathers a political crisis in the oil-rich nation. Having rejected Maduro's bid to seize emergency powers over the crisis-hit economy, the opposition-led legislature revived calls to oust him. Maduro's mandate runs until 2019, but the new opposition majority in the National Assembly has raised the prospect of his rivals finding constitutional or legislative means to cut his term short.

How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Friday Posted: 29 Jan 2016 01:59 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks soared on the last trading day of January, with Microsoft, Visa and other tech stocks making biggest gains during the widespread buying.

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