The ceasefire period for fighting in Ukraine began one minute after midnight today, but there are no immediate indications of whether either side in the conflict that has killed more than 5,300 people is observing it.
	Under an agreement struck last week, Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatist rebels are to begin this week pulling back their heavy weaponry to form a wide buffer zone. In a live midnight broadcast, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued the order for the country's armed forces to hold their fire.
	In a statement before issuing that order, Poroshenko expressed concern over risks to the cease-fire posed by the unrest that raged yesterday around the strategic government-held railway hub of Debaltseve, which is besieged by separatist forces.
	In an inauspicious omen for the prospects of any cessation of hostilities, rebels have said they will not consider any battles for the town to be a violation of the cease-fire.
	Shells rained down yesterday afternoon on ...

Ceasefire period begins in Ukraine

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More than 4,000 US soldiers based at Fort Carson, Colorado, are heading to Kuwait, where they will take over as one of America's largest ground forces in the region after President Barack Obama asked Congress to authorise military action against Islamic State militants.
	Obama ruled out large-scale US ground combat operations similar to those in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he asked for the option to use military force against Islamic State fighters for three years.
	The fight could be extended to any "closely related successor entity" to the Islamic State group that has overrun parts of Iraq and Syria, imposed an extreme form of Sharia law and killed hostages it has taken, including several Americans.
	The US Army has kept a brigade in Kuwait since the end of the Iraq war in 2011. Those soldiers, including two units from Fort Carson, have worked to train local troops from throughout the Middle East.
	In its most recent deployment to Kuwait, a combat team from Fort Carson conducted ...

US brigade of 4,000 soldiers headed to Kuwait

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's "Taxi" has won the top Golden Bear prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.
	Panahi has been unable to leave Iran after his conviction on charges of "making propaganda" against the country's ruling system. Authorities imposed a 20-year filmmaking ban on Panahi in 2010, but he has continued to make movies.
	The grand jury prize, which comes with a runner-up Silver Bear, went today to Chilean director Pablo Larrain for his movie "The Club."
	The best actor and best actress awards went to Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling, who play a couple in British director Andrew Haigh's drama "45 Years."
	The jury awarded two best director honors: to Romania's Radu Jude for "Aferim!" and to Malgorzata Szumowska of Poland for "Body.

Iranian filmmaker Panahi wins Berlin's Golden Bear prize

Canadian police have foiled a plot by three suspects who were planning to go to a mall in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and kill as many people as they could before committing suicide on Valentine's Day, police said today.
	One of the suspects fatally shot himself as police moved in to arrest him and an American suspect confessed to the plot when she was arrested at the Halifax airport, a senior police official told The Associated Press.
	Police and Canadian Justice Minister Peter MacKay said the plot was not related to terrorism.
	"This appeared to be a group of murderous misfits," MacKay said today. "The attack does not appear to have been culturally motivated, therefore not linked to terrorism."
	The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that friends Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath, 23, of Geneva, Illinois, and Randall Steven Shepherd, 20, of Nova Scotia, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
	Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer Brian Brennan said the suspects planned to go to the ..

Suspect in Halifax mall plot confessed

In the terrorism trial of a man accused of being one of al-Qaida's early leaders, an American described being asked in 1995 by Osama bin Laden to kill Egypt's president by ramming his plane with his own in midair.
	"It took me by surprise," Ihab Mohammad Ali testified recently in New York. "I responded, 'Well, wouldn't I be killing myself?'"
	Ali, 52, said bin Laden answered: "Well, then you would be a martyr.'"
	The glimpse into the early days of al-Qaida when bin Laden had a private jet and was barely known to law enforcement officials came amid the government's presentation of evidence over the past three weeks against Khaled al-Fawwaz, a man portrayed by prosecutors as a key player in the terror group when it was in its infancy.
	Al-Fawwaz has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to kill Americans in the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa. The attacks in Kenya and Tanzania killed 224 people, including a dozen Americans. The government rested its case Thursday.
	Ali testified .

American: Bin Laden asked him in '90s to use plane as weapon

A security official in the central Libyan city of Sirte says gunmen from an al-Qaida inspired militia have taken over radio and television stations there.
	He says the seizure of the buildings happened on Thursday after militants from Ansar al-Sharia had warned the station to stop broadcasting music.
	The group, considered a terrorist organization by the United States, is accused of being involved in a deadly 2012 attack on a US mission and annex in Benghazi. Its branch in the city of Derna has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
	The official said residents went about their business after the seizure and traffic flowed normally. A resident said that the radio station had begun playing religious songs and lessons. Both spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Islamic militants seize radio, TV stations in central Libya

Shots were fired today at a cafe in Copenhagen as it hosted a freedom of speech event organised by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who has faced numerous threats for caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad.
	Danish police say one man was killed.
	In a statement, Danish police say they are looking for the perpetrators who drove away in a dark Volkswagen Polo after the shooting shortly before 4 p.M. (1500 GMT, 10 a.M. EST) at the Krudttoenden cafe.
	The police said the victim was a 40-year-old man.

Police: 1 dead in shooting at Copenhagen free speech event

Danish media say several shots have been fired at a cafe in Copenhagen where a meeting about freedom of speech was being held, organised by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who has faced numerous threats for caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad in 2007.
	The TV2 channel today said there were some 30 bullet holes in the window of the Krudttoenden cafe and said at least two people were taken away on stretchers, including a uniformed police officer.
	Helle Merete Brix, one of the organizers of the event, told The Associated Press that Vilks was present at the event but not injured. When the artist is in Denmark, he receives police protection.
	The cafe in northern Copenhagen, known for its jazz concerts, was hosting an event titled "Art, blasphemy and the freedom of expression" when the shots were fired.
	Niels Ivar Larsen, one of the speakers at the event, told the TV2 channel that he saw two wounded people.

Reports: Shots fired at Copenhagen cafe free speech event

Leading China taxi apps Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache today announced a plan to merge, creating a new challenge for Uber Technologies Ltd's global expansion.
	Didi Dache, backed by Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd, and Kuaidi Dache, backed by rival Alibaba Group, command about 99 per cent of the taxi hailing market in China and are used mostly by taxi drivers.
	Executives from the two companies said in an announcement that they will share management of the newly merged firm, with the brands retaining their own corporate identities.
	They said a formal announcement would be made in coming days.
	The move stands to slam the door on the China market, offering a potential further setback for Uber, which faces legal challenges in South Korea, India, Europe, California and other markets for using drivers who lack taxi licenses.
	Online seller Alibaba and Tencent, which operates the popular WeChat social media service, are launching services in personal finance, entertainment and other ...

Leading China taxi apps to merge

Spain's airport authority says a wild boar that broke through a perimeter fence at Madrid's international airport caused runways to be shut briefly and two landings to be delayed.
	The beast set off security alarms late yesterday and when cameras focused on the spot, operators observed it turning around and loping off through the hole it had made.
	The incident happened 100 metres from the nearest stretch of runway. It delayed an incoming flight from London 20 minutes and a domestic flight from A Coruna 10 minutes, the airport authority's statement said today.
	Newspaper El Pais reported the captain aboard Iberia flight 3179 inbound from London told passengers an animal had "surprisingly" forced him to abort a landing approach. The hole was repaired later.

Wild boar causes flight delays at Spain's main airport

Yemeni security and military officials say fighting between Shiite rebels and Sunni tribesmen in the country's south has left 26 dead.
	The rebels, known as Houthis, were supported by army troops when they fought the tribesmen in Bayda province in clashes that began the night earlier. The Houthis lost 16 fighters and the tribesmen 10, the officials said.
	Tens of thousands marched in protest against the Houthis Saturday in the cities of Ibb, Taiz, Hodeida, Dhamar and the capital, Sanaa. In Ibb, protesters set a Houthi military vehicle ablaze before the rebels dispersed them.
	The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release the information otherwise.
	Also today, the United Arab Emirates' news agency said the country had suspended operations of its embassy in Sanaa.

Fighting in Yemen kills 16 Shiite rebels, 10 Sunni tribesmen

About 140 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a remote stretch of New Zealand beach have died.
	But conservation workers and volunteers are hoping the remaining 60 or so stranded whales will survive after they managed to get them refloated today.
	The geography of Farewell Spit on the South Island seems to work against whales, which regularly become stranded there.
	The stranding of 198 whales yesterday was one of the largest in recent years and prompted 80 workers and volunteers to help out.
	Department of Conservation area manager Andrew Lamason said the stranding has been very sad because whales are such intelligent animals.
	Pilot whales grow to about 6 metres (20 feet) in length.

140 whales die after getting stranded on New Zealand beach

Pope Francis welcomed 20 new cardinals today into the elite club of churchmen who will elect his successor and immediately delivered a tough- love message to them, telling them to put aside their pride, jealousy, self-interests and anger and instead exercise perfect charity.
	Francis issued the marching orders during the ceremony in St Peter's Basilica to elevate the new "princes of the church" into the College of Cardinals.
	Retired Pope Benedict XVI was on hand for the ceremony, sitting off to the side in the front row of the basilica, in a unique blending of popes past, present and future.
	Francis and other cardinals greeted him warmly at the start of the service.
	Many of the new cardinals hail from far-flung, often overlooked dioceses and many are pastors, who like Francis have focused their ministry on the poor.
	In his homily, Francis reminded them that being a cardinal isn't a prize or fancy entitlement, but rather a way to serve the church better in humility and ...

Pope to new cardinals: Put aside pride, jealousy and anger

Pope Francis is expanding the ranks of cardinals who will elect his successor to include pastors like him who minister to the poor and come from far-flung, often overlooked dioceses.
	Francis was formally elevating the 20 new cardinals at a ceremony Saturday in St Peter's Basilica.
	Retired Pope Benedict XVI was on hand in a unique blending of popes past, present and future.
	This is Francis' second consistory creating new cardinals and once again he looked to the "peripheries" of the church to give greater geographic representation to the Europe-centric College of Cardinals.
	One of the new cardinals was too old to make the trip and will be receiving his red hat at home: Jose de Jesus Pimiento Rodriguez of Colombia, who turns 96 next week.

Pope brings peripheries of church into College of Cardinals

Police in Egypt say they have thwarted two Islamic militant suicide car bomb attacks on a police station in the restive northern Sinai.
	Police officials said today the attack in the town of Sheikh Zuweyid wounded two police officers.
	Police say guards in the police station's towers fired at the cars, which exploded before reaching the building. They say the explosion shattered windows and damaged parts of the police station and some surrounding houses.
	The officials say an investigation into the attack has begun. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief journalists.
	Egyptian security forces increasingly have come under attack since the 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and the fierce crackdown on supporters of his banned Muslim Brotherhood that followed.

Police say they thwart 2 suicide car bomb attacks in Egypt

The United Nations is formally ending its support for a Congo military offensive against a rebel group after two Congolese generals linked to human rights violations were picked to lead the operation.
	The UN had been looking forward to a move against the FDLR militant group, which was formed by extremist Rwandan Hutus who fled into eastern Congo after taking part in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
	The top UN envoy to Congo, Martin Kobler, has said the end of the FDLR will be "a turning point which will fundamentally alter the security situation" in the region, where several armed groups have competed for control of vast mineral resources.
	A UN official yesterday said letters are being sent this weekend to Congolese authorities about the cessation of support. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
	The United Nations has repeatedly warned Congo in recent days over Gen. Bruno Mundevu and Gen. Fall Sikabwe, saying they are known to be heavily ..

UN ends support for Congo military offensive against rebels

South Africa captain AB de Villiers said his country needs to win the Cricket World Cup before it can erase its reputation for choking at the tournament.
     The key to doing well, he said, is slowing down and taking time away from the game.
     Speaking today on the eve of South Africa's opening match against Zimbabwe, de Villiers said his team was not feeling fatigued after a long build-up but instead was ready to go. South Africa has entered the past four World Cups as serious contenders but has faltered each time.
     "It is a fresh tournament for all of us," he said. "Those past happenings and the chokers and all of that, that's still very much part of our system. There's no doubt about it. We're going to have to win to take that away, and we know that."
     In 2003, as co-host, the team misread a Duckworth-Lewis table and tied a must-win group game against Sri Lanka to be eliminated. On the other three occasions, the Proteas maintained an unwanted record of never winning a ..

South Africa captain says Cup win needed to erase choker tag

Two Al-Jazeera journalists walked free from an Egyptian prison today and were reunited with loved ones after more than a year behind bars on terror-related charges that drew international criticism from human rights and media groups.
	Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohammed are free pending their retrial, scheduled for Feb 23. A third colleague, Peter Greste, was released two weeks ago and deported to his home country of Australia.
	Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, who represents Fahmy, cautioned that there is no guarantee the case will be closed or that the journalists will be acquitted.
	Fahmy holds a Canadian passport, and Clooney urged that he be deported the way Greste was. She asked that the Canadian prime minister "personally intervene" to ensure authorities hand Fahmy over to Canada under a recently approved decree that gives Egypt's president the right to deport foreigners who are either on trial or have been convicted.
	"This case is not over yet, but it should be," Clooney ...

2 Al-Jazeera journalists walk free in Egypt

Venezuelan officials today cheered the thwarting of what they said was a planned coup that involved a plot to blow up the presidential palace.
	President Nicolas Maduro announced yesterday night that a retired air force general had been arrested and 13 other people are implicated in a plot to overthrow the South American country's 15 year-old socialist revolution.
	"We have foiled a coup attempt against democracy and the stability of our homeland," Maduro said, speaking on the anniversary of the massive street protests which wracked the nation last year.
	Congress president Diosdado Cabello said in a television broadcast later that 11 soldiers were among those implicated, including a retired general, and said several have been arrested. He also named two opposition politicians and a businessman as plotters.
	Cabello showed photos of weaponry and other items he said had been seized from those implicated. In addition to the palace, officials said the plotters planned to bomb the Defense 

Venezuela officials say ex-general, 13 others in coup plot

Muslim groups planned to take their demands for a federal hate-crime investigation of three young Muslims slain in North Carolina to the White House today.
	The groups said on social media that they would hold prayers in front of the White House on the Muslim Sabbath, hours after the FBI's North Carolina office said agents were launching an inquiry parallel to a police homicide investigation.
	Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, is charged with first-degree murder. Police say he shot 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat; his 21-year-old wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and her sister, 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha over a long-standing parking dispute in the condominium complex where he lived with the newlywed couple. But the families of the victims have said they were gunned down because of their religion.
	"This has hate crime written all over it," the women's father, Mohammad Yousif Abu-Salha said.
	The FBI said yesterday that its preliminary inquiry seeks "to determine whether or not any ...

FBI probing slaying of 3 Muslims; family calls it hate crime

A 19-year-old man opened fire near a popular all-female Mardi Gras parade, killing two people in the latest spate of violence to mar Carnival parties in New Orleans, police said.
	John Hicks, of New Orleans, was booked today and accused of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. He was also was charged with carrying a firearm on a parade route.
	Police spokesman Frank Robertson said the shooting happened when Hicks started arguing with one of the slain men. Police didn't say what they were arguing about. They scheduled a news conference for today.
	The shooting took place at about 10 pm yesterday on St. Charles Avenue on the edge of the city's museum and art districts.
	In at least eight of the past 11 years, shootings have marred the city's Mardi Gras celebration.

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