| Trump agrees to meet NATO leaders in Europe in May Posted: 05 Feb 2017 05:27 PM PST  By Steve Holland WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump agreed to meet alliance leaders in Europe in May in a phone call on Sunday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that also touched on the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, the White House said. Trump was elected on a pledge to push NATO members to increase their funding to the western alliance to ease the financial burden on the United States. This proposal has drawn opposition from both his fellow Republicans as well as Democrats and the idea has worried European allies who fear Russian President Vladimir Putin might take advantage.
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| France's Fillon under pressure to quit presidential bid as fake work row rages Posted: 05 Feb 2017 05:18 PM PST  By Richard Balmforth PARIS (Reuters) - France faces a week of political uncertainty with Francois Fillon, the rightwing presidential candidate, under mounting pressure to quit the race because of a fake-jobs-for-the-family scandal and divisions over whether, and how, to replace him. As Fillon's two closest rivals, the far-right's Marine Le Pen and independent Emmanuel Macron, began vigorously campaigning, the former prime minister appeared to believe he could ride out the storm engulfing his faltering campaign. Fillon said he would fight to the end to defend his position as the party's nominee.
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| Germany's Gabriel reassured on U.S. policy after Washington trip Posted: 05 Feb 2017 12:38 PM PST  German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday he was reassured after meetings last week with top U.S. officials that the United States was committed to a united Europe and to the NATO alliance. U.S. President Donald Trump described NATO as "obsolete" prior to taking office and has also suggested others follow Britain out of the European Union, which he has called "a vehicle for Germany". "We have all been unsettled by various statements by the new U.S. administration," Gabriel, who met U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week, told German broadcaster ARD.
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| Pentagon failed to disclose up to thousands of air strikes: report Posted: 05 Feb 2017 05:13 PM PST  The Pentagon has failed to disclose up to thousands of air strikes the U.S. military carried out over several years in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan against militants in those countries, the Military Times reported on Sunday. Last year, the United States carried out at least 456 air strikes in Afghanistan that were not documented in a U.S. Air Force database, the website reported. The air strikes were conducted by U.S. Army helicopters and drones.
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| U.S. coalition jets bomb Islamic State-held town near Euphrates Dam Posted: 05 Feb 2017 12:11 PM PST U.S-led coalition planes bombed an Islamic State-controlled town near the Euphrates Dam in northern Syria a day after the launch of a new phase of a campaign to capture the militants' defacto capital of Raqqa, activists and the militants said on Sunday. Activists confirmed reports released by the militants' news agency Amaq which said four raids in the last twenty four hours hit the town of Tabqa west of Raqqa, located near Syria's largest dam, at the southern end of Lake Assad on the Euphrates. Islamic State fighters are battling hard to keep the swathes of territory they have captured in Syria, mostly in the center and east, as they lose ground in Iraq. |
| Scotland needs own immigration deal within Brexit, committee says Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:43 PM PST  By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland depends on young migrants to expand its workforce and its population and should seek a tailor-made deal as part of Brexit to manage its own migration, a cross-party Scottish parliamentary committee said on Monday The committee looked at the economic impact of migration on Scotland and backed the stance of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is at odds with the London government over the shape of Britain once it leaves the European Union. Scotland, one of the United Kingdom's four nations, voted to keep EU membership while the UK as a whole voted to leave. The ruling Scottish National Party has warned that another secession vote has to be an option if its views are not respected.
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| Beijing vows 30 percent cut in coal use in 2017 to fight smog Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:51 PM PST  China's smog-hit capital Beijing plans to slash coal consumption by a further 30 percent in 2017 as part of its efforts to combat air pollution, the official Xinhua news agency said late on Sunday, citing the city's mayor. Beijing has promised to implement "extraordinary" measures this year in a bid to tackle choking smog from traffic congestion and the heavy use of coal. "We will try to basically realize zero coal use in six major districts and in Beijing's southern plain areas this year," major Cai Qi was quoted as saying, adding that Beijing would also eliminate small coal-fired boilers.
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| At least 16 killed, 34 injured in Honduras bus crash Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:44 PM PST TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - At least 16 people died and 34 were injured in Honduras on Sunday, in a crash between a bus and a truck on the outskirts of the capital, officials said. The crash took place about 10 kilometers outside the capital Tegucigalpa on a road heading to the south of the country, said police transport deputy inspector Carlos Espana. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Bernard Orr) |
| Manchester United's Mourinho taunts Chelsea in style wars Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:43 PM PST  Jose Mourinho took a swipe at his old club Chelsea as the Manchester United boss accused the Premier League leaders of lacking style. Mourinho's side cruised to a 3-0 victory at Leicester on Sunday and he was quick to highlight the difference between the dominant United display and what he perceives as the more prosaic efforts of Antonio Conte's men. Frustrated by criticism of the cautious nature of his teams when he was in charge at Chelsea, Mourinho made it clear that he is unimpressed the way the Blues, currently nine points clear at the top, and also Tottenham and Liverpool, have been praised despite employing safety-first philosophies.
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| Britain advances in Davis Cup after Canadian default Posted: 05 Feb 2017 05:45 PM PST  Britain booked a Davis Cup quarter-final matchup against France in odd fashion after the decisive final singles match ended when Canada's Denis Shapovalov hit the umpire with a ball. The 17-year-old Israeli-born Canadian was defaulted on Sunday after hitting a ball into the face of chair umpire Arnaud Gabas, handing Britain's Kyle Edmund a 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 triumph that gave Britain a 3-2 victory in the first-round tie at Ottawa.
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| Truck and bus crash in Honduras, killing 16, injuring 34 Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:14 PM PST  TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — An out-of-control cargo truck crashed into a bus on a highway outside Honduras' capital Sunday, killing 16 people and injuring 34, authorities said.
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| Cameroon champion of Africa again, denies Egypt 8th title Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:08 PM PST  LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Cameroon rose again after years of underachievement to win the African Cup of Nations title on Sunday with a fabulous goal in the 89th minute of the final for a 2-1 come-from-behind victory against mighty Egypt.
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| Art star Anish Kapoor wins $1m Jewish prize Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:07 PM PST  Sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor was named on Monday as this year's winner of the million-dollar Genesis Prize, awarded for commitment to Israel and Judaism, organisers said. British-Indian Kapoor "is one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation", they said in a statement. "Kapoor will use this award, and the global platform provided by the Genesis Prize, to raise awareness of the plight of refugees in order to engage the Jewish community in a global effort to help alleviate the refugee crisis," it said.
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| The Latest: Brothers with 'canceled' stamp to arrive Monday Posted: 05 Feb 2017 04:02 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries (all times Eastern):
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| Juventus beats Inter 1-0, leads Serie A by 6 points Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:40 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — No team appears capable of stopping Juventus after the Bianconeri beat Inter Milan 1-0 Sunday in an entertaining Derby d'Italia in Serie A.
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| Cameroon victory secures Confederations Cup place Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:37 PM PST  Libreville (AFP) - Cameroon's victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday means they will be the continent's representative in the Confederations Cup in Russia later this year.
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| Venezuela rallies to beat Dominican in Caribbean Series Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:35 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Rene Reyes hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run rally with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and Venezuela beat the Dominican Republic 4-3 on Sunday in the Caribbean Series. |
| Trump under fire for saying he respects 'killer' Putin Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:22 PM PST  President Donald Trump is drawing fire from Republicans and Democrats alike after playing down political assassinations in Russia and Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Trump -- now two weeks into his four-year term -- showed no signs of yielding to demands from within his own Republican Party to distance himself from President Vladimir Putin's regime, instead plunging himself into a fresh political firestorm. Well, I respect a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with them," Trump said in an excerpt of an interview with Fox News's Bill O'Reilly that aired before the Super Bowl on Sunday.
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| Olympiakos beats Iraklis 3-0 to keep 13-point lead in Greece Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:10 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Defending champion Olympiakos beat Iraklis 3-0 Sunday in the Greek league to keep its 13-point lead over Panionios and PAOK. |
| Hundreds march in Quebec in tribute to mosque shooting victims Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:06 PM PST  Several hundred people braved snow and cold Sunday in Quebec City to honor the six men shot to death a week earlier while praying at a local mosque. "No to Islamophobia, Yes to Peace," "Open Your Heart" and "No to Terrorism" were the messages on some of the signs and banners carried by marchers, many of them Muslim. The victims included two Algerians, a Tunisian, a Moroccan and two Guineans, all holding Canadian citizenship as well.
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| Peru's Kuczynski says ex-president accused of bribery betrayed country Posted: 05 Feb 2017 03:01 PM PST  Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Sunday that ex-president Alejandro Toledo, accused of receiving millions in bribes from embattled construction firm Odebrecht S.A.[ODBES.UL], betrayed his country and must return to Peru to face justice. Prosecutors are preparing an arrest warrant for Toledo after discovering evidence that implicates him in $20 million in bribes that Brazil's Odebrecht has acknowledged distributing to win a contract during his 2001-2006 government. According to a source in Peru's prosecutor's office, authorities detected $11 million that was allegedly transferred to an associate of Toledo, leading investigators to raid Toledo's house in Lima on Saturday.
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| Scottish independence vote may be decided 'within weeks': Sturgeon ally Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:52 PM PST  A decision on calling a new Scottish independence referendum could be made within weeks, said a Scottish Greens lawmaker whose party is a key ally of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The timing of a potential new Scottish referendum - which polls say most Scots do not want - would be determined by the process of Britain's exit from the European Union, said Ross Greer, a lawmaker and a key campaigner in the 2014 vote in which Scots rejected independence by a 10-percentage-point margin. "We are working on a timescale now where Article 50 (which triggers Britain leaving the European Union) will be activated next month – that's the timescale when it will almost certainly become clear whether there's going to be a referendum or not.
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| Pierce makes emotional farewell Boston appearance Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:48 PM PST  Retiring NBA star Paul Pierce made an emotional farewell appearance in Boston on Sunday, sinking the final basket for the Los Angeles Clippers in their 107-102 loss to the Celtics. Pierce, a 10-time NBA All-Star, played 15 seasons for the Celtics and was the 2008 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in leading Boston to the title. The 39-year-old forward kissed the middle of the Boston Garden court before making a rare start for the Clippers, playing the first five minutes as the Celtics seized a 15-6 lead.
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| 2 Lyon players sent off at end as Saint-Etienne wins 2-0 Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:48 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Lyon paid dearly for poor defending as its hopes of catching the top three slipped further away following a 2-0 defeat at bitter rival Saint-Etienne on Sunday. |
| Aboubakar delivers Cup of Nations for Cameroon Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:34 PM PST  Vincent Aboubakar came off the bench to score a stunning winner with two minutes left as Cameroon fought back to beat Egypt 2-1 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday. Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny had given Egypt the lead midway through the first half and Egypt looked to be on course to win an unrivalled eighth Cup of Nations crown in their first appearance at the tournament since 2010.
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| Cuper sorry for letting Egyptians down in Cup final Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:24 PM PST  Egypt coach Hector Cuper was apologetic towards the supporters of his side after the Pharaohs threw away the lead to lose 2-1 to Cameroon in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final. Egypt had taken a first-half lead in Libreville through Mohamed Elneny but Cameroon levelled the scores in the second half when Nicolas Nkoulou headed in and Vincent Aboubakar then scored a dramatic winner with two minutes to go. The defeat was the latest in a long line of painful final defeats for Cuper in his career -- the Argentine had notably lost two UEFA Champions League finals with Valencia and a Cup Winners' Cup final with Mallorca in the past.
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| Cameroon victory 'a great beginning' - Broos Posted: 05 Feb 2017 02:20 PM PST  Cameroon coach Hugo Broos hailed his side's triumph against the odds at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday and declared his hope that it can herald a bright future for the country. Broos had to deal with a host of refusals from key players to accept call-ups for the Cup of Nations but a new squad defied expectations to reach the final, where they beat Egypt 2-1 in Libreville. "It's true that when I came to Cameroon nearly a year ago I found a group of players who were old, not motivated, so I had to change that," Broos said after the Indomitable Lions came from behind to beat Egypt with goals from Nicolas Nkoulou and Vincent Aboubakar.
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| Far-right hopeful: French election 'choice of civilization' Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:56 PM PST  LYON, France (AP) — French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen blasted the "two totalitarianisms" of globalization and Islamic fundamentalism Sunday in a speech formally launching her presidential campaign that hit all the right chords for her National Front party followers.
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| Benfica beats Nacional to stay ahead of Porto in Portugal Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:48 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Striker Jonas scored twice in the first half and forward Konstantinos Mitroglou added another in the second to help Benfica defeat Nacional 3-0 in the Portuguese league and take back the lead from FC Porto. |
| US completes 5-0 Davis Cup sweep of Switzerland Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:36 PM PST  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson won their singles matches Sunday to complete the United States' second straight Davis Cup sweep of Switzerland.
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| 'Half a million' attend Romania protests Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:35 PM PST  An esimated half-million Romanians took to the street in another night of protests Sunday, with many calling on the government to quit even after it scrapped the corruption legislation that sparked the week of public outrage. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu stood firm, however, saying his government, which has barely been in office a month, "has a responsibility to the people who voted for us" and would not resign. The last six nights of noisy protests thronging cities and towns around the country have been the biggest outpouring of public anger since the toppling and summary execution of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.
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| Louvre attack suspect refuses to talk during police grilling Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:19 PM PST  The suspected Louvre Museum attacker refused to talk to French police during two rounds of questioning on Sunday, a judicial source said. The attack was the latest in a string of assaults in France and thrust the issue of security back into the headlines three months ahead of the presidential election. Investigators questioned him twice at his hospital bed where he is receiving treatment after his condition improved but he "still refuses to speak", the judicial source said.
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| White House predicts courts will reinstate travel ban Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:03 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Rebuffed in its bid for a quick reversal, the White House said Sunday it expected the courts to reaffirm President Donald Trump's executive power and reinstate a ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.
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| At least 13 killed, over 30 injured in Honduras bus crash Posted: 05 Feb 2017 01:00 PM PST TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - At least 13 people died and more than 30 were injured in Honduras on Sunday, in a crash between a bus and a truck on the outskirts of the capital, officials said. The crash took place about 10 kilometers outside the capital Tegucigalpa on a road heading to the south of the country, said police transport deputy inspector Carlos Espana. He said 10 people died at the scene of the accident, while three more died from their injuries in a hospital. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Bernard Orr) |
| Nigeria's leader seeks extended medical leave, fanning ill health rumors Posted: 05 Feb 2017 12:57 PM PST  President Muhammadu Buhari asked parliament on Sunday to extend his medical leave, his office said in a statement, deepening suspicions among many Nigerians that his health is worse than officials are admitting publicly. The statement did not say how much extra time Buhari was seeking off. "President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors," Sunday's statement said.
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| Injured Kruis to miss entire Six Nations for England Posted: 05 Feb 2017 12:56 PM PST LONDON (AP) — England will be without George Kruis for the entire Six Nations after the lock was ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a knee injury. |
