| Taliban bomber kills four Americans at NATO base in Afghanistan Posted: 12 Nov 2016 09:07 AM PST  By Mirwais Harooni KABUL (Reuters) - A Taliban suicide bomber dressed as a laborer blew himself up at the NATO air base at Bagram north of the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, killing four Americans and wounding at least 17 people in one of the bloodiest attacks against U.S. forces since President Barack Obama took office. Two U.S. military service members and two U.S. contractors were killed, and 16 other U.S. service members were wounded, along with a Polish soldier who was part of the NATO mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. soldiers in the country since a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed six American troops on patrol near Bagram in December 2015.
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| Iraqi army says advances in Mosul, despite suicide bombers Posted: 12 Nov 2016 08:41 AM PST  Iraqi special forces backed by U.S. and Iraqi air power took control of two districts of eastern Mosul on Saturday after heavy fighting in which they destroyed at least 10 cars deployed by Islamic State as suicide bombs, the military said. Iraqi troops have been fighting for 10 days inside eastern Mosul, trying to expand their small foothold in the city which Islamic State has controlled since mid-2014, when its leader declared a caliphate in parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria. The nearly four-week campaign to drive Islamic State out of the biggest city under its control in either country has brought together an alliance of 100,000 Iraqi fighters, also backed by thousands of Western personnel on the ground.
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| South Korea's Park faces calls to resign at huge protest rally Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:40 PM PST  By Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting pressure to step down on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched in the capital to protest allegations that she let a friend meddle in state affairs. Students, families including young couples pushing strollers and protesters in wheelchairs were among the crowd during the largely peaceful march, which contrasted with the violence of some previous rallies dominated by militant unions and civic groups that clashed with police. "Park Geun-hye! Today! Step down! Immediately! Step down! Now!" protesters chanted a few hundred meters (yards) from the presidential Blue House.
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| Blast at Pakistan shrine kills 52, wounds scores Posted: 12 Nov 2016 01:35 PM PST  By Gul Yousafzai QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - An explosion claimed by militant group Islamic State ripped through a Muslim shrine in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least 52 people and wounding scores, officials said. The blast at the Shah Noorani shrine occurred while hundreds of people were inside, local district commissioner Hashim Ghalzai told Reuters. Provincial Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said 52 people were killed and that more than 105, including many women and children, were wounded.
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| Islamic State victims suffer as evidence of chemical attacks grows Posted: 12 Nov 2016 08:53 AM PST  By John Davison QAYYARA, Iraq (Reuters) - The skin on five-year-old Doaa's legs, arms and neck is blackened and hard even weeks after the attack. Doaa was playing in the courtyard when a rocket fired by Islamic State landed and exploded in the neighbor's garden, emitting a toxic gas, her father Abdallah Sultan and other residents said. Part of the rocket, which the families avoid touching, is left on the ground.
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| Sting reopens Paris' Bataclan hall on anniversary of militant attack Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:33 PM PST  By Elizabeth Pineau PARIS (Reuters) - Rock star Sting headlined a concert in Paris' Bataclan music hall on Saturday to mark the venue's reopening a year after three Islamist militants gunned down 90 revelers in France's bloodiest terror attack. Sting, who fronted the hit pop band The Police before a long solo career, opened the emotionally charged gig with a minute's silence, telling the crowd: "We will not forget them." "Tonight we have two tasks to achieve: first to remember those who lost their lives in the attack, and then to celebrate life and music in this historic place," the performer said. In coordinated strikes that night, other gunmen and suicide bombers targeted a soccer stadium and several cafes in Paris.
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| US to resettle Australia's refugees languishing on islands Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:39 PM PST CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Officials say the United States has agreed to resettle an unspecified number of refugees languishing in Pacific island camps in a deal that is expected to inspire more asylum seekers to attempt to reach Australia by boat. |
| Howley hails 'restored pride' as Welsh edge Pumas Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:38 PM PST  Interim coach Rob Howley insists Wales "restored pride" with their 24-20 victory over Argentina in Cardiff, a week after their 32-8 mauling at the hands of Australia. Liam Williams and Gareth Davies scored second-half tries as Wales dominated possession with a rejuvenated display following their heavy home defeat to the Wallabies.
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| Jones demands more despite England's perfect 10 against Springboks Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:36 PM PST  Saturday's 37-21 victory over South Africa at Twickenham came just after a year since a World Cup where the tournament hosts failed to get out of the group stage. The improvement has been significant, with Jones guiding England to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 3-0 series win in Australia this year.
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| Colombia's government, rebels sign modified peace agreement Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:31 PM PST  HAVANA (AP) — Colombia's government and its largest rebel group signed a new, modified peace accord on Saturday following the surprise rejection of an earlier deal by voters in a referendum.
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| Top Asian News 1:24 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:24 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he will continue his efforts to implement the Paris Agreement on global warming until the day President Barack Obama leaves office on Jan. 20. Speaking in New Zealand following a trip to Antarctica, Kerry said his administration would continue to do everything possible to meet its responsibility to future generations. Kerry has long championed climate action but now his legacy is under threat. President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax and said he would "cancel" U.S. involvement in the landmark Paris deal. Under the deal, which came into force this month, countries have agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. |
| Australia, U.S. announce refugee resettlement deal Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:16 PM PST Australia has reached a resettlement deal with the United States for refugees being held in Papua New Guinea and Nauru after attempting to reach Australia by boat, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Sunday. Under Australia's tough border security laws, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat are sent for processing at detention camps on Papua New Guinea's Manus island and the tiny South Pacific island nation of Nauru. |
| Goydos leads Montgomerie in PGA Tour Champions finale Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:15 PM PST SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Paul Goydos shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions' season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. |
| Heavy security as Sting reopens Bataclan after Paris attacks Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:06 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — French security turned out in force Saturday night ahead of a concert by British pop legend Sting marking the reopening of the Bataclan concert hall one year after suicidal jihadis turned the famed Paris site into a bloodbath.
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| Luis Ortiz beats Malik Scott on points for heavyweight belt Posted: 12 Nov 2016 05:02 PM PST MONACO (AP) — Cuban boxer Luis Ortiz easily beat Malik Scott for the vacant WBA intercontinental heavyweight title on Saturday. |
| French PM says state of emergency likely to be extended Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:57 PM PST  French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Sunday that the country's state of emergency, imposed after last year's Paris attacks, will likely be extended as France gears up for presidential elections. "It is difficult today to end the state of emergency," Valls told BBC television as France marked exactly one year since the November 13, 2015 jihadist attacks that left 130 people dead.
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| Colombia, rebels say have agreed revised peace deal Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:55 PM PST  By Nelson Acosta and Julia Symmes Cobb HAVANA/BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist guerillas said on Saturday they agreed on a revised peace deal to end a 52-year war, six weeks after the original was narrowly rejected in a referendum amid objections it was too favorable to the rebels. The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have been holding talks in Havana for four years, said in a joint statement they had incorporated proposals from various groups in the new deal. "We call upon all Colombia and the international community... to back this new accord and its quick implementation so as to leave the tragedy of war in the past," the statement read.
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| Abe aims to underscore importance of Japan-U.S. alliance with Trump Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:46 PM PST  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aims to underscore the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance when he meets President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday. "This is going to be an important meeting to build trust," Kishida told public broadcaster NHK. "We also would like to use this opportunity to input the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance, as well." Abe is to meet Trump in New York on his way to an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru.
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| Britain's Brexit firebrand Farage meets Trump in New York Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:43 PM PST  By Daniel Wallis NEW YORK (Reuters) - Leading Brexit campaigner and UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage visited U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his home in New York City on Saturday and a Trump aide said the pair had a "very productive" meeting. "We're just tourists!" Farage joked with reporters after he was seen waiting for an elevator in the skyscraper's lobby. In brief comments later to reporters, Kellyanne Conway, manager of Trump's election campaign, confirmed the pair met while the president-elect was upstairs in the Trump Tower, spending time with his family, receiving phone calls and visitors.
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| Spain & Italy roll, Ireland leads its WCup qualifying group Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:33 PM PST  Former champions Spain and Italy eased to comfortable 4-0 wins over weak opponents in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup on Saturday.
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| Austin Ernst leads Lorena Ochoa Invitational Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:32 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Austin Ernst shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Saturday to take the third-round lead in the Citibanamex Lorena Ochoa Invitational. |
| Spain & Italy win to stay tied atop WCup qualifying group Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:26 PM PST  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — After missing out on the European Championship, forwards Victor "Vitolo" Machin and Andrea Belotti helped Spain and Italy move one step closer to World Cup qualification by leading their team's comfortable wins on Saturday.
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| FARC, Colombian govt strike new peace deal after referendum rejection Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:26 PM PST  Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels on Saturday announced a revised peace deal to end 52 years of armed conflict, after voters rejected a prior peace accord in a referendum. "We have reached a new final agreement to end the armed conflict, which incorporates changes, clarifications and some new contributions from various social groups, which we have gone through one by one," said a joint statement read out by diplomats from Cuba and Norway, the peace process guarantors. The United States hailed the agreement, and pledged continuing US support in implementing the peace agreement.
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| Mexico searches for missing priest in state where 2 killed Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:23 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in Mexico's Gulf coast state of Veracruz said Saturday they are searching for a priest who went missing earlier this week in the town of Catemaco. |
| NATO chief warns against 'going it alone' Posted: 12 Nov 2016 04:04 PM PST  NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg issued a stark warning that "going it alone is not an option", in a pointed article in Britain's Observer newspaper Sunday following Donald Trump's US election win. "We face the greatest challenges to our security in a generation," Stoltenberg wrote as he outlined NATO's strengths, amid concerns over the president-elect's position on the US-led alliance. Trump caused alarm during his election campaign when he suggested Washington would think twice about coming to the aid of an endangered NATO ally if it had not paid its dues, casting doubt on the alliance's core collective defence commitment.
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| Colombia, rebels say have agreed new peace deal Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:55 PM PST  HAVANA/BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist guerillas said on Saturday they have agreed on a new peace deal to end their 52-year war, six weeks after the original one was narrowly rejected in a referendum for being too lenient on the rebels. The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have been holding talks in Havana for four years, said they had incorporated the proposals of various sectors of society into the new accord. "We call upon all Colombia and the international community....to back this new accord and its quick implementation so as to leave the tragedy of war in the past," the statement read.
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| Venezuela government, opposition reach tentative deals in dialogue Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:53 PM PST  Venezuela's government and opposition on Saturday reached tentative deals in the areas of elections and foreign aid as part of a Vatican-backed dialogue process, though the agreements fell far short of initial opposition demands. Allies of President Nicolas Maduro will consider letting foreign donors provide food and medicine to the crisis-hit country and work toward naming new directors to the national elections authority, which the opposition says favors Maduro. "We agree to promote respectful political action," said ruling Socialist Party Director Jorge Rodriguez, reading from a conciliatory joint statement agreed to by both sides.
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| U.S. regulator has opened Audi investigation: Bild am Sonntag Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:49 PM PST  A U.S. government regulator has started investigating Volkswagen's Audi brand over a reported discovery of a new cheat software device at the luxury carmaker, Bild am Sonntag reported, without citing the source of the information. The German weekly paper said a week ago that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had this summer discovered cheating software in an automatic transmission Audi which is unrelated to the device that triggered last year's diesel emissions test-cheating scandal at parent VW. The software in CARB's discovery lowered carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by detecting whether a car's steering wheel was turned as it would be when driving on a road, Bild had said.
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| World champion Javier Fernandez wins Trophee de France Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:31 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — World champion Javier Fernandez landed three quads to post his second win of the season at the Trophee de France and qualify for the Grand Prix Final on Saturday.
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| Venezuela's government, opposition reach initial agreements Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:08 PM PST  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government and opposition announced on Saturday some preliminary agreements to try to pull the country from its deep political and economic crisis, but a definitive solution has not yet been found and talks will continue.
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| Bataclan bars Eagles of Death Metal from reopening show Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:05 PM PST  Members of Eagles of Death Metal, the US group who were playing when jihadists attacked Paris' Bataclan concert hall last year, were turned away from the venue's reopening show Saturday over controversial remarks by their lead singer. "They came, I threw them out -- there are things you can't forgive," Bataclan co-director Jules Frutos told AFP, as Sting was wrapping up an emotional reopening show to mark a year since 90 people were massacred there during a gig by the Californian band. Eagles frontman Jesse Hughes -- one of the two band members denied entry to the Sting concert -- caused dismay in France earlier this year by suggesting Muslim staff at the Bataclan were involved in the gun and suicide bomb attack there on November 13, 2015.
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| Gary Woodland maintains OHL Classic lead in Mexico Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:04 PM PST PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Gary Woodland took a one-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba after dropping two strokes on the par-3 15th Saturday. |
| Trump and his aides plan next moves as protests spread Posted: 12 Nov 2016 03:02 PM PST  President-elect Donald Trump huddled with advisers inside his Manhattan residence Saturday, plotting his next moves as thousands of demonstrators besieged Trump Tower and marched through other US cities in a fourth day of protests. "He's receiving many visitors" and also spending time with his family, Conway said.
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| Britain's UKIP leader Farage meets Donald Trump in New York Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:55 PM PST Leading Brexit campaigner and UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage visited U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his home in New York City on Saturday and a Trump aide said the pair had a "very productive" meeting. "We're just tourists!" Farage joked with reporters after he was seen waiting for an elevator in the skyscraper's lobby. In brief comments later to reporters, Kellyanne Conway, manager of Trump's election campaign, confirmed the pair met while the president-elect was upstairs in the Trump Tower, enjoying time with his family, receiving phone calls and visitors. |
| Venezuela govt, opposition vow to find peaceful way out of crisis Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:52 PM PST  Venezuela's embattled government and the opposition committed themselves Saturday to seeking a peaceful, democratic way out of a deepening crisis that has led to food shortages and sky-high inflation. Opposition MUD coalition leader Jesus Torrealba has warned his side would seek early elections if President Nicolas Maduro keeps refusing a referendum, as he has vowed. Under constitutional rules, the opposition must secure a referendum before January 10 if it wants to remove Maduro.
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| Peru ex-president Humala ensnared in money laundering case Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:51 PM PST  A Peruvian judge has ordered former president Ollanta Humala to report to court every 30 days as a money laundering case in which he is a defendant is litigated. Judge Richard Concepcion's ruling late Friday also states that the ex-president cannot change addresses and must post a $15,000 bail. Prosecutors fear that Humala -- whose five year presidency ended in July -- might flee the country as the case winds through the courts.
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| Thousands rally, march in nationwide anti-Trump protests Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:41 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands took to the streets Saturday across the United States as demonstrations against President-elect Donald Trump continued in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and beyond.
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| Turkish opposition newspaper chief kept in custody Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:36 PM PST  An Istanbul court on Saturday remanded the board chairman of opposition Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet in custody, a day after he was detained, state-run news agency Anadolu said. Akin Atalay was apprehended at Istanbul's main international airport Friday, the latest move in an intensifying crackdown on the daily that has alarmed Turkey's European allies. Nine of the newspaper's staff were arrested last week including its editor in chief, as concern swells at home and abroad over media freedom in Turkey in the wake of July's failed military coup.
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| Ireland tops WCup qualifying group after win in Austria Posted: 12 Nov 2016 02:27 PM PST  Ireland seized control of its World Cup qualifying group on Saturday, beating Austria 1-0 away then seeing rivals Wales and Serbia share the points after a dramatic end to their 1-1 draw in Cardiff.
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