| U.S., others agreed 'secret' exemptions for Iran after nuclear deal: think tank Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:17 PM PDT  By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its negotiating partners agreed "in secret" to allow Iran to evade some restrictions in last year's landmark nuclear agreement in order to meet the deadline for it to start getting relief from economic sanctions, according to a think tank report published on Thursday. The group's president David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and co-author of the report, declined to identify the officials, and Reuters could not independently verify the report's assertions. "The exemptions or loopholes are happening in secret, and it appears that they favor Iran," Albright said.
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| U.S. imposes sanctions on 'Putin's bridge' to Crimea Posted: 01 Sep 2016 11:45 AM PDT  By Jack Stubbs and Yeganeh Torbati MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Companies building a multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with annexed Crimea, a project close to the heart President Vladimir Putin, were targeted by the United States in an updated sanctions blacklist on Thursday. The U.S. Department of the Treasury added dozens of people and companies to the list, first introduced after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and expanded over its support for separatist rebels in the east of the country. As well as multiple subsidiaries of Russian gas giant Gazprom and 11 Crimean officials, the Treasury named seven companies directly involved in the construction of the 19 km (11.8 miles) road-and-rail connection across the Kerch Strait, dubbed "Putin's bridge" by some Russians.
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| Venezuelan opposition floods Caracas in vast anti-Maduro protest Posted: 01 Sep 2016 12:55 PM PDT  By Diego Oré and Brian Ellsworth CARACAS (Reuters) - Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro flooded Venezuela's capital on Thursday in one of the biggest mass protests against socialist rule for more than a decade. Dressed in white and chanting "this government will fall," hundreds of thousands rallied across Caracas to demand a recall referendum against Maduro and decry a deep economic crisis in the South American OPEC nation. The opposition Democratic Unity coalition estimated at least 1 million people took part after protesters streamed into Caracas from the Amazon jungle to the western Andes.
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| After sweeping into northern Syria, Turkey faces hard choices Posted: 01 Sep 2016 10:22 AM PDT  By David Dolan JARABLUS, Syria (Reuters) - Flashing victory signs and firing in the air, the young rebels who took this Syrian town from Islamic State a week ago may be jubilant, but their ability to hold territory will hinge on Turkey's appetite for keeping its forces inside Syria. Sweeping in to Jarablus may have been the easy part. Backed by Turkish tanks, jets and special forces, Arab and Turkmen fighters under the loose banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) drove out Islamic State in a matter of hours last Wednesday.
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| U.S. troops in Iraq increasingly active as Mosul battle nears Posted: 01 Sep 2016 12:53 PM PDT  By Stephen Kalin GREAT ZAB RIVER, Iraq (Reuters) - Kurdish Peshmerga forces retook a swath of northern Iraq late last month from Islamic State and days later American forces appeared in the area, the latest sign of increasing U.S. military activity in the country. The U.S. troops, numbering about a dozen, were still there this week and spent Wednesday supervising Iraqi army engineers repairing a bridge to help local forces cross the Great Zab river in their push towards Mosul, the militants' de facto capital in Iraq which Baghdad wants to retake this year.
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| Germany, Italy, France to meet with Turkey on migrants: Merkel Posted: 01 Sep 2016 09:07 AM PDT  The leaders of Germany, France and Italy will discuss the migrant crisis with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a meeting of the G20 countries in China next week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. Turkey on Thursday said it would not implement an agreement with the European Union meant to stem the flow of illegal migrants and refugees if it does not get the visa-free travel to Europe for Turks that it has been promised. European officials, including Merkel, insist that Turkey can only get visa-free travel privileges if it fulfills all 72 conditions set as part of that agreement.
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| Migrant camp in Calais to be dismantled: French minister Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:15 PM PDT  The "Jungle" camp in the northern French town of Calais, home to thousands of migrants hoping to reach Britain, will be gradually dismantled, the country's interior minister vowed. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told a regional paper that he would press ahead with the closure "with the greatest determination", dismantling the site in stages while creating accommodation for thousands elsewhere in France "to unblock Calais". French authorities have made repeated efforts to shut down the camp, which authorities say is currently home to nearly 7,000 migrants -- a sharp increase in recent months.
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| Chella Choi leads LPGA Manulife Classic in Canada Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:12 PM PDT  CAMBRIDGE, Ontario (AP) — Chella Choi ended up on top of the LPGA Manulife Classic leaderboard Thursday at windy Whistle Bear when Belen Mozo unraveled with a closing triple bogey.
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| Russian athletes cannot compete as neutrals - IPC Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:12 PM PDT  Russian athletes seeking to take part individually in the Paralympic Games in order to sidestep a blanket ban will not be allowed to compete under a neutral banner, the International Paralympic Committee ruled. A statement from the IPC said more than 175 Russian athletes who had applied to compete individually would remain barred from the games, which open on September 7. The IPC on August 7 announced it was banning Russian competitors from the Paralympic Games following a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report which alleged a vast state-sponsored doping program.
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| Top Asian News 12:08 a.m. GMT Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:09 PM PDT HONG KONG (AP) — Two years after the end of chaotic pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a number of young activists who were politically awakened by the movement hope to keep its spirit alive by running for political office on Sunday. The young radicals hope to ride a rising tide of anti-Beijing sentiment and win seats on the Legislative Council. They're up against both formidable pro-Beijing parties and older pro-democracy ones. At stake is the power to keep the city's pro-Beijing leader and his government in check. The pro-democracy camp currently controls 27 of 70 seats, and must keep at least a third of the seats to retain to veto power. |
| Splintering factions add uncertainty to Hong Kong election Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:08 PM PDT  HONG KONG (AP) — Two years after the end of chaotic pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a number of young activists who were politically awakened by the movement hope to keep its spirit alive by running for political office on Sunday.
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| Pace bowlers Starc, Hazlewood won't play in South Africa Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:54 PM PDT  MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Cricket Australia says fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will be rested from the team's one-day international tour of South Africa.
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| 'Can't hear anything': As rain pelts Open roof, Murray wins Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:49 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — When heavy rain began pelting the closed roof atop Arthur Ashe Stadium, Andy Murray couldn't pick up the usual sounds of a tennis match.
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| Erdogan says Syrian Kurd militia not moved east of Euphrates despite claims Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:45 PM PDT  Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday dismissed claims that a Syrian Kurdish militia had retreated east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria following Turkish strikes against the group. "Right now, people say they have gone to the east but we say no, they haven't crossed," he said during a speech at Ankara's Esenboga airport, referring to the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which Ankara sees as a terror organisation linked to separatist rebels in southeast Turkey.
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| Global warming is key topic at Hawaii conservation congress Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:44 PM PDT  HONOLULU (AP) — The international community came together Thursday in Hawaii for 10 days of talks by leading academics, conservation groups and government officials to address the impacts of global warming, wildlife trafficking and environmental conservation.
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| Ex-Guantanamo detainee plans hunger strike in Uruguay Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:34 PM PDT  MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A resettled former Guantanamo detainee who alarmed some officials when he recently went missing for several weeks is planning a hunger strike to demand he be allowed to leave Uruguay, his liaison with the government said Thursday.
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| Death toll from birthday cake fire in N. France reaches 14 Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:29 PM PDT  The death toll from a fire in northern France this month, sparked by birthday cake candles, rose to 14 on Thursday after a young woman died in a Paris hospital, a family lawyer said. The fire quickly killed 13 people, most aged between 18 and 25, after it broke out during a birthday party on August 6 in the Au Cuba Libre bar in Rouen. "The family of Karima Ababsa is sad to announce the death of the young woman this afternoon after a month of suffering," lawyer Gerard Chemla said in a statement.
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| Gabriel Jesus, Neymar team up as Brazil beats Ecuador 3-0 Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:28 PM PDT  QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Gabriel Jesus scored twice and Neymar notched the other, giving Brazil a 3-0 victory over Ecuador on Thursday and making it a perfect start for new coach Tite in his first match in charge.
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| UAE surprises Japan, Australia beats Iraq in WCup qualifying Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:23 PM PDT  PERTH, Australia (AP) — The United Arab Emirates upset Japan 2-1 to pick up a valuable three points away and Australia scored twice in six minutes to hold off Iraq 2-0 to kick off the final round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup.
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| Hundreds detained, 3 dead in Gabon election protests Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:17 PM PDT  LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon's newly re-elected president sought to assert authority Thursday as the presidential guard attacked the opposition candidate's party headquarters amid fiery protests that have seen three killed, hundreds detained and the internet blocked.
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| In China's electric car boom, global automakers select different gear Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:13 PM PDT  By Jake Spring TIANJIN, China (Reuters) - By 2020, Beijing says automakers must meet tough new green standards to cut epic pollution in China's cities. As domestic firms bet heavily on electric cars to meet that goal, foreign peers are set to stay in a different, petrol-driven gear. In the latest sign of caution from global automakers in China, Germany's Audi last week unveiled a new factory for high-efficiency transmissions in Tianjin, to be used in petrol-powered cars.
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| Punishing months-long strike by Haiti doctors ends Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:03 PM PDT  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti's longest and most punishing strike by medical professionals officially came to an end Thursday with young doctors returning to their jobs at the nation's biggest hospital after a nearly five-month walkout.
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| Strong mag-7.1 quake strikes New Zealand but no major damage Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:02 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A strong magnitude-7.1 earthquake rattled the coast of New Zealand's North Island on Friday morning, triggering a small tsunami and shaking items from shelves but not causing any major damage or injuries. |
| Egyptian moms protest shortages of subsidized baby formula Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:01 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — With crying babies in their arms, dozens of Egyptian mothers rallied on Thursday on a major Cairo road, blocking traffic to denounce severe shortages of subsidized baby formula, a protest underscoring how austerity measures aimed at healing the country's ailing economy are hitting ordinary Egyptians hard. |
| Exclusive: U.S. set to approve sales of Boeing fighters to Qatar, Kuwait - sources Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:59 PM PDT  DOHA/BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States is poised to sell $7 billion worth of Boeing Co fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait after years of delays, and it may start notifying U.S. lawmakers as early as next week, four U.S.- and Gulf-based sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The sales had stalled amid concerns raised by Israel, Washington's closest Middle East ally, that equipment sent to equipment sent to Gulf Arab states would be used against it. U.S. officials have criticized Qatar for alleged ties to armed Islamist groups.
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| Erdogan says will not allow 'terror corridor' in northern Syria Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:57 PM PDT  Ankara (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday Turkey would not allow a Syrian Kurdish militia to create a "terror corridor" on its southern border with Syria.
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| Hurricane Hermine dampens Florida tourism on U.S. holiday weekend Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:56 PM PDT Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency, closing schools and government offices throughout much of the state as the storm barreled toward its northern Gulf Coast, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa. The hazardous weather is the latest blow to the state's tourism industry, weeks after Florida confirmed cases of the Zika virus on both coasts, which dented travel to the region from expectant mothers and others. Just one pair of guests were sticking out the storm at St. Petersburg's Beach Drive Inn, ahead of the weekend the marks the unofficial end of summer vacations, said innkeeper Jana Kelly. |
| UN Security Council deeply concerned by Gabon crisis Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:54 PM PDT  The UN Security Council is deeply concerned by the violence in Gabon following President Ali Bongo's narrow election victory and is calling for calm, the council president said Thursday. The council discussed the crisis at France's request and heard a report during a closed-door meeting from UN envoy for central Africa Abdoulaye Bathily, who is working to defuse tensions. Council members "called upon all candidates, their supporters, political parties and other actors to remain calm, refrain from violence or other provocations and to resolve any eventual disputes through established constitutional and legal mechanisms," said New Zealand's Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen, who holds the council presidency this month.
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| England's Peter Taylor to help coach New Zealand Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:50 PM PDT  Former England player and coach Peter Taylor is to join New Zealand's All Whites as a Europe-based assistant coach, New Zealand Football announced Friday. Taylor, who played four internationals for England in 1976 and was caretaker coach for one game in 2000, starred at Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.
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| Syria strikes kill 25 as another Damascus suburb surrenders Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:40 PM PDT  BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's government secured a deal to restore its authority over another rebellious Damascus suburb on Thursday while Syrian rebels captured new ground in a lightning advance on the central city of Hama and suspected government airstrikes killed 25 civilians in the surrounding province.
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| Turkey's president says more changes possible in cabinet Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:37 PM PDT  ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that there could be more changes in government after the resignation of the interior minister this week, but said he had not been informed of any specific moves by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Efkan Ala resigned as interior minister on Wednesday following a string of bombings that prompted public criticism and concerns about intelligence failures before a July failed coup. "Maybe, as time passes, you could see other similar changes in other ministries, but I have not heard it from the prime minister. ...
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| Where's Zika going next? Maybe China, India, or Nigeria Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:36 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Scientists trying to predict the future path of Zika say that 2.6 billion people living in parts of Asia and Africa could be at risk of infection, based on a new analysis of travel, climate and mosquito patterns in those regions.
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| 'Biggest demo in decades' pressures Venezuela president Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:33 PM PDT  Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have mobilized a million demonstrators Thursday in the biggest rally in decades, demanding a referendum on removing him from power. The leader of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable, Jesus Torrealba, told AFP it was the "biggest rally in recent decades" with "between 950,000 and 1.1 million people" taking part. The rallies come at a highly volatile time for Venezuela, where a plunge in prices for oil exports has caused shortages, violent crime and outbreaks of looting.
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| The Latest: UN Security Council to hold meeting on Syria Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:29 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on Syria's conflict (all times local): |
| Ex-soldiers sentenced for 1985 massacre of villagers in Peru Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:25 PM PDT  LIMA, Peru (AP) — A court in Peru has found a retired general and nine other former soldiers guilty of killing 71 peasant farmers in a counterinsurgency operation three decades ago.
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| Misery for Belgium's Martinez, Italy's Ventura in new jobs Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:19 PM PDT  Roberto Martinez's Belgium was booed off the pitch against Spain. Gian Piero Ventura watched Italy's error-prone defense gift goals to France.
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| 1 Syrian family, among 10,000 refugees, settles into US life Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:18 PM PDT  EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh took part in a ceremony Sunday in Amman, Jordan, to mark the United States taking in its goal of 10,000 Syrian refugees in a year-old resettlement program.
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| Hermine strengthens into hurricane, barrels toward Florida coast Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:17 PM PDT  By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Winds from strengthening Hurricane Hermine lashed at Florida's northern Gulf Coast late on Thursday, forcing residents to evacuate some coastal areas and stock up on provisions ahead of what the state's governor warned would be a lethal storm. Hermine, expected to be the first hurricane to make landfall in the state in more than a decade, also posed a Labor Day weekend threat to states along the northern Atlantic Coast that are home to tens of millions of people. On Thursday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center extended a tropical storm watch to Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
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| Campaigners blame Russia over cluster bomb use in Syria Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:14 PM PDT  Evidence is growing that Russia is behind a significant increase in the use of cluster bombs in Syria, campaigners said Thursday. A coalition of NGOs led by Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in an annual study that more than 400 people were killed or maimed by the banned munitions in the world last year. "Since Russia began its joint operation with Syrian forces at the end last September, we have seen an increase in the number of cluster munition attacks on opposition-held areas," Mary Wareham, HRW's arms advocacy director and editor of the report, told a press conference.
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