| Twin suicide bombing kills 70 in Baghdad's deadliest attack this year Posted: 28 Feb 2016 11:10 AM PST  By Kareem Raheem BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A twin suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State killed 70 people in a Shi'ite district of Baghdad on Sunday in the deadliest attack inside the capital this year, as militants launched an assault on its western outskirts. Police sources said the suicide bombers were riding motorcycles and blew themselves up in a crowded mobile phone market in Sadr City, wounding more than 100 people in addition to the dead. In a statement circulated online, Islamic State said it was responsible for the blasts: "Our swords will not cease to cut off the heads of the rejectionist polytheists, wherever they are," it said, using derogatory terms for Shi'ite Muslims.
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| Syria's truce largely holding for second day Posted: 28 Feb 2016 08:02 AM PST  By Mariam Karouny and Tom Miles BEIRUT/ GENEVA (Reuters) - Fighting in Syria appeared to have mostly stopped on Sunday, the second day of a U.S.-Russian deal on a cessation of hostilities which seemed to be holding despite accusations of violations and air strikes in Aleppo province. The agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war. Under the accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad's government and many of his foes, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless.
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| Iran's Rouhani welcomes poll wins that could mean faster reform Posted: 28 Feb 2016 12:33 PM PST  By Samia Nakhoul TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and reformist partners won a big vote of confidence in elections that could speed up Iran's emergence from isolation, and a key ally told long dominant hardliners to accept that voters wanted them to step aside. The polls for parliament and a leadership body were seen by analysts as a potential turning point for Iran, where nearly 60 percent of its 80 million population is under 30 and eager to engage with the world following the lifting of most sanctions. While advances by moderates and independents in Friday's polls were most evident in the capital, the scale of the gains in Tehran suggests a legislature more friendly to the pragmatist Rouhani is now a distinct possibility.
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| India, U.S. closer to pact to share military logistics: officials Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:05 PM PST  By Sanjeev Miglani and David Brunnstrom NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - India and the United States are closing in on an agreement to share military logistics after 12 years of talks, officials said, a sign of strengthening defense ties between the countries as China becomes increasingly assertive. The United States has emerged as India's top arms source after years of dominance by Russia, and holds more joint exercises with it than any other country. It is in talks with New Delhi to help build its largest aircraft carrier in the biggest military collaboration to date, a move that will bolster the Indian navy's strength as China expands its reach in the Indian Ocean.
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| As sea levels rise, economic damage piles up even faster: study Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:12 PM PST  By Alister Doyle OSLO (Reuters) - As sea levels rise, threatening cities from New York to Shanghai, the economic damage will increase even faster, scientists said on Monday. "The damage from sea level rise rises faster than sea level rise itself," co-author Juergen Kropp, part of a team at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told Reuters of the findings. For the Danish capital Copenhagen, for instance, a moderate sea level rise of 11 cm (4 inches) by 2050 from 2010 levels would cause about a billion euros ($1.1 billion) a year in extra damage if no protective action is taken, the study estimated.
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| Italy prepares new adoption law including gay couples, opposition firm Posted: 28 Feb 2016 11:42 AM PST  Italy's government is working on a new law on adopting children, to include gay couples, after cutting a controversial adoption provision from a bill on civil unions last week, a prominent minister said on Sunday. The bill on civil unions for same-sex and heterosexual couples split parliament down religious lines and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi stripped out the most controversial clause, which would have allowed unmarried couples some adoption rights. Reform Minister Maria Elena Boschi, a close Renzi ally, told La Repubblica newspaper new legislation would apply to gay couples and single people.
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| Japan manufacturing output up in January, retail sales fall Posted: 28 Feb 2016 05:05 PM PST  TOKYO (AP) — Japan's industrial production rose in January from the month before, beating forecasts, while retail sales fell, suggesting the recovery of the world's third-largest economy is still on the ropes.
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| Mexico police rescue 87 women forced to work as prostitutes Posted: 28 Feb 2016 05:02 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Prosecutors in Mexico City say police have rescued 87 women, including three minors, who were being forced to work as prostitutes at illegal bars in a densely populated, poor district of the capital. |
| Scott outlasts Garcia to win the Honda Classic Posted: 28 Feb 2016 05:02 PM PST  PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Adam Scott tapped in a 30-inch par putt to win the Honda Classic on Sunday, and the smile was more relief than joy over ending the longest drought of his career.
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| 'The Revenant' leads charge at 'whitewashed' Oscars Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:36 PM PST  Hollywood hit the Oscars red carpet Sunday for its annual show of glitz and pageantry honoring cinema's finest -- with a broiling row over diversity an awkward guest at the party. Tinseltown's elite are looking forward to the usual sparkling night of celebration, with survival epic "The Revenant" leading the charge for golden statuettes and a panoply of rivals snapping at its heels. An audience expected to number several hundred million around the world will be hanging on every word uttered by black comedian and actor Chris Rock, who is hosting despite calls for him to join a boycott.
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| In symbolic move, Starbucks to open first shop in Italy Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:35 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks says it plans to enter probably its most intimidating market yet: Italy.
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| Hurricanes trade captain Eric Staal to New York Rangers Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:31 PM PST  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Eric Staal gets to play with another brother, and the New York Rangers are loading up for the playoffs.
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| 10 dead, 26 hurt when bus crashes on mountain road in Mexico Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:09 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Mexico say eight adults and two children were killed when a bus carrying a group of evangelical Christians went off a mountain road and crashed down about 45 meters (about 150 feet) into a ravine. All but three of the other 29 people on board suffered injuries. |
| Amnesty urges arms embargo on Yemen warring parties Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:06 PM PST  Amnesty International called Monday for an arms embargo on all warring parties in Yemen, including the Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed rebels, ahead of an Arms Trade Treaty meeting in Geneva. The rights watchdog said it has documented violations of humanitarian and human rights law, including possible war crimes, by both sides since the Yemen conflict broadened in March last year. "Amnesty International is urging all states to ensure that no party to the conflict in Yemen is supplied –- either directly or indirectly –- with weapons, munitions, military equipment or technology that would be used in the conflict until they end such serious violations," it said in a statement.
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| Cardinal admits 'scandalous' response to abuse allegations Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:02 PM PST  ROME (AP) — One of Pope Francis' top advisers acknowledged Sunday that the Catholic Church "has made enormous mistakes" in allowing thousands of children to be raped and molested by priests over centuries as he testified at an extraordinary public hearing of an Australian investigative commission just a few blocks from the Vatican.
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| Top Asian News 12:02 a.m. GMT Posted: 28 Feb 2016 04:02 PM PST ROME (AP) — One of Pope Francis' top advisers acknowledged Sunday that the Catholic Church "has made enormous mistakes" in allowing thousands of children to be raped and molested by priests over centuries as he testified at an extraordinary public hearing of an Australian investigative commission just a few blocks from the Vatican. Australian Cardinal George Pell testified via videolink from a Rome hotel to the Royal Commission sitting in Sydney. In the front row of the conference room were two dozen Australian abuse survivors and their companions who had traveled across the globe to be on hand for Pell's testimony, a significant show of accountability in the church's long-running abuse saga. |
| Messi helps Barcelona equal record with 34th unbeaten game Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:53 PM PST  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored with an unstoppable free kick to help Barcelona come from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1 on Sunday, a record-equaling 34th game without loss that kept the champions on track to retain their Spanish league title.
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| Man City beats Liverpool on penalties to win League Cup Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:49 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — A week after letting in five goals, Willy Caballero made three saves in a penalty shootout against Liverpool to help Manchester City win the League Cup on Sunday and claim its fifth major trophy since 2011.
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| Man City lifts League Cup, wins for Barcelona and Juventus Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:46 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — The first trophy of the English season went to Manchester City after it beat Liverpool in a penalty shootout in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
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| Merkel calls mob that screamed at migrants 'repulsive' Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:36 PM PST BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday called the actions of protesters who shouted abuse at a bus full of migrants "repulsive" and "unjustifiable." |
| Migrants protest at Greece-Macedonia border as bottleneck builds Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:28 PM PST  Stranded migrants lay with their children on rail tracks at Greece's northern border Sunday, demanding to be allowed to continue their journey, as Germany warned that Europe cannot let the country "plunge into chaos". Tensions between European nations worst affected by the migrant crisis are running high, with Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann accusing Greece of "behaving like a travel agency" for migrants hoping to start new lives elsewhere in Europe. "We estimate that in our country the number of those trapped will be from 50,000-70,000 people next month," Greek Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said in an interview with Mega TV, up from 22,000 at present.
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| Dolce&Gabbana, Missoni, Ferragamo headline Day 5 in Milan Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:21 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — A plethora of ribbons and ruffles signaled an air of romance in Milan this fashion season, but not all the references were strictly aesthetic.
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| Bolivian prosecutor orders president's ex-girlfriend jailed Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:16 PM PST  A Bolivian prosecutor on Sunday ordered President Evo Morales's ex-girlfriend to be held in a public jail, saying she was a flight risk as she faces a string of corruption charges. Gabriela Zapata, 28, is a senior manager at the local office of Chinese engineering group CAMC, which has won several contracts for large construction projects in Bolivia. Zapata faces charges of money laundering, embezzlement and abuse of influence, said prosecutor Edwin Blanco.
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| A$AP Rocky says he wasn't hurt during attack in New Zealand Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:10 PM PST  ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper A$AP Rocky said he came away unhurt during a recent attack on him inside a hotel elevator in New Zealand.
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| Olympiakos beats Veria 3-0, clinches 43rd league title Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:09 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Olympiakos sealed its 43rd Greek league title, and 18th in the past 20 seasons, with a 3-0 win over Veria on Sunday. |
| PSG's long unbeaten run ends with 2-1 defeat away to Lyon Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:08 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Coach Laurent Blanc criticized the attitude of his players after Paris Saint-Germain's long unbeaten run finally came to an end on Sunday night with a 2-1 defeat at Lyon, handing the runaway league leader a first loss in domestic competition for almost a year.
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| EU can't let Greece plunge into 'chaos' in refugee crisis: Merkel Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:07 PM PST  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that the EU cannot allow Greece, a country bailed out from its huge debt crisis, to plunge into "chaos" by shutting European borders to refugees. Merkel criticised the move by Austria and several Balkan countries to introduce border controls or cap daily migrant arrivals, creating a bottleneck in Greece as refugee boats continue to arrive from Turkey. Merkel -- who had long sparred with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, demanding strict austerity in return for billions in EU-IMF bailouts -- said she was now in close contact with the leftist leader on the refugee influx.
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| Exclusive: Democratic Party slams GOP candidates on climate change Posted: 28 Feb 2016 03:01 PM PST  The Democratic Party released a video on Sunday slamming Republican presidential hopefuls for their opposition to action on climate change, suggesting the views clash with the reality of rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns. The video features Republican front-runner Donald Trump and his two closest rivals, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, denying man-made global warming, juxtaposed with images of U.S. flooding, wildfires, droughts and heat waves. "I'm not a believer in climate change," Trump says during a television news interview featured in the clip.
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| Porto beats Belenenses, Benfica's match postponed Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:54 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — FC Porto won 2-1 at Belenenses to stay in the Portuguese league's title chase on Sunday, while rival Benfica's home match against Uniao de Madeira was postponed due to poor weather conditions. |
| Canada fulfills promise to take 25,000 Syrian refugees Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:51 PM PST  Canada has met a self-imposed deadline to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees fleeing their country's civil war, officials said, fulfilling a campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau had made a campaign pledge to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees from Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey before the end of 2015. Canada has chartered around a hundred flights from Lebanon and Jordan since Trudeau met the first arriving plane in December.
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| Wonderball -- rock star Gallagher predicts Wembley football result Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:51 PM PST  Rock star and avid Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher correctly predicted the result of Sunday's League Cup final against Liverpool and who would score the winner in the penalty shootout. The former Oasis guitarist was asked just before kick-off at Wembley for his tip on how the final would pan out and he was eerily spot on.
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| Silva mulls running again for Brazil's presidency in 2018 Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:47 PM PST  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he would be willing to seek another term in 2018 despite a decline in his poll ratings.
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| Critics lash out at Trump over white supremacist backing Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:47 PM PST  Conservatives and liberals alike rounded on Republican Donald Trump for refusing to reject on Sunday an endorsement by David Duke, a white nationalist who once led the Ku Klux Klan. Among Democrats, Hillary Clinton sailed toward the "Super Tuesday" primaries bolstered by a blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday. With just two days to go before the biggest showdown yet in the US presidential race, Clinton gained crucial momentum in the race for the Democratic nomination by crushing rival Bernie Sanders 73.5 to 26 percent.
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| Cruise ship that was damaged in storm turns around again Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:40 PM PST BAYONNE, New Jersey (AP) — A cruise ship that was battered by a major Atlantic storm earlier this month was headed back to its home port Sunday as another squall and a norovirus outbreak threatened its current voyage. |
| Blame-trading tests Syria's fragile truce Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:36 PM PST  Key players in Syria's war traded accusations Sunday over violations of the first major ceasefire in the five-year conflict, but the truce remained largely intact on its second day. A successful truce would also create a more favourable backdrop for peace talks that collapsed in acrimony in early February as a Russia-backed regime offensive in northern Syria caused tens of thousands to flee. The main opposition grouping Sunday described the ceasefire as "positive" but lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations and foreign governments about first day breaches.
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| Ainslie leads British crew to America's Cup World Series win Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:34 PM PST MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Former Olympic star Ben Ainslie of Britain led his Land Rover BAR team to victory in the America's Cup World Series on Sunday. |
| First Iran vote after nuclear deal gives reformists momentum Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:34 PM PST  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian reformists appear have won all 30 seats representing the nation's capital in parliament, a definitive rebuke to the hard-liners opposing President Hassan Rouhani's efforts to open the economy and cooperate with the West.
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| Juventus beats Inter 2-0 to extend lead to 4 points Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:25 PM PST  ROME (AP) — A defensive error helped Juventus to a 2-0 win over Inter Milan in Serie A on Sunday, provisionally stretching the four-time defending champion's lead over Napoli to four points.
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| Nigeria sacks thousands of ghost workers, saving millions Posted: 28 Feb 2016 02:15 PM PST  Nigeria's finance ministry said Sunday that it had saved millions of dollars for the cash-strapped government by removing more than 20,000 "ghost workers" from the state payroll. The eliminated ghost workers represented just a "percentage" of "non-existent" staff who had been receiving monthly wages, highlighting the brazen corruption in Africa's biggest economy. "The salary bill for February 2016 has reduced by 2.293 billion naira ($11.53 million)," finance ministry advisor Festus Akanbi said in a statement.
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