| Rebel officials say Aleppo evacuation plan back on track Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:38 PM PST  By Laila Bassam, Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Tom Perry ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian opposition groups said an evacuation of rebel-held areas of Aleppo was back on track and expected to begin early on Thursday, but uncertainty persisted as a media outlet run by Lebanon's Hezbollah said truce talks faced "big complications". Such an exodus would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. An initial deal stalled on Wednesday, the planned evacuation failed to materialize and renewed fighting raged in the city.
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| Sovereignty not a 'bargaining chip': Chinese ambassador to U.S. Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:04 PM PST  In a veiled warning to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, China's ambassador to the United States on Wednesday said that China would never bargain with Washington over issues involving its national sovereignty or territorial integrity. Ambassador Cui Tiankai, speaking to executives of top U.S. companies, said Beijing and Washington needed to work to strengthen their relationship.
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| U.S. may target weapons seized by Islamic State in Palmyra Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:25 PM PST  By Phil Stewart and David Alexander WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of U.S. forces fighting Islamic State said on Wednesday the United States may target weapons seized by the group when it captured the Syrian city of Palmyra, adding the equipment posed a danger to the U.S.-led coalition in the region. Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend told a Pentagon video briefing that the weapons seized by Islamic State likely included armored vehicles, guns and possibly air defense equipment or other heavy weaponry.
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| Exclusive: China installs weapons systems on artificial islands - U.S. think tank Posted: 14 Dec 2016 01:34 PM PST  By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China appears to have installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarize the islands in the strategic trade route, where territory is claimed by several countries. AMTI said it had been tracking construction of hexagonal structures on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs in the Spratly Islands since June and July.
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| Abe, Putin to huddle at hot spring over Japan-Russia islands row Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:30 PM PST  By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at a hot spring resort on Thursday seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War Two. The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation but both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war. The two leaders will meet in Abe's home constituency in southwest Japan on Thursday and in Tokyo on Friday.
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| Trump Hotels pulls out of Rio hotel named in criminal probe Posted: 14 Dec 2016 10:46 AM PST  The Trump Organization Inc said on Wednesday it has pulled out of a hotel venture in Rio de Janeiro that is part of a criminal investigation in Brazil, with a Trump Hotels spokeswoman citing construction delays and differences in vision. The Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro, a beachfront property with 170 rooms near where the Olympic Park was located, was managed by the real estate company of President-elect Donald Trump, although no money from the Trump Organization was invested in the project. "Unfortunately, the developers of the Rio de Janeiro hotel are significantly behind on the completion of the property, and their vision for the hotel no longer aligns with the Trump Hotels brand," Jennifer Rodstrom, a spokesperson for Trump Hotels, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.
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| 'Iron Lady' Thatcher tops female power list ahead of Beyonce, Bridget Jones Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:14 PM PST  Late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, known as the "Iron Lady" for her steely resolve, topped a list of females who have had the biggest impact on women's lives over the past 70 years, the BBC said on Wednesday. Thatcher, who died in 2013, was Britain's first woman prime minister and also the country's longest-serving leader of the 20th century, governing from 1979 to 1990. Thatcher, who died in 2013, led the list of seven women compiled by BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" program for its 70th birthday, the broadcaster said on its website.
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| Brexit interim deal 'only if necessary': minister Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:57 PM PST  Britain's divorce from the European Union could be implemented gradually, but the terms of the break-up should be agreed within 18 months, Brexit minister David Davis said Wednesday. Finance Minister Philip Hammond has said a "transitional" arrangement could be "helpful" in cushioning the Brexit process, but Davis said it should only be used to smooth the application of a final agreement, not as a staging post in negotiations. Davis told parliament's Exiting the European Union Committee: "The British people want this done with some degree of expedition.
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| Britain's May to brief Brussels as EU prepares for Brexit talks Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:33 PM PST  By Alastair Macdonald and Elizabeth Piper BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will update Britain's partners in Brussels on Thursday on her plans to launch talks by March on quitting the EU, and they will settle their arrangements for the negotiations. May will join an EU summit starting after 12 p.m. (1100 GMT) to discuss issues from migration to the economy, security and building up defenses against Russia as Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House with an agenda many Europeans fear may dilute the historic U.S. military commitment to protect them from Moscow. Summit chair Donald Tusk said in a tweet that May will "update" the leaders "on Brexit preparations" before she leaves early in the evening to let the other 27 EU leaders agree their own strategy over dinner.
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| US citizen surrenders to face cyberattack charges in NYC Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:26 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. citizen living in Moscow was arrested Wednesday after he flew to the United States to surrender to face charges he stole contact information for over 100 million customers of U.S. financial institutions, brokerage firms and financial news publishers, authorities said. |
| Perfect 10: Fabregas earns Chelsea 10th straight win in EPL Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:25 PM PST  MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Used sparingly by Chelsea during its long run of victories, Cesc Fabregas is providing significant reminders of his enduring value to the English Premier League leaders.
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| China environment watchdogs to sever local government ties by year-end Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:24 PM PST China's environment impact assessment (EIA) agencies will sever all connections with local governments by year-end to avoid conflicts of interest and help bolster the environment ministry's battle against rampant air, water and soil pollution. Citing the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the official Xinhua news agency said late on Thursday that 337 EIA agencies had already been de-coupled from local government or been disbanded. Earlier this week, China punished nearly 700 officials for inadequately protecting the environment in the latest round of rolling inspections. |
| Football abuse hotline gets over 1,700 calls in three weeks Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:17 PM PST  A telephone hotline dedicated to helping those affected by historic sexual abuse in football has received more than 1,700 calls in three weeks, it was revealed on Thursday. The confidential number was set up by a child protection charity and the English Football Association after former player Andy Woodward told the Guardian newspaper about the abuse he suffered as a boy in Crewe's youth academy. Woodward's revelations prompted a huge response from victims with similar stories and 83 potential suspects have been identified at 98 clubs.
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| Jailed Mexican drug lord gets court order for blanket Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:10 PM PST  Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has felt so cold in his prison cell that he sought -- and won -- a court order to get an extra blanket. A judge in the northern state of Chihuahua ruled in Guzman's favor after he filed a complaint last week, one of his lawyers, Silvia Delgado, told AFP on Wednesday. "We were granted the (court order) because his individual rights were attacked.
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| West Ham beats Burnley 1-0 to end 6-game winless league run Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:07 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Mark Noble fired West Ham to a nervy but crucial 1-0 win over Burnley in the English Premier League on Wednesday following a run of six league games without a victory.
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| NZ to spend around $1.4 billion on rebuilding key transport links after quake Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:06 PM PST  By Charlotte Greenfield WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's government said on Thursday it would spend around NZ$2 billion ($1.42 billion) rebuilding road and railway links to the tourist resort of Kaikoura, after the South Island's main transport artery was wiped out in a deadly earthquake last month. Tour operators and hotels in Kaikoura have said they are struggling to survive as blocked roads keep would-be visitors from using the town of 2,000 as a base for trips to watch whales, dolphins and seals. The government plans to pass rules to speed up road repair, but it will still take 12 months to get limited access along the coastal road, transport minister Simon Bridges said in an emailed statement.
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| Brexit: Year's key political term enters Oxford dictionary Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:05 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Britain has yet to leave the European Union, but the term for its departure — Brexit — has earned a place in the Oxford English Dictionary.
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| EU parliament chief wants boosted role for MEPs in Brexit talks Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:56 PM PST  European Parliament head Martin Schulz demanded Wednesday that the role laid out for MEPs in the Brexit negotiations be beefed up, threatening otherwise to reject any resulting deal. If MEPs are indeed restricted to a less consequential part in the talks, the lawmakers could reject the final outcome of the negotiations. Doing so would result in "EU treaties simply ceasing to apply to the UK at the end of the two year period," which is the time limit set for the negotiations.
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| South Korea's powerful business lobby group dealt big blow by Park scandal Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:48 PM PST  By Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - Long the voice of the conglomerates that form the engine of South Korea's economy, the Federation of Korean Industries could become another casualty of the scandal that is poised to cost President Park Geun-hye her job, as key members flee. The FKI, whose board is made up of the chiefs of the country's conglomerates, or chaebol, has been the nexus for close ties between government and big business. It formed the two non-profit foundations, Mir and K-Sports, backing Park initiatives that are central to the current political crisis.
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| Factbox: The islands keeping Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:30 PM PST By Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Japan on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe aimed at improving ties, but both sides have scaled back expectations of major progress towards a peace treaty formally ending World War Two. Blocking the treaty is a territorial row involving four islands off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido that were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War Two. HISTORY The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kuriles in Russia, are called Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets in Japanese. |
| Tapestry from Hitler's Eagle's Nest returning to Germany Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:20 PM PST  DALLAS (AP) — Growing up, Cathy Hinz and her five siblings would run up and down the stairs at their Minneapolis home, one hand on the banister, the other skimming a memento hanging on the wall that their father had brought back after fighting in World War II: a 16th century tapestry that once graced Adolf Hitler's retreat perched high in the Bavarian Alps.
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| Suspended Venezuela tries to crash Mercosur trade bloc talks Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:18 PM PST  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Venezuela's foreign minister threatened to enter Argentina's foreign ministry through a window if necessary Wednesday, but she still didn't get into a meeting of South American countries that suspended her nation from the Mercosur trade bloc.
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| Rebel officials say Aleppo evacuation plan back on track Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:13 PM PST  By Laila Bassam, Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Tom Perry ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian opposition groups said an evacuation of rebel-held areas of Aleppo was back on track and expected to begin early on Thursday, but uncertainty persisted as a media outlet run by Lebanon's Hezbollah said truce talks faced "big complications". Such an exodus would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. An initial deal stalled on Wednesday, the planned evacuation failed to materialize and renewed fighting raged in the city.
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| Puerto Rico unveils population tracker on new govt website Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:12 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico has launched a U.S. Census-based statistics website that features a population tracker updated every minute using information from the local and federal governments as well as projections. |
| Eriksen double leads Tottenham to 3-0 win over Hull Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:10 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Christian Eriksen scored twice as Tottenham secured a much-needed 3-0 victory over Hull in the English Premier League on Wednesday.
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| Ibrahimovic strikes late for United to grab win at Palace Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:04 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic's enduring predatory instincts rescued Manchester United on Wednesday, seizing a late opportunity to secure a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace with his 13th goal of the season.
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| Man City beats Watford 2-0, brings some relief to Guardiola Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:03 PM PST  MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City lost midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to a serious knee injury in a 2-0 win over Watford in the English Premier League on Wednesday that brought mixed emotions for manager Pep Guardiola.
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| Kabul security gates in storage as Afghan officials trade accusations Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:01 PM PST By Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - A set of giant security gates financed by China and intended to protect Kabul from large bombs and drug smuggling lie stored in a warehouse more than five months after they arrived, while Afghan authorities bicker over who should install them. Intended for the four main entry points into Kabul, they have been delayed by infighting between departments and by a land dispute, underlining the difficulty of getting things done in a country where conflict and corruption have slowed progress. The hangar-style gates, each weighing around 30 tonnes, are to reinforce the so-called "Ring of Steel" that surrounds Kabul, a city of five million people already protected by blast walls, armed checkpoints and eye-in-the-sky surveillance cameras. |
| Cubs agree to $6 million, 1-year deal with Koji Uehara Posted: 14 Dec 2016 03:00 PM PST  CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs made another addition to their bullpen following the departure of Aroldis Chapman, agreeing to a $6 million, one-year contract with reliever Koji Uehara.
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| Syrian rebels say Aleppo deal back on track, but Hezbollah unit cites 'big complications' Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:59 PM PST AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Two Syrian rebel officials and a representative of pro-government forces said on Wednesday night that a ceasefire deal for Aleppo was back on track, but a unit run by Damascus's Iranian-backed ally Hezbollah denied that a deal had been done. Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, a military spokesman for the Nour al-Din al Zinki rebel group, told Reuters: "An agreement has been reached and within the coming hours its implementation will begin." An official in the pro-Damascus military alliance who declined to be named confirmed the truce deal was on, and said some 15,000 people would be evacuated from the villages of Foua and Kefraya, in return for the evacuation from Aleppo of "militants and their families and whoever wants to leave among civilians". |
| Syria rebels announce new evacuation deal for Aleppo Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:59 PM PST  Syrian rebels announced a new evacuation deal for Aleppo civilians and the injured on Wednesday, after shelling and air strikes sent terrified residents running through the city's streets. Under the initial plan, thousands of civilians and rebel fighters were due to evacuate early Wednesday the east of Syria's second city, scene of some of the worst violence in more than five years of war across the country.
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| Perfect 10 for Chelsea, Ibra rescues Man Utd Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:53 PM PST  Cesc Fabregas's goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Sunderland on Wednesday -- their 10th in succession -- as Antonio Conte's side surged six points clear at the Premier League summit. Fabregas, who came in for Nemanja Matic, curled in from Willian's 40th-minute cut-back to establish Chelsea's longest winning run within the same league campaign since 2005-06. "Today we didn't pay, but when you have the possibility to kill the game, you must kill the game," said Chelsea manager Conte.
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| Canada looks to export its private refugee sponsorship model Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:52 PM PST  Several nations gathered in Ottawa on Wednesday to explore importing Canada's unique refugee system that looks in part to private individuals, church groups and others to sponsor asylum seekers. Developed in the late 1970s, at the height of the boat-people crisis in Southeast Asia, the program has facilitated the resettlement of 288,000 refugees to Canada. Since November 2015, more than 13,000 Syrian refugees have also been resettled in Canada through private sponsorship.
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| Aleppo cease-fire unravels, raising specter of bloody end Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:51 PM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — A cease-fire to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians from the remaining opposition-held neighborhoods of Aleppo unraveled on Wednesday, once again raising the specter of a bloody end to the battle for Syria's largest city as residents reported the resumption of shelling and brutal bombing runs.
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| Trump meets Silicon Valley elite after mutual mistrust in campaign Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:51 PM PST  By Gina Cherelus and Dustin Volz NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump and some of Silicon Valley's most powerful executives met at his Manhattan tower on Wednesday, a summit convened to smooth over frictions after both sides made no secret of their disdain for each other during the election campaign. The meeting was expected to focus on economic issues and skirt the numerous disagreements the tech industry has with Trump - including on immigration, the trade relationship with China and digital privacy - in favor of a focus on shared priorities, sources said. "There's nobody like the people in this room, and anything we can do to help this go along we're going to do that for you," Trump told the executives gathered in a conference room on the 25th floor of Trump Tower.
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| California husband, wife charged in 2nd wife's murder Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:49 PM PST  VISALIA, Calif. (AP) — A husband and wife who married in Mexico in 2007 have been charged with murdering another woman who the man married in California so the man could get legal permission to stay in the U.S., authorities said Wednesday.
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| PSG gets back to form with 3-1 League Cup win against Lille Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:49 PM PST Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain ended a run of poor form with a 3-1 home win against Lille to qualify for the French League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. |
| Had a war like Syria's started in Europe, refugees would be treated better: Jordan's Prince Ali Posted: 14 Dec 2016 02:45 PM PST  By Nita Bhalla NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - If the war in Syria had taken place in Europe, the world would have reacted more quickly to foster peace and treated millions of refugees fleeing the protracted conflict more humanely, said Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein. Jordan has been overwhelmed by the influx of refugees since the conflict in neighboring Syria began almost six years ago. Around one-fifth of Jordan's 10 million population are Syrian refugees - making it the largest host of refugees per capita.
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