| Ivory Coast defence minister, others freed by mutinying soldiers Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:15 PM PST  By Ange Aboa BOUAKE, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Rogue soldiers allowed Ivory Coast's defence minister and dozens of others to leave a house where they had been trapped on Saturday when some mutineers appeared to reject aspects of a deal intended to end a two-day revolt, a Reuters witness said. It remained unclear, however, whether the disgruntled soldiers - most of them former rebel fighters now integrated into the army - would honour the agreement announced by President Alassane Ouattara just hours earlier. The mutiny began early on Friday when the soldiers seized Bouake, Ivory Coast's second largest city.
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| Iraqi forces close in on Tigris in Islamic State stronghold Mosul Posted: 07 Jan 2017 09:07 AM PST  By Stephen Kalin and Ahmed Rasheed MOSUL, Iraq/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi special forces closed in on the Tigris river that runs through central Mosul on Saturday, advancing in parallel with other troops and forcing Islamic State to retreat in its last major stronghold in the country. Islamic State has been driven out of more than half the areas it held east of the Tigris river, which bisects the city, but is still in control of the west. It will be harder for the jihadists to defend Mosul once Iraqi forces reach the river.
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| U.S. official in Mexico shot in chest, in stable condition Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:07 PM PST A U.S. consular official in the Mexican city of Guadalajara was shot by a gunman but was in stable condition, Mexican authorities said on Saturday, prompting the FBI to offer a reward for information. The victim was gunned down on Friday evening in Mexico's second largest city, in the often violent western state of Jalisco, according to Mexico's Attorney General and the U.S. embassy. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of $20,000 for information that helps to identify the shooter. |
| Fuel truck blast kills dozens in north Syrian border town Posted: 07 Jan 2017 08:40 AM PST  A fuel truck exploded in the busy center of a rebel-held town near Syria's border with Turkey on Saturday, killing dozens of people and wounding dozens more, several sources said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 48 people, mostly civilians, were killed when the tanker blew up in front of a courthouse in the northern Syrian town of Azaz. Around 14 of the dead were rebel fighters or courthouse guards, it said.
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| Saudi prince readies strategy if clerics oppose reforms: report Posted: 07 Jan 2017 10:04 AM PST  The young prince leading Saudi Arabia's drive for economic reform has laid out a three-pronged strategy to avoid a backlash from any religious conservatives opposed to his plan, according to remarks reported by Foreign Affairs magazine on Saturday. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 31-year-old overseeing the kingdom's biggest-ever overhaul of state and society, told visiting researchers last month punitive measures would be considered for any clerics who incited or resorted to violence over the plan, one of the researchers wrote. Prince Mohammed said he believed only a small percentage of the kingdom's clerics were too dogmatic to be reasoned with, the journal reported, while more than half could be persuaded to support his reforms through engagement and dialogue.
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| Iraq says deal reached over Bashiqa, Turkey says issue will be solved Posted: 07 Jan 2017 11:47 AM PST  Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday an agreement had been reached with Turkey over an Iraqi demand that Turkish forces withdraw from the Bashiqa camp near Mosul in the north of the country, Iraqi state TV reported. Turkish forces have been stationed in Bashiqa since before a recent offensive against Islamic State in northern Iraq.
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| Trail Blazers-Pistons postponed because of winter storm Posted: 07 Jan 2017 05:27 PM PST  PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers' scheduled NBA game Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons was postponed till Sunday because of potentially severe weather conditions.
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| Kings beat Wild, Sabres down Jets Posted: 07 Jan 2017 05:10 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tanner Pearson tipped home Alec Martinez's pass for his 11th goal at 3:32 of overtime, sending the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in the NHL on Saturday.
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| Public areas of airports seen as most vulnerable to attack Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:58 PM PST  ATLANTA (AP) — In a post-9/11 world, American airports have taken all sorts of steps to keep travelers safe. But significant vulnerabilities remain.
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| For Nick Saban and Alabama, it all starts with the defense Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:56 PM PST  TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Nick Saban goes through an exhausting checklist when discussing what it takes to have the nation's best defense.
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| Wenger hails captain Giroud after new late show Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:52 PM PST  Arsene Wenger hailed the performance of stand-in Arsenal captain Olivier Giroud after his late goal sealed a 2-1 FA Cup third round win at Championship side Preston. The Gunners managed to complete a comeback victory to go with their remarkable 3-3 draw at Bournemouth earlier in the week, a game in which Giroud also scored a late, vital goal. There was also good news for another Arsenal forward, Danny Welbeck, who returned as a late substitute, his first competitive football in eight months after recovering from a knee ligament injury.
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| Portugal's democracy founder Mario Soares dies aged 92 Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:45 PM PST  Portugal's former president Mario Soares, widely seen as the father of the country's modern-day democracy, died Saturday aged 92 a fortnight after being admitted to hospital. The founder of Portugal's Socialist party, Soares spent decades in politics and spearheaded the country's entry into the European Union. Portugal declared three days of national mourning from Monday and his state funeral will be held Tuesday, the presidential office told AFP.
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| Top Asian News 12:33 a.m. GMT Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:33 PM PST BEIJING (AP) — An official with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team said Saturday that neither Trump nor transition officials would be meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who stopped in the U.S. during her trip to the Americas. Still, Tsai's trip will be scrutinized by Beijing for any signs that Trump's team will risk its ire by further engaging with the self-ruled island that China considers its territory. Tsai, who departed Taipei on Saturday, pledged to bolster Taiwan's international profile as she set off on a trip to reinforce relations with diplomatic allies in Central America, a task that has taken on new urgency as Beijing ramps up efforts to diplomatically isolate Taipei. |
| Thousands of Mexicans protest gasoline price hikes Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:26 PM PST  By Roberto Ramirez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexicans angry over a spike in gasoline prices took to the streets of Mexico City on Saturday after days of protests spurred looting in hundreds of stores, resulting in over a thousand arrests in Latin America's second-largest economy. Mexico's government hiked gasoline costs by 14 to 20 percent earlier this month, fueling outrage among Mexicans already facing rising inflation and adding to a long list of headaches besetting President Enrique Pena Nieto. The hike is part of a gradual, year-long price liberalization the Pena Nieto administration has promised to implement this year.
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| Airport gunman charged, US seeks death penalty Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:24 PM PST  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Iraq war veteran accused of killing five travelers and wounding six others at a busy international airport in Florida was charged Saturday and could face the death penalty if convicted.
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| US officials not ruling out terrorism in airport shooting Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:22 PM PST  US authorities are not ruling out "the terrorism angle" as a potential motive of the Iraq war veteran accused of killing five people at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, officials said Saturday. Esteban Santiago, 26, was charged in the shooting rampage Friday that also wounded six and sent thousands scrambling for safety before authorities shut down the airport in Florida, a major gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America. "We continue to look at all avenues and all motives for this horrific attack," said George Piro, the special agent in charge of Miami's FBI field office.
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| Mexicans march against gas price hike, little looting Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:18 PM PST  MEXICO CITY (AP) — A protest against Mexico's 20-percent gasoline price hike turned violent Saturday after a lone protester drove his truck into a line of police guarding a fuel distribution terminal in Baja California.
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| Brother of airport shooting suspect says US gov't failed him Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:15 PM PST  PENUELAS, Puerto Rico (AP) — The brother of a man accused of killing five people at a Florida airport questioned Saturday why his brother was allowed to keep his gun after U.S. authorities knew he'd become increasingly paranoid and was hearing voices.
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| French military to boost defenses against cyber attacks: minister Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:48 PM PST  France is no less vulnerable than the United States to cyber attacks from foreign countries and the French military will boost its resources to defend against them, the French defense minister said on Sunday. In an interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said there is a real risk of cyber attacks on French civil infrastructure such as water, electricity, telecommunications and transport, as well as against French democracy and the media. U.S. intelligence agencies said in a report released on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had directed a cyber campaign to help Republican Donald Trump's electoral chances by discrediting Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign.
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| Ivory Coast president says deal reached to end army mutiny Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:41 PM PST  ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast's president said a deal was reached Saturday to end a two-day army mutiny that renewed security concerns in the world's top cocoa producer and Africa's fastest-growing economy.
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| Mutinous soldiers free Ivory Coast defence minister Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:38 PM PST  Bouaké (Ivory Coast) (AFP) - Mutinous soldiers released Ivory Coast's Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi late Saturday after detaining him for two hours in a tense standoff over pay. President Alassane Ouattara had announced a deal to end the dispute Saturday evening following talks between Donwahi and the soldiers, who took control of Bouake early Friday. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, has been rocked by two days of unrest after soldiers seized control of Bouake's streets early Friday, firing rocket-launchers and terrifying residents, in a mutiny that spread to other cities including the economic capital Abidjan.
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| The Latest: US seeks death penalty in airport shooting Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:25 PM PST  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on Airport Shooting-Florida (all times local):
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| Ivory Coast mutineers free defense minister, others: witness Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:25 PM PST BOUAKE, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - Rogue soldiers allowed Ivory Coast's defense minister and dozens of others to leave a house where they had been trapped on Saturday when some mutineers appeared to reject aspects of a deal intended to end a two-day revolt, a Reuters witness said. Those inside the house in Bouake, the country's second largest city, included a government negotiating delegation as well as the soldiers' own representatives and journalists. The Reuters reporter said that Defense Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi was en route to the city's airport. ... |
| Mexico, US sign framework on electricity grid Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:18 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz was in Mexico Saturday to sign a framework agreement on principles aimed at building the kind of cross-border electricity market with Mexico that the United States already has with Canada. |
| Benfica extends its lead in Portugal as Porto falters Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:57 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Striker Jonas scored in his return from a long injury layoff to help Benfica defeat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-0 and extend its Portuguese league lead on Saturday. |
| Tonelli takes advantage of his chance with Napoli Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:45 PM PST  ROME (AP) — After sitting on the bench all season, Lorenzo Tonelli finally got a chance to play for Napoli on Saturday and he made quite an impact.
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| New PGA Tour commissioner looking for broader audience Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:33 PM PST KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — A week into his job as the fourth PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan is looking to broaden golf's appeal. |
| Draxler marks PSG debut with a goal in 7-0 French Cup win Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:19 PM PST  Germany winger Julian Draxler marked his Paris Saint-Germain debut with a fine goal as the French Cup holder thrashed Bastia 7-0 to reach the fourth round on Saturday.
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| ANC women's league wants Zuma ex-wife to lead party Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:17 PM PST  The powerful Women's League of South Africa's ruling ANC on Saturday chose outgoing African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as their candidate for party leader. Battle has been raging within the African National Congress (ANC) to succeed current leader and head of state Jacob Zuma. The next ANC head will be assured of becoming national president if the ruling party wins parliamentary elections in 2019.
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| Real Madrid matches Barcelona's record of 39 unbeaten games Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:14 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid tied Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten in all competitions by crushing Granada 5-0 in La Liga on Saturday.
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| Brazilian official resigns after celebrating inmate deaths Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:58 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Brazilian government's national secretary of youth has resigned after celebrating the deaths of inmates killed in prison uprisings. |
| Chilean senator named presidential candidate of center-left party Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:37 PM PST  By Antonio De la Jara SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chilean journalist-turned senator Alejandro Guillier accepted the presidential nomination of the center-left Radical Party on Saturday with promises to deepen education reforms and revamp the private pension system. Guillier, an independent anti-establishment senator who was little known nationally a year ago, has risen rapidly in opinion polls to become a favorite in the November presidential election alongside center-right ex-president Sebastian Pinera. The Radical Party's nomination of Guillier bolsters his chances of becoming the center-left ruling coalition New Majority's candidate.
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| Gunman shoots, wounds US consular official in Mexico Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:31 PM PST  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican prosecutors said Saturday they are searching for a gunman who opened fire on an official of the U.S. consulate in the western city of Guadalajara.
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| West Africa leaders to continue Gambia mediation: Liberia president Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:23 PM PST  By Kwasi Kpodo ACCRA (Reuters) - West African leaders are still pursuing mediation to ensure a peaceful transfer of power in Gambia where President Yahya Jammeh refused to accept defeat in an election last month, Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said on Saturday. Sirleaf told reporters after a meeting among regional leaders in Ghana's capital Accra that regional bloc ECOWAS did not yet intend to deploy its standby military force in Gambia. "We are committed to a peaceful mediation and a peaceful transfer of power in the Gambia ... we will continue to pursue that for now," Sirleaf, who chairs the 15-member body, said.
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| Zuma's ex-wife given boost in South Africa leadership race Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:19 PM PST  By Joe Brock JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The chances of South African President Jacob Zuma's ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, becoming the next leader of the African National Congress were given a boost on Saturday with the endorsement of the ruling party's women's division. The ANC will pick a new leader at a conference in December and, given its national dominance since coming to power at the end of apartheid in 1994, the winner is likely to go on to be South Africa's next president when elections are held in 2019. Dlamini-Zuma, the chairwoman of the African Union, is viewed as a frontrunner.
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| Djokovic ends Murray's 28-win streak in Qatar triumph Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:03 PM PST  Novak Djokovic brought world number one Andy Murray's 28-match winning streak to an end in Doha on Saturday to retain the Qatar Open title in a three-set thriller. Serb star Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a high-quality, action-packed match between the two best players in the world lasting almost three hours. It is Djokovic's 25th career victory over Murray and puts down an early-season marker against his great British rival, before the Australian Open later this month.
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| Massive tanker bomb kills 48 in Syria border town Posted: 07 Jan 2017 12:57 PM PST  A massive tanker truck bomb ripped through a market by a courthouse in the rebel-held Syrian town of Azaz on Saturday, killing 48 people and wounding dozens near the Turkish border. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least fourteen rebels were among the dead, but most of those killed were civilians, including five religious judges belonging to various rebel factions. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said identification of the dead was being hampered by the fact that some bodies were completely burned in the blast.
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| Alex Morgan fulfills European ambition by joining Lyon Posted: 07 Jan 2017 12:57 PM PST  It started with an audacious tweet from a long-serving French club president, and ended with American star Alex Morgan joining Lyon to fulfill her growing ambition of discovering European football.
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| Blast in Syrian town on Turkish border kills nearly 50 Posted: 07 Jan 2017 12:51 PM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — A car bomb ripped through a busy commercial district in a rebel-held Syrian town along the Turkish border Saturday, killing nearly 50 in a huge explosion that damaged buildings and left rescuers scrambling to find survivors amid the wreckage, opposition activists said.
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