| North Korean rocket puts object into space, angers neighbors, U.S. Posted: 07 Feb 2016 03:26 PM PST  By Ju-min Park and Louis Charbonneau SEOUL/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, drawing renewed international condemnation just weeks after it carried out a nuclear bomb test. South Korea and the United States said they would explore whether to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea "at the earliest possible date." The U.S. Strategic Command said it had detected a missile entering space, and South Korea's military said the rocket had put an object into orbit. North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a "complete success" and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes.
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| Taiwan quake toll climbs to 35, president to visit disaster scene Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:38 PM PST  The death toll from an earthquake in southern Taiwan at the weekend climbed to 35 on Monday, with more than 100 people still listed as missing under a 17-storey building that collapsed and where all rescue efforts are being focused. Taiwan's government said in a statement 33 of the 35 dead where from that Wei-guan building, with 117 still listed as missing. Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed condolences to the victims, state news agency Xinhua reported late on Sunday, and repeated Beijing's offer to provide help.
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| Turkey delivers aid across border as Syrian forces step up Aleppo assault Posted: 07 Feb 2016 08:00 AM PST  By Humeyra Pamuk and Lisa Barrington ONCUPINAR, Turkey/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Aid trucks and ambulances entered Syria from Turkey on Sunday to help tens of thousands of people who have fled an escalating government assault on Aleppo, as air strikes targeted villages on the road linking the city to the Turkish border. Rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo, Syria's largest before the war, are still home to 350,000 people, and aid workers have said they could soon fall to the government. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said air strikes, thought to be from Russian planes, hit villages north of Aleppo on Sunday including Bashkoy, Haritan and Anadan, the latter two near the road to Turkey.
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| Second member of IS execution cell identified as Briton: report Posted: 07 Feb 2016 09:36 AM PST A second member of a British group of Islamic State militants dubbed "the Beatles" has been identified as 32-year-old Londoner Alexanda Kotey, according to a Washington Post and BuzzFeed investigation published on Sunday. The group, whose leader Mohammed Emwazi gained notoriety for appearing in videos showing the murders of Western hostages, are said by former hostages of Islamic State to have been assigned to guard foreign prisoners, and were nicknamed "the Beatles" due to their English accents. Londoner Emwazi, referred to by British media as "Jihadi John", is believed to have been killed in a U.S. drone strike last year. |
| In Aleppo, underground schools face bombardments and burnout Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:25 AM PST  By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) - At the unofficial schools run by Syrian activist group Kesh Malek in opposition-held districts of Aleppo, the children don't go outside to play during breaks in case a barrel bomb should drop from the sky. Syria's largest city before the civil war, Aleppo is the scene of heavy bombardment as the Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, tries to encircle it and wrest control of the rebel-held areas that are home to around 350,000 people. Marcell Shehwaro, executive director of Kesh Malek, said the group's schools had closed for a holiday and had not re-opened due to the intensified bombardment in recent days.
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| Exclusive: Zika virus discourages many Americans from Latin America travel Posted: 07 Feb 2016 05:15 AM PST  The rapidly spreading Zika virus is discouraging many Americans from traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean, with 41 percent of those aware of the disease saying they are less likely to take such a trip, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows. Airlines and cruise ship operators have yet to report drops in bookings because of Zika, and analysts have downplayed the impact that newly sedentary parents-to-be could have on their revenue. "I am actively trying to get pregnant with my husband, so I am a little bit concerned," said Erica, a respondent who said she was bitten by a mosquito during a January trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Zika has been reported.
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| Nigeria army probes recent Boko Haram attacks Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:41 PM PST  Nigeria's army on Sunday said it has launched a probe into recent attacks by Boko Haram militants which claimed dozens of lives of lives near Maiduguri, capital of northeast Borno state. At least 85 people died when insurgents stormed and torched a village on January 30, the third attack in four days defying President Muhammadu Buhari's claim Nigeria had largely defeated the jihadist group. "The recent unfortunate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities close to Maiduguri, despite our successes, call for concern," the army said.
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| The Latest: Broncos lead Panthers 10-0 after 1 quarter Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:32 PM PST  SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on Super Bowl Sunday from AP reporters covering the game, the telecast, the commercials and fans around the world (All times local):
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| Martelly leaves office with Haiti in crisis Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:31 PM PST  Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Michel Martelly ended his presidential term Sunday without handing power to a successor, in an electoral crisis highlighting Haiti's long struggle to keep democracy on track in the 30 years since the Duvalier dictatorship ended. Martelly was able to leave office thanks to a last-minute agreement hours before to install a transitional government after prolonged protests that sometimes turned violent. "During its long road to the promised land, Haiti will remember that a certain Michel Joseph Martelly, Micky for his people, loved, gave, built," he said during his last address as president.
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| Top Asian News 12:27 a.m. GMT Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:27 PM PST SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket that world leaders denounced as a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and another "intolerable provocation." The U.N.'s most powerful body pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un went ahead with the launch just two hours after an eight-day window opened early Sunday, and a month after the country's fourth nuclear test. He ignored an appeal from China, its neighbor and important ally, not to proceed and in another slap to Beijing, he chose the eve of the Chinese New Year, the country's most important holiday. |
| Japan says need for stronger North Korea sanctions has risen: Kyodo Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:16 PM PST TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has said the need to adopt stronger sanctions against North Korea has risen after the reclusive state launched a long-range rocket at the weekend, Kyodo news agency reported on Monday. The U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea's missile launch at an emergency meeting on Sunday and vowed to take "significant measures" in response to Pyongyang's violations of U.N. resolutions, Venezuela's U.N. ambassador said. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Paul Tait) |
| U.N. agency seeks to end rift on new aircraft emission rules Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:14 PM PST  By Allison Lampert and Valerie Volcovici MONTREAL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Europe and the United States tried to bridge differences over emissions standards for aircraft on Sunday as global aviation leaders prepared to adopt new rules that could affect Boeing Co and Airbus Group's production of the largest jetliners and freighters. Proposals being debated in Montreal by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations' aviation agency, would force makers of the world's largest passenger jets to upgrade or stop producing certain models as early as 2023, according to sources close to the negotiations and documents seen by Reuters. U.S. and European negotiators are trying to come up with the world's first carbon dioxide emissions standards for aircraft as part of the industry's contribution to efforts to combat climate change.
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| Duchess of Cambridge: Support children's mental health Posted: 07 Feb 2016 04:02 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — The Duchess of Cambridge says in a new video that she and Prince William want all children to get support during difficult times to help them overcome mental health challenges.
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| Police hunt assailants after shooting at Dublin boxing event Posted: 07 Feb 2016 03:46 PM PST  Irish police were searching Sunday for shooters who burst into a Dublin boxing event, killing one man and injuring two others in an attack thought to be a gang-related assassination. Police set up checkpoints on roads amid fears of retaliation for the Friday killing, suspected to be linked to a feud between criminal gangs. Jack Nolan, assistant commissioner of police force An Garda Siochana, said "armed patrols" were out in Dublin city.
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| Somalia spokesman: Video shows laptop handed to bomb suspect Posted: 07 Feb 2016 03:31 PM PST  MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Security video footage taken at Mogadishu airport shows two men handing what looks like a laptop computer to the suspected suicide bomber after he passed through the security checkpoint, Somalia's government spokesman said Sunday.
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| Factbox: North Korea launch puts two objects in orbit Posted: 07 Feb 2016 03:12 PM PST North Korea's controversial rocket launch put two objects in space, according to the U.S. Joint Space Operations Center. - North Korea launched what it said was its Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite earlier than expected. The launch took place at 8:59 a.m. local time on Sunday in North Korea. |
| Erdogan: US should choose between Turkey, Kurdish forces Posted: 07 Feb 2016 03:03 PM PST  ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president lashed out at the United States a week after President Barack Obama's envoy visited a northern Syrian town that is under the control of Syrian Kurdish forces, which Ankara considers terrorists.
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| Ibrahimovic scores as unbeaten PSG wins 2-1 at Marseille Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:46 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the first goal and set up the winner for Angel di Maria as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 away at bitter rival Marseille on Sunday, extending its record unbeaten league run to 34 matches and maintaining its massive 24-point lead.
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| Haiti's president departs to make way for interim government Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:33 PM PST  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — President Michel Martelly made his farewell speech to Haiti as he departed office Sunday with no successor yet chosen because a runoff election was scrapped last month amid violent protests and deep suspicions about vote rigging.
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| UN condemns NKorea launch, pledges significant new sanctions Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:11 PM PST  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket that world leaders denounced as a banned test of dangerous ballistic missile technology and another "intolerable provocation." The U.N.'s most powerful body pledged to quickly adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions.
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| Barcelona ties all-time club record of 28 games without loss Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:09 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Barcelona did just enough to defeat last-place Levante 2-0 on Sunday and tie its all-time record of 28 consecutive games without a loss.
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| German police search two homes in anti-terror raids Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:08 PM PST  German police on Sunday searched the homes of two men suspected of having ties to "a terrorist group" in Syria, federal prosecutors said. The anti-terror raids took place near the western city of Mainz. The federal prosecutor's office said the men were "suspected of having taken part in Syria's civil war as members of a foreign terrorist group" but declined to name the jihadist group involved.
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| Napoli and Juventus record narrow wins to remain 1st and 2nd Posted: 07 Feb 2016 02:00 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — Napoli and Juventus both recorded narrow victories against relegation-threatened sides to remain first and second in Serie A on Sunday ahead of their showdown in Turin next weekend.
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| Haiti postpones Carnival as president steps down amid unrest Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:45 PM PST  By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti delayed the start of Carnival celebrations on Sunday because of fears of violence from anti-government protesters as President Michel Martelly ended his term with nobody elected to replace him. Widespread unrest set off by an election that critics say was fraudulent meant the impoverished Caribbean nation was unable to hold a runoff to chose a new president before Martelly stepped down, leaving the country facing a period of interim government. Protesters and police clashed again in downtown Port-au-Prince on Sunday in the area that hosts the capital's heavily attended and raucous annual Mardi Gras celebrations, with some groups trying to attack Carnival stages.
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| Mexicans to light pope's route with mobile phones Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:45 PM PST  Worshipers will line the roadside holding up their mobile telephones to light the way for Pope Francis when he arrives on his visit to Mexico next week, organizers said Sunday. The 79-year-old pontiff himself expressed "great happiness" at his looming visit, during which he will tour a major Catholic shrine in Mexico City and meet victims of violence and poverty. Thousands of well-wishers are expected to come out to welcome the Argentine pontiff when he lands in Mexico City late Friday.
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| Olympiakos wins again, beats PAOK 1-0 Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:41 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Olympiakos beat PAOK 1-0 and increased its lead at the top of the Greek league to 19 points with AEK's 1-0 defeat at Atromitos earlier Sunday. |
| Bus film stunt explosion shakes Londoners Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:40 PM PST  The explosion of a red double decker bus in central London on Sunday alarmed witnesses unaware that it was actually a stunt for a Jackie Chan action film. The bus was travelling across Lambeth Bridge not far from Britain's parliament when its top deck exploded with a large bang in a ball of flames. One witness was the author Sophie Kinsella who said children in a park nearby had been "freaked" by the sight.
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| Divisive Polish party leader Kaczynski pulls the strings Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:36 PM PST  WARSAW, Poland (AP) — When Hungary's prime minister had a secret five-hour meeting in a secluded mountain resort with the most powerful person in Poland, he didn't convene with his counterpart or the Polish president.
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| Grave robbers plunder hundreds of tombs in Sierra Leone Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:35 PM PST  New security measures were in place Sunday at cemeteries in the Sierra Leone capital Freetown after grave robbers used pickaxes and sledge hammers to pry open tombs and steal coffins and jewellery. Around 250 graves were targeted in three of Freetown's seven cemeteries over the past two months, Freetown City Council said in a statement on Saturday. Twenty-four hour security was now in place at all the city cemeteries including armed police guards to foil the robbers, the council's environment and social officer Sulaiman Zainu-Parker told national radio.
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| Turkey: Reaching limits but will keep taking in refugees Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:34 PM PST  KILIS, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has reached the end of its "capacity to absorb" refugees but will continue to take them in, the deputy premier said Sunday, as his country faced mounting pressure to open its border to tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled a government onslaught.
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| Somali plane bomb 'was hidden in laptop': intelligence officials Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:30 PM PST  Somali intelligence officials investigating a bomb blast on a commercial jet released surveillance footage Sunday appearing to show a passenger being given a laptop in which the bomb was concealed. The blast on Tuesday ripped a hole in the Daallo Airlines plane fuselage shortly after it took off from Somalia's main airport, killing one person and forcing an emergency landing. The newly released surveillance footage shows the suspected bomber being handed a laptop by two other men, one of whom is wearing a security jacket, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said.
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| Hollande, Merkel stress migrant crisis needs EU solution Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:27 PM PST  German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande stressed on Sunday the migrant crisis, which brought more than a million people to the European Union last year, needs an EU-level solution. Merkel, who opened her country's borders to Syrians fleeing civil war last summer, is under increasing pressure to limit the influx. A poll published this week indicated popular support for Merkel had tumbled to a four-and-a-half-year low, with more than 80 percent of Germans doubting her government had the refugee crisis under control.
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| Manning, Newton to duel as America stops for Super Bowl 50 Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:22 PM PST  An eagerly anticipated quarterback showdown between Peyton Manning and Cam Newton was just hours away on Sunday as excitement built ahead of Super Bowl 50 in California. More than 100 million households across the United States and millions more worldwide are expected to tune in to see if Manning can inspire the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
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| Hamburg held to 1-1 draw by Cologne in Bundesliga Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:17 PM PST  BERLIN (AP) — Hamburger SV was lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw against Cologne as the home side's slump continued Sunday in its sixth Bundesliga game without a win.
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| Greek island mayor warns of violence over migrant plan Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:17 PM PST  The mayor of the Greek island of Kos on Sunday called on the government to abandon its plans to build a migrant registration centre as demanded by the EU, warning that local opposition could lead to "uncontrollable" protests. "There is a present danger that we will mourn victims and be led to uncontrollable situations," Kos mayor Yiorgos Kyritsis said in a letter to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, made public by the state agency ANA. Three locals were hurt this week in a scuffle with riot police near the area chosen to build the migrant centre, or hotspot, including a journalist covering the protest, who was later detained.
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| German police raid homes of suspected militants near western city of Mainz Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:15 PM PST German police on Sunday raided the apartments of two men suspected of having links to a militant organization, a spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor Office said. The raid took place near the city of Mainz in western Germany. The two men are suspected of having taken part in the Syrian civil war as members of a foreign terrorist organization, the spokesman said. |
| Sebastian Munoz wins hometown Club Colombia Championship Posted: 07 Feb 2016 01:14 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Sebastian Munoz won his hometown Club Colombia Championship on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour victory, two-putting for birdie from 45 feet on the par-5 18th for a one-stroke victory. |
