Reuters: Too soon to say 'mission accomplished' in Kobani .

MIDDLE EAST

Kurds expand offensive after driving IS out of Syrian town .

Shia fighters accused of killing civilians in Iraq .

Airlines halt flights to Baghdad after gunfire hits plane .

Rockets from Syria hit Golan Heights, Israeli military says .

Yemen's Houthi fighters free presidential chief of staff: official .

Erdogan settles in as Turkey's strongman, constitutional change or not .

Obama brings large delegation to cement ties with Saudi Arabia's new king . Obama defends US ties as he pays respects in Saudi Arabia .

Leader of Yemen's rebels urges 'peaceful transfer of power' .

Secret talks in Jordan try to win release of hostages .

ASIA

U.S. trade chief says Pacific pact near end, urges Congress to back trade .

U.S. and India share sense of unease over China .

President Obama talks religion, race in India farewell .

Philippines suspends special forces police chief over deadly clash .

South Korea, China warn Japan not to backtrack on apology over wartime pas t.

Hostage crisis trips up Japan as it seeks global security role .

North Korea raises prospect of detaining South Koreans at complex .

Indonesian military stops search and recovery for remains of AirAsia QZ850 .

AFRICA

Africans may mandate regional force against Boko Haram this week.

UN base in Mali's Gao city hit by deadly clashes . UN: 3 killed, 13 hurt in northern Mali protest .

American among dead as hotel in Libya stormed by terrorists . Gunmen launch deadly assault on Libya hotel . 5 foreigners, 3 guards killed in Libyan hotel attack . 5 foreigners among dead in Libya hotel attack .

Nigeria: Military regains full control of Maiduguri, Konduga . As army fights Boko Haram, Maiduguri turns to ghost town .

Nigeria’s opposition rejects any election delay .

Millions of displaced Nigerians struggle with daily existence .

Several dead as convoy ambushed in South Sudan .

U.N. secures pledge to free 3,000 South Sudan child soldiers .

Top Malian army officer survives assassination attempt in capital: sources .

EUROPE

Putin needles Ukraine as he shuns wartime allies at Auschwitz . Russian Defense Ministry releases trove of secret Auschwitz documents .

Ukraine rebels say government forces pushed back near Donetsk .

Nine Ukrainian soldiers killed in 'tense' eastern conflict: Kiev military .

Ukraine labels Russia ‘aggressor state’ .

Ukraine conflict: EU weighs more sanctions on Russia . EU leaders to take final decision on Russia sanctions on Feb 12 .

Russia to respond to possible disconnection from SWIFT — PM .

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras appoints radical economist to new government .

Kosovo hit by worst unrest since independence .

France, Belgium anti-terror raids net 8 more suspects .

AMERICAS

US Army says no decision made in Bergdahl investigation.

Brazil's Rousseff urges cabinet to back belt-tightening.

Argentina press lambasts President Cristina Fernandez .

Argentina to dissolve intelligence body after prosecutor death .

US snow: National Weather Service admits forecast error . New York snow: Mayor De Blasio defends Juno warnings .

Mexico missing: Thousands march to demand full investigation . Mexico insists 43 students are dead . Mexico says murdered students were mistaken for rival gang .

Venezuela slams ex-Chile, Colombia presidents for López jail visit .

Cuba's $6B debt to Americans for seized properties hangs over US talks .

Fidel Castro reacts to US-Cuba diplomatic thaw .

US Border Protection lends a hand for Super Bowl security .

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Shabab intelligence chief says he is quitting .

ISIS threatens to kill captive Japanese journalist, Jordanian pilot within 24 hours, video claims .

Female terrorists finding their place in Islamic militants' ranks .

'Islamic State' attacks Libya hotel .

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Apple earnings beat expectations as iPhone sales soar .

Dubai claims Heathrow's air traffic crown .

Panicked super rich buying boltholes with private airstrips to escape if poor rise up .

World tourism numbers top 1.1 billion .