Yahoo! News: World News

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• Meeting Israel's Netanyahu, Trump backs away from commitment to Palestinian state
• U.S. warns NATO - increase spending or we might 'moderate' support
• Thai forces besiege temple in standoff over monk
• Pence's mission in Europe: clarify Trump's foreign policy vision
• Exclusive: China 'Silk Road' project in Sri Lanka delayed as Beijing toughens stance
• Samsung chief arrives at prosecutor's office before arrest hearing
• Venezuela shuts off CNN in Spanish after criticizing story
• The Trump presidency on Feb 15 at 8:29 p.m. EST
• Top Asian News 1:29 a.m. GMT
• Cardinal sent to Guam to investigate sex abuse claims
• Trump calls on Venezuela to release jailed opposition leader Lopez
• Venezuela pulls Spanish-language CNN from air for 'distorting truth'
• Guatemala's indigenous seek recognition for justice system
• Australia's Catholic Church paid $213 million in abuse compensation, costs
• Bayern Munich routs Arsenal 5-1 to put foot in quarterfinals
• EPA staff told to prepare for Trump executive orders: sources
• Republican Senator Collins opposes Pruitt for U.S. EPA chief
• 2 Trump Cabinet secretaries to visit Mexico next week
• Japan's Sara Takanashi clinches World Cup ski jumping title
• Young beats Opelka in Memphis with Isner, Querrey up next
• Trump calls for release of Venezuela opposition leader
• Trump's secretary of state on the spot on 1st foreign trip
• 11 homes burned while hundreds evacuate New Zealand wildfire
• The Latest: Trump urges Venezuela to release Lopez
• Egypt brokers Libya peace roadmap, but key figures fail to meet
• Trump greets Netanyahu with smiles, handshakes and a jolt or two
• Bundesliga club Darmstadt invites Barack Obama to game
• Anti-Assad states to meet on Syria amid concerns over U.S. policy
• Trump greets Netanyahu with smiles, handshakes and a jolt or two
• Venezuela pulls Spanish-language CNN from air for 'distorting truth'
• Pentagon may recommend U.S. deploy combat troops in Syria: CNN
• Palestinians tell Trump they are still committed to two-state solution
• Netanyahu asks Trump to recognize Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
• Whitecaps acquire Montero on loan from Tianjin Teda
• Bruce Chen comes out of retirement to pitch for China in WBC
• Immigrant workers, families to protest by staying home
• Real Madrid rallies to beat Napoli 3-1 in Champions League

Meeting Israel's Netanyahu, Trump backs away from commitment to Palestinian state Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:34 PM PST By Luke Baker and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday dropped a U.S. commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the longstanding bedrock of Washington's Middle East policy, even as he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb settlement construction. In the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Trump's victory in the 2016 election, the Republican president backed away from a U.S. embrace of the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, upending a position taken by successive administrations and the international community. "I'm looking at two states and one state, and I like the one both parties like," Trump told a joint news conference with Netanyahu.

U.S. warns NATO - increase spending or we might 'moderate' support Posted: 15 Feb 2017 09:55 AM PST By Phil Stewart and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned NATO allies on Wednesday that they must honor military spending pledges to ensure the United States does not "moderate" support for the alliance. Jim Mattis, on his debut trip to Brussels as Pentagon chief, also accused some NATO members of ignoring threats, including from Russia. "America cannot care more for your children's future security than you do," Mattis said in a closed-door session with NATO defense ministers, according to prepared remarks provided to reporters.

Thai forces besiege temple in standoff over monk Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:36 PM PST By Aukkarapon Niyomyat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai forces surrounded the country's biggest Buddhist temple on Thursday and the junta leader declared he was imposing control after it failed to hand over an influential monk wanted for money laundering. With political parties and many activists silenced since a coup in 2014, the Dhammakaya Temple is a rare institution in defying the junta, which has so far trodden warily in confronting a religious group that claims millions of followers. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Article 44 of the constitution - a security measure dubbed "the dictator's law" by critics - was being used to impose control on the monastery because it had resisted law enforcement efforts.

Pence's mission in Europe: clarify Trump's foreign policy vision Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:20 PM PST By Roberta Rampton and Noah Barkin WASHINGTON/BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence heads to Europe this week to meet with allies seeking clarity on the Trump administration's foreign policy strategy and its stance toward Russia after the resignation of the top White House national security aide. Pence, who has hewn more closely to Republican orthodoxy than his boss President Donald Trump, will attend the Munich Security Conference this weekend and will visit Brussels.

Exclusive: China 'Silk Road' project in Sri Lanka delayed as Beijing toughens stance Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:10 PM PST By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - China will delay a planned $1.1 billion investment in a port on its modern-day "Silk Road" until Sri Lanka clears legal and political obstacles to a related project, sources familiar with the talks said, piling more pressure on the island nation. Heavily indebted Sri Lanka needs the money, but payment for China's interests in Hambantota port could be delayed by several weeks or months, the sources added. After signing an agreement last December, state-run China Merchants Port Holdings had been expected to buy an 80 percent stake in the southern port before an initial target date of Jan. 7.

Samsung chief arrives at prosecutor's office before arrest hearing Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:03 PM PST Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee appeared at South Korea's special prosecutor's office on Thursday before a court hearing that will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant over his role in a corruption scandal that has engulfed President Park Geun-hye. South Korea's special prosecutor's office said on Wednesday it had expanded charges against Lee to include hiding the proceeds of a criminal act, as well as bribery, embezzlement, hiding assets overseas and perjury. Prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for Lee for the second time in a month.

Venezuela shuts off CNN in Spanish after criticizing story Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:34 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government pulled CNN in Spanish from the nation's airwaves on Wednesday, shutting off the news channel after officials angrily criticized a report alleging the country's diplomats sold passports to members of a Middle East terror group.

The Trump presidency on Feb 15 at 8:29 p.m. EST Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:34 PM PST (Reuters) - Highlights of the day for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday: RUSSIA A crisis over the relationship between Trump's aides and Russia deepens as a growing number of Trump's fellow Republicans demand expanded congressional inquiries into the matter. The Trump administration offers the job of national security adviser to U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Harward, sources say, but it is not clear if he accepted.

Top Asian News 1:29 a.m. GMT Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:29 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian police arrested a woman Wednesday in the apparent assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean leader's exiled half brother who South Korean spies say once begged his sibling to spare his life. The astonishing killing, which reportedly came at the hands of two female assassins, set off waves of speculation over whether North Korea had dispatched a hit squad to kill a man known for his drinking, gambling and complicated family life. Kim Jong Nam, who was 45 or 46, was estranged from his younger brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and had been living abroad for years.

Cardinal sent to Guam to investigate sex abuse claims Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:29 PM PST VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has sent conservative Cardinal Raymond Burke to the Pacific island of Guam to investigate an important case alleging sexual abuse, dispatching a seasoned jurist who has clashed repeatedly with Pope Francis for a sensitive mission halfway around the world.

Trump calls on Venezuela to release jailed opposition leader Lopez Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:24 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Venezuela to release opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who was sentenced last year to nearly 14 years in prison on charges of inciting anti-government protests in 2014. "Venezuela should allow Leopoldo Lopez, a political prisoner & husband of @liliantintori (just met w/ @marcorubio) out of prison immediately," Trump said in a Twitter post. Trump held a White House meeting with Lopez's wife, Lilian Tintori, and Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida on Wednesday. (Reporting by Eric Walsh)

Venezuela pulls Spanish-language CNN from air for 'distorting truth' Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:24 PM PST By Girish Gupta and Andrew Cawthorne CARACAS (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro's government ordered the suspension of CNN's Spanish-language service from Venezuela's airwaves on Wednesday, accusing it of distorting the truth in coverage. U.S.-based 'CNN en Espanol' became unavailable on Venezuela's major cable providers minutes after a statement by telecommunications regulator Conatel announcing the suspension. The network had irked the socialist government with various reports, including one alleging passports and visas were being sold illegally at Venezuela's embassy in Iraq.

Guatemala's indigenous seek recognition for justice system Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:17 PM PST SOLOLA, Guatemala (AP) — The law works as it has for centuries in the Guatemalan indigenous community of Solola: Townsfolk bring grievances and local authorities make rulings, usually with a speed unheard of in a country where justice is often delayed, if it comes at all.

Australia's Catholic Church paid $213 million in abuse compensation, costs Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:13 PM PST The Catholic Church in Australia paid A$276 million ($212.9 million) in compensation, treatment and other costs to thousands of victims of child sexual offences in the past 35 years, according to a report released on Thursday at an inquiry into institutional abuse. The barrister prosecuting on behalf of the government-established Royal Commission, Gail Furness, said in the report there was an average delay of 33 years between an alleged abuse and claim made against the church. "The Royal Commission's experience is that many survivors face barriers which deter them from reporting abuse to authorities and to the institution in which the abuse occurred," Furness said.

Bayern Munich routs Arsenal 5-1 to put foot in quarterfinals Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:13 PM PST MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich answered its critics with a comprehensive 5-1 rout of Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League clash to move a step closer to the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

EPA staff told to prepare for Trump executive orders: sources Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:12 PM PST By David Shepardson, Timothy Gardner and Richard Valdmanis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been told that President Donald Trump is preparing a handful of executive orders to reshape the agency, to be signed once a new administrator is confirmed, two sources who attended the meeting told Reuters on Wednesday. A senior EPA official who had been briefed by members of the Trump administration mentioned the executive orders at a meeting of staffers in the EPA's Office of General Counsel on Tuesday, but did not provide details about what the orders would say, said the sources, who asked not to be named. "It was just a heads-up to expect some executive orders, that's it," one of the sources said.

Republican Senator Collins opposes Pruitt for U.S. EPA chief Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:12 PM PST Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday she would oppose Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency, citing his numerous lawsuits against the agency. Pruitt is scheduled to face a Senate confirmation vote on Friday. Unless more Republicans join Collins in opposing Pruitt, his nomination is likely to be approved.

2 Trump Cabinet secretaries to visit Mexico next week Posted: 15 Feb 2017 05:07 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexico says U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are headed to Mexico next week.

Japan's Sara Takanashi clinches World Cup ski jumping title Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:54 PM PST PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — Sara Takanashi of Japan clinched her fourth World Cup ski jumping overall series title on Wednesday with a second-place finish in a test event at Pyeongchang, site of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Young beats Opelka in Memphis with Isner, Querrey up next Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:52 PM PST MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Donald Young beat fellow American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the Memphis Open quarterfinals.

Trump calls for release of Venezuela opposition leader Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:46 PM PST US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Venezuela to free jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez "immediately," posting a picture of himself and Vice President Mike Pence with Lopez's wife at the White House. "Venezuela should allow Leopoldo Lopez, a political prisoner & husband of @liliantintor (just met w/ @marcorubio) out of prison immediately," Trump tweeted, along with the photo, which also features Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

Trump's secretary of state on the spot on 1st foreign trip Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:43 PM PST BONN, Germany (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has his work cut out for him.

11 homes burned while hundreds evacuate New Zealand wildfire Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:35 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Firefighters were battling flames in the hill suburbs of New Zealand's second-largest city Thursday after a wildfire burned down 11 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

The Latest: Trump urges Venezuela to release Lopez Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:34 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST):

Egypt brokers Libya peace roadmap, but key figures fail to meet Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:19 PM PST By Lin Noueihed and Ahmed Mohammed Hassan CAIRO (Reuters) - Libyan factions have tentatively agreed on an Egyptian-brokered roadmap to heal divisions, Egypt said, though the failure to engineer a meeting between two key figures has cast a shadow on the diplomatic push. The deal comes after months of diplomatic efforts by Egypt, culminating this week with visits by Prime Minister Fayez Seraj of the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, and Khalifa Haftar, a military commander supported by eastern factions. After meeting separately with senior Egyptian military officials the two men had been set to sit together in a session late on Tuesday, then failed to meet due to last-minute differences.

Trump greets Netanyahu with smiles, handshakes and a jolt or two Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:13 PM PST By Luke Baker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a couple of jolts when they met for the first time on Wednesday as leaders of the United States and Israel. "Bibi and I have known each other a long time -- a smart man, great negotiator," said Trump, referring to the 67-year-old Israeli leader by his nickname. Netanyahu was equally effusive in response: "There is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state than President Donald Trump," he said, referring to the 70-year-old U.S. president who took office on Jan. 20.

Bundesliga club Darmstadt invites Barack Obama to game Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:08 PM PST DARMSTADT, Germany (AP) — Bundesliga side Darmstadt is inviting former U.S. President Barack Obama to one of its home games after announcing him as a Twitter follower of the struggling team.

Anti-Assad states to meet on Syria amid concerns over U.S. policy Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:04 PM PST By John Irish BONN, Germany (Reuters) - Countries opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will meet on Friday for the first time since Donald Trump's U.S. administration took office, to seek common ground ahead of U.N.-backed peace talks in Geneva next week. The talks on the sidelines of a G20 foreign ministers meeting come as Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, is in his strongest position since the early days of the civil war, and as Trump's policy on Syria remains unclear. "It's a chance to get everyone pushing in the same direction before the Geneva talks." He said the meeting between the United States, France, Britain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia and others would be the first opportunity to "test" U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's position on Syria and how that fitted into the new administration's thinking on defeating Islamist militants.

Trump greets Netanyahu with smiles, handshakes and a jolt or two Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:58 PM PST By Luke Baker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a couple of jolts when they met for the first time on Wednesday as leaders of the United States and Israel. "Bibi and I have known each other a long time -- a smart man, great negotiator," said Trump, referring to the 67-year-old Israeli leader by his nickname. Netanyahu was equally effusive in response: "There is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state than President Donald Trump," he said, referring to the 70-year-old U.S. president who took office on Jan. 20.

Venezuela pulls Spanish-language CNN from air for 'distorting truth' Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:52 PM PST By Girish Gupta CARACAS (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro's government ordered the suspension of CNN's Spanish-language service from Venezuela's airwaves on Wednesday, accusing it of distorting the truth in coverage. U.S.-based 'CNN en Espanol' became unavailable on some cable providers minutes after a statement by telecommunications regulator Conatel announcing the suspension. The network had irked the socialist government with various reports, including one alleging that Venezuelan passports and visas were being sold illegally at the embassy in Iraq.

Pentagon may recommend U.S. deploy combat troops in Syria: CNN Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:47 PM PST The U.S. Defense Department may recommend that the United States deploy regular combat troops to Syria to fight Islamic State militants, CNN reported on Wednesday. The idea is one of several ideas the Pentagon is considering after President Donald Trump gave defense officials until the end of the month to come up with proposals to speed up the war against Islamic State. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the United States already had a small number of special operation troops in Syria.

Palestinians tell Trump they are still committed to two-state solution Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:41 PM PST Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday demanded a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory and said he was committed to a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he could be open to alternatives. Abbas's office issued a statement after Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a news conference in Washington before a meeting. At the news conference, Trump said to Netanyahu: "I'd like to see you pull back on settlements for a little bit." But Trump also dropped U.S. insistence on a two-state solution, a longstanding bedrock of Middle East policy, upending a position embraced by successive administrations and the international community and a U.S. commitment to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu asks Trump to recognize Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:41 PM PST By Luke Baker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, territory Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Most of the world considers the Golan, a high plateau between northeastern Israel and southwestern Syria, to be occupied by Israel, which annexed the territory in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally.

Whitecaps acquire Montero on loan from Tianjin Teda Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:39 PM PST VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired Fredy Montero on loan from Tianjin Teda of the Chinese Super League.

Bruce Chen comes out of retirement to pitch for China in WBC Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:39 PM PST GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Nearly two years after he retired from baseball, left-hander Bruce Chen is getting ready to pitch for China in the World Baseball Classic.

Immigrant workers, families to protest by staying home Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:23 PM PST PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not shop on Thursday as a way to show the country how important they are to America's economy and way of life.

Real Madrid rallies to beat Napoli 3-1 in Champions League Posted: 15 Feb 2017 03:21 PM PST MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid kept its cool despite conceding a stunning early goal in the Champions League, producing an outstanding performance that kept it on track for a seventh straight appearance in the quarterfinals.

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