| U.S. to issue new Iran sanctions, opening shot in get-tough strategy: sources Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:31 PM PST  By Arshad Mohammed, Matt Spetalnick and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to impose new sanctions on multiple Iranian entities, seeking to ratchet up pressure on Tehran while crafting a broader strategy to counter what he sees as its destabilizing behavior, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. In the first tangible action against Iran since Trump took office on Jan. 20, the administration, on the same day he insisted that "nothing is off the table," prepared to roll out new measures against more than two dozen Iranian targets, the sources said. The new sanctions, which are being taken under existing executive orders covering terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, may mark the opening shot in a more aggressive policy against Iran that Trump promised during the 2016 presidential campaign, the sources, who had knowledge of the administration's plans, said.
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| U.S. warns North Korea of 'overwhelming' response if nuclear arms used Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:42 PM PST  By Phil Stewart SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned North Korea on Friday of an "effective and overwhelming" response if Pyongyang chose to use nuclear weapons, as he reassured Seoul of steadfast U.S. support at the end of a two-day visit. "Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said at South Korea's defense ministry.
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| McCain says Russia testing U.S. in Ukraine, urges Trump to hit back Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:41 PM PST  By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia is testing President Donald Trump with a surge of violence in eastern Ukraine and the U.S. president should give Ukraine the lethal aid it needs to defend against the attacks, Senator John McCain said in a letter to Trump on Thursday. Renewed violence flared this week between Moscow-backed rebels and Ukraine government forces that has caused the highest casualty rate since mid-December and cut off power and water to thousands of civilians on both sides of the frontline. "That this surge of attacks began the day after he talked with you by phone is a clear indication that Vladimir Putin is moving quickly to test you as commander in chief.
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| Tense call between Trump and Australian leader strains longtime ties Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:26 PM PST  By Jane Wardell and Roberta Rampton SYDNEY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. ties with staunch ally Australia became strained on Thursday after details about an acrimonious phone call between its leaders emerged and U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the two nations on refugee resettlement was "dumb." During a 25-minute phone call last Saturday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump accused Australia of trying to export the "next Boston bombers" under the agreement, the Washington Post reported. The Post, which cited unidentified senior U.S. officials, said that Trump abruptly ended the call and told Turnbull that it was the "worst call by far" he'd had with a foreign leader.
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| White House says Israeli settlement building may not help peace Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:30 PM PST  The Trump administration said on Thursday Israel's building of new settlements or expansion of existing ones in occupied territories may not be helpful in achieving peace with Palestinians, adopting a more measured tone than its previous pro-Israel announcements. In a statement issued two weeks before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit U.S. President Donald Trump, the White House said the administration "has not taken an official position on settlement activity." Trump, a Republican, has signaled he could be more accommodating toward settlement projects than his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama. The latest statement reflects slightly more nuanced language on how the new administration views settlement activity.
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| Romanian government stands ground as thousands protest in anti-graft backlash Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:21 PM PST  By Radu-Sorin Marinas and Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's government on Thursday rejected calls to withdraw a decree that critics say marks a major retreat on anti-corruption reforms, standing its ground as huge nationwide protests entered a third day. After 250,000 people took to the streets on Wednesday evening, cracks in government unity emerged Thursday morning with the resignation of a cabinet minister and a call from a vice-president of the ruling party for the decree to be rescinded. Riot police estimated some 80,000 people were gathered in front of the government's headquarters in Bucharest's biggest square.
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| Arena to experiment with more combinations against Jamaica Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:26 PM PST CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — After a dismal 0-0 tie against an inexperienced group of Serbians in his first game as U.S. coach in more than a decade, Bruce Arena gets one more look at the domestic part of his player pool when the Americans play Jamaica in an exhibition on Friday night ahead of the resumption of World Cup qualifying. |
| Six Nations champions England ready for France 'war' Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:26 PM PST  It was once billed as 'Le Crunch' but outspoken England coach Eddie Jones was ready for a rugby 'war' against France in the opening match of his Grand Slam champions' Six Nations title defence at Twickenham on Saturday. England, on a 14-match unbeaten run -- 13 of those wins since Australian coach Jones was installed after their lacklustre first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup -- will be firm favourites. "It's always a historic game, certainly there is history between France and England," said Jones.
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| N. Korea nuclear attack would trigger 'overwhelming' response: Mattis Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:18 PM PST  Seoul (AFP) - Any nuclear attack by North Korea on the US or its allies would trigger an "effective and overwhelming" response, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in Seoul on Friday.
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| Matt Kuchar shoots 7-under 64 to take Phoenix Open lead Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:10 PM PST  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matt Kuchar eagled the par-5 13th and added two late birdies and a big par save on the rowdy par-3 16th hole Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
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| AP Sources: US readies sanctions on Iran after missile test Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:08 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is preparing to levy new sanctions on Iran, U.S. officials said Thursday, in the first punitive action since the White House put Iran "on notice" after it test-fired a ballistic missile.
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| Israeli leader vows new settlement as outpost is dismantled Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:08 PM PST  AMONA, West Bank (AP) — Israel's prime minister vowed Thursday to establish the first new West Bank settlement in over two decades "as soon as possible," promising to make up for the court-ordered demolition of an illegal settler outpost.
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| 6 killed in Ukraine; Putin says Ukraine seeking US support Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:59 PM PST  AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — Salvos of artillery shook eastern Ukraine on Thursday, the fifth day of escalated fighting between government troops and Russia-backed separatist rebels. Two Ukrainian troops were killed overnight and 10 others wounded, the government said, while rebels said one of their fighters was killed.
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| Special prosecutors seek to search South Korean president's office: Yonhap Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:58 PM PST  Special prosecutors in South Korea plan to execute a search warrant on President Park Geun-hye's office on Friday, the Yonhap News Agency said, but a presidential Blue House official said they would not be allowed to carry out the search. Yonhap reported that the special prosecutor's office planned to carry out the search of Park's office at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Friday (0100 GMT) as part of its investigation into an influence-peddling scandal involving Park. An official at the Blue House told Reuters he was aware of the special prosecution officials heading towards the Blue House but said they would not be allowed to carry out a search, saying the law bars them from doing so.
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| Coal rule killed by U.S. Congress, others near chopping block Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:56 PM PST  By Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress moved swiftly on Thursday to undo Obama-era rules on the environment, corruption, labor and guns, with the Senate wiping from the books a rule aimed at reducing water pollution. By a vote of 54-45, the Senate approved a resolution already passed in the House of Representatives to kill the rule aimed at keeping pollutants out of streams in areas near mountaintop removal coal-mining sites. The resolution now goes to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it quickly.
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| US: Trump 'unbelievably disappointed' in Australia deal Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:52 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House deepened its condemnation of an Obama administration refugee deal with Australia Thursday, saying President Donald Trump was "unbelievably disappointed" in the agreement.
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| U.S. Ambassador to U.N. blames Russia for new violence in eastern Ukraine Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:49 PM PST U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blamed Russia on Thursday for the recent surge of violence in eastern Ukraine and warned Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia will not be lifted until Moscow returns Crimea to Kiev. "I consider it unfortunate on the occasion of my first appearance here I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia," Haley said, making her first public remarks inside the Security Council since being sworn in as the United States' representative to the United Nations last month. |
| Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:42 PM PST  By Isabel Coles RASHIDIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - His name was Ayman, but the couple who brought the boy home to their Iraqi village after buying him for $500 called him Ahmed. Islamic State militants had killed or enslaved Ayman's parents in their purge of the Yazidi religious minority to which he belongs, then sold the four-year-old to Umm and Abu Ahmed, who are Muslims. For the 18 months he lived with the couple, his relatives assumed he was dead, one of several thousand Yazidis who have been missing since the militants overran their homes in what the United Nations has called genocide.
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| Yemenis close NYC shops in protest of Trump travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:35 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of ethnic Yemeni business owners who operate New York City corner bodegas and neighborhood delis closed shop Thursday in protest of President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
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| In India's Punjab, jobless youth take a chance with anti-establishment party Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:34 PM PST  By Tommy Wilkes and Manoj Kumar TEONA, India (Reuters) - Twenty seven-year-old Rupinder Kaur Ruby is a political novice but her message is clear: jobs for young people. Grabbing the microphone, the law student tells a few hundred supporters in a dusty village square in the northwest Indian state of Punjab that the ruling parties have failed them. "Punjab is not in a good place.
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| Top Asian News 1:41 a.m. GMT Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:41 PM PST CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's prime minister insisted Thursday that a deal struck with the Obama administration that would allow mostly Muslim refugees rejected by Australia to be resettled in the United States was still on, despite President Donald Trump dubbing the agreement "dumb" and vowing to review it. The conflicting messages came hours after The Washington Post published a story detailing a tense exchange between Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during their first telephone call as national leaders. The newspaper reported that during the call, an angry Trump dubbed the agreement "the worst deal ever" and accused Turnbull of seeking to export the "next Boston bombers" — a reference to Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who were born in Kyrgyzstan and set off two bombs at the 2013 Boston marathon. |
| White House says new Israeli settlements 'may not be helpful' Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:30 PM PST  The White House said Thursday that building new Israeli settlements or expanding existing ones "may not be helpful" in securing Middle East peace. "While we don't believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful," said spokesman Sean Spicer. The statement is a break from Trump's previously full-throated defense of Israeli settlement building.
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| Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:30 PM PST By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump defended his order to temporarily bar entry to people from seven majority-Muslim nations, which has come under intense criticism at home and abroad, saying on Thursday it was crucial to ensuring religious freedom and tolerance in America. Trump, speaking at a prayer breakfast attended by politicians, faith leaders and guests including Jordan's King Abdullah, said he wanted to prevent a "beachhead of intolerance" from spreading in the United States. Trump's executive order a week ago put a 120-day halt on the U.S. refugee program, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and imposed a 90-day suspension on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. |
| Nobel Peace Laureates denounce Trump 'hate' speech Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:29 PM PST  Bogota (AFP) - Nobel Peace Prize winners condemned US President Donald Trump at a gathering on Thursday at which their host accused him of "a discourse of hate" against immigrants.
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| Australia ambassador meets with White House advisers: official Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:29 PM PST U.S. President Donald Trump's chief of staff Reince Priebus and top strategist Steve Bannon had a "productive meeting" with Australia's U.S. ambassador on Thursday, an official said, after relations between the two countries became strained over a tense call between their leaders. "Mr. Priebus and Mr. Bannon had a productive meeting with the Australian ambassador at the White House," the White House official said. "They conveyed the president's deep admiration for the Australian people." Washington's ties with its close ally became tense on Thursday over an acrimonious phone call between President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. |
| The Latest: Russia says Ukraine is seeking military victory Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:13 PM PST  AVDIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The latest on a resurgence of fighting in Ukraine (all times local):
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| Yemenis pray, protest in NY against Trump travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:05 PM PST  Hundreds of Yemeni and Muslim Americans bowed their heads in unison at outdoor prayers in New York on Thursday, closing grocery stores to protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban. Organizers said up to 1,000 Yemeni-owned grocery stores would close across New York's five boroughs from noon to 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Friday) to protest against the travel ban on immigrants from seven Muslim countries. Trump's explosive executive order came into effect last Friday, closing US borders to refugees for 120 days and to visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
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| U.S.'s Pence, German Foreign Minister agree on NATO's central security role: White House Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:04 PM PST  U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Thursday and agreed on NATO's central role in ensuring security in Europe and North America, the White House said on Thursday. Pence and Gabriel also reaffirmed that NATO allies needed to contribute "their fair share to our collective security," the White House said in a statement.
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| EU leaders in Malta, hoping to curb African migration Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:03 PM PST  By Alastair Macdonald and Gabriela Baczynska VALLETTA (Reuters) - European Union leaders meet on Malta on Friday to endorse plans they hope can forestall a new wave spring of migrants sailing for Italy from Africa, but aware that anarchy in Libya means any quick fix is a long shot. Theresa May will also attend, despite the prime minister's plan to start negotiations by next month to take the U.K. out of the EU -- a reminder that Britain, along with France, is one of the bloc's two main military powers and a key aid donor in Africa, and that Brussels will go on cooperating with London long after Brexit. May also has a chance to brief her 27 peers on her visit last week to new U.S. President Donald Trump, whose backing for Brexit, doubts on free trade, barring of refugees and warmth toward Russia all raise alarm in Europe.
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| Rebuilding shattered Aleppo will take billions - and peace Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:03 PM PST  ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Fighting has ended in Aleppo, and now talk is beginning to turn to the question of how to rebuild Syria's largest city, where entire blocks have been smashed to rubble in scenes reminiscent of World War II devastation. The task will take tens of billions of dollars.
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| White House says Israeli settlement construction may not be helpful to peace Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:56 PM PST The White House said on Thursday Israel's building of new settlements or expansion of existing ones in occupied territories may not be helpful to achieving peace with Palestinians. "While we don't believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal," the White House said in a statement. It said the Trump administration "has not taken an official position on settlement activity" and looks forward to discussions when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump later this month. |
| US airlines renew campaign to rein in Gulf carriers Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:55 PM PST DALLAS (AP) — Leaders of the three biggest U.S. airlines are seeking to meet with new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to revive their stalled complaint that rivals from the Middle East are getting unfair government subsidies. |
| Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:55 PM PST  By Isabel Coles RASHIDIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - His name was Ayman, but the couple who brought the boy home to their Iraqi village after buying him for $500 called him Ahmed. Islamic State militants had killed or enslaved Ayman's parents in their purge of the Yazidi religious minority to which he belongs, then sold the four-year-old to Umm and Abu Ahmed, who are Muslims. For the 18 months he lived with the couple, his relatives assumed he was dead, one of several thousand Yazidis who have been missing since the militants overran their homes in what the United Nations has called genocide.
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| The Latest: White House still assessing Israeli settlements Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:52 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST):
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| Former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne traded from Sky to Mystics Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:48 PM PST  Elena Delle Donne is headed to Washington in one of the biggest trades in the WNBA's history.
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| Trump lashes both friend and foe as Tillerson signs in Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:45 PM PST  Trump also returned to the charge against Iran, his spokesman insisting "nothing is off the table" when asked about options for a military response to Tehran's latest missile test. The White House is drawing up expanded sanctions against Iran, hours after National Security Adviser Michael Flynn put Tehran "on notice" over the missile and support for Yemeni rebels. Sources familiar with the planning told AFP the sanctions will likely be levied on individuals or entities linked to Iran's missile program and imposed under existing presidential powers.
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| Officials guarantee Zozulya's safety if he stays at Rayo Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:45 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Spanish soccer officials say they will guarantee the safety of Ukraine striker Roman Zozulya if he stays at second-division club Rayo Vallecano despite protests by fans who accused him of links to radical groups.
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| AP Sources: Bettman, Fehr, Bach to meet on NHL and Olympics Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:37 PM PST  The head of the International Olympic Committee is joining high-level talks over whether the world's best hockey players will participate when the South Korea Winter Olympics begin 12 months from now, two people familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press on Thursday.
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