All Wires articles, Thursday 31 December

• ap Bill Cosby's lawyer accuses prosecutor of playing politics ELKINS PARK, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby's lawyer charged on Thursday that the sexual assault case against the comedian was politically motivated, brought by a new...
• ap Q&A: A look at how the federal law regards hate speech WASHINGTON (AP) — Incendiary rhetoric has seeped into 2016 presidential politics, surfaced in the public debate over accepting Syrian refugees into the U.S. ...
• ap Styrofoam ban begins Friday in DC WASHINGTON (AP) — A ban on Styrofoam food and drink containers is set to go into effect in the District of Columbia. The ban on Styrofoam begins Friday. The ...
• ap Israeli police question PM's wife over household spending JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police questioned the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday over her alleged inflated household spending, the latest...
• ap Funds year in review: A scary ride for not much reward NEW YORK (AP) — So, not much happened this past year for fund investors, right? It might seem that way, after many mutual funds and exchange-traded funds end...
• ap Allegiant Air flight makes emergency landing in Tennessee CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — An Allegiant Air flight has made a safe emergency landing at a Tennessee airport. Chattanooga Airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse s...
• ap Powerball jackpot rises to $334M, 12th-highest in history DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot has risen to $334 million, the 12th largest in the game's history. No one won the jackpot on Wednesday, and the...
• afp Nigeria demands MTN pay $3.9 bn telecoms fine as deadline expires Nigeria said it was expecting telecoms giant MTN to meet a deadline for paying a record $3.9 billion fine which expires Thursday, despite the South African o...
• ap The Latest: Documents released related to police shooting CHICAGO (AP) — The latest on the release of hundreds of documents related to the fatal shooting of black teenager by a white Chicago police officer (all time...
• ap Mother of 'affluenza' teen is jailed in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (AP) — The mother of a fugitive Texas teen known for using an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident is jailed in Los Angeles on...
• reuters Weather, war threaten to leave millions more hungry in 2016 - aid agencies By Belinda Goldsmith LONDON, Dec 31 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Millions more people globally are facing the threat of severe food and water shortages in ...
• pa 'Stupid' Simon Danczuk apologises over sex texts to teenage girl MP Simon Danczuk has apologised "unreservedly" for "inappropriate" behaviour after being suspended from the Labour Party for sending sexually explicit messag...
• pa George Osborne accused after regulator ditches review into banking culture George Osborne has been accused of forcing regulators to ditch a review into Britain's banking culture under pressure from the industry's biggest names. The ...
• ap Mom isn't dropping guilty plea in death of boy found in bag COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The mother of a 1-year-old Maryland boy found dead inside a backpack in a central Ohio creek is no longer trying to withdraw her guilty...
• afp Aden army commander survives Yemen bombing The pro-government army commander of Yemen's Aden survived a car bombing in the second city on Thursday that left one of his bodyguards dead, a military offi...
• pa Leinster prop Cian Healy handed two-week ban for striking Leinster prop Cian Healy has been suspended for two weeks following an independent disciplinary hearing in London on Thursday. Healy was cited by match citin...
• pa Chris Froome caps off "amazing" 2015 with OBE Tour de France winner Chris Froome says receiving an OBE is the perfect way to cap off an "amazing" 2015. The 30-year-old Team Sky rider, who welcomed his fi...
• pa No major moves expected in Premier League January sales Premier League survival is worth more than ever, but a leading football finance expert is predicting a "quiet" January transfer window for top-flight English...
• pa Sir Tony McCoy thought knighthood message was "some kind of hoax" Sir Tony McCoy thought he was the victim of a practical joke when he first received news of his knighthood in the New Year Honours list. The 41-year-old form...
• pa Signs looking good for James Anderson return for second Test England coach Trevor Bayliss believes the "signs look good" for James Anderson to return for the second Test against South Africa. Anderson was ruled out of ...
• pa Vanity and arrogance have made me successful, insists Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo believes he was "born to be the best" and accepts his own vanity and arrogance have been the driving force behind his success. The 30-year-...
• pa Arsene Wenger delighted with "athlete" Mesut Ozil's Arsenal efforts Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hailed Mesut Ozil as the "complete athlete" and praised the German's new-found leadership qualities. The outstanding form s...
• pa Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laughs off "soft German" jibe Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laughed off Sam Allardyce's "soft German" jibe, joking he had been called much worse. Sunderland boss Allardyce made the comme...
• pa Manchester City hope to get to bottom of Vincent Kompany's calf problems Vincent Kompany will undergo thorough assessment as Manchester City bid to get to the bottom of their captain's recurring calf problems. Kompany is facing an...
• pa Spring arrives early after warmest December on record Britain's topsy turvy weather means that spring has come four months early with this December being the warmest on record, according to latest figures from t...
• pa '3,000 police officers on duty in London' for New Year's Eve fireworks display Every available officer at the Metropolitan Police's disposal will be on duty tonight - including hundreds of specially trained firearms personnel. Scotland ...
• pa Squatters at ex-Royal Mint complex ordered to leave by judge Anti-capitalist squatters have been ordered by the High Court to leave the former Royal Mint complex opposite the Tower of London after a judge said there wa...
• pa Sports Direct to pay all staff more than minimum wage Under-fire retailer Sports Direct International has pledged to pay its employees above the national minimum wage from January 1, in a move which will cost th...
• pa Judge criticises social services over boy cared for by paedophile relative A family court judge has criticised council social services bosses after hearing how a boy spent at least two years living with a relative who was a convicte...
• pa Widow mugged for handbag while tending husband's grave An elderly widow had her handbag snatched while she was cleaning her late husband's grave on Christmas Eve , police said. The 73-year-old woman was approache...
• pa Norfolk farmer Tony Martin held over 'illegal firearm' Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer jailed for shooting dead a teenage burglar, has been arrested for possession of an illegal firearm, sources said. Martin, 71,...
• pa Footsie finishes with a whimper after turbulent year The FTSE 100 Index left investors out of pocket this year, finishing 4.9% down to close at 6242.3. On the final half-day session of 2015 the Footsie fell 31....
• afp High security in C. African Republic as vote count starts UN troops stood guard over the main vote-counting centre in Bangui on Thursday after a peaceful election in the Central African Republic aimed at turning the...
• reuters Israel bars novel about Jewish-Arab love affair from school curriculum By Ori Lewis JERUSALEM, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Israel's Education Ministry has ruled against the inclusion of a novel about a romance between an Israeli woman an...
• ap 4 teens die in crash outside Indianapolis, 5 others injured WAVERLY, Ind. (AP) — Four teenagers from the same central Indiana town died Wednesday evening when their car crossed a median on a state highway near Indiana...
• ap 'Affluenza' teen grew up in wealthy but unstable home FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense in a deadly drunken-driving wreck grew up in a wealthy yet unstable household whe...
• ap Average US rate on 30-year mortgages rises to 4.01 percent WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates crossed the 4 percent mark this week, a slight increase in the wake of the Federal Reserve decision t...
• reuters French journalist forced to leave China after article on troubled Xinjiang By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A French journalist has been forced to leave China after the government said it would not renew her press credenti...
• ap After delays, Egypt's new parliament to convene Jan. 10 CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's recently elected parliament will convene on Jan. 10, more than three years after the last such assembly was dissolved by a court order, ...
• ap Flooding forcing evacuations, traffic troubles ST. LOUIS (AP) — Surging Midwestern rivers forced hundreds of evacuations, threatened dozens of levees and brought transportation by car, boat or train to a ...
• ap Guyana passes terrorism law with death penalty provision GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Legislators in Guyana have adopted an anti-terrorism law that includes a death penalty provision and would allow rendition of suspe...
• ap Spain: 3 arrested over immigrant's fatal Christmas stabbing MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have arrested three people in connection with the fatal Christmas Day stabbing of an African immigrant that triggered c...
• ap New Year revelers unfazed by attack worries _ in most places In Bangkok, police-flanked partygoers will ring in the new year at the site of a deadly bombing that took place just months ago. In Paris, residents recoveri...
• afp Bill Cosby: from beloved TV patriarch to pariah A celebrity's fall from grace is always ugly, but that of Bill Cosby -- a once-beloved comedian who broke barriers by bringing a black TV family into white l...
• afp Cosby 'accused unjustly' in sex assault case: attorney Fallen TV superstar Bill Cosby is in "good spirits" and is confident he will be cleared of a felony sex assault charge brought against him, his attorney said...
• reuters Benitez looks to in-form Ronaldo for better 2016 By Tim Hanlon Dec 31 (Reuters) - Underfire Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez will look to an in form Cristiano Ronaldo to drive the team forward against Valenci...
• reuters Cosby sexual assault charge motivated by politics - lawyer Dec 31 (Reuters) - Comedian Bill Cosby's lawyer characterized the sexual assault case against him as a "political football" and said on Thursday the entertai...
• afp World begins welcoming in New Year despite terror fears New Year's Eve kicked off in Sydney, but tightened security muted revelries in Europe with Brussels scrapping celebrations and fireworks cancelled in Paris a...
• ap IS bombings of restaurants in Syria kill 16 in northern city BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the bombing of two restaurants in a predominantly Kurdish city in northeastern Syria the previous n...
• ap Amazon gives income from anti-Islam group's song to refugees BERLIN (AP) — Online retailer Amazon has pledged to donate its share of revenues from the sale of a song by the anti-Islam group PEGIDA to refugees, undermin...
• afp Egypt parents, 3 children killed in Sinai shelling A couple and their three children, including a five-year-old girl, were killed Thursday when shelling hit their house in North Sinai, where Egypt's army is f...
• afp Gulf stocks dive over low oil prices, geopolitics Stock markets in the Gulf states ended 2015 in negative territory on Thursday, following a massive decline in oil prices and regional turmoil. The Saudi stoc...
• reuters Mother of Texas 'affluenza' teen sent back to U.S., son held in Mexico By Jon Herskovitz and Dave Graham AUSTIN, Texas/MEXICO CITY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The mother of a Texas teenager, derided over a claim of "affluenza" as a defe...
• afp Sports court rejects Bility's appeal over FIFA presidency bid The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday rejected Musa Hassan Bility's appeal against FIFA's rejection of his candidacy to run in the vote to ele...
• ap Pope tells young choristers that he sings like a donkey VATICAN CITY (AP) — While Pope Francis has made no secret of his love of choirs, he has revealed why he may not always join in. The pontiff told an audience ...
• ap Special delivery for north Florida woman, firefighters CITRUS SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — It was a special New Year's Eve delivery for a north Florida woman thanks to firefighters. When a Citrus County Sheriff's Fire Re...
• ap Venezuela opposition: Court blocking of 4 lawmakers a 'coup' CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's opposition is calling a Supreme Court decision that bars four recently-elected lawmakers from taking their seats in the...
• afp US stocks lower in last session of 2015 US stocks fell in early trade Thursday as the broad-based S&P 500 tried to eke out a gain for 2015 in the final trading session of the year. About 30 minutes...
• ap US stocks edge lower, pulling S&P 500 into red for the year Stocks are opening slightly lower on the last day of the year as the market heads for a sluggish end to 2015. The modest losses in early trading Thursday dra...
• reuters Virus costs Schwartzel South African Open title tilt CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A wretched Christmas for South African golfer Charl Schwartzel has been compounded by having to withdraw from next week's South...
• afp Expelled French journalist warns of dark days for media in China A French reporter forced to leave China after she criticised government policy in violence-wracked, mainly Muslim Xinjiang, warned of dark days to come for j...
• reuters Before Mosul, Iraqi army may face fight at the gates of Baghdad By Ahmed Rasheed and Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Iraqi forces may face a big battle near Baghdad before they can try to retake the Islamic Stat...
• reuters Arrests, security fears dampen New Year spirit in Europe By Johnny Cotton and Philip Blenkinsop PARIS/BRUSSELS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Shaken by a year of militant attacks, Europeans will ring in 2016 in subdued fashio...
• reuters US STOCKS-Indexes open lower on last day of year By Abhiram Nandakumar Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes were lower on Thursday morning, with the S&P 500 slipping back into negative territory for the ye...
• ap The Latest: Mom of 'affluenza' teen held in Los Angeles jail LOS ANGELES (AP) — The latest in the case of a Texas teenager serving probation for killing four people in a drunken-driving wreck after invoking an "affluen...
• reuters Syrian army launches assault against rebels near border with Israel By Suleiman Al-Khalidi BEIRUT, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Syrian army and allied militias launched an offensive in the Golan Heights on Thursday, in what rebels ...
• reuters Iran denies it fired rockets near U.S. warship in Gulf DUBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Iran denied on Thursday that its Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Gulf on Saturday and con...
• reuters Cook calls for better quality warm-up games By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Captain Alastair Cook called for better quality warm-up games before and during major test series as he credite...
• afp Determined Merkel tells Germans: refugee influx 'an opportunity' Chancellor Angela Merkel stood firm on her decision to open Germany to refugees despite mounting criticism, telling citizens in her New Year's address Thursd...
• reuters Return of Texan teen to U.S. delayed by weeks by injunction-official MEXICO CITY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A court has granted fugitive Texan teenager Ethan Couch an injunction against his deportation from Mexico to the United State...
• pa Jelle Klaasen upsets Phil Taylor to reach PDC World Championship quarter-finals Jelle Klaasen stunned world number three Phil Taylor to book a place in the quarter-finals of the PDC W orld Championship. Having earlier missed the chance t...
• ap Palestinian attacker killed after ramming car into Israelis JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian attacker was shot and killed Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of Israeli soldiers on patrol in the West Bank, the...
• ap Man charged in Maine killings had been sought in hit-and-run AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A man charged with fatally shooting a couple inside their SUV on Christmas Day was being sought by police in his hometown of Rochester,...
• ap Italian cities ban New Year's Eve fireworks because of smog MILAN (AP) — Smog is helping to put a damper on New Year's Eve celebrations throughout Italy, as Rome, Milan and other cities ban fireworks to avoid aggravat...
• ap Putin's New Year message marks Syria fight, end of WWII MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is using his New Year's message to highlight the country's current fight in Syria while commemorating the batt...
• ap 2 UN police officers from Rwanda fatally shot in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Authorities say two U.N. police officers from Rwanda have been fatally shot at their residence in northern Haiti. In a Thursday ...
• reuters Liverpool's Benteke can become even better, says Klopp Dec 31 (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has urged striker Christian Benteke to improve his performance further after the Belgian scored the winner...
• reuters U.S. Midwest braces for more flooding as rain-swollen rivers rise Dec 31 (Reuters) - Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma braced for more flooding on Thursday as rain-swollen rivers, some at record heights, ove...
• ap Belgian police probing report of orgy by police, soldiers BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian police have opened an investigation into media reports that two policewomen and army troops deployed to Brussels to beef up security ...
• ap Latest: Amtrak suspends Kansas City to St. Louis route The latest developments on flooding in the Midwest (all times local): 8:20 a.m. Amtrak has suspended traffic on a route that runs from Kansas City to St. Lou...
• ap Experts help divided Cyprus figure out economics of peace NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A peace accord cobbling Cyprus back together again after over four decades of ethnic division is possible in 2016 and will bring oppor...
• afp Israel disqualifies novel on Arab-Jewish love from curriculum Israel's education ministry has disqualified a book depicting a love story between an Israeli and a Palestinian from school curriculums, sparking an outcry f...
• afp Pakistan coach excited over Amir return Pakistan's head coach Waqar Younis expressed excitement Thursday over the imminent return of Mohammad Amir following a five-year ban for spot-fixing. Amir, 2...
• afp Japan's Uchiyama fends off challenge to WBA title Undefeated champion Takashi Uchiyama of Japan on Thursday successfully defended his World Boxing Association super featherweight title for the 11th time, bea...
• reuters CAS upholds decision to bar Bility from FIFA election Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected an Thursday an appeal by Liberian Musa Hassan Bility to be allowed to stand in February'...
• ap Cosby's sexual assault charge leaves blacks feeling betrayed PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bill Cosby, a cultural icon who once stood among America's most beloved figures, suffered the latest and most serious blow to his forever...
• ap Obama-Seinfeld show: 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee' airs HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama and comedian Jerry Seinfeld compare cars and trade one-liners in a 19-minute episode of "Comedians In Cars Getting Cof...
• pa Retailers hit hard in 2015 as consumers enjoy unprecedented discounting Consumers have little to complain about following a year of rising disposable incomes and unprecedented discounting, but the story is significantly less posi...
• afp More than 55,000 killed in Syria in 2015: monitor More than 55,000 people were killed in Syria in 2015, the country's fifth year of war, including over 2,500 children, a monitor said Thursday. The total numb...
• afp Bahrain sentences Shiite to death, jails 22 from 'terror group' A Bahraini court sentenced a Shiite citizen to death and jailed 22 others for life Thursday for forming a "terrorist group" that killed two people, including...
• ap 10 Things to Know for Today - 31 December 2015 Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. PEOPLE WORLD OVER ON EDGE AS CALENDAR TURNS As the...
• reuters Smoggy Naples catches up with Italian urban car bans ROME, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Naples on Thursday became the latest Italian city to ban road traffic within certain hours, in a bid to limit air pollution which is...
• afp US jobless claims rise to nearly 6-month high The number of Americans filing for US unemployment insurance benefits jumped to a nearly six-month high last week during the Christmas holiday season, the La...
• reuters Crimea loses quarter of power after pylon in Ukraine blown up By Jason Bush and Pavel Polityuk MOSCOW/KIEV, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Crimea has lost at least one quarter of its power after Ukraine halted supplies, officials i...
• reuters Ukraine to investigate suspected computer attack on energy grid KIEV, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Ukraine will investigate a suspected computer malware attack on its energy grid, the energy ministry said on Thursday, an incident t...
• ap Target's turnaround gets shoppers back into stores NEW YORK (AP) — Target's efforts to draw shoppers back into its stores are paying off. Take Annabel Bernardo, who once bought trendy clothes at Target but cu...
• ap Prominent Labour Party legislator suspended over texts LONDON (AP) — A prominent Labour Party legislator known for his work to expose child sex abuse in his district has been suspended by the party for allegedly ...
• reuters US STOCKS-Wall St set for lower open on last day of year By Abhiram Nandakumar Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes were set to open lower on Thursday as crude slipped further to end the year in steep losses. Glob...
• ap Fight breaks out at New Jersey anti-violence demonstration NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An anti-violence demonstration in Newark, New Jersey, devolved into a physical altercation between two activists. NJ.com reports (http://...
• ap French journalist leaving China after being forced out BEIJING (AP) — A French journalist is leaving China after being denied press credentials and facing heavy criticism from the Foreign Ministry and state media...
• ap Iraqi troops clear bombs in Ramadi after driving out IS BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi troops are removing bombs and debris from the city center of Ramadi days after driving out Islamic State militants, as rainy weather slo...
• ap CAS rejects appeal from Musa Bility LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Musa Bility's appeal to overturn his exclusion from the FIFA presidential elect...
• ap 'Ritualistic sacrifice' investigated in child's death CALLAWAY, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff says investigators are considering "ritualistic sacrifice" among the possible reasons a 3-year-old son was killed and...
• ap US applications for unemployment benefits jumped last week WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans requested unemployment benefits last week, but the level remains near historic lows in a positive sign for the job market. T...
• ap Van hits horse-drawn buggy crash; teen girl is killed BENTON, Tenn. (AP) — Police say a van hit a horse-drawn buggy on a Tennessee road, killing a teenage girl. Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. John Harmon told WRCB...
• pa BBC website outage caused by cyber attack A technical issue that knocked all the BBC's websites offline was the result of a cyber attack, the corporation has reported. Visitors to sites including the...
• pa 'Wicked Fairy' Katie Price joining Loose Women panel Former glamour model Katie Price has been made a panellist on Loose Women - and plans to be "the most outspoken of them all". The TV personality and business...
• pa Celebrities who died in 2015 A host of stars including household names from showbusiness, politics and sport died in 2015. Here we remember some of them. The nation was united in grief i...
• pa Manchester United should stick by Van Gaal, says Moyes David Moyes thinks Manchester United should stand by Louis van Gaal and claims the club would be setting a dangerous precedent if they sacked the Dutchman. V...
• reuters Lukaku can carry purple patch into 2016, says Martinez Dec 31 (Reuters) - Striker Romelu Lukaku's sublime form in front of goal has been among Everton's biggest positives in 2015, Everton manager Roberto Martinez...
• ap A chronology of those who died in 2015 JANUARY Jan. 1 — Mario Cuomo, 82, a son of Italian immigrants who became an eloquent spokesman for a generation of liberal Democrats during his three terms a...
• afp Egypt's new parliament to convene January 10 Egypt said Thursday the country's new parliament will convene on January 10, weeks after a legislative election that was marred by a low turnout in the absen...
• pa Salford and Pontefract 'tops for property sales in 2015' Salford and Pontefract were the biggest property hotspots of 2015, according to a survey of house sales taking place in towns across England and Wales. The r...
• pa Stoke boss Mark Hughes refuses to rule out top-four challenge Stoke boss Mark Hughes admits his side are currently ahead of target this term and is not dismissing talk of a push for the top four. In a hugely unpredictab...
• pa Jurgen Klopp backs Christian Benteke to deliver more for Liverpool Jurgen Klopp is convinced there is much more to come from striker Christian Benteke after seeing him fire Liverpool to victory twice inside five days. The Be...
• reuters Ranieri wants Leicester to build on fantastic half-season Dec 31 (Reuters) - Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has backed his squad to build on their "fantastic half-season" ahead of Saturday's Premier League c...
• ap Bosnia charges former presidency member with war crimes SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Prosecutors in Bosnia have charged a former member of the presidency and three other men with war crimes involving killin...
• reuters Britain's banking regulator ditches review of industry culture LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A public review of Britain's banking culture has been scrapped just months after it was announced, with the UK regulator saying on...
• ap Belgium: 10th suspect arrested in Paris attacks probe BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian authorities on Thursday announced the arrest of a 10th person in connection with last month's bloodbath in Paris and said six others ...
• ap Israel rejects book on Jew-Arab love for school curriculum JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has refused to include a novel about a love affair between a Jewish woman and a Palestinian man in the country's high school curricul...
• reuters Champagne sales set for record year By Pascale Denis PARIS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Champagne sales are set for a record year, driven by solid demand from export markets, favourable currencies and s...
• ap Chronology of news events in 2015 JANUARY Jan. 1 —Thirty five people die in a stampede during a New Year celebration in Shanghai's historic waterfront area, the worst disaster to hit one of C...
• ap Baltimore Co. won't seek reimbursement for riot assistance BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz says the county will not seek $257,000 in reimbursement from the city of Baltimore for police and ...
• ap Hearing Monday for ex-officer's speedy trial request CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A hearing on a speedy trial request by a former South Carolina police officer charged with killing an unarmed black motorist is set f...
• ap Gambia's parliament bans female genital mutilation DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Gambia's parliament has passed a bill banning female genital mutilation and setting strict penalties for offenders, a month after the p...
• ap Hawaii vacation leads to charges for former Connecticut cop STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — A vacation in Hawaii not only cost a former Connecticut police officer his job, but also led to criminal charges being brought against...
• reuters Belgium detains six people over New Year's attack plot By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Belgian police detained six people during house searches in Brussels on Thursday as...
• pa Homes evacuated after 20ft sinkhole opens in pavement Homes have been evacuated and a street closed off after a 20ft deep sinkhole suddenly appeared in a pavement. Emergency crews were called to Coronation Terra...
• pa Brussels rules worsened floods carnage - anti-EU leader The millionaire leader of a campaign for the UK to leave the European Union has blamed rules from Brussels for flooding as he called on Britons to vote to "l...
• pa Jeremy Corbyn hails Environment Agency staff on visit to flood-hit York Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has praised Environment Agency staff for their "superhuman efforts" to protect homes and businesses from floods. He said the Gove...
• reuters North Sea storm forces oil platform evacuations, output shutdown By Gwladys Fouche and Nerijus Adomaitis OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A fierce storm in the North Sea forced oil firms to evacuate platforms and shut down product...
• ap Oil platforms evacuated in North Sea due to drifting barge STOCKHOLM (AP) — Norwegian rescuers say a potential disaster was narrowly avoided Thursday as an unmanned barge drifted past a North Sea oil field where it h...
• ap NJ man killed trying to climb NYC's Four Seasons Hotel NEW YORK (AP) — Police say a 24-year-old man tried to scale the facade of New York's famed Four Seasons Hotel and plunged nine stories to his death. The NYPD...
• ap Life in prison: A look at becoming an inmate JACKSON, Ga. (AP) — They arrive by the busload each Tuesday and Thursday, dozens of new inmates entering Georgia's prison system. Most stay only a week or tw...
• afp Mauritania detains alleged slave masters A Mauritanian court has remanded in custody two men accused of keeping women and children as slaves, rights campaigners said Thursday, during a crackdown on ...
• reuters King of Mandela's clan jailed in South Africa - media JOHANNESBURG, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The king of the AbaThembu clan of South Africa's late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has started a 12-year jail sentence...
• reuters Germany to increase scrutiny of Syrian asylum applicants BERLIN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Germany will start holding personal hearings for asylum seekers from Syria as of Friday, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman told Reu...
• afp Nigeria demands telecoms giant MTN pay fine as deadline expires Nigeria said it was expecting telecoms giant MTN to meet a deadline for paying a record $3.9 billion fine which expires Thursday, despite the South African o...
• reuters Bahrain sentences man to death for bomb attack - prosecutor DUBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A Bahraini man was sentenced to death on Thursday for a bomb attack last year that killed a policemen and a civilian in Dimistan vi...
• ap Police: Man training to be officer accidentally shoots wife WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a man training to become a police officer in North Carolina has accidentally shot and wounded his wife. The depart...
• ap BBC says website knocked down due to apparent attack LONDON (AP) — BBC says its main news website and other sites were knocked offline due to an attack. Service was out for more than three hours Thursday. Users...
• ap Iran denies it fired rockets near US warships in key strait TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Thursday denied U.S. accusations of launching a provocative rocket test last week near Western warships in the Strait of Hormuz, ...
• ap Church responds to lawsuit over donations after shooting CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Attorneys for the South Carolina church where nine parishioners were shot and killed in what police called a racially motivated attac...
• ap After daunting 2015, EU faces year of living dangerously BRUSSELS (AP) — If the year that was turned out to be daunting, 2016 is shaping up as the European Union's year of living dangerously. The cliffhanger to kee...
• reuters Afghan leader says end to terrorism a condition for peace talks KABUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said international meetings next month to lay the groundwork for a possible resumption of peace talks...
• afp US-led strikes in Syria, Iraq hit IS 'middle-management' US-led strikes against Islamic State group officials in Iraq and Syria are robbing the jihadists of one of their most valuable resources: experienced mid-lev...
• reuters Southampton may seek another striker, says Koeman LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Southampton could be in the market for a striker in the January transfer window if injuries persist but are unlikely to bring in a...
• reuters U.S., allies conduct 24 strikes against Islamic State -U.S. military WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition carried out 24 strikes against Islamic State militants on Wednesday, putting pressure on the group arou...
• reuters Egyptian parliament to convene on Jan. 10 after three-year gap CAIRO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for Egypt's new parliament to convene on Jan. 10, state television said on Thursday, more...
• ap Bahrain sentences 22 Shiites to life in prison, 1 to death MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — A Bahraini defense lawyer says a court in the country has convicted 23 Shiites, sentencing one to death and the rest to life in prison...
• reuters Thai junta extends "attitude adjustment" to New Year drink drivers BANGKOK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Thailand's military government has expanded a draconian "attitude adjustment" programme aimed at muzzling its critics to include ...
• ap NY woman who kidnapped Amish girls appeals 300-year sentence SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A New York woman has appealed her 300-year prison sentence for her role in sexually abusing six children, including two Amish girls she...
• ap Target's fashion moments for 2015 NEW YORK (AP) — Target is working to reclaim its cheap chic image. Here are some things it did in 2015: — This past spring, Target launched a partnership wit...
• ap Gael Monfils out of Hopman Cup with leg injury PERTH, Australia (AP) — Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the Hopman Cup mixed team event due to an unspecified leg injury and will be replaced by French compa...
• reuters West Ham unlikely to be active in January, says Bilic Dec 31 (Reuters) - West Ham United's improving injury situation has meant that they are unlikely to dip into the January transfer market, manager Slaven Bili...
• reuters Ukraine debates whether to celebrate Christmas twice KIEV, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Ukraine, which marks Christmas on Jan. 7 according to Orthodox Christian tradition, has embarked upon a national debate about whethe...
• reuters BBC reports own websites hit by cyber attack LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The BBC's online services, including its news website and iPlayer catch-up TV platform, were taken down on Thursday by a large web...
• reuters US STOCKS-Futures little changed on last trading day of 2015 By Abhiram Nandakumar Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed in subdued trading on the last day of the year, with the S&P 500 holdin...
• afp India hits one billion mobile phone subscribers India notched up its billionth mobile phone subscriber in October, the country's telecoms regulator said, underscoring the importance of its fast-growing mob...
• afp China building second aircraft carrier: defence ministry China is building its second aircraft carrier, the defence ministry said Thursday, as Beijing expands its naval capabilities amid maritime disputes with neig...
• reuters Erdogan vows no respite in Turkey's war on Kurdish militants By Nick Tattersall and Melih Aslan ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday vowed no let-up in a military campaign which he ...
• ap Pro-government militia leader killed in Yemen's Aden SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A drive-by shooting in Yemen killed a top pro-government militia leader and five of his companions in the southern city of Aden on Thursd...
• ap Egypt officials: Militants in Sinai kill entire family of 5 El-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Egyptian officials say militants in the restive northern Sinai have shelled a home near a security checkpoint, killing an entire famil...
• reuters In-form Arnautovic enjoying the attention, says Stoke's Hughes Dec 31 (Reuters) - Stoke City's Marko Arnautovic loves the spotlight and the Austrian forward should feed off the attention to continue his goalscoring spree...
• reuters Britain to review airport shop sales as retailers pocket tax savings LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Britain is to review airport retail sales after some businesses were found to be pocketing about half of tax savings meant for pas...
• ap Japanese research institute earns right to name element 113 TOKYO (AP) — A team of Japanese scientists have met the criteria for naming a new element, the synthetic highly radioactive element 113, more than a dozen ye...
• ap Officials close both directions of I-55 due to flooding ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 55 in both directions at the Meramec River due to historic flooding. Officia...
• afp Japan team to name element 113 in Asian first A Japanese research team has been granted the right to name new element 113, the first on the periodic table to be named by Asian scientists, the team's inst...
• reuters At issue in U.N. Syria ceasefire plan: Who is a terrorist? By Arshad Mohammed and Louis Charbonneau WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A U.N. plan to suspend Syria's nearly five-year-old civil war calls fo...
• reuters Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits off Nicaragua, no damages reported MANAGUA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit near the coast of Nicaragua on Thursday at a depth of 36.5 km (23 miles), the U.S. Geological Surv...
• reuters Drifting barge has missed Valhall North Sea platform -authorities OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A drifting barge has missed BP's Valhall platform in the North Sea by some two kilometres, a spokeswoman for the Rescue Coordination...
• afp Iran denies rockets fired near US carrier Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Thursday denied that its naval forces had test-fired rockets close to a US aircraft carrier in the strategically important Str...
• reuters Malaysia's anti-graft agency sends PM fund probe report to Attorney General KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Malaysia's anti-graft agency said on Thursday it had sent two reports to the attorney-general's office about its probes into...
• reuters Facebook fights for free Internet in India, global test-case By Himank Sharma and Douglas Busvine MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - India has become a battleground over the right to unrestricted Internet access, wit...
• pa Guus Hiddink dismisses talk of Cesc Fabregas leaving Chelsea in transfer window Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink insists Cesc Fabregas will not be leaving Stamford Bridge during next month's transfer window. Fabregas has suffered a d...
• reuters Palestinian shot dead after ramming car into Israeli troops -army JERUSALEM, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian who rammed them with his car in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the Israeli mi...
• pa Arsene Wenger thinks his Gunners have what it takes to hold on to pole position Arsene Wenger is adamant his Arsenal players have the required characteristics to remain top of the Barclays Premier League table and claim the title. The Gu...
• afp King of Mandela's clan jailed for 12 years in S.Africa A South African traditional king from Nelson Mandela's Thembu ethnic group began a 12-year prison sentence Thursday for arson, kidnap and assault of his subj...
• afp Palestinian in West Bank rams Israeli forces with car, shot dead A Palestinian drove his car into Israeli forces in the northern West Bank on Thursday before being shot dead, the Israeli army said. "A Palestinian attacker ...
• reuters Iran says any U.S. sanctions on missiles illegal DUBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Iran condemned on Thursday as arbitrary and illegal reported U.S. plans for new sanctions on international companies and individual...
• ap Scandal-hit Portuguese bank lost $10B in year it collapsed LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A one-time leading Portuguese bank that collapsed and caused an unprecedented financial scandal has reported losses of 9.2 billion eu...
• ap Ballots counted after pivotal C. African Republic election BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Votes are being counted after Central African Republic's much-delayed national elections had voters come out en masse...
• ap 2 sentenced to death in Bangladesh for killing blogger NEW DELHI (AP) — A court in Bangladesh on Thursday sentenced two people to death and six others to prison for killing an atheist blogger in 2013, the first v...
• ap Merkel thanks Germans for helping 1 million refugees BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her annual New Year's speech expressed gratitude to her fellow compatriots for their overwhelming support fo...
• reuters Sky-high stocks book fourth year of gains, tipped for more By John Geddie LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Stock markets in developed economies were set to record their fourth straight year of gains on Thursday while oil p...
• afp Two Rwandan peacekeepers shot dead in Haiti Two female Rwandan police officers working as peacekeepers in Haiti have been found dead in their home, the UN mission said Thursday, with Kigali saying they...
• reuters PRESS DIGEST- Canada- Dec 31 Dec 31 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their a...
• reuters The hunt for the Paris attackers Dec 31 (Reuters) - France and Belgium are hunting suspects after the shootings and bombings on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people and injured hundreds at a rock ...
• reuters Drifting barge on course to hit Valhall oilfield platforms-BP OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A drifting barge was about an hour away from hitting BP's oil installations at the Valhall oilfield in the North Sea, a spokesman sa...
• reuters Curtis hopeful Shelvey and Gomis will stay at Swansea Dec 31 (Reuters) - Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and striker Bafetimbi Gomis have not requested for a move away from the Liberty Stadium despite fall...
• ap BC-SOC--Australian Standings Central Coast 3, Wellington 1 Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Adelaide, 0840 GMT Brisbane vs. Perth, 0615 GMT Melbourne City vs. Sydney FC, 0830 GMT Newcastle v...
• ap As Taiwan polls loom, China warns of new challenges ahead BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday warned of a serious disruption of ties with Taiwan as the island's voters appear set to elect a new president with a far mor...
• reuters Indonesia arrests three with suspected links to Islamic State -media JAKARTA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Indonesian police on Thursday arrested three men with suspected links to Islamic State as part of an operation in the province of...
• reuters Belgian police detain six people over New Year's attack plot BRUSSELS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Belgian police have detained six people during house searches in Brussels in an investigation into a plot to carry out an attack...
• reuters China processing graft case against security boss's ex-mistress - paper BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chinese judicial authorities are processing a corruption case against a one-time mistress of the country's disgraced top security...
• reuters India's energy muscle helps Petronet get better Qatar gas deal By Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - India's biggest gas importer Petronet LNG will buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar's Rasgas at almost...
• afp S. Africa's Amla faces pressure in second England Test South African captain Hashim Amla will be under pressure in the second Test against England, starting at Newlands on Saturday. Amla and South Africa have not...
• ap Van Gaal back under scrutiny as Swansea visits Man United MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It speaks volumes about Manchester United's current plight that a 0-0 draw at home against a team languishing just above the Premi...
• pa Corporate returns 'likely to disappoint' if interest rate rises in 2016 A rise in interest rates in 2016 will make borrowing less attractive for large companies and put an end to the trend of increasing profits, a leading busines...
• pa Queen's 90th birthday falls in busy year for the Royals Milestone birthdays - young and old - a tour of India and an Olympic dream are just some of the events the Royal Family has to look forward to in 2016. What ...
• pa FTSE lost ground in 2015 amid 'difficult year for investors' The FTSE 100 Index lost ground in 2015 and brokers do not expect 2016 to be much better, with the market weighed down by low commodity prices and slowing gro...
• reuters Before Mosul, Iraqi army may face fight at the gates of Baghdad By Saif Hameed and Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Iraqi forces may face a big battle near Baghdad before they can try to retake the Islamic State ...
• afp Beijing, don't kill my vibe, say banned Chinese rappers Straight in at number one on the Chinese government's banned songs chart is IN3, a trio of brash, tattooed rappers who mix the earthy language of Beijing's s...
• reuters ConocoPhillips evacuates staff from Eldfisk North Sea platform, production shut down OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips has shut down output at its Eldfisk and Embla fields in the North Sea and was evacuating staff from its Eldfisk platf...
• reuters U.S. Midwest braces for more flooding as rain-swollen rivers rise Dec 31 (Reuters) - Missouri and Illinois were bracing for more flooding on Thursday as rain-swollen rivers, some at record heights, overflowed their banks, w...
• reuters China says carrying out tests of new long-range missile BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that it was carrying out routine tests of a new long-rang missile, after a U.S.-based w...
• afp Mother of US 'affluenza' teen arrives back in US A Texas woman accused of helping her teenage son flee the US in violation of his probation for killing four people while driving drunk arrived back in the US...
• reuters Crimea loses quarter of power after Ukraine halts supplies MOSCOW/KIEV, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Crimea has lost at least one quarter of its power after Ukraine switched off supplies, citing a downed electricity pylon, an ...
• reuters Britain's banking regulator ditches review of industry culture LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A public review of Britain's banking culture has been scrapped just months after it was announced, with the UK regulator saying on...
• reuters China to prosecute former deputy environment minister for graft BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chinese authorities will prosecute a former deputy environment minister for corruption after a probe by the ruling Communist Part...
• afp India's Modi hits out at opposition over stalled reforms Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the main opposition Congress party Thursday, accusing it of "disrupting" parliament and stalling key reforms a...
• reuters China says overseas anti-terror missions must respect host nation BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Any foreign counter-terrorism mission for China's armed forces would need to respect the charter of the United Nations and the so...
• ap China says it is building its second aircraft carrier BEIJING (AP) — China is building its second aircraft carrier, this time entirely with domestic technology, its Defense Ministry said Thursday, in a leap in i...
• ap English teams seek new inspiration as transfer window opens MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The January transfer window opens for business on Friday, and rarely has so much been at stake for teams in the lucrative English ...
• ap Venezuela top court bars 4 lawmakers from taking office CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday barred four incoming lawmakers from taking office, putting at risk the opposition's newly won two-th...
• afp Two Bangladeshi students sentenced to death over blogger murder A Bangladesh court sentenced two students to death on Thursday for the 2013 murder of a secular blogger, delivering the first convictions over a series of br...
• reuters China's CITIC wins projects to develop Myanmar economic zone By Aung Hla Tun and Timothy Mclaughlin YANGON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Consortia led by China's CITIC Group Corporation have won bids for two projects to develop ...
• reuters Australian championship results and standings Dec 31 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Australian championship matches on Thursday Thursday, December 31 Central Coast Mariners 3 Wellin...
• afp Freed Afghan village reveals key to Taliban 'success' Flanked by shaggy-haired gunmen, commander Ghulam Farooq peered out from a hilltop at the biggest military prize of his fabled career as a warlord -- a mud-w...
• reuters India to tighten rules for credit cooperatives to protect investors-official By Mayank Bhardwaj and Sumeet Chatterjee NEW DELHI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - India will crack down on errant financial firms that raise funds, mainly from millions...
• reuters Wenger rejects doubts about Arsenal's title credentials Dec 31 (Reuters) - Manager Arsene Wenger has rejected doubts about Arsenal's title credentials, saying statistics back him up about the Premier League leader...
• reuters Amid maritime disputes, China confirms building second carrier By Ben Blanchard and Megha Rajagopalan BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - After months of speculation, China confirmed on Thursday it is building a second aircraft ...
• reuters Rejected Moyes implores United to give Van Gaal more time Dec 31 (Reuters) - Rejected former boss David Moyes says Manchester United must not become a club that are continuously sacking managers and should give his ...
• reuters BP orders complete evacuation of Valhall field in North Sea, production shut down OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - BP said it ordered a total evacuation of its Valhall platform in the North Sea on Thursday after a barge broke its anchor and was dr...
• reuters Texas 'affluenza' teen delays extradition, mother deported from Mexico By Marice Richter and Dave Graham FORT WORTH/MEXICO CITY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The mother of a Texas teenager, scorned for his "affluenza" defense in a trial o...
• reuters Gunmen kill senior militia leader in Yemen's Aden - residents ADEN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and killed a senior Yemeni militia leader and four people travelling in his convoy in the southern city of Aden, residen...
• reuters Senior Chinese military officer sacked after drink binge death BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A senior Chinese military officer has been sacked for a drinking binge in which another officer died, the Defence Ministry said o...
• afp Backlash over pro-Beijing Hong Kong university appointment Hong Kong University students and alumni voiced fury Thursday after a pro-Beijing official was appointed to a senior role, as tension mounts over what critic...
• reuters Bangladesh sentences two to death for blogger killing DHAKA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A fast-track court in Bangladesh sentenced two former students to death on Thursday for the 2013 murder of an online critic of reli...
• reuters Hundreds of flights cancelled as Istanbul hit by heavy snow ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Hundreds of flights in and out of Turkey were cancelled for Thursday and Friday at Istanbul's two airports after the city was bl...
• afp N. Korean leader expresses deep grief over death of top aide North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has expressed deep sorrow over the death of a top aide, displaying unusual intimacy towards his "close comrade-in-arms whom n...
• reuters Mother of Texas "affluenza" teen arrives back in U.S. SEATTLE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The mother of a Texas teenager, known as the "affluenza" teen for using his family's wealth as a defense for killing four people ...
• ap Allegiant Air flight makes emergency landing in Rhode Island WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — Officials say an Allegiant Air flight traveling from Orlando, Florida, to Bangor, Maine, was forced to make an emergency landing at a Rh...
• ap Air India plane returns to Mumbai after rat spotted on board NEW DELHI (AP) — An Air India plane flying to London was forced to return to Mumbai after passengers spotted a rat on board, the airline said Thursday. Thoug...
• reuters Belgium makes 10th arrest in Paris attacks investigation BRUSSELS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A man was arrested during a search of a house in Brussels on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, making him the 10t...
• reuters China cracks whip on foreign banks with forex shut-out By Engen Tham and Denny Thomas SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chinese authorities are starting to police the nation's foreign exchange market in a wa...
• pa Premier League clubs all seeking to strengthen as transfer window reopens With the transfer window opening on January 1, most Premier League clubs will be looking at conducting business they hope can help them achieve their respect...
• reuters European shares to end 2015 with gains, albeit below earlier peaks By Sudip Kar-Gupta LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - European shares were set on Thursday to end 2015 with gains made over the course of the year, although they rem...
• ap AP-NORC Poll: Online surveillance is OK for most WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Americans say they support warrantless government surveillance of the Internet communications of U.S. citizens, according to ...
• ap Stage and screen stars honored along with Ebola fighters LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II's New Year honors list makes knights and dames out of some of Britain's best loved stage and screen stars even as it recogni...
• ap The Latest: 'Affluenza' teen's mom arrives in US from Mexico LOS ANGELES (AP) — The latest in the case of a Texas teenager serving probation for killing four people in a drunken-driving wreck after invoking an "affluen...
• ap Murakami's aged men show Japan's post-disaster spirituality TOKYO (AP) — In the gentrified kitsch landscape Takashi Murakami depicts, 500 grotesque priests parade along dazzlingly colorful giant panels. The artist's z...
• reuters Microsoft failed to warn victims of Chinese email hack--former employees By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp experts concluded several years ago that Chinese authorities had hacked into more than a thou...
• reuters Henry in for injured Southee in NZ squad for fourth ODI Dec 31 (Reuters) - New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee will miss the fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka on Saturday with a foot injury and will b...
• reuters Iran denies it fired rockets near U.S. warships in Gulf DUBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Iran denied on Thursday that its Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near the U.S. aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman and other war...
• ap List: Ban 'problematic,' 'walk it back,' ' secret sauce' DETROIT (AP) — So a university has decided, without holding a presser, that about a dozen words and phrases are problematic and should be banned from everyda...
• pa Manuel Pellegrini untroubled by Manchester City's form on the road Manchester City's struggles away from home are not worrying manager Manuel Pellegrini. Following Tuesday night's goalless draw against Leicester, Pellegrini'...
• afp Timeline of attacks on Bangladesh's secular bloggers A Bangladesh court sentenced two students to death on Thursday for the 2013 murder of secular blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider. Here are some key dates in a series...
• pa Whitehall 'not learning from past IT project failures' Government decision-makers are "not learning from past failures in IT projects" and as a result they are repeating mistakes, according to a new report. The P...
• pa Knee injury blow for Wales lock Jake Ball Wales lock Jake Ball is set for a lay-off that threatens his involvement in the RBS 6 Nations after suffering a knee injury. The 24-year-old Scarlets player ...
• reuters South Africa add uncapped Viljoen as cover for Abbott CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Uncapped fast bowler Hardus Viljoen was added to South Africa's test squad on Thursday after Kyle Abbott felt tightness in his ...
• reuters European shares dip, still set to end with gains for 2015 LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - European shares slipped on Thursday as weak oil prices weighed on equities, although major regional stock markets were still set t...
• reuters Cabaye hopes to see silverware at the Palace Dec 31 (Reuters) - Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye believes the high-flying south London side's chances of securing a berth in Europe are becoming mor...
• reuters BP assesses risk of drifting barge to North Sea platform OSLO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Oil firm BP is assessing whether a drifting barge is still posing a threat to its installations at the Valhall field in the North Se...
• reuters South Korea defends accord with Japan to settle 'comfort women' issue SEOUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - South Korea defended on Thursday an agreement with Japan to settle the issue of "comfort women" following criticism it was inadequa...
• ap Prescott, Mississippi State top NC State 51-28 in Belk Bowl CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) — Dak Prescott closed out his college career in impressive fashion, throwing for a Belk Bowl-record 380 yards and four touchdo...
• reuters China confirms building second aircraft carrier BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China on Thursday confirmed it is building a second aircraft carrier, as neighbours worry about Beijing's new assertiveness to cl...
• reuters Hiddink hits back at Garde for Remy interest Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has hit back at his Aston Villa counterpart Remi Garde for showing interest in under-utilised Blues striker L...
• reuters South Africa v England, second test CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Factbox on the second test between South Africa and England staring in Cape Town on Saturday: Jan. 2-6 (10:30 AM local, 0830 GM...
• reuters South Africa hoping for happier new year By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - South Africa will hope the new year brings about a change in luck as they seek to put behind them a disappointi...
• ap Australia's Smith, Indian offspinner Ashwin take ICC honors DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Australia captain Steve Smith and India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin have finished the year as the No. 1-ranked batsman ...
• ap Syrian family finds new home, new year's hope in Germany ZWICKAU, Germany (AP) — After months of flight and fear, the Habashieh family of Syria is starting to build a new home in Europe's heart and faces 2016 with ...
• ap NHL Capsules WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored twice during a four-goal rally in the third period and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesda...
• pa 'Defining' edition to mark 65th anniversary of rural drama The Archers The Archers editor Sean O'Connor has said the show will celebrate its 65th anniversary with an episode "completely different" from previous milestone edition...
• ap BC-HKN--NHL Standings %hdrmisc(At A Glance<%) %byline(By The Associated Press%) NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Toronto 3, Pittsburgh 2, SO Washington 5, ...
• ap Capitals score 4 in third, rally for 5-2 win over Sabres WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored twice during a four-goal rally in the third period and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesda...
• pa 'Extensive' review of airside sales to ensure VAT relief benefits consumers Chancellor George Osborne has announced a review of airside sales to ensure shops are passing on VAT savings to customers. The "extensive" review will make s...
• ap California shooter's friend indicted on gun, terror charges RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A grand jury has indicted the man who provided the guns used in the San Bernardino massacre on counts that include lying on document...
• afp Revived Sri Lanka turn tables in New Zealand ODI A cracking 91 by Tillakaratne Dilshan set Sri Lanka up for an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Nelson on Thursday to keep their one-day series alive....
• afp S. Korea's Park pleads support for WWII sex slaves deal South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Thursday urged the public to support her latest deal with Japan on wartime sex slavery as controversy grew over the a...
• reuters Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 31 BRATISLAVA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT ...
• reuters PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - Dec 31 MOSCOW, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does ...
• reuters Shanghai stocks end 2015 up 9.4 pct, beating Wall Street SHANGHAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Shanghai stocks ended 2015 up nearly 10 percent, beating Wall Street and most other major markets, and shaking off a savage summ...
• pa Tony McCoy caps 'crazy and memorable year' with a knighthood Tony McCoy called it an "unbelievable privilege" as he was awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours in recognition of his incredible racing career. The 4...
• afp Rwanda jails ex-pastor for life for genocide killings A Rwandan court has sentenced a former pentecostal pastor to life in prison for leading a massacre of people sheltering in his church during the 1994 genocid...
• afp Thai junta expands 'attitude adjustment' to drunk drivers It is a tool that has been wielded by Thailand's generals to stamp out dissent. But now so-called "attitude adjustment" sessions are targeting a new kind of ...
• ap Donald Trump launches scathing attack on Bill Clinton over his alleged affairs and calls him 'one of the great abusers' HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sought to assail Democrat Hillary Clinton on Wednesday by calling he...
• reuters Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Dec 31 PRAGUE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czec...
• afp Indonesia to appeal rejection of $565 mn haze lawsuit The Indonesian government will appeal a court's rejection of a $565 million lawsuit against a pulp and paper company accused of failing to prevent fires that...
• reuters Gunmen kill senior militia leader in Yemen's Aden - residents ADEN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Unknown gunmen shot and killed a senior Yemeni militia leader and four people travelling in his convoy in the southern city of Aden,...
• afp China tries 10 employees of US firm in fast food scandal Ten employees of a US company that supplied foreign fast food outlets in China including KFC and McDonald's have been put on trial over a substandard meat sc...
• afp 'Rat on a plane' forces Air India flight to turn back A "suspected rat sighting" in the cabin forced an Air India plane carrying more than 200 passengers to return to Mumbai almost three hours into a flight to L...
• reuters NHL standings Dec 31 (Infostrada Sports) - Standings from the NHL on Wednesday WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION W L OTL GF GA PTS 1. Dallas 27 8 3 132 97 57 2. St. Loui...
• reuters Poland - Factors to Watch Dec 31 Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour): C...
• reuters NBA-Injury woes hit Warriors' title defence Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors' NBA title defence has been hit by a spate of injuries to their players, an issue they did not have to grapple w...
• pa Appeal after man, 22, shot in Moss Side A man is in hospital after being shot in the chest in Manchester. The 22 year old is in a stable condition following the attack, which took place in Salisbur...
• afp Former Compaore ally elected head of Burkina Faso national assembly Burkina Faso's Salif Diallo, a former right-hand man of ousted president Blaise Compaore, was elected head of the national assembly, the country's second mos...
• afp US urges Ethiopia to free jailed journalists The White House demanded that Ethiopia stop using its controversial anti-terror law to jail journalists Wednesday, in an unusually stark rebuke for a key US ...
• reuters NHL-Highlights from Wednesday's NHL games Dec 31 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of National Hockey League games on Wednesday: - - - - Capitals 5, Sabres 2 Alex Ovechkin scored two third-period goa...
• ap New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka scoreboard NELSON, New Zealand (AP) — Scoreboard on Thursday in the third one-day cricket international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Saxton Oval: Martin Guptill...
• reuters Facebook fights for free Internet in India, global test-case By Himank Sharma MUMBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - India has become a battleground over the right to unrestricted Internet access, with local tech start-ups joining...
• afp Mavs deal short-handed Warriors second NBA loss of season The Golden State Warriors fizzled without red hot Stephen Curry on Wednesday, falling 114-91 to the Mavericks in Dallas in just their second defeat of the NB...
• reuters Oil, Asia shares see subdued end to year dominated by Fed, China By Nichola Saminather and Wayne Cole SINGAPORE/SYDNEY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Asian share markets looked set to end a rough, volatile year on a subdued note on T...
• ap Sri Lanka beats New Zealand by 8 wickets in 3rd ODI NELSON, New Zealand (AP) — Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the third one-day cricket international at Saxton Oval on Thursday. New Zealand lea...
• ap Curry-less Warriors blown out by Barea, Mavs 114-91 DALLAS (AP) — The Golden State Warriors flopped without Stephen Curry, getting blown out for just their second loss of the season behind 23 points for Dallas...
• reuters NBA standings Dec 31 (Infostrada Sports) - Standings from the NBA on Wednesday EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W L PCT GB 1. Toronto 20 13 .606 - 2. Boston 18 14 .563...
• reuters Romania - Factors to watch on Dec 31 BUCHAREST, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Thursday. WAGE HIKE Rom...
• ap Latest: Officials prepare to close I-55 south of St. Louis ST. LOUIS (AP) — The latest developments on flooding in the Midwest (all times local): 7:45 p.m. Officials are preparing for the possible closure of a major ...
• reuters Marsh finds pace to scratch 'pad rash' itch By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Having spent much of the home summer suffering "pad rash" from waiting to bat, Australia all-rounder Mitchell Mar...
• reuters At issue in U.N. Syria ceasefire plan: Who is a terrorist? By Arshad Mohammed and Louis Charbonneau WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A U.N. plan to suspend Syria's nearly five-year-old civil war calls fo...
• reuters NBA-Highlights from Wednesday's NBA games Dec 31 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights of National Basketball Association games on Wednesday: - - - - Spurs 112, Suns 79 Forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored 2...
• reuters One Day International New Zealand v Sri Lanka scoreboard Dec 31 (Infostrada Sports) - Scoreboard at close of play in the third One Day International between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Thursday in Nelson, New Zeal...
• reuters China rolls out reforms of controversial security force BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China has introduced reforms promising greater oversight over a controversial system of security officials that has often sparked...
• ap Q&As on Hillary Clinton's latest State email release WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department will be delivering a New Year's Eve batch of more emails from Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state, bringing 2...
• reuters Dilshan anchors improved Sri Lanka to stay alive in NZ series Dec 31 (Reuters) - Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his 47th one-day half century to anchor a much-improved Sri Lanka to a morale-boosting eight-wicket victory on...
• reuters Ashwin increases repertoire to keep batsmen in a spin NEW DELHI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is adding a surprise leg-break to his already formidable bag of tricks but is convinced ...
• ap Accosted for her hijab, woman now teaches Muslim empowerment When she was 16, Rana Abdelhamid was accosted on the streets of New York by a man who tried to pull off the head scarf she wears as a symbol of her commitmen...
• ap In Peru, ritual fighting with loud music and baby Jesus LIMA, Peru (AP) — Renato Nunez was looking for a fight after drinking seven bottles of beer with his friends. When he found his fight partner, Nunez stood fa...
• afp China to bid for 2023 AFC Asian Cup China is preparing to bid for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the continent's biggest football championship, the country's top soccer authority said as it hopes to o...
• reuters French journalist has to quit China after article on troubled Xinjiang By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A French journalist is being forced to leave China after the government said it would not renew her press credenti...
• afp Japan zoo recovers missing red panda after frantic search A Japanese zoo scrambled all of its staff Thursday to track down a missing red panda, a zoo spokesman said, finally recovering her in a nearby area. About 20...
• afp Israel apologises after diplomat uses Singapore flag as table cloth Israel said Thursday it has apologised for the "deplorable behaviour" of a junior diplomat at its embassy in the city-state who allegedly used a Singapore fl...
• reuters NBA-Lack of Curry leaves flat Warriors with no stomach for fight Dec 30 (The Sports Xchange) - The Dallas Mavericks took full advantage of Stephen Curry's absence with a lower left leg injury by bolting to an early 17-poin...
• afp Hong Kong leader blames Facebook 'hack' for racy pictures Hong Kong's leader Leung Chun-ying said his Facebook page was hacked after reports that scantily-clad women had appeared on his friends list. The embarrassin...
• ap Year behind and year ahead summed up in 2 words Asked to sum up in two words 2015 and expectations for the coming year, people around the world have this to say: ___ THAILAND "A mess and a fresh start." — ...
• ap Crews rescue boy who got stuck in chimney while with pals PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix firefighters rescued a 13-year-old boy who got stuck in a chimney Wednesday evening. The boy was playing with his friends on the roof ...
• ap US says Iran launched 'provocative' rocket test near ships DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday accused Iran of launching a "highly provocative" rocket test last week near its warships and commerc...
• ap Cruz raises nearly $20 million over last 3 months of 2015 NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz's campaign said Wednesday it has raised nearly $20 million over the last three months, a large...
• reuters Shanghai stocks poised to end 2015 up nearly 10 pct, beating Wall Street SHANGHAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China stocks fell on Thursday but the Shanghai market looked set to end 2015 up nearly 10 percent, easily beating Wall Street an...
• ap Eagles CEO says coach following Kelly needs people skills PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In the end, Chip Kelly created a poor culture and a beatable scheme. A day after firing Kelly, CEO Jeffrey Lurie made it clear he wants a...
• ap Jittery world bids adieu to a year marred by terror In Bangkok, police-flanked partygoers will ring in the new year at the site of a deadly bombing that took place just months ago. In Paris, residents recoveri...
• ap Rescue crews assist with evacuations in Midwest flooding ST. LOUIS (AP) — As swollen rivers and streams pushed to heights not seen in nearly a quarter-century, officials in Missouri and Illinois helped residents ge...
• reuters China warns of "complex changes" in Taiwan election year BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China's top official in charge of relations with self-ruled Taiwan warned on Thursday of "complex changes" ahead in ties with the...
• ap Asia stocks mixed after Wall Street falls on lower oil price BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed in thin trading Thursday after the latest decline in oil prices pulled Wall Street lower. Markets in Japan and ...
• afp Congo to hold early presidential elections on March 20 The Republic of Congo will hold early presidential elections in March, authorities said, after a new constitution removed barriers to President Denis Sassou ...
• ap Court temporarily stops Utah Planned Parenthood defunding SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday put an emergency hold on Utah's move to defund the state Planned Parenthood chapter. The decision ...
• reuters NBA-Charlotte forward Jefferson to undergo knee surgery Dec 30 (Reuters) - Charlotte Hornets forward Al Jefferson is to undergo surgery for a right knee injury and is expected to miss around six weeks, the team an...
• ap FBI offers $5,000 reward after bacon found at Vegas mosque LAS VEGAS (AP) — The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information that helps them find the person who put raw bacon on the door handles of a Las Vegas mos...
• ap Cammalleri, Schneider lift Devils over Senators 3-0 OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Mike Cammalleri scored twice, Cory Schneider made 36 saves and the New Jersey Devils beat the Ottawa Senators 3-0 on Wednesday night. ...
• reuters China to prosecute former deputy environment minister for graft BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chinese authorities will prosecute a former deputy environment minister for corruption after a probe by the ruling Communist Part...
• reuters GRAPHICS-Oil, commodities worst performers of 2015; EM assets suffer as dollar firms SINGAPORE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Oil and commodities were the world's worst-performing asset class for the second year running in 2015, pressured by China's eco...
• ap Friend of California shooter indicted on gun, terror charges RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A friend of one of the shooters in the San Bernardino massacre that killed 14 people was indicted Wednesday on charges that include ...
• ap 10 Things to Know for Thursday - 31 December 2015 Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday: 1. BILL COSBY CHARGED IN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT Bi...
• ap Parenteau, Holland lift Maple Leafs over Pens in SO, 3-2 PITTSBURGH (AP) — P.A. Parenteau and Peter Holland scored in the shootout to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Wednesday night...
• ap Appeals court reverses death sentence for Arizona killer TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona inmates sent to death row between the late 1980s and 2006 may be able to challenge their sentences after a federal appeals court...
• ap 58 workers laid off at Montana mine as coal industry slumps BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana coal mine announced Wednesday that it laid off dozens of workers and is cutting production amid an industrywide slowdown tha...
• reuters Hong Kong university appoints Beijing-backed academic despite objections By Farah Master HONG KONG, Dec 31 (Reuters) - One of Hong Kong's top universities has appointed a pro-Beijing professor as its chairman despite widespread ob...
• afp In 'City of Brotherly Love,' Mummers Parade embraces diversity For more than a century, New Year's Day in Philadelphia has meant one thing: the flamboyant costumes, boisterous music and exuberant dancing of the Mummers P...
• reuters U.S. preparing sanctions on Iran over ballistic missile program -sources WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is preparing new sanctions on international companies and individuals over Iran's...
• ap Manny Pacquiao to return April 9 against Bradley LAS VEGAS (AP) — Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring April 9 for the first time since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr., and it will be against a familiar fo...
• ap China finds storm caused sinking of cruiser that killed 442 BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities blamed freak weather and failures in the crew's judgment for the capsizing of a cruise ship that killed hundreds earlier t...
• ap Family of 2-year-old amputee adopts kitten that lost a limb SAN JACINTO, Calif. (AP) — A 2-year-old cancer survivor with an amputated arm is getting a special gift: A kitten that also suffered an amputation. Matt and ...
• ap Officials: 'Affluenza' teen remains in Mexico, mom deported MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Texas teenager known for using an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident likely won't return to the U.S. anytime soon...
• reuters North Korea says top aide to leader Kim dies in car crash By Jack Kim and James Pearson SEOUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A senior North Korean official and a top aide to leader Kim Jong Un has died in a car accident, state...
• reuters U.S.-trained commandos in Philippines kill 10 militants - army MANILA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S.-trained army commandos in the Philippines killed 10 al Qaeda-linked militants in a clash on a southern island, a military spo...
• ap Air Canada flight lands in Calgary after strong turbulence TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada says a flight en route from Shanghai to Toronto has been diverted to Calgary after emergency crews say heavy turbulence injured 21 ...
• reuters China says consulted widely on army reform, Xi closely involved BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China's military consulted widely on its sweeping reform programme, with President Xi Jinping closely involved by speaking with s...
• reuters Republican Carson raised about $23 mln for U.S. presidential bid -Politico Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson raised about $23 million in the last three months of 2015, Politico reported on Wednesda...
• reuters Microsoft to warn email users of suspected hacking by governments By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it will begin warning users of its consumer services including Outlook.com ...
• ap New Zealand makes 276-8 in 3rd ODI vs. Sri Lanka NELSON, New Zealand (AP) — Kane Williamson marked his return from injury with a 65-ball half century which helped New Zealand to 276-8 as it batted first Thu...
• reuters Russia can only use the United States as an excuse for so long By John Lloyd Dec 30 (Reuters) - Sergei Guriev, Russia's most prominent free market economist, left Moscow in 2013 for Paris, in fear of his liberty. He had ...
• reuters Chicago mayor plans changes to police policy after deadly shootings By Dave McKinney CHICAGO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Chicago police will get new equipment and training to defuse tense situations and limit use of lethal force, May...
• reuters Australia evacuates three coastal regions as fire risk grows By Colin Packham SYDNEY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Hundreds of residents and holidaymakers along southern Australia's popular Great Ocean Road were evacuated on Thu...
• reuters Record flooding hits U.S. Midwest, threatens South By Sue Britt and Kevin Murphy VALLEY PARK, Mo/KANSAS CITY, Mo, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Swollen rivers in the U.S. Midwest and other regions brought flood warnings...
• afp Syria releases opposition figures held on way to Riyadh meeting: party Syrian authorities have released two prominent members of the domestic opposition who were arrested on Wednesday as they travelled to Riyadh to meet other re...
• afp Mali extends state of emergency until March 31 Mali has extended by three months a nationwide state of emergency initially imposed following a deadly jihadist attack on a hotel in the capital in November,...
• reuters Texas 'affluenza' teen, mother sought low profile at Mexican resort By David Alire Garcia PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Ethan Couch, the wealthy Texas teenager who fled with his mother to Mexico, tried to keep a...
• ap Emerging from shadows, pot industry tries to build brands DENVER (AP) — Snoop Dogg has his own line of marijuana. So does Willie Nelson. Melissa Etheridge has a marijuana-infused wine. As the fast-growing marijuana ...
• reuters U.S. House panel seeks information on NSA spying report WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. House of Representatives committee asked the National Security Agency on Wednesday for information about a media report...
• afp Frantic US fight against record floods Soldiers and volunteers packed sand bags in a frantic effort to stave off floodwaters in the US state of Missouri, where 13 people have been killed and sever...
• pa Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao 'back to square one' after injury setback Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao has suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem and will be out until at least mid-January. Falcao has not played ...
• ap Warriors' Curry to miss game in Dallas with leg bruise DALLAS (AP) — Stephen Curry has been ruled out for Golden State's game at Dallas on Wednesday due a bruised lower left leg. An MRI revealed the bruise, and t...
• reuters San Bernardino shooter's visa file raised no red flags -US government sources By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - State Department visa officers conducted all required security checks on Tashfeen Malik, one of two shooters...
• ap Nigeria won't release 2 detainees despite court orders LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's government will not release two prominent detainees despite several court orders for their release, and will not comment on t...
• ap Details sparing on Alaska plane crash as probe continues ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Authorities declined to comment Wednesday on any possible connection between a deadly plane crash in downtown Anchorage and the fact...
• ap Bill Cosby charged with 2004 drugging, sex assault of woman ELKINS PARK, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby was arrested in the twilight of his life and career Wednesday and charged with a decade-old sex crime after a barrage of a...
• reuters Turbulence injures multiple Air Canada passengers, diverts flight Dec 30 (Reuters) - Turbulence on an Air Canada flight from China injured multiple passengers on Wednesday, forcing it to land in Calgary, Alberta, the airlin...
• pa Savings compensation limit falls by £10,000 under European directive The maximum amount that a saver will be protected by if their bank or building society goes bust will fall by £10,000 from tomorrow. The Financial Services C...
• reuters Criminal case against Cosby could hinge on credibility By David Ingram Dec 30 (Reuters) - Bill Cosby's sworn statement in 2005 that he used a prescription sedative to seduce at least one woman could be one crack ...
• reuters Chinese c.bank sets yuan mid-point at weakest since May 2011 SHANGHAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The People's Bank of China set its official yuan mid-point rate at 6.4936 per dollar prior to the market open on Thursday, its w...
• reuters 2-Bill Cosby charged with felony sexual assault in Pennsylvania By Daniel Kelley NORRISTOWN, Pa., Dec 30 (Reuters) - Bill Cosby was charged on Wednesday with sexually assaulting a woman after plying her with drugs and alc...
• reuters Neighbor of San Bernardino gunman indicted on terrorism charge By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A former neighbor who prosecutors say supplied assault rifles to the couple who massacred 14 people at a coun...
• reuters In first court appearance, Cosby cuts a feeble figure Dec 30 (Reuters) - The sight of 78-year-old Bill Cosby walking with a cane into a Pennsylvania courthouse as he held the hands of his lawyers on Wednesday wa...
• ap Thursday, January 7 Today is Thursday, Jan. 7, the 7th day of 2016. There are 358 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date: 1537 - Alessandro de Medici is assas...
• ap Lawyer: Trump comments could bias jurors in terrorism case NEW YORK (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's call for a ban on Muslim immigration into the United States will make it difficult to find u...
• ap The Latest: First family attending luau at friend's home WAIALUA, Hawaii (AP) — The latest on President Barack Obama's annual two-week vacation in Hawaii (all times local): __ 1:45 p.m. Vacationing President Barack...
• ap 5 soldiers who drowned in Missouri floods identified FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (AP) — Five international soldiers who were on holiday leave during a temporary assignment at Fort Leonard Wood drowned when their car...
• ap Police: Daughter shot by mother was visiting for holidays ST. CLOUD, Fla. (AP) — A woman fatally shot by her mother in central Florida after being mistaken for an intruder had been visiting for the holidays, police ...
• ap Latest: Daughter shot by mother didn't live at home ST. CLOUD, Fla. (AP) — The latest developments on a fatal shooting in central Florida (all times local): 7 p.m. Police in central Florida say a woman who was...
• reuters GM fails to avert first ignition switch trial By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected General Motors Co's bid to dismiss the first so-called "bellwether" case ...
• reuters U.S. ties ex-Panamanian president to SAP software bribery scheme By Joel Schectman and Christine Murray WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge identified the former president of Panama, Ricardo Mar...
• ap House Intelligence chair seeks answers on NSA spying report WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Wednesday his committee will look into a report the U.S. spied on the Israeli prime m...
• ap Mayor: Chicago police reforms should make force last option CHICAGO (AP) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that Chicago police must be better trained to distinguish between when they can use a gun and when they shou...
• pa TUC chief urges Government to boost wages in 'fairly shared' recovery The Government is being urged to stop attacking trade unions and help to boost workers' wages after new research showed average weekly pay is £40 below pre-r...
• reuters Microsoft failed to warn victims of Chinese email hack--former employees By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp experts concluded several years ago that Chinese authorities had hacked into more than a thou...
• afp Bruised leg sidelines Curry for Warriors clash with Dallas Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry has a bruised left lower leg and was held out of Wednesday's clash with the Mavericks in Dallas. "OFFICIAL: S...
• reuters Neighbor of San Bernardino gunman indicted on terrorism charge LOS ANGELES, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A former neighbor accused of supplying assault rifles to the couple who massacred 14 people in San Bernardino, California, wa...
• reuters Venezuela top court blocks four lawmakers-elect from taking office CARACAS, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Venezuela's Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked four newly elected lawmakers from taking office after a legal challenge by the rul...
• reuters National Football League roundup Dec 30 (The Sports Xchange) - Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said Wednesday that he felt the team was not going in the right direction -- "the end r...
• reuters Mother of 'affluenza' teenager deported to Los Angeles:Mexico official MEXICO CITY, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The mother of wanted Texan teenager Ethan Couch who fled with her son to Mexico, has been deported from the country on a flig...
• ap Truck, SUV collide on slushy Vermont mountain road; 3 dead KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police say a tractor-trailer crashed into an SUV on a mountain road covered with slush and ice, killing three people in ...
• reuters Microsoft to warn email users of suspected hacking by governments By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it will begin warning users of its Outlook.com email service when the compa...
• ap Sentencing hearing continued for former NBA player George TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Former NBA player and University of Connecticut star Tate George will have to wait until next month to find out his prison sentence for ...
• reuters Horse racing-McCoy to become Sir AP in New Year honours LONDON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Britain's twenty-times champion jump jockey AP McCoy was knighted by the Queen in the New Year Honours List on Wednesday. The 41-y...
• reuters UK retailer John Lewis sees 2.3 pct rise in Christmas week sales By Kate Holton LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - John Lewis, Britain's biggest department store chain, posted a 2.3 percent year-on-year rise in sales in the week t...