An arbitration panel ordered Lance Armstrong and Tailwind Sports Corp. To p]y USD 10 million in a fraud dispute with a promotions company for what it called an "unparalleled pageant of international perjury, fraud and conspiracy" that covered up his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
     Dallas-based SCA Promotions announced the 2-1 decision against the former cyclist when its lawyers said Monday they had asked Texas' 116th Civil District Court in Dallas to confirm the arbitration ruling, dated Feb. 4. The panel included a neutral chairman, who ruled in favor of SCA, and one person selected by each side.
     Tim Herman, a lawyer for Armstrong, insisted the ruling is contrary to Texas law and predicted it will be overturned by a judge.
     SCA paid Armstrong and Tailwind, the since-dissolved team management company, about USD 12 million in bonuses during Armstrong's career, when he won seven Tour de France titles. Those victories were stripped after Armstrong and his U.S. Postal ...

Lance Armstrong loses USD 10 million arbitration ruling

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Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, who topped the charts in 1963 at age 16 with her epic song of teenage angst, "It's My Party," and followed it up with the hits "Judy's Turn to Cry," and the feminist anthem "You Don't Own Me," has died.
	She was 68.
	Gore died of lung cancer at New York University Langone Medical Center in Manhattan yesterday, according to her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson.
	"She was a wonderful human being caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Sasson, a jewelry designer, told The Associated Press.
	Brooklyn-born and New Jersey-raised, Gore was discovered by Quincy Jones as a teenager and signed to Mercury Records. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in English/American literature.
	Gore's other hits include "She's A Fool," ''Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," ''That's the Way Boys Are" and "Maybe I Know." She co-wrote with her brother, Michael, the Academy Award-nominated "Out Here On My Own" from ..

'It's My Party' singer-songwriter Lesley Gore dies at 68

The eurozone today gave Greece an end-of-week ultimatum to accept a key condition in their talks on how to make the country's debts sustainable after a meeting ended in acrimony.
	The creditor nations in the eurozone said Greece must request an extension to its bailout program something Athens has vowed not to do, as it wants to scrap the deal, which it views as harmful to its economy, in favor of a new one with easier terms.
	The eurozone promised that if Greece accepts an extension to buy time and stave off financial uncertainty, it would offer an immediate renegotiation of the bailout's terms.
	After a meeting of the eurozone's 19 finance ministers was ended abruptly, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the gatherings, relayed his "sense of disappointment" that the two sides had not bridged their differences over how to proceed with the new Greek government's aspiration to ease its bailout terms. He said another meeting on Friday was possible if Athens makes the request.
	"We simply ...

Eurozone gives Greece ultimatum over bailout talks

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has banned Iranian nationals from admission to certain graduate programs in a move that school officials say aligns its policy with US sanctions against Iran.
	The university will no longer admit students from Iran to some programs in engineering and natural sciences.
	The National Iranian American Council says that interpretation of the law is flawed and may violate protections against discrimination.
	Congress enacted legislation in August 2012 that denies visas for Iranian citizens to study in the US if they plan to study for a career in the energy or nuclear fields in Iran.
	But a US State Department official says federal law doesn't prohibit qualified Iranian nationals from seeking an education in science and engineering. Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

US college bans Iranians from engineering, science programs

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group has strongly denounced the Islamic State group's beheading of a group of Egyptian Christian hostages in Libya.
	In a speech to hundreds of his supporters in southern Beirut today, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah says the CIA and Israel's Mossad are behind the extremist group, which serves their interests.
	He claims Israel is the only country which has not been affected and does not consider the group a threat.
	The Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah group, which has sent thousands of its fighters to Syria to help shore up President Bashar Assad's forces, has positioned itself as a vanguard against Sunni extremists such as the Islamic State group.
	Nasrallah called on regional governments to work together to confront IS, whose crimes "are a threat to the entire universe.

Hezbollah leader denounces mass beheading of Copts

Seven people are dead and four others are missing in central Argentina after heavy rain led to street floods that swept up several people, including a 5-year-old girl.
	Civil Defence director Diego Concha told the television station TN that more than 1 foot of rain fell during a 12-hour span in the province of Cordoba, about 700 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires.
	Concha said the bodies of the girl and a young man were recovered today, and the others, of various ages, were recovered late yesterday.
	He said authorities evacuated 400 people and several hundred others had fled on their own.
	Images from several local stations showed powerful currents moving vehicles and flooding storefronts and houses.

7 dead, 4 missing in floods in central Argentina

Six Afghan police officers were killed and another three wounded today when a house in the Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province exploded as police were approaching it, a police commander said.
	Sultan Mohammed, police chief for Kandahar's Maiwand district, Mohammed said it was still unclear what caused the explosion.
	But Mohammed said that it appeared militants in the house were making a bomb and the device either exploded accidentally or was detonated when they saw police approaching the house.

Explosion in Afghanistan kills 6 police, wounds 3

The slain gunman behind two deadly shooting attacks in Copenhagen was released from jail just two weeks ago and might have become radicalized there last summer, a source close to the Danish terror investigation said today.
	Two Danish sources close to the investigation confirmed to the AP that the slain gunman was named Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because Copenhagen police have not named the gunman, who they said was a 22-year-old Dane.
	Several Danish media have already named him.
	One source said that El-Hussein had been in pre-trial detention for a long time but was released two weeks ago. He also said the corrections authority had alerted Danish security service PET last year after they noticed worrisome changes in El-Hussein's behavior. He wouldn't elaborate.
	The weekend attacks in Copenhagen killed two people and wounded five police officers.
	The news about the suspected gunman came as Danes mourned the two victims of the country's .

Slain suspect in Copenhagen attacks just got out of prison

A reputed al-Qaida operative has decided to act as his own attorney at a US terrorism trial.
	Abid Naseer is expected to give an opening statement tomorrow in federal court in New York City.
	The Pakistani defendant has pleaded not guilty to charges he was part of a conspiracy in 2009 to bomb a mall in Manchester, England, and the subways in New York City.
	Prosecutors say the trial will feature evidence seized during the Navy SEAL raid in 2011 that left Osama bin Laden dead. The jury also will hear testimony from undercover British intelligence officers who have been given permission to take the witness stand in disguises to conceal their identities.
	If convicted, Naseer faces a possible life sentence.

Reputed al-Qaida operative to represent himself at US trial

The Nigeria-based terror group Boko Haram issued a new threat today against neighboring countries Niger and Chad, warning the fighters were prepared to carry out suicide bombings in the countries sending troops to help fight the extremists.
	The warning came as leaders from Niger and other countries in the region gathered in Cameroon's capital to finalize plans for a joint offensive against the militants who have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks.
	In a translation published by the SITE Intelligence Group, Boko Haram sharply criticized Niger for joining the effort and said the country was being dragged into a "swamp of darkness."
	Over the last 10 days, Boko Haram fighters have repeatedly struck the town of Diffa but not the capital.
	"If you insist on continuing the aggression and the coalition with the government of Chad, then we give you glad tidings that the land of Niger is easier than the land of Nigeria and moving the war to the depth of your cities will be the first ...

Boko Haram issues new threat against Niger, Chad

A Danish court today jailed two suspected accomplices of the slain gunman behind the deadly attacks in Copenhagen while the prime minister said there were no signs of links to a wider terror network.
	Danes mourned the two victims of the country's first fatal terror attacks in 30 years, while some also put flowers at the spot where police killed the gunman.
	The suspects arraigned today were accused of helping the gunman evade authorities and get rid of a weapon during the manhunt that ended early yesterday when the attacker was killed in a shootout with a SWAT team, said Michael Juul Eriksen, the defense attorney for one of the two suspects.
	Prosecutors had asked a judge to place them in four weeks of solitary confinement and the relatively short period of detention 10 days in custody suggests the case against the men is "thin," added Juul Eriksen's assistant, Anders Rohde.
	Rohde was speaking to reporters after a four-hour custody hearing held behind closed doors for the men, who ..

Danish PM says Copenhagen gunman not part of wider cell

Authorities say a New Jersey woman has been found dead in the snow just two doors from her home amid sub-freezing temperatures.
	Ocean County prosecutors say a neighbor found 66-year-old Olivia Benito on Sunday morning.
	Prosecutors say the neighbour and Benito had attended a benefit together on Saturday night, and Benito had consumed several alcoholic drinks.
	The neighbour says Benito stayed at her house for a while after they returned, then left around midnight to go home. The neighbour found Benito the next morning when she went out to clear snow from her car.
	Authorities say Benito's death is under investigation.

Woman found dead in snow outside neighbour's New Jersey home

Police say that a mother in the Czech Republic is suspected of killing three of her newborn babies.
	Spokeswoman Petra Vedrova said that police discovered the bodies after receiving a tip from medical workers.
	Vedrova said in a statement today that the 25-year-old suspect was rushed to a hospital for treatment following her most recent delivery on Thursday.
	Acting on the tip, police inspected the woman's house in the southeastern village of Dolni Dunajovice, finding the dead body of the newborn baby as well the remains of two others who were not twins.
	If convicted of three murders she could face up to life in prison.
	Police said the suspect was an occasional drug user but did not release any other details.

Police: Czech mother suspected of killing 3 newborn babies

Indonesian officials today said that eight convicted drug smugglers, including seven foreigners, would be transferred to a prison island this week for imminent execution despite international appeals for clemency.
	Among the eight are Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, the ringleaders of a group of nine Australians who were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin to Australia from the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
	The seven other members of the group, dubbed the "Bali Nine" by Australian media, have received prison sentences ranging from 20 years to life.
	In addition to Chan and Sukumaran, five men from France, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria and Indonesia, and a woman from the Philippines, will face a firing squad after being moved to Nusa Kambangan prison, Attorney General's Office spokesman Tony Spontana said, without giving exact dates. Six other drug smugglers, including five foreigners, were executed in January at the same prison, located off ...

Indonesia moving 2 Aussies, 5 other foreigners for execution

New England remained bitterly cold today after the region's fourth winter storm in a month blew through.
	Forecasters said another winter blast might hit midweek.
	Forecasters had yesterday warned of exceptionally cold air, perhaps the coldest in years. Strong winds were expected to continue into today, reducing visibility, creating drifts and complicating an ongoing cleanup effort.
	Matthew Belk of the National Weather Service said exposed skin could start to develop frostbite in "a matter of minutes."
	The Arctic cold front already had frozen the upper Midwest.
	New Englanders were talking in superlatives for this winter, harshest, most relentless. Boston already had 6 feet of snow before the latest storm.
	Some areas of New England reported nearly 2 feet of snow from the storm.
	The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said it will resume limited service today after the latest snowstorm forced the agency to suspend service again.
	The Coast Guard said it rescued an Australian 

Biting cold air follows latest New England snowstorm

Homeless men and women lined up today off St Peter's Square to take advantage of Pope Francis' latest charitable initiative: a free shave and shower for the least fortunate.
	Mauro Casubolo, 49, was one of the first clients as the pope's barbershop opened in the public restrooms just off the Bernini Colonnade.
	"It's a beautiful thing he's done for us, especially for us who live in the middle of the streets, because if you want to try to go find some work you can come here and have a shower," he said.
	Francis' chief alms-giver, Monsignor Konrad Krajewski, has said the project is needed since homeless people are often shunned for their appearance and smell. The initiative is being funded by donations and the sale of papal parchments by Krajewski's office.
	Barbers volunteering on their days off, Rome's barber shops are often closed Mondays, as well as students from a local beauty school are donating their time, as well as some sisters from religious orders and other ...

Vatican offers free showers and shaves to the homeless

Pope Francis today denounced the slaying by the Islamic State of Egyptian Copts in Libya, saying they were "assassinated just for being Christian."
	Francis spoke off-the-cuff during an audience with a Scottish ecumenical delegation. He said: "They only said 'Jesus help me ...' The blood of our Christian brothers is testimony that cries out. Be they Catholic, Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, it doesn't matter: They're Christian!"
	Militants in Libya affiliated with the Islamic State group released a video late Sunday purporting to show the mass beheading of Coptic Christian hostages held for several weeks.
	The killings raised anxieties in Italy, given Libya's proximity just across the Mediterranean Sea and because one of the militants in the video said the group plans to "conquer Rome," the seat of Catholicism.

Pope denounces slaying of Egyptian Copts by Islamic State

The Gulf island nation of Bahrain says it has deployed fighter planes to Jordan, a day after it announced plans to send troops to the kingdom.
	Bahrain's brief statement early today said the planes would "participate in the international efforts aiming to eliminate terrorism."
	It did not provide details, and military officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
	Bahrain is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet and like Jordan is part of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group. Gulf neighbor the United Arab Emirates previously deployed a squadron of F-16 fighters to Jordan.
	Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa visited Jordan last week, and his government yesterday announced it was sending an unspecified number of troops to help support Jordan.

Bahrain joins Emirates in sending fighter planes to Jordan

Students in Liberia began returning to the classroom today after a six-month closure during the Ebola epidemic that left thousands dead in this West African country.
	In the capital, lines formed outside entrances where returning students' temperatures were being taken. Ebola's main symptom is a high fever, and only those who are sick can spread the deadly virus to others.
	Deputy Education Minister Remses Kumbuyah said more than 5,000 kits were distributed to schools that included thermometers and chlorine for hand-washing.
	"They should wash their hands in chlorine and they should ensure that there is no touching while on campus," the minister told The Associated Press. "We are asking all the school administrators to ensure that a classroom should not have more than 45 or 50 students."
	Overcrowding is a major problem in Liberia's schools, where as many as 100 pupils may be in a single classroom. Since Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, administrators want to 

Liberia schools reopen after 6-month Ebola closure

The show went at the world's most-celebrated Carnival parades, despite a tropical deluge that soaked thousands of feather-clad dancers, wildly costumed musicians and masses of spectators at Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome.
	The skies opened up about an hour ahead of the start of the all-night-long extravaganza, drenching revelers, flooding streets near the Sambadrome and even the walkways within Rio's Mecca of Carnaval.
	Tennis star Rafael Nadal, in town for the Rio Open tournament, participated in the opening parade of the night, covered by a plastic rain slicker. Mobbed by the press, the Spanish athlete only stayed around 20 minutes, trying out fancy footwork meant to resemble samba and posing for selfies along with former Brazilian French Open winner Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten.
	This year's five-day-long Carnival celebrations, which also include some 450 alcohol-soaked street parties, or "blocos," comes as a welcome respite from the recent avalanche of bad news afflicting Brazil.
	In ...

Carnival parades begin at Rio's Sambadrome, despite deluge

A cease-fire was declared in eastern Ukraine at a minute after midnight today, kindling slender hopes of a reprieve from a conflict that has claimed more than 5,300 lives.
	But within two hours of the cease-fire's scheduled start, the warring sides were already trading accusations of fresh attacks.
	International attention will be focused in the coming days on the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, where Ukrainian government forces have for weeks been fending off severe onslaughts from pro-Russian separatists.
	The US State Department said images from eastern Ukraine offer "credible pieces of evidence" that the Russian military has deployed larger amounts of artillery and multiple rocket launchers around Debaltseve to shell Ukrainian forces.
	"We are confident that these are Russian military, not separatist systems," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement Saturday.
	Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued a cease-fire order in a live broadcast for all the ...

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