Yahoo! News: World News

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• Syrian army threatens to encircle Aleppo as talks falter
• North Korea tells U.N. agencies it plans satellite launch
• Britain says Russia trying to carve out mini-state for Assad in Syria
• Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja
• Canada's Syrian refugee plan draws U.S. Senate panel scrutiny
• Hezbollah kills four Qaeda-linked militants in north Lebanon: security source
• Australia wins toss, bowls in 1st ODI vs. New Zealand
• N. Korean plan to launch rocket a serious provocation: Japanese PM
• Demonstrators in Haiti hit streets over political crisis
• Eurosceptics reject British PM's EU draft deal
• Japan PM Abe to 'strongly demand' North Korea refrain from missile launch
• EU urges Greece to take steps to tighten bloc's external border
• FBI joins Michigan's Flint water probe
• City puts United further in shade with Guardiola coup
• Syria peace talks in trouble after intense Russian strikes
• Australian court paves way for deportation of infant asylum seekers
• Top Asian News 12:06 a.m. GMT
• UN group: Arrest of Washington state woman in Mexico illegal
• South Korea says North will pay a 'severe price' for missile launch
• U.S. northern Midwest sees blizzards, while tornadoes hit south
• White House race shifts to New Hampshire after Iowa test
• FBI joins probe of Flint, Michigan's lead contaminated water
• Anti-IS coalition vows to step up military campaign in Iraq, Syria
• As Zika spreads, Texas reports sexually transmitted case
• U.S. urges gas storage owners to shore up leak prevention
• Sexually transmitted Zika case confirmed in Texas
• For second time, House OKs bill targeting Iran nuclear deal
• easyFoodstore enters UK budget supermarket wars
• Column: Norman rides his horse as well as he rides receivers
• Obama tells UK's Cameron that more US aid for Syria coming
• Cycling champion Froome calls for more checks against tech fraud
• Neymar maintains innocence after appearing in Madrid court
• Vardy keeps Leicester flying, United come to life
• Ex-FIFA vice president released on bond in corruption case
• Brazil president tries to ease wary nation amid Zika spread
• EU chief unveils plans to avoid 'Brexit'
• Spanish king nominates Socialist chief as PM candidate
• Yoko Ono brings 'Land of Hope' peace exhibit to Mexico
• Guardiola swoop key to Manchester City's global domination bid
• Haiti opposition rejects president's plan for interim government

Syrian army threatens to encircle Aleppo as talks falter Posted: 02 Feb 2016 11:45 AM PST By Tom Perry, Suleiman Al-Khalidi and John Irish BEIRUT/AMMAN/GENEVA (Reuters) - A Syrian military offensive backed by heavy Russian air strikes threatened to cut critical rebel supply lines into the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, while the warring sides said peace talks had not started despite a U.N. statement they had. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura announced the formal start on Monday of the first attempt in two years to negotiate an end to a war that has killed 250,000 people, caused a refugee crisis in the region and Europe and empowered Islamic State militants. De Mistura acknowledged that a collapse of the Geneva talks was always possible.

North Korea tells U.N. agencies it plans satellite launch Posted: 02 Feb 2016 11:42 AM PST By Ju-min Park and David Brunnstrom SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea told U.N. agencies on Tuesday it plans to launch a satellite as early as next week, a move that could advance the country's long-range missile technology after its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. News of the planned launch between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25 drew fresh U.S. calls for tougher U.N. sanctions already under discussion in response to North Korea's nuclear test. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the United Nations needed to "send the North Koreans a swift, firm message." Pyongyang has said it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program by launching rockets, although the United States and other governments worry that such launches are missile tests in disguise.

Britain says Russia trying to carve out mini-state for Assad in Syria Posted: 02 Feb 2016 01:49 PM PST By Guy Faulconbridge ROME (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday Russia could be trying to carve out an Alawite mini-state in Syria for its ally President Bashar al-Assad by bombing his opponents instead of fighting Islamic State militants. Russia and Britain have been trading barbs after British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Reuters he believed President Vladimir Putin was worsening the Syrian civil war by bombing opponents of Islamic State.

Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja Posted: 02 Feb 2016 07:18 AM PST By Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of trapped Iraqi civilians are running out of food and medicine in the western city of Falluja, an Islamic State stronghold under siege by security forces, according to local officials and residents. The Iraqi army, police and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias - backed by air strikes from a U.S.-led coalition - imposed a near total siege late last year on Falluja, located 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad in the Euphrates river valley. The city's population is suffering from a shortage of food, medicine and fuel, residents and officials told Reuters by phone, and media reports said several people had died due to starvation and poor medical care.

Canada's Syrian refugee plan draws U.S. Senate panel scrutiny Posted: 02 Feb 2016 12:07 PM PST By Mark Hosenball and David Ljunggren WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is proceeding with plans to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees, but the country's background-vetting program is under scrutiny by a U.S. congressional panel, with a hearing set for Wednesday, amid lawmaker concerns about U.S. security. The Senate Homeland Security Committee has questions about the Ottawa government's intake of refugees by the end of February and the possibility that violent militants could mix in and cross the long, largely porous U.S.-Canada border. At the public hearing, senators will question U.S. and Canadian experts and a U.S. Border Patrol officer on Canada's "fast track" resettlement program.

Hezbollah kills four Qaeda-linked militants in north Lebanon: security source Posted: 02 Feb 2016 01:53 PM PST Hezbollah fighters killed at least four members of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in a rocket attack on their car in northeastern Lebanon on Tuesday, a security source said. The incident took place in a restive area near the Syrian border, just outside the Lebanese town of Arsal, which Nusra Front and Islamic State fighters overran briefly in 2014 before withdrawing after clashes with the army. Shi'ite Hezbollah has previously targeted Sunni Islamist fighters in the area who have staged regular incursions from Lebanon's war-torn neighbor.

Australia wins toss, bowls in 1st ODI vs. New Zealand Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:48 PM PST AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bowl on Wednesday in the first one-day international against New Zealand, the opening match of the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series.

N. Korean plan to launch rocket a serious provocation: Japanese PM Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:31 PM PST Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday condemned Pyongyang's plan to launch a rocket, calling it "a serious provocation" that would violate UN Security Council resolutions.

Demonstrators in Haiti hit streets over political crisis Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:28 PM PST Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Hundreds of Haitians took to the streets Tuesday to protest against a potential transitional government, with President Michel Martelly due to leave office but not yet replaced.

Eurosceptics reject British PM's EU draft deal Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:26 PM PST Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday hailed a draft deal for key changes to Britain's European Union membership as "real progress," but eurosceptics immediately rejected it, with one calling it "polishing poo". The draft proposals to keep Britain in the bloc, unveiled by EU President Donald Tusk on Tuesday, include a four-year brake on benefit payments for EU workers and protection for countries that do not use the euro currency.

Japan PM Abe to 'strongly demand' North Korea refrain from missile launch Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:24 PM PST TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he would work with the United States and others to "strongly demand" that North Korea refrain from its planned missile launch, which he called a provocative move that threatens the nation's security. North Korea told U.N. agencies on Tuesday it planned to launch a satellite as early as next week, a move that could advance the country's long-range missile technology after its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

EU urges Greece to take steps to tighten bloc's external border Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:18 PM PST The EU on Tuesday urged Greece to take specific steps to check the flow of asylum seekers to its shores and protect the 28-nation bloc's external border. The European Commission adopted a draft report published last week that said Greece had failed to protect the EU's external frontiers from the continent's biggest influx of refugees and migrants since World War II. It also urged Greece to properly accommodate asylum seekers while they are registered, work towards deporting economic migrants who cannot be classified as refugees, and improve border surveillance.

FBI joins Michigan's Flint water probe Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:17 PM PST The Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Tuesday it was joining a criminal investigation of lead-contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan, exploring whether laws were broken in a crisis that has captured international attention. Federal prosecutors in Michigan were working with an investigative team that included the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General and the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said.

City puts United further in shade with Guardiola coup Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:15 PM PST MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Pep Guardiola's imminent arrival in the Premier League is a game-changer not just for Manchester City but for English soccer, bringing a coveted, visionary coach to a club already having a stated aim of being a "leader in the world of football."

Syria peace talks in trouble after intense Russian strikes Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:11 PM PST The UN's special envoy warned all hope to resolve Syria's civil war would be lost if the latest attempt at peace talks failed, after the opposition said Russian airstrikes threatened to derail the discussions before they had begun. The main opposition umbrella group attending the talks said Russia's "unprecedented" bombardment near Aleppo -- 270 raids since Monday morning, according to monitors -- threatened to scupper efforts to end the almost five-year conflict. "Since last night a big massacre is taking place in Syria and nobody is doing anything.

Australian court paves way for deportation of infant asylum seekers Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:08 PM PST By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's High Court threw out a challenge to the country's offshore immigration detention camps on Wednesday, clearing the way for the deportation of dozens of infants born in Australia to detained asylum seekers. The court rejected a legal test case bought by an unidentified Bangladeshi woman that challenged Australia's right to deport detained asylum seekers to the tiny South Pacific island nation of Nauru. The Australian government said before the court ruling it planned to deport all of the roughly 250 asylum seekers detained in Australia back to Nauru.

Top Asian News 12:06 a.m. GMT Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:06 PM PST SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Weeks after its fourth nuclear test, North Korea announced plans Tuesday to launch an Earth observation satellite on a rocket later this month, in what critics see as a covert test of banned technology for a ballistic missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. An official at the London-based International Maritime Organization said North Korea declared that the launch would be conducted between Feb. 8 and 25, between 7 a.m. and noon Pyongyang time. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she hadn't been authorized to speak publicly yet. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said North Korea also informed the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Telecommunication Union of the planned satellite launch.

UN group: Arrest of Washington state woman in Mexico illegal Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:04 PM PST SEATTLE (AP) — A United Nations panel has ruled Mexico's 2013 arrest and its continuing detention of a community police leader are illegal, raising hopes among her supporters she could be freed.

South Korea says North will pay a 'severe price' for missile launch Posted: 02 Feb 2016 04:01 PM PST South Korea said on Wednesday North Korea's announced plan to launch a satellite is really a plan to launch a long-range missile and that the North will pay a "severe price" if it goes ahead. North Korea should immediately call off the planned launch, which is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, the South's presidential office said in a statement.

U.S. northern Midwest sees blizzards, while tornadoes hit south Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:55 PM PST A major storm system brought a mix of bad weather on Tuesday to much of the central United States, with a possibly dangerous tornado in Alabama and heavy snow in the northern Midwest. Connor Baird, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, said all or parts of three counties - Tuscaloosa, Pickens and Carroll - were under tornado warnings. There were six reports of tornadoes in eastern Mississippi, with roofs blown off, mobile homes flipped, and trees down, the NWS said.

White House race shifts to New Hampshire after Iowa test Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:54 PM PST The White House race picked up speed in New Hampshire on Tuesday after Iowa voters opened the 2016 contest by knocking the showman Donald Trump into humble second place, and Hillary Clinton scraped past a surging Bernie Sanders. Exceeding pollster predictions, Trump's Republican arch-rival Ted Cruz streaked to victory in the boisterous Iowa caucuses kicking off the months-long process of nominating presidential candidates in the Republican and Democratic camps. The billionaire real estate mogul whose campaign turned conventional politics on its head also now faces a threat from the telegenic Marco Rubio, who chalked up more than 23 percent to Trump's 24.3 percent, behind the evangelical Cruz on 27.7.

FBI joins probe of Flint, Michigan's lead contaminated water Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:50 PM PST By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is joining a U.S. criminal investigation into Flint, Michigan's water contamination crisis, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit said on Tuesday. Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit, said in an email that federal prosecutors in Michigan are "working with a multi-agency investigation team on the Flint water contamination matter, including the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the EPA's Office of Inspector General ... and the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division." The city was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched its source of tap water from Detroit's system to the Flint River in April 2014.

Anti-IS coalition vows to step up military campaign in Iraq, Syria Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:39 PM PST The US-led coalition of countries combatting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria vowed Tuesday to "accelerate and intensify" their fight against the jihadist group, pledging more cash for reconstruction work and broader military action. Speaking after talks in Rome, US Secretary of State John Kerry said 10,000 airstrikes in the year since the coalition was launched had yielded "undeniable progress" with IS forced to give up 40 percent of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and more than 30 percent in Syria. Kerry said he was confident that promises made on Tuesday would lead to a "very substantial amount of money" being pledged at a donor conference for Syria in London on Thursday.

As Zika spreads, Texas reports sexually transmitted case Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:38 PM PST Texas reported a case of the Zika virus being sexually transmitted Tuesday, fueling fears over the rapid spread of the disease blamed for a surge in the number of brain-damaged babies. With concern growing that an outbreak sweeping Latin America could spread much farther, health authorities in the southern US state said they had confirmation of the virus being transmitted by sexual contact and not just tropical mosquitoes. "Dallas County Health and Human Services has received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the first Zika virus case acquired through sexual transmission in Dallas County in 2016," said a statement.

U.S. urges gas storage owners to shore up leak prevention Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:34 PM PST (Reuters) - Federal pipeline safety regulators on Tuesday urged operators of underground natural gas storage facilities to shore up efforts to prevent leaks like the one that has devastated a Los Angeles area community. The recommendations from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are not formal regulations, but are the agency's first step toward addressing what some view as a lack of oversight of underground gas storage fields. The agency is working to propose new regulations that would address the safety of underground gas storage facilities, Administrator Marie Therese Dominguez said in a statement accompanying the so-called advisory bulletin.

Sexually transmitted Zika case confirmed in Texas Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:33 PM PST DALLAS (AP) — A person in Texas has been infected with the Zika virus after having sex with an ill person who had returned from South America, local health officials said Tuesday.

For second time, House OKs bill targeting Iran nuclear deal Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:33 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved for the second time in three weeks a Republican-led bill targeting the landmark nuclear agreement with Iran.

easyFoodstore enters UK budget supermarket wars Posted: 02 Feb 2016 03:21 PM PST British tycoon Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of no-frills airline easyJet, on Tuesday opened a pilot budget supermarket in London in an attempt to crack the country's booming discount grocery sector. The neighbourhood-sized store in Park Royal, northwest London, will offer around 80 low-priced products, with all items costing only 25 pence (36 US cents, 33 Euro cents) throughout February as an introductory offer. "This is another way the easy brand can serve the less well-off," said Haji-Ioannou.

Column: Norman rides his horse as well as he rides receivers Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:57 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Like many rookies, Josh Norman spent part of his bonus on a new ride when he signed with the Carolina Panthers a few years back.

Obama tells UK's Cameron that more US aid for Syria coming Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:56 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is telling British Prime Minister David Cameron that the U.S. will soon announce "significant new contributions" to assist Syria's humanitarian crisis.

Cycling champion Froome calls for more checks against tech fraud Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:54 PM PST Double Tour de France champion Chris Froome has urged cycling authorities to treat technology fraud seriously and to step up checks. Ahead of Wednesday's Herald Sun Tour race in Australia, Froome took up the issue of concealed motors after the first clear case rocked the cycling world. "It's a concern that I've had," Froome told reporters.

Neymar maintains innocence after appearing in Madrid court Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:48 PM PST MADRID (AP) — Neymar and his father maintained their innocence after appearing before a judge on Tuesday in an investigation into alleged irregularities regarding the player's transfer to Barcelona.

Vardy keeps Leicester flying, United come to life Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:47 PM PST Jamie Vardy scored a brace including a sensational long-range goal as Leicester City sank Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday to safeguard their spot at the Premier League summit. Manchester City kept pace, the day after Pep Guardiola was announced as their new manager, by winning 1-0 at Sunderland, but Arsenal fell five points below the summit after a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Southampton. Manchester United blew off the cobwebs in a 3-0 win over Stoke City, but nothing could overshadow the predatory brilliance of Vardy, whose goals preserved Leicester's three-point lead over second-place Manchester City.

Ex-FIFA vice president released on bond in corruption case Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:45 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A former vice president for world soccer's governing body has been released from U.S. custody in New York and will be subject to house arrest as he awaits trial on bribery and other charges related to a sprawling corruption case.

Brazil president tries to ease wary nation amid Zika spread Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:34 PM PST SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's president promised a wary nation on Tuesday that no resources would be spared in the fight against Zika, addressing Congress a day after the World Health Organization declared the mosquito-borne virus an international emergency.

EU chief unveils plans to avoid 'Brexit' Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:28 PM PST EU president Donald Tusk unveiled proposals to keep Britain in the 28-nation club on Tuesday, firing the starting gun for two weeks of tense negotiations to reach a deal at a summit later this month. British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tusk's plans showed "real progress" and made it likely that he would campaign to stay in the European Union in a referendum expected in June. The proposals include a four-year "emergency brake" on welfare payments for EU migrant workers, protection for countries that do not use the euro currency and a "red card" system giving national parliaments more power.

Spanish king nominates Socialist chief as PM candidate Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:27 PM PST Spain's king gave Socialist party chief Pedro Sanchez the tough task of forming a government Tuesday in a bid to end a potentially damaging political deadlock more than six weeks after inconclusive elections. "I am putting forward Mr Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon as candidate for prime minister," King Felipe VI said in a statement read out by parliamentary speaker Patxi Lopez. The country has been mired in uncertainty since December polls saw the incumbent conservative PP win most seats but fall short of an absolute majority as voters flocked to two upstart political groupings, ending Spain's long-established two-party system and creating a deeply fragmented parliament.

Yoko Ono brings 'Land of Hope' peace exhibit to Mexico Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:25 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Yoko Ono has brought an anti-violence message to Mexico City with the opening of a participative-performance exhibit dubbed "Tierra de Esperanza," or "Land of Hope."

Guardiola swoop key to Manchester City's global domination bid Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:16 PM PST A dream four years in the making was finally realised when Pep Guardiola was announced as Manchester City's next manager, a development the club's billionaire owners hope will transform world football on and off the field. On it, the respected 44-year-old, currently seeing out his final season with Bayern Munich, will be handed the simple target of winning the Champions League within the three-year contract he has agreed, and which will pay him a reported 20 million euros ($21 million) a season. Off the field, and into the realm of football finance and commercialisation, City believe Guardiola will eventually help elevate them to the level of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona, not only because of his own profile and standing in the sports world but because of the quality of player he will be able to attract to Eastlands, armed with the bottomless wealth of their Abu Dhabi royal family ownership.

Haiti opposition rejects president's plan for interim government Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:13 PM PST By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti's opposition on Tuesday rejected a proposal by outgoing President Michel Martelly to form a temporary government to organize elections, after a run-off presidential vote was canceled last month amid violence and allegations of fraud. Martelly, who heads Haiti's government, is due to leave office on Sunday. Under a proposal drawn up by Martelly and parliamentary leaders, Prime Minister Evans Paul would resign and be replaced by a candidate to be approved by parliament, government-allied lawmaker Gary Bodeau said.

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