| White House concerned by Russia's military moves in Syria Posted: 21 Apr 2016 11:50 AM PDT  By John Irish and Rodi Said GENEVA/QAMISHLI, Syria (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it was concerned about reports that Russia is moving more military equipment into Syria to bolster President Bashar al-Assad, with a truce in tatters and peace talks in meltdown. Asaad Zoubi, chief negotiator for the main Syrian opposition, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said all its members will leave the peace talks in Geneva by Friday, with little prospect of a resumption unless the situation on the ground changes radically. U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura will decide on Friday whether talks to end the five-year war that has killed at least 250,000 people can go on without the HNC, and with combatants accusing each other of breaking a February ceasefire deal.
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| Exclusive: Beijing auditions foreign agencies to polish China brand Posted: 21 Apr 2016 05:09 PM PDT  By Engen Tham and Matthew Miller SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Five global public relations firms have made pitches to the Chinese government for a potential new campaign, four sources said, as Beijing tries to communicate more effectively with the West. The competition by the leading Western PR companies comes amid intensifying scrutiny of Chinese companies abroad, a crackdown on dissent at home and rising tensions in the South China Sea. ...
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| Obama urges 'blood brother' Britain not to leave the EU Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:30 PM PDT  By Roberta Rampton and William James LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama made an impassioned appeal on Friday for Britain to remain in the European Union, saying membership had magnified Britain's place in the world and made the bloc stronger and more outward looking. Fearful that a British exit could weaken the West, Obama arrived in London to tell Britons that issues such as terrorism, migration and economic slowdowns could be tackled more successfully with the UK in the EU. "The European Union doesn't moderate British influence - it magnifies it," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
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| Exclusive: Egyptian police detained Italian student before his murder - sources Posted: 21 Apr 2016 12:42 PM PDT  (Reuters) - An Italian student who was tortured and murdered in Egypt had been detained by police and then transferred to a compound run by Homeland Security the day he vanished, intelligence and police sources say. The claims contradict the official Egyptian account that security services had not arrested him. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old postgraduate student, disappeared on Jan. 25, friends say.
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| In China's shadow, SE Asia looks to replace aging fighter jets Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:08 PM PDT  By Siva Govindasamy and Joseph Sipalan SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - With an eye on China's more muscular stance in the South China Sea, Southeast Asian governments are stepping up efforts to replace aging fighter aircraft fleets, paving the way for multi-billion dollar deals in a boon for warplane makers. Despite tight budgets across the region, sales executives say they are busier than ever after a five-year lull - and both industry and government sources say the next months could see several multi-billion dollar deals from Malaysia to Vietnam. A trade conference held in Kuala Lumpur this week thronged with would-be buyers and salesmen from Russian, French, British, Chinese, Pakistani and American firms. A prime drawcard was one of the region's biggest prizes: Malaysia, which is set to finally replace its Russian 1990s-era MiG-29 fighters after several years of delays.
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| Mexico's Pemex puts blast death toll at 13, blames leak Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:32 PM PDT  By Lizbeth Diaz COATZACOALCOS, Mexico (Reuters) - At least 13 people died after a leak caused a deadly petrochemical plant blast, and the death toll could still rise, Mexican oil giant Pemex said on Thursday, the latest in a series of fatal accidents to batter the company. Pemex CEO Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya, who traveled to the site of Wednesday's blast near the port of Coatzacoalcos, one of Pemex's top oil export hubs, told local television it was unclear what caused the accident. "We know there was a leak, what we don't know is why, but everything points to an accident," Gonzalez Anaya said.
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| Top Asian News 12:06 a.m. GMT Posted: 21 Apr 2016 05:06 PM PDT KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The violence of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake left countless towns and villages across central Nepal in shambles. Almost one year later, in shambles they remain. The country has made almost no progress in rebuilding hundreds of thousands of homes, schools and government buildings, as well as some 600 historical structures, including ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples, monuments and palaces. Nearly a million children still have no school to attend. Millions of villagers were forced to winter in flimsy pop-up tents and corrugated tin shacks, erected haphazardly at high altitudes and across the rolling plains. The government's reconstruction agency has so far approved zero projects. |
| Daimler investigating emissions after US request Posted: 21 Apr 2016 05:00 PM PDT DETROIT (AP) — German automaker Daimler AG is investigating at the request of the U.S. government what it says are "possible indications of irregularities" in its emissions certification process. |
| Pop superstar Prince dies at his Minnesota home at age 57 Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:54 PM PDT  CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Prince, one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times with hits including "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry," was found dead at his home on Thursday in suburban Minneapolis, according to his publicist. He was 57.
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| Guatemala condemns teen's killing in Belize border incident Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:51 PM PDT GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala is condemning the killing of a 13-year-old boy, allegedly by Belizean soldiers near the two countries' border. |
| Music legend Prince dead at 57 Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:50 PM PDT  Prince, whose pioneering brand of danceable funk and virtuoso talents made him one of the most influential figures in music, died Thursday at his secluded compound in Minnesota. News of his death prompted a flood of tributes from the worlds of entertainment and politics, from Barack Obama to Mick Jagger, as well as ordinary fans -- and even a tweet from NASA of a purple nebula, in Prince's signature color. "It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning," said his spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure, without elaborating.
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| Obama arrives in UK with royal lunch, Brexit on the menu Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:48 PM PDT  US President Barack Obama arrived in Britain on Thursday, where he is set to wade into the poisonous Brexit debate and have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. Air Force One touched down at London Stansted Airport, northeast of the British capital, at around 9:45 pm (2045 GMT), beginning what is Obama's fifth and likely final presidential visit to the kingdom. The president, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, will pay tribute to the queen, who turned 90 on Thursday, when they meet at Windsor Castle, west of London.
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| China defends right to carry out 'normal' missile tests Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:41 PM PDT  China said on Thursday it was "normal" to carry out ballistic missile launches, after a US media report accused Beijing of having test-fired an intercontinental weapon last week. US media site Washington Free Beacon, citing unidentified Pentagon officials, reported that China had carried out a test of its DF-41 long-range missile on April 12. The report linked the tests to tensions between Washington and Beijing over the South China Sea, noting that it came three days before a visit by US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter.
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| 'Happy Birthday' rings out as Queen Elizabeth turns 90 Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:35 PM PDT  Well-wishers sang "Happy Birthday" to a smiling Queen Elizabeth II as she turned 90 on Thursday, celebrating the milestone by lighting a beacon and greeting cheering crowds in the streets. The sovereign, who has been on the throne since 1952 and steered Britain through the decline of its empire, wore a lime green outfit and matching hat to accept presents, cards and flowers from the crowd in Windsor. The queen's eldest son and heir Prince Charles, 67, said "Mummy" was held in "love and affection" by the people she serves, as she lit a beacon outside Windsor Castle, west of London.
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| Mexicans seek news of loved ones after deadly explosion Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:33 PM PDT  COATZACOALCOS, Mexico (AP) — Desperate relatives gathered outside a petrochemical plant Thursday hoping for news about loved ones still unaccounted for a day after an explosion killed at least 13 workers. Officials said 18 workers had been reported missing.
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| Next step for Rangers ace Yu Darvish is pitching in game Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:24 PM PDT ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish is close to throwing in a game for the first time since his elbow surgery last year. He just wants to make sure he's ready for that. |
| Aid reaches besieged Syria town amid concerns for truce Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:22 PM PDT  BEIRUT (AP) — The U.N. special envoy for Syria said Thursday there was "real but modest" progress in the country's humanitarian situation despite a stumbling cease-fire, as one of the largest international aid convoys made it into a government-besieged opposition stronghold.
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| Worried about Zika, MLB players question Puerto Rico games Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:15 PM PDT  MIAMI (AP) — Players from the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed concerns about their two-game series next month in Puerto Rico because of the Zika virus.
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| Mexico ratifies, swears in new Ambassador to US Carlos Sada Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:14 PM PDT  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Carlos Sada has been approved by the Mexican Senate as the country's next ambassador to Washington.
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| Britain must stay close to its EU allies, Obama says Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:13 PM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday urged Britain to remain close to its allies in Europe to help the international fight against terrorism - an intervention designed to persuade Britons to remain in the European Union. Obama made the comments in an article for the Daily Telegraph newspaper published shortly after he arrived in London for an official visit aimed at persuading Britons not to vote to leave the 28-country bloc at a June 23 referendum. ... |
| Kerry, Zarif to meet again in NY on Iran sanctions relief Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:10 PM PDT  US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in New York on Friday with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as Tehran complains that Washington has not lived up to its nuclear deal obligations. Kerry's spokesman told reporters in Washington that the two top diplomatic chiefs will hold another day of talks following a meeting at the UN on Tuesday. Tehran has said it is not receiving enough sanctions relief.
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| Ecuador quake death toll rises; country faces rebuilding Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:09 PM PDT  QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The death count from Ecuador's worst earthquake in a decade rose to at least 587 on Thursday even as the country faced another grim toll: a long and costly reconstruction effort likely to cost billions of dollars.
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| Chadian President Idriss Deby wins fifth term: election commission Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:08 PM PDT  N'Djamena (AFP) - Chad's veteran leader Idriss Deby has won a fifth term in office after taking more than 60 percent of the vote in the first round of presidential polls, the national electoral commission said Thursday. Deby secured 61.56 percent of votes in the April 10 polls, according to the results released by the CENI commission, with opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo a distant second on 12.8 percent.
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| EU cancels Macedonia crisis talks as protests resume Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:04 PM PDT  The European Union on Thursday cancelled mediation talks on resolving the political crisis in Macedonia, as tens of thousands of pro- and anti-government demonstrators again took to the streets of Skopje. The EU had invited Macedonian political leaders to talks Friday on ending the crisis that has gripped the small Balkan country for the last two years. "We regret that the leaders' meeting planned in Vienna on April 22 could not take place," Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told AFP.
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| Mauger eager to get Carter in Euro showdown Posted: 21 Apr 2016 04:02 PM PDT  Leicester coach Aaron Mauger will look to put his knowledge of former Crusaders and New Zealand team-mate Dan Carter to good use when the Tigers face Racing 92 in a European Champions Cup semi-final on Sunday. The pair will be on opposite sides when Carter, a veteran of 112 Tests and one of the stars of the All Blacks 2015 World Cup-winning side, bids to lead Paris-based Racing into their first major European final this weekend. Few people have had longer experience of the skills of Carter, international rugby union's leading points-scorer, than former New Zealand centre Mauger.
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| Anxious search for missing after deadly Mexico blast Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:59 PM PDT  Anguished relatives nervously awaited news of their loved ones Thursday outside a Mexican petrochemical plant where an explosion killed at least 13 people and sent toxic smoke billowing into the air. Starting at dawn, family members flocked to a military cordon set up around the plant after Wednesday's explosion, which blew out the windows of nearby stores and homes and triggered panic among locals still traumatized by a deadly blast at the same facility 25 years ago. About 300 people had gathered by midday outside the plant in Coatzacoalcos, in the eastern state of Veracruz, some weeping loudly, some scuffling with soldiers.
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| Talks stalled, Syrian opposition to stay in Geneva next week Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:58 PM PDT  BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on Syria's civil war and peace talks in Geneva (all times local):
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| Bike lane falls in Brazil Olympic city, killing at least 2 Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:56 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A new elevated bike path that was heralded as a top legacy project of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics collapsed Thursday, killing at least two people.
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| Mexico proposes legal medical marijuana in major shift Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:55 PM PDT  Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed Thursday legalizing medical marijuana and easing restrictions on recreational use, a major policy shift for a government embroiled in an ultra-violent drug war. Pena Nieto's decision to send landmark legislation to Congress was the result of a national debate on cannabis laws and comes amid a growing debate about drug policy across the Americas. There was a clear consensus that there are limits to the current focus in which Mexico has dealt with the marijuana issue," Pena Nieto said.
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| Gambia opposition leader, protesters charged Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:50 PM PDT  A Gambian court has charged opposition activists with rioting, illegal protest and incitement to violence for organising rare demonstrations last week that rights groups say were peaceful. Thirty-six activists including United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe were charged with six different offences on Wednesday and Thursday and will be kept in custody until their bail hearing due next week at Banjul's High Court. Eighteen of the defendants were arrested last Thursday when UDP organising secretary Solo Sandeng and dozens of others made a public call for electoral reform, with some protesters demanding the resignation of strongman President Yahya Jammeh, according to witnesses.
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| Former PM Brown makes 'patriotic' case against Brexit Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:50 PM PDT  Former British prime minister Gordon Brown said Thursday he was setting out a "patriotic" case for Britain to remain in the EU, in his first intervention on the looming referendum. Brown said it would be a "tragedy" if the campaign to leave the European Union was seen as the patriotic side in the June 23 vote. The Scot said there were two competing visions of Britain: one that "stands aloof", and an "outward-looking" and "internationalist" approach he is promoting.
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| Argentina floods cause soy crop losses, force evacuations Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:48 PM PDT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Floods have swamped much of Argentina's soy crop, causing heavy losses to one of the world's top grains suppliers. |
| Canada court clears senator in expenses scandal Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:31 PM PDT  A Canadian senator at the center of an expenses scandal that sullied the former Tory administration and contributed to its electoral loss last year was cleared Thursday of criminal wrongdoing. An Ontario court declared Senator Mike Duffy not guilty of 31 charges including breach of trust, bribery and fraud related to his government expenses claims. Duffy, a former broadcast journalist, had pleaded not guilty.
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| Lawmakers chain themselves to Venezuela election board in protest Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:24 PM PDT  Opposition legislators demanding paperwork needed to help activate a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro chained themselves on Thursday to a stairway of Venezuela's election board. The incident, led by members of the Justice First party, underlined the deep political tensions in Venezuela where the opposition is seeking to unseat socialist Maduro via popular pressure, a referendum or a constitutional amendment. Government-leaning institutions are blocking them at every turn, with the National Election Council dragging its feet on the referendum and the Supreme Court striking down measures passed by the opposition-controlled parliament.
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| Thousands of seats empty as Sanchez double sends Arsenal 3rd Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:15 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Alexis Sanchez was surrounded by thousands of empty seats inside Emirates Stadium as he scored twice against West Bromwich Albion to ease Arsenal back into third place with a 2-0 win on Thursday.
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| Demetri Martin, police militarization doc win at Tribeca Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:06 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Demetri Martin's feature film debut "Dean," the police militarization documentary "Do Not Resist" and the Palestinian hip-hop drama "Junction 48" took top honors at the 15th Tribeca Film Festival. |
| So Yeon Ryu shoots 63 to take early lead in Swinging Skirts Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:04 PM PDT  DALY CITY, Calif. (AP) — So Yeon Ryu shot a tournament-record 9-under 63 on Thursday to take the early first-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
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| American Lynden Gooch signs new 3-year with Sunderland Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:02 PM PDT American forward Lynden Gooch has signed a new three-year contract with Sunderland. |
| VW forges U.S. deal arising from diesel emissions scandal Posted: 21 Apr 2016 03:00 PM PDT  By Alexandria Sage and David Shepardson SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG, driving to move beyond a scandal that has disrupted its global business and sullied its reputation, announced a sweeping U.S. deal on Thursday to buy back or potentially fix about a half million polluting diesel cars and set up environmental and consumer compensation funds. The settlement, which sources and analysts said could cost VW at least $10 billion, is not likely to end the Dieselgate controversy that began last September when the world's No. 2 automaker admitted using sophisticated secret software in its cars to cheat exhaust emissions tests. Despite the potentially big price tag, Volkswagen shares rose 6 percent on Thursday after rising nearly 7 percent on Wednesday on news of the agreement, which must be finalized by June 21.
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