Tuesday, January 28, 2014

World News Briefs -- January 28, 2014 (Evening Edition)

U.S. President Barack Obama sits inside the Oval Office with a pen in hand as he prepares for Tuesday night's State of the Union Address to the nation on Capitol Hill, while at the White House in Washington, January 27, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing

Obama To Lay Out Go-It-Alone Approach In State Of Union Speech -- Reuters

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama will lay out a strategy for getting around a divided Congress and boosting middle-class prosperity on Tuesday in a State of the Union speech that reflects scaled-back legislative ambitions after a difficult year.

Obama will make clear in his 9 p.m. address that he is willing to bypass U.S. lawmakers and go it alone in some areas by announcing a series of executive actions that do not require congressional approval.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria peace talks on hold as Assad regime, opposition again fail to agree on basics of plan for transitional gov't.

Syrian government backs away from U.N. plan on humanitarian relief for Homs.

Syria peace talks struggle in Switzerland.

UN agencies standby to aid embattled Homs.

US Congress secretly approves sending small arms to ‘moderate’ Syrian rebels.

Iraq says Syria war spillover hinders oilfields, pipelines.

Iraq will take action if Kurds export oil before deal reached.

Netanyahu: interim deal set Iran's nuclear drive back by 6 weeks.

Israeli jailed for attempting to spy for Iran.

U.N. nuclear inspectors in Iran to visit uranium mine.

Israel barrier threatens to split West Bank villages. Israel, Abbas spar over Palestinian security steps in West Bank.

Istanbul gun attack heightens violence fears ahead of local polls.

Turkish central bank makes massive rate hike to stem lira fall.

ASIA

Afghan President denies blaming US for 'insurgent-style' attacks.

Kim Jong has 'executed or banished more than 100 members of his uncle's family since Christmas to rid all trace of him'.

Anti-polio drive in Peshawar, Pakistan falters.

Pakistani Taliban, with new leader, is back on the offensive.

Pakistan 'on war footing to smash Taliban'.

Bhutto son urges Pakistan military action on Taliban.

Official: Pakistan will face brunt of Afghan instability after next year, as war winds down.

Thai government vows to proceed with elections.

Philippines army kills Muslim rebel holdouts.

Taiwan, China to hold historic talks, but avoid sensitive issues.

Prominent Chinese rights activist to appeal sentence.

Japan revises school manuals to set out territorial claims.

Sri Lanka says international war crimes probe would bring 'chaos'.

AFRICA

South Sudan rebel leader should face treason charge: minister.

UN approves additional troops in CAR.

Gunmen kill Egyptian general, ousted president defiant at trial. Mohamed Morsi defiant in face of jailbreak and conspiracy charges.

Attacks by extremists kill at least 99 Nigerians. Nigerians call for new strategy after Boko Haram strikes yet again.

Rebels escorted from base in C. African Republic.

Insurgents in first shoot down Egyptian Apache helicopter.

French defense minister warns of 'explosion of violence' in Libya.

AU lifts Madagascar suspension.

South African opposition groups merge. Mamphela Ramphele takes on Jacob Zuma for South African presidency.

EUROPE

Putin criticizes EU's diplomacy in Ukraine.

Ukrainian premier submits resignation. Ukraine's PM Azarov and government resign. Ukraine scraps protest laws as PM steps down.

Ukraine 1st deputy PM Arbuzov to take over as acting PM: Azarov spokesman.

U.K.'s Queen Elizabeth down to last $1.6 million in reserves after royal overspend.

Polish ex-intelligence official says time for truth on CIA jail.

Top Kremlin critic takes aim at Sochi Olympics corruption.

EU meets Russia for 'clear the air' talks with Putin.

Italy's Renzi issues warning as delays threaten voting reform.

Former military chief refuses to testify in Bosnia genocide trial. Mladic refuses to testify for Karadzic at ICTY trial.

UK economy growing at fastest rate since 2007.

Michael Schumacher still in coma one month after accident.

AMERICAS

Obama to deliver State of the Union Address Tuesday.

Paper shortage threatens closure of Venezuela dailies.

Nicaragua scraps term limits in boost for socialist Ortega.

$37 million in cocaine arrives in Miami Beach after ‘historic haul’ by Coast Guard.

LatAm foreign ministers kick off Cuba summit.

Peru-Chile border defined by UN court at The Hague.

Rare winter storm brings ice and snow to U.S. South.

Mexico says catches senior Knights Templar drug gang boss.

New Honduran leader sworn in, urges more US help. New Honduras President takes helm, criticizes U.S. drug policy.

The return of the firing squad? US states reconsider execution methods.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

US steps up African al-Qaida fight.

UN urges end to ransom payments to terrorist groups.

Rep. McCaul calls Sochi terror threat the greatest he's seen.

US Embassy plot reveals Israel's growing Al Qaeda problem.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Global smartphone shipments top one billion 'milestone'.

Samsung sets new smartphone sales record in fourth quarter, widens lead over Apple: report.

US frees tech companies to provide more spying data.

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