| U.N. seeks to build peace talks on fragile Syria truce Posted: 05 Mar 2016 08:51 AM PST  By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - A total of 135 people were killed in the first week of a partial truce in Syria in areas covered by the deal, a monitoring group said on Saturday, highlighting its fragile nature just days before the United Nations attempts to reconvene peace talks. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said the talks, originally due to begin on Monday in Geneva, would get off to a staggered start later in the week, with delegates arriving from Wednesday onwards. The U.N. said the delay was due to "logistical and technical reasons and also for the ceasefire to better settle down".
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| Taliban says rejects 'futile' Afghanistan peace talks Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:35 PM PST  The Taliban said on Saturday it would not take part in peace talks brokered by representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States, casting doubt on efforts to revive negotiations. The Taliban, ousted from power in a U.S.-led military intervention in 2001, has been waging a violent insurgency to try to topple Afghanistan's Western-backed government and re-establish a fundamentalist Islamic regime. Following a meeting of the so-called Quadrilateral Coordination Group made up of representatives of the four countries in Kabul in February, officials said they expected direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban to begin in early March.
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| Merkel slams anti-immigrant AfD, defends her refugee policy Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:19 PM PST  German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, saying it stirs up prejudice and polarizes society. The AfD is set to win almost 20 percent in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt and match the ruling Social Democrats in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, according to the most recent polls. "The AfD is a party that is not bringing together society and not offering the appropriate solutions for the problems, but it is stirring up prejudice and polarizing," Merkel said.
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| Philippines seizes North Korean cargo ship to enforce U.N. sanctions Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:19 AM PST  The Philippines said on Saturday it had seized a North Korean freighter that was covered by harsher United Nations' sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear program. Manila will also deport the vessel's 21 North Korean crew and will await a U.N. inspection team from the United Nations, foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message. "In compliance with the United Nations resolution, the North Korean ship in Subic will be impounded and not allowed to leave port," he said.
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| Brazil top judges back graft probe despite concern over Lula's detention Posted: 05 Mar 2016 05:05 PM PST  By Reese Ewing SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Senior judges in Brazil voiced concern on Saturday over the detention of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, even as they threw their support behind the sweeping corruption investigation that threatens to topple his embattled successor. Lula's three hours of questioning in police custody on Friday was the highest profile development in the two-year-old probe focused on state oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras). The detention of the 70-year-old Lula, Brazil's first working-class president and a hero to millions of his fellow citizens, shocked his supporters.
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| Rivals Turkey and Iran seek to 'manage differences' Posted: 05 Mar 2016 10:48 AM PST  By Ayla Jean Yackley and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin ISTANBUL/DUBAI (Reuters) - Turkey and Iran, two countries on opposite sides of Syria's civil war, agreed they must cooperate to end sectarian strife, including support for a fragile ceasefire, in the region after their leaders met in Tehran on Saturday. Iran, along with Russia, has stood by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the five-year war, providing him with military and financial support, while Turkey is his most outspoken critic and has backed opposition forces. "We may have different views but we cannot change our history or our geography," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
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| Japan's Kato, US star Douglas win American Cup titles Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:55 PM PST  Japan's Ryohei Kato and reigning Olympic women's all-around champion Gabrielle Douglas of the United States won titles Saturday at the American Cup invitational gymnastics meet in Newark, New Jersey. Kato, who helped Japan to last year's world team title in Glasgow and 2012 Olympic silver in London, took the men's all-around crown with 88.931 points to edge American Donnell Whittenburg by .366 of a point with China's Sun Wei third on 87.665.
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| Slovakia's Fico wins but coalition difficult in fragmented vote Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:53 PM PST  Leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico won Slovakia's elections on Saturday on an anti-refugee platform, but lost his parliamentary majority as smaller parties including the extreme right scored first-time seats, exit polls showed. A conservative leader described the outcome as a "big earthquake" in Slovak politics, and analysts cautioned that Fico would need to work long and hard to build a governing coalition. An exit poll by the private Markiza TV station showed his Smer-Social Democrats (Smer-SD) party taking 27.3 percent (45 seats) of the vote, meaning Fico lost his 83-seat majority in parliament, which has 150 members.
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| Hiddink confident over Costa fitness for PSG clash Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:42 PM PST  Guus Hiddink dismissed concerns over Diego Costa's fitness by insisting the Spain striker will be available for Chelsea's crucial Champions League clash with Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday. Costa missed Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw against Stoke as he rested to avoid aggravating a tendon injury, but Blues interim manager Hiddink is confident his star forward will return for the last 16, second leg against PSG.
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| Thousands attend funeral of slain Honduran environmentalist Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:29 PM PST  Thousands of mourners paid their final tributes Saturday to Berta Caceres, the indigenous activist killed on Thursday, demanding justice for the renowned environmentalist. The 45-year-old head of the Civic Council of Indigenous and People's Organizations (COPINH) was gunned down in her hometown of La Esperanza, 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of the Honduran capital Tegicigalpa, in what her family has called an assassination. Mourners from across the country attending the funeral in La Esperanza chanted "Justice, justice!" "Berta lives!" and "The struggle continues!" as her coffin was taken to a church service before its burial.
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| Basque leader gets hero's welcome after release from jail Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:16 PM PST  Thousands of people in the heart of Spain's Basque country gave a hero's welcome on Saturday to a veteran separatist leader, following his release after more than six years behind bars. A crowd of more than 10,000 gathered in the velodrome of the town of San Sebastian to give a tumultuous greeting to Arnaldo Otegi after his release last Tuesday. The meeting was a display of Basque independence and culture, featuring songs, dances and the red, white and green of Basque flags.
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| French PM Valls says no blackmail to pass labor reform: paper Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:14 PM PST  France's prime minister, Manuel Valls, said on Sunday he will not commit blackmail by threatening to resign, as the government is facing opposition to pass the new labor reform. In an interview with French weekly newspaper Le Journal Du Dimanche (JDD), Valls said the reform is a "win-win" for both employers and employees and that he will try to convince the Socialists, Far Left and Green party members to vote for the bill. When asked about rumors that he could put at stake his title, Valls said: "I never did and I will not blackmail to resign".
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| Gay-friendly NYC St Patrick's parade to find new focus Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:13 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The founder of a gay-friendly St. Patrick's Day parade said Saturday that the inclusive celebration will go on even though the city's big St. Patrick's Day procession in Manhattan has dropped its ban on gay groups.
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| Browne stops Chagaev to win WBA heavyweight belt by TKO Posted: 05 Mar 2016 04:05 PM PST  GROZNY, Russia (AP) — Lucas Browne became Australia's first world heavyweight boxing champion early Sunday, beating WBA regular champion Ruslan Chagaev in a surprise technical knockout.
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| Family, friends of ex-FBI agent demand his release from Iran Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:58 PM PST  CORAL SPRINGS, Florida (AP) — The family and colleagues of a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran nine years ago while on a CIA mission expressed anger and disappointment at a rally Saturday that he wasn't part of a January prisoner exchange with Tehran.
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| Slain indigenous, environmental activist buried in Honduras Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:51 PM PST  LA ESPERANZA, Honduras (AP) — A large crowd in Honduras accompanied the body of Berta Caceres to its final resting place Saturday amid calls for justice in this week's killing of the indigenous leader and environmental activist.
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| Cooper scores first Sevens try as Aussies sail into Vegas quarter-finals Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:50 PM PST  Wallabies star Quade Cooper scored his first sevens try for Australia in a 36-7 victory over England that sent the Aussies surging into the Cup quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Sevens. Cooper is among the 15-a-side stars chasing berths in their country's Rio Olympic squads as rugby's return to the Games puts the spotlight on the 10-event World Rugby Sevens Series.
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| Brumbies set early benchmark in Super Rugby Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:34 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies established themselves as the benchmark team in Super Rugby with a gritty 32-15 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in the weekend's second round. |
| Cruz victorious in first of five Saturday election contests Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:33 PM PST  US Senator Ted Cruz struck first in the series of five presidential nomination contests held Saturday, besting Donald Trump in Kansas and boosting his claim as the most viable alternative to the billionaire frontrunner. With nearly half of the votes counted, networks called the midwestern state for Cruz, who earned some 49 percent of the vote, doubling up on Trump who was second with 25 percent. Senator Marco Rubio was in third, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich.
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| McIlroy grabs WGC Doral lead with bogey-free 68 Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:26 PM PST  Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy fired a four-under par 68 Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead after the third round of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship at Doral. Australian Adam Scott, who owned a two-shot lead over McIlroy when the day began, and US defending champion Dustin Johnson shared second on 207. Third-ranked McIlroy, who closed with eight consecutive pars, seeks his 12th US PGA Tour title, his first since last May at Quail Hollow, and his 20th career victory worldwide.
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| Leicester extends lead in EPL, Ronaldo scores 4 in Spain Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:13 PM PST  Leicester stayed on course to become the English Premier League's most unlikely champion, while Cristiano Ronaldo became La Liga's second all-time leading scorer on Saturday.
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| Ronaldo scores 4 goals to become Liga's 2nd all-time scorer Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:10 PM PST  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored four second-half goals to become the second all-time leading scorer in La Liga as Real Madrid routed Celta Vigo 7-1 on Saturday.
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| Cavendish struggles as Gaviria wins world omnium Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:08 PM PST  Mark Cavendish's hopes of competing at the Rio Olympics were dealt a blow as he finished sixth in the omnium at the Track Cycling World Championships in London on Saturday. Cavendish had been set a target of a top three finish by British Cycling coaches if he is to win selection to their Rio squad, but poor showings in the time trial and individual pursuit saw him finish outside the medal places as Fernando Gaviria Rendon took gold.
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| Kenny wins sprint title in decider, Gaviria defends omnium Posted: 05 Mar 2016 03:08 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Jason Kenny won the men's sprint title, edging Matthew Glaetzer in a third-race decider on the penultimate day Saturday of the track cycling world championships.
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| Exit poll: Ruling party leads Slovakia election Posted: 05 Mar 2016 02:58 PM PST  BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The leftist ruling party is leading in the parliamentary election in Slovakia on Saturday, but will need coalition partners to form a majority government, an exit poll indicated.
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| Benfica beats Sporting to take away league lead in Portugal Posted: 05 Mar 2016 02:52 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in a derby to snatch the lead of the Portuguese league from its city rival on Saturday. |
| Napoli beats Chievo 3-0 to move provisionally top with Juve Posted: 05 Mar 2016 02:29 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — Napoli came from behind to beat Chievo Verona 3-1 and move provisionally level with Juventus at the top of the Serie A table on Saturday.
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| Italy through to Davis Cup quarters, 3-0 up vs. Switzerland Posted: 05 Mar 2016 02:21 PM PST PESARO, Italy (AP) — Italy eased into the Davis Cup quarterfinals with an insurmountable 3-0 lead against Switzerland after Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi beat Marco Chiudinelli and Henri Laaksonen in straight sets on Saturday. |
| Drug kingpin killed in Colombia Posted: 05 Mar 2016 02:03 PM PST  Bogota (AFP) - The top leader of powerful Clan Usuga gang was killed in a police raid, authorities said Saturday, in another major blow to Colombia's most important gang.
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| Tsonga and Gasquet seal Davis Cup victory for France Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:52 PM PST BAIE-MAHAULT, Guadeloupe (AP) — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet sent France into the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup with a straight-sets victory in the doubles match of their first-round tie with Canada on Saturday. |
| EU commissioner warns of migrant buildup in Greece ahead of key summit Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:51 PM PST  Greece is likely to receive another 100,000 migrants by the end of the month, Europe's migration commissioner warned on Saturday, two days ahead of an EU-Turkey summit seen as the only viable solution to the crisis. As EU members continued to bicker, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in charge of migration at the powerful Brussels executive, pointed to upcoming measures, including an overhaul of asylum rules, to help ease tensions. Greece lies at the heart of Europe's greatest migration crisis in six decades after a series of border restrictions on the migrant trail from Austria to Macedonia caused a bottleneck on its soil.
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| Slovak PM Fico leads election but may have trouble forming majority Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:49 PM PST  By Tatiana Jancarikova BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovak leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico won Saturday's election, according to an exit poll, but gains by a number of opposition parties including far-right militants could produce a fractured parliament and complicate formation of a government. Fico, whose anti-immigration views chime with neighbors Poland and Hungary, won 27.3 percent of the vote, much less than around 35 percent predicted in opinion surveys, the exit poll by Focus agency for TV Markiza showed. It had been expected Fico's Smer party would lose its outright majority, but the polls showed it could be tough for him to form a coalition with a majority in parliament.
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| Davis Cup: Italy, France reach quarters, Serbia trail Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:46 PM PST  A Novak Djokovic-led Serbia surprisingly fell behind 2-1 at home to Kazakhstan in the Davis Cup first round after he lost in doubles on Saturday.
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| U.N. Security Council pushes peace deal implementation in Mali Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:28 PM PST  By Adama Diarra TIMBUKTU, Mali (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council traveled to northern Mali on Saturday to push for implementation of a fragile peace deal aimed at ending a cycle of internal uprisings and allowing the government to combat the growing threat of Islamist militants. Tuareg rebels demanding autonomy for their northern homeland, the government and pro-Bamako militias signed the U.N.-backed accord last year, pledging to end decades of hostilities. The government and the Tuareg rebel alliance - Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) - have accused each other of stalling on implementation.
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| PSG held to 0-0 by Montpellier ahead of Chelsea game Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:26 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain prepared for its Champions League game against Chelsea with an unimpressive 0-0 draw against Montpellier in the French league on Saturday.
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| Djokovic beaten as Murray brothers double up for victory Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:24 PM PST  Novak Djokovic suffered his first Davis Cup defeat in five years on Saturday as Serbia slipped 2-1 down to Kazakhstan while Andy and Jamie Murray gave defending champions Great Britain a 2-1 lead over Japan. World number one Djokovic and 39-year-old Nenad Zimonjic lost their doubles rubber to Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov in Belgrade in the first round tie.
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| Musicians and media figures celebrate Murdoch-Hall wedding Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:21 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall celebrated their marriage Saturday alongside family members, media executives and music stars in a church considered the spiritual home of British journalism.
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| EU pressured to take stance over Turkish media right erosion Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:18 PM PST  ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The European Union is facing increasing pressure to speak out against the erosion of media freedom in Turkey following the takeover of the country's largest-circulation newspaper, but few expect it to take a bold stance toward Ankara while trying to assure its help in dealing with the migration crisis.
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| France beat Canada to reach Davis Cup quarter-finals Posted: 05 Mar 2016 01:18 PM PST  Baie-Mahault (France) (AFP) - France reached the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Saturday when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet defeated Vasek Pospisil and Philip Bester 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) for an unassailable 3-0 lead over Canada.
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