Monday, February 17, 2014

World News Briefs -- February 17, 2014

A Free Syrian Army fighter takes a position as he fires his weapon during clashes with forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Souran in the north Hama countryside February 15, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Stringer

Syria Peace Talks Failure Spurs U.S.-Russia Recriminations -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States accused Damascus on Monday of paralyzing Geneva peace talks, while Russia said nations backing Syrian rebels were leaning toward a military, not a negotiated, outcome to a civil war whose death toll exceeds 140,000.

A second round of talks in Geneva broke up on Saturday with chief mediator Lakhdar Brahimi lamenting a failure to advance much beyond agreement on an agenda for a third round later.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said President Bashar al-Assad's government was behind the impasse, aided and abetted by Russia and other allies of Damascus.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria blames US for creating 'negative climate' at Geneva talks.

Kerry accuses Assad of stonewalling in peace talks.

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah vows to keep fighters in Syria.

Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says nuclear talks will ‘lead nowhere.

Iran says Russia could build nuclear reactor in exchange for oil. Putin sparks fury amid claims Russia could build a second nuclear reactor in Iran in return for oil.

Iran says it may send forces into Pakistan territory.

Iraq attacks kill 17, army fights to retake town from militants.

US leans on diplomacy in Middle East.

ASIA

Torture, executions, rapes: the UN's dossier on North Korea's state abuses. NK leaders accused of crimes against humanity .

UN 'wants North Korean regime crimes punished'.

N. Korea promotes military chiefs as it marks late leader's birth.

Pakistan peace talks hit by soldier's deaths. Pakistan scraps Taliban talks after 23 kidnapped troops killed.

Karzai orders changes to bill that outraged rights groups.

Defiant Thai protesters besiege government buildings.

Japan's quarterly growth disappoints ahead of sales tax hike.

11 dead in record Japan snowfall.

China says keen on meeting with Taiwan president, but no rush.

AFRICA

Boko Haram gunmen kill scores in remote Nigerian village.

Counting the dead in South Sudan.

Ethiopian plane hijacked to Geneva by co-pilot.

Uganda: Wanted LRA rebel commander believed dead.

Egyptian population explosion worsens social unrest.

UN: Weapons for Somalia government diverted to militants.

Sudan, Egypt hold talks on Nile resources in Khartoum.

EUROPE

Sochi 2014 Olympics: Live

Sochi Olympics: Putin maintains a disciplined show.

New IRA sent bombs to army recruitment centres, Met confirms.

Ukraine amnesty comes into force after protesters retreat.

Ukraine opposition seek curbs on Yanukovich powers.

Italian president set to ask Matteo Renzi to form new government.

‘Nearly impossible’ for an independent Scotland to join EU, says EC President.

Data protection: Angela Merkel proposes Europe network.

EU halts Switzerland research and education talks.

Third of Afghan heroin goes to Russia – Kremlin official.

AMERICAS

Venezuela's Lopez says ready for arrest at Tuesday march.

Venezuela president expels three US consular officials.

Venezuela split by pro- and anti-Maduro protests.

Brazil rations water in 140 cities amid worst drought in decades.

Excessive radiation levels detected at New Mexico waste site.

'Killer heroin' causing fatal overdoses in U.S. East.

US drug policy fuels push for legal pot worldwide.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Radical group in Syria even too brutal for al Qaeda, report says.

South Korean tourists killed in Egypt bombing.

Six suspected terrorists detained in Kyrgyzstan.

The tangled web of words that ‘al Qaeda’ has become.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Foreign banks bracing for tough U.S. Fed capital rules.

Google buys sound authentication firm SlickLogin.

Detroit bankruptcy bond fight a watershed for municipal market.

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