| Report counts some 2,300 journalists killed in past 25 years Posted: 30 Jan 2016 04:08 PM PST BRUSSELS (AP) — In the last quarter century, at least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed for doing nothing more than trying to inform the world on war, revolution, crime and corruption. And killers continue to act with impunity, the International Federation of Journalists announced in a new report. |
| Syrian opposition vows not to participate if demands not met Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:45 PM PST  GENEVA (AP) — The main Syrian opposition delegation vowed Saturday not to participate in U.N.-sponsored peace talks with the government unless their demands are met, including lifting the siege imposed on rebel-held areas and an end to Russian and Syrian bombardment of regions controlled by opposition fighters.
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| Stage is set for Syria peace talks as opposition arrives in Geneva Posted: 30 Jan 2016 03:32 PM PST  By Stephanie Nebehay and Suleiman Al-Khalidi GENEVA/AMMAN (Reuters) - A delegation from Syria's main opposition group arrived in Geneva on Saturday to join U.N.-mediated peace talks, demanding President Bashar al-Assad's government be made to comply with a U.N. resolution on humanitarian aid and human rights. "We are keen to make this negotiation a success," opposition spokesman Salim al-Muslat told reporters as the delegation arrived from Riyadh, ending weeks of uncertainty about whether they would come and the talks would happen. The 17-strong team from the Saudi-backed Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC), including political and militant opponents of Assad in the country's 5-year-old civil war, is expected to have a first meeting with the U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura on Sunday, setting up the first peace talks in two years.
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| At least 37 dead, including children, as migrant boat sinks off Turkey Posted: 30 Jan 2016 02:19 PM PST  The Turkish coastguard on Saturday recovered the bodies of women and children washed up on a beach after yet another migrant boat sank while trying to reach Europe, leaving at least 37 dead. In harrowing scenes reminiscent of the death of Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler photographed lying dead on a Turkish beach in September, the body of a small child could be seen among those strewn over a beach near the town of Ayvacik in northwestern Canakkale province, an AFP photographer at the scene said. Another young child was found dead in the water, according to the AFP photographer.
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| Retired general, ex-CIA chief David Petraeus to receive no further punishment Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:55 PM PST  By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has decided not to impose further punishment on David Petraeus, a former U.S. military commander and CIA director who admitted sharing classified information with his mistress, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The short letter was sent by Stephen Hedger, the assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs, and the decision is in line with an Army review. Petraeus resigned as head of the CIA in 2012 after it was revealed that he was having an affair with his biographer, Army Reserve officer Paula Broadwell.
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| French-speaking jihadist executes 'apostates' in IS video Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:50 PM PST  The Islamic State group released a video Saturday purporting to show a French-speaking jihadist threatening attacks against the West and executing so-called apostates and spies in Iraq. The footage, posted on jihadist websites, is said to have been produced by the IS media office in Iraq's Nineveh province, and shows young men testifying to have acted against the jihadists before being shot dead execution style. The French-speaker wears a beige mask and military fatigues and carries a handgun.
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| Retired US general Petraeus won't be demoted over scandal Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:47 PM PST  The Pentagon won't strip David Petraeus of his fourth star for providing his mistress classified information, a scandal that forced the resignation of a man feted for changing the course of the Iraq War. The retired general was given two years' probation and fined $100,000 in 2015 over the matter following a guilty plea in a US court. The US Army "completed its review of his case and recommended no additional action," Assistant Secretary of Defense Stephen Hedger wrote Friday in a letter to Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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| The Latest: Aunt of drowned 3-year-old makes emotional plea Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:33 PM PST ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Latest on Europe's migrant crisis (all times local): |
| Is Angela Merkel now backtracking on refugees? Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:04 PM PST German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday attempted to appease vocal critics of her open-door policy for refugees by saying that the asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq would return home once the conflicts are over in the region. Speaking at a meeting of her party members, Merkel said that 70 percent of refugees that fled to Germany from the war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s had returned to their home countries. "We need ... to say to people that this is a temporary residential status and we expect that, once there is peace in Syria again, once IS has been defeated in Iraq, that you go back to your home country with the knowledge that you have gained," she told a regional meeting of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), according to Reuters. |
| Merkel says expects most refugees to go home once safe to do so Posted: 30 Jan 2016 12:25 PM PST  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday she expected most of the refugees from Syria and Iraq to return home once peace has returned to their countries, as she faces strong pressure over her welcoming stance towards asylum seekers. "We expect that once peace has returned to Syria, once the Islamic State (group) has been defeated in Iraq, that they will return to their countries of origin, armed with the knowledge they acquired with us," Merkel said a regional gathering of her Christian Democrats (CDU) party in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to news agency DPA. Germany took in more than 1.1 million asylum seekers last year and more are arriving on a daily basis, despite the hardening mood among Germans.
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| Obama to meet with Muslims on 1st visit to US mosque Posted: 30 Jan 2016 12:14 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — In a public show of support, President Barack Obama will meet with Muslim community members Wednesday in Baltimore on his first presidential visit to an American mosque. |
| Japan comeback secures Asian Under-23 title Posted: 30 Jan 2016 10:03 AM PST  Japan won the AFC Under 23 championship with a thrilling victory in Doha on Saturday overturning a two goal deficit to stun South Korea 3-2. The winner came in the 81st minute from substitute Takuma Asano, with a smart finish when through on the Korean goal. Asano had started the comeback, scoring Japan's first in the 67th minute, after they trailed 2-0 early on in the second half.
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| Germany's Merkel says refugees must return home once war is over Posted: 30 Jan 2016 09:29 AM PST  By Andreas Rinke NEUBRANDENBURG, Germany (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried on Saturday to placate the increasingly vocal critics of her open-door policy for refugees by insisting that most refugees from Syria and Iraq would go home once the conflicts there had ended. Despite appearing increasingly isolated, Merkel has resisted pressure from some conservatives to cap the influx of refugees, or to close Germany's borders. Support for her conservative bloc has slipped as concerns mount about how Germany will integrate the 1.1 million migrants who arrived last year, while crime and security are also in the spotlight after a wave of assaults on women in Cologne at New Year by men of north African and Arab appearance.
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| Apple would’ve been the 42nd richest country last year Posted: 30 Jan 2016 09:20 AM PST  Few companies have attained "empire" status in the same way that Apple has — indeed, the reverence with which we often refer to the legacy of Steve Jobs makes the Silicon Valley firm seem larger than life. Its partially eaten apple logo is among the most recognizable in the world. Apple has revolutionized the personal computer, the mobile phone, and even tablets. And with all its innovation, it's racked up a fair chunk of change — to the tune of $231 billion in 2015 alone. When compared to the worldwide GDP figures of last year, that would make Apple the equivalent of the 42nd richest country on the planet. Last year, Apple's iPhone business single-handedly brought in $154 billion, enough to make it the 56th wealthiest country just behind Iraq, which brought in $165 billion in 2015. So even if iPhone sales aren't skyrocketing at their historical breakneck pace, it's safe to say that Apple is doing alright for itself. Related: 4.5 million hours were spent transferring phone data over the 2015 holidays When taken as a whole, Apple's $231 billion of revenues places it directly next to Finland, whose 2015 GDP was also $231 billion. It beats out a number of pretty impressive names in the top 50 national GDPs, including the countries of Ireland, Portugal, and Qatar. Apple remains the biggest kid on the block when it comes to the still booming tech industry. While the iEmpire seemed to draw a bit of (unwarranted) skepticism from investors, it's worth noting that its business still far outstrips those of other companies — for reference, Amazon and Microsoft both brought in $93 billion last year, whereas Google boasted $66 billion and Facebook reported $12.5 billion. Related : The iPhone isn't dying, Wall Street is just crazy So if you're worried about the future of Apple, don't be. When a company's finances are comparative with countries rather other companies, it's probably doing alright. Also watch: Apple iPhone 6S Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Please enable Javascript to watch this video
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| U.S., allies conduct 33 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military Posted: 30 Jan 2016 07:32 AM PST The United States and its allied targeted Islamic State militants in Iraq with 17 strikes on Friday and 16 strikes in Syria, the U.S. military said on Saturday. Seven of the strikes in Iraq were near Mosul, hitting five Islamic State tactical units and a weapons cache. Two of the strikes in Syria hit an Islamic State-controlled oil and gas separation plant near Raqqa. |
| Almost 40 dead after migrant boat sinks off Turkey Posted: 30 Jan 2016 05:01 AM PST  By Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - Almost 40 people drowned and 75 were rescued after a boat carrying migrants to Greece sank off Turkey's western coast on Saturday, according to local officials and the Turkish Dogan news agency. More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in the European Union last year and some 3,600 died or went missing, forcing the EU to mull suspending its Schengen open-borders area for up to two years. The Turkish coast guard was continuing search and rescue efforts where the 17-metre boat carrying at least 120 people sank off the coast of Ayvacik, a town across from the Greek island of Lesvos, the Dogan news agency reported.
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| Rwandan police arrest suspects believed tied to the Islamic State Posted: 30 Jan 2016 04:31 AM PST Rwandan police have arrested several people suspected of being linked to Islamic State, less than a week after the police killed a preacher accused of encouraging youths to join the militant group. On Monday, police detained Muhammad Mugemangango, the deputy imam at Kigali's Kimironko Mosque, and accused him of recruiting for the Islamic State, which is fighting in Iraq and Syria. Mugemangango was shot and killed while attempting to escape, police said. |
| At least ten migrants drown off Turkey, several missing Posted: 30 Jan 2016 01:31 AM PST  At least ten migrants, including five children, drowned on Saturday when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece, the Turkish coastguard said. The migrants, who included Syrian and Afghan refugees, had set off from the district of Ayvacik in Canakkale province in an apparent bid to reach the Greek island of Lesbos. Turkey, which is hosting at least 2.5 million refugees from Syria's civil war, has become the main launchpad for migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty to Europe.
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| Hillary Clinton's lifelong ambition: the presidency Posted: 29 Jan 2016 10:34 PM PST  Since her school days, Hillary Clinton has chased success, earning honors and accolades that could fill a bookcase. Clinton might have been forgiven for expecting a glide path to her party's nomination in 2016, after losing out to Barack Obama eight years earlier. Now she is in the fight of her life against chief rival Bernie Sanders, who is seeking to imitate Obama and snatch victory from Clinton's grasp in Iowa, the state that votes first in the presidential nomination battle.
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| Today in History Posted: 29 Jan 2016 09:01 PM PST Today in History |
| Soccer-Iraq edge hosts Qatar for final Olympic berth in Asia Posted: 29 Jan 2016 08:12 PM PST Iraq booked a spot at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after edging hosts Qatar for third place at the Asian Football Confederation's under-23 championships with a 2-1 extra time win. Substitute Aymen Hussein then sealed victory with a header four minutes into the second period of extra time to send Iraq back to the Olympics for the first time since losing the bronze medal match to Italy at the Athens Games in 2004. "This victory really is the fruit of the great work of the Olympic committee in Iraq since we started our preparation," said Iraq assistant coach Hayder Najem. |
| UN-hosted Syria peace talks get off to shaky start Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:47 PM PST GENEVA (AP) — Peace talks aimed at ending Syria's five-year civil war got off to a shaky and chaotic start Friday, with the main opposition group at first boycotting the session, then later agreeing to meet with U.N. officials — while still insisting it would not negotiate. |
| Iran flies unarmed military drone over US aircraft carrier Posted: 29 Jan 2016 11:30 AM PST  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran flew a surveillance drone over a U.S. aircraft carrier and published video of the encounter Friday, the latest in a series of edgy naval incidents between the two countries in the Persian Gulf after the recent nuclear deal.
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