WorldNews

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaican health officials says air quality tests done in the wake of a massive dump fire show such high levels of a known carcinogen that they now consider it a significant public health issue. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19326[/attach] Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan Monday agreed a preliminary deal on a controversial dam project that Cairo feared would reduce its share of vital waters from the Nile. The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan all gathered in Khartoum to sign the agreement of principles on Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam project. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19325[/attach] Oil company BP said on Monday it has stopped supporting conservative political group ALEC, becoming the latest corporation to end its membership in a group critics say works to deny the existence of climate change. "We have determined that we can effectively pursue policy matters of current interest to BP without renewing our membership in ALEC," a spokesman said. BP was the second large oil company to drop support of the group after Occidental Petroleum cut ties last year. Companies have come under pressure from environmental and civic groups to end their associations with the American Legislative Exchange Council, a coalition of about 2,000 state lawmakers and corporations that promotes free trade and limited government intervention. Continue reading...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pakistan needs short-range "tactical" nuclear weapons to deter arch-rival India, a top adviser to its government said Monday, dismissing concerns it could increase the risk of a nuclear war. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19324[/attach] Karim Wade, the son of former Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade bidding to follow his father to the top office, was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday in a deeply divisive graft case. He was however cleared of the main corruption charge -- initially said to involve one billion euros but later whittled down to 105 million euros -- by a special anti-corruption court in Dakar. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19320[/attach] LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron says he will serve a full second term if he's re-elected in May — but he won't seek a third. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19319[/attach] Ultra-conservative Republican US Senator Ted Cruz launched his White House quest on Monday, invoking his abiding faith in God as he effectively kick-started the 2016 presidential race. The 44-year-old Tea Party favorite from Texas chose Liberty University, the sprawling Christian evangelical bastion founded by Reverend Jerry Falwell, as the site of the official unveiling of his White House ambitions. Cruz is the first candidate to formally join what will be a crowded Republican field vying to be their party's champion in the marathon slog to succeed President Barack Obama. Continue reading...

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish opposition lawmaker said Monday that an American and a Canadian are among a group of doctors and medical students believed to have traveled from Turkey into territory in Syria controlled by the Islamic State group. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19318[/attach] US and Israeli envoys refused to attend a UN Human Rights Council special session Monday on the situation in the Palestinian territories in the aftermath of the 2014 Gaza conflict. The US decision will disappoint those who hoped the recent disagreement between the allies over Iran policy and the Middle East peace process would see Washington withhold diplomatic cover from Israel. "As was the case last year, the United States will not engage in the debate. Neither will Israel. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19317[/attach] A candidate for Britain's ruling Conservative Party in a key seat in May's general election resigned on Monday after being accused of plotting with the far-right to stage a fake anti-mosque protest. The Mail on Sunday published a video of Afzal Amin apparently discussing a scheme with the English Defence League in which he would step in to defuse the fabricated rally in a bid to boost his support. Amin said earlier on Monday that he would mount a "robust defence" of his actions, but later a Conservative Party spokesman said he would resign as an election candidate with "immediate effect". Continue reading...

[attach=full]19306[/attach] As they advance south, Yemen's Iran-linked Huthi militiamen are moving within striking distance of the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital corridor through which much of the world's maritime trade passes. Only about 30 kilometres (20 miles) across at its narrowest point, the strait separates the Arabian Peninsula from east Africa and links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Nearly 40 percent of global maritime trade is estimated to pass through the strait, much of it on its way to and from the Suez Canal. As Yemen's Shiite Huthi militiamen have moved south after seizing the capital Sanaa last year, concern has been growing about their intentions for Bab al-Mandab. Continue reading...

Kenya plans to build a new road, more border crossings and barriers on its 700 km (420 mile) border with Somalia in an attempt to thwart attacks from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, the interior ministry said on Monday. Kenya is under heavy pressure to improve security after numerous militant attacks that have killed well over 200 people since 2013, mostly in the border counties of Mandera and Lamu. The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group has claimed responsibility for much of the bloodshed and has vowed revenge against Kenya for contributing troops to an African Union force battling the militants in Somalia. "The idea is to ensure that there are clear border entry points," said Mwenda Njoka, a spokesman for Interior Secretary Joseph Nkaissery. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19305[/attach] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to be tasked with forming the next coalition government this week after winning on Monday a clear majority of support from newly elected MPs. Netanyahu's surprise victory in last week's snap election has paved the way for the likely emergence of a new rightwing religious government that may complicate efforts to resurrect the peace process and pose further challenges for Israel's troubled ties with Washington. The Israeli leader is expected to be formally handed the task of building a coalition government on Wednesday after securing the backing of a solid majority of MPs in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Backing for Netanyahu to stay in the post came during two days of talks between President Reuven Rivlin and representatives of the 10 parties elected to parliament who told him whom they would recommend as prime minister. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19304[/attach] WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghanistan's president kicked off his Washington visit Monday by thanking U.S. troops and taxpayers for their sacrifices in nearly 14 years of war. He pledged that his impoverished country will not remain a burden to the West. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19303[/attach] SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemen's Shiite rebels, backed by supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have largely seized the third-largest city after capturing the capital Sanaa in September, effectively splitting the country in half and hindering U.S. efforts to combat a powerful local al-Qaida affiliate. Continue reading...

The European Commission urged Greece on Monday to take real action and make progress towards implementing reforms that could unblock more loans to Athens, stressing that political will, even if strong, was not enough at this stage. We are expecting it now," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a news briefing. Continue reading...

Lee Kuan Yew, the autocratic founder of modern Singapore who died Monday, never shrank from expressing his views bluntly. He was known as much for his tough talk as a pithy turn of phrase in campaign speeches, press interviews and parliamentary debates. Here are some of his oft-quoted comments: Continue reading...

BRUSSELS (AP) — The U.N. envoy to Libya is cautiously optimistic that candidates to run a government uniting all the conflict-torn country's political factions could be named this week. Continue reading...

Greece's financial aid program is set to be changed to accommodate its new government, a senior European Central Bank official said on Monday, noting that the bank stood ready to support the country. "There is a clear willingness and good faith on all sides to step up the efforts and deliver within this framework ... taken in the Eurogroup," ECB executive board member Benoit Coeure said at a news conference in Montenegro, referring to an agreement with euro zone member states in February. "The three institutions, including the ECB, are committed to support this as much as we can." "It is understood that the program will be amended to reflect the new priorities of the Greek government ... to make sure than any change of the program reaches an equivalent outcome in terms of ... fiscal stability," he said. Continue reading...

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister has secured a majority of backers in the new parliament and will now be tasked with forming the next government. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19297[/attach] NEW YORK (AP) — An ultra-Orthodox Jewish community shattered by the deaths of seven siblings in a house fire held their funerals a day after a hot plate left on for the Sabbath is believed to have caused the blaze. Continue reading...

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Monday following Wall Street's gains amid expectations global central banks will hold off raising interest rates. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19296[/attach] Yemen is nearing "the edge of civil war", the UN envoy to the country warned as the Security Council voiced unanimous support for its embattled leader and Shiite militia seized the airport in a key city. The impoverished country has descended into chaos in recent months, with the militia, known as Huthis seizing control of capital Sanaa and forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the main southern city of Aden. The UN Security Council held an emergency session Sunday as unrest mounted, including suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 142 people in Sanaa on Friday. "(Recent events) seem to be leading Yemen to the edge of a civil war," UN envoy Jamal Benomar told the meeting on Sunday by video link from Qatar, warning that without immediate action "the country will slide further into further violence and dislocation". Continue reading...

BEIJING (AP) — China's biggest state-owned chemical company announced plans Monday to acquire Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli, adding to a string of high-profile Chinese corporate purchases in Europe. Continue reading...

[attach=full]19295[/attach] Kim Hyo-Joo, fired up after a bogey at the 10th, birdied five of her last eight holes to win the LPGA Founders Cup by three strokes from Stacy Lewis. "In the morning, I wasn't concentrating on winning because I was playing with Stacy Lewis and as a rookie, I just felt that by playing with her, I would learn a lot from her," Kim said. Sweden's Anna Nordqvist joined the group with a sparkling 64, American Austin Ernst and South Korea's Kim Sei-Young both posted 65s, while South Korean Choi Na-Yeon posted a 66 for 273. After a birdie at the second, Kim gave the stroke back with a bogey at the par-three fourth, but was one-under for the round with a two-stroke lead at the turn after a birdie at the ninth. Continue reading...