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Thai floods death toll reaches 7

Serious flooding in Thailand's south has left at least seven people dead, authorities said on Tuesday, as the country was struck by unseasonably cold weather.

Almost one million people have been affected by the heavy downpours across the southern region, according to a statement from the department of disaster prevention and mitigation.

Since the rains began six days ago, six people have died in Nakhon Si Thammarat -- the hardest hit province -- and one in Phatthalung, the statement said.

Deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said it was difficult to help flood victims due to the severe weather, including strong winds.

"As soon as visibility returns to normal, the southern army regional headquarters will airlift necessary supplies to those who are stranded, and evacuate patients," he told reporters.

Trains have been cancelled and airports closed in the region, including on the popular resort island of Samui, and emergency disaster zones have been declared in 63 districts across seven provinces.

The cold snap has also spelt trouble for tourism, with 600 tourists unable to leave Samui owing to cancelled flights on Monday, and the airport still closed on Tuesday, the airport operator said.

Devastating flooding across Thailand late last year left more than 220 people dead, damaging the homes or livelihoods of an estimated 8.6 million people in 51 of the kingdom's 76 provinces.

UAE fighter jets arrive in Italy for Libya operations

Six F-16 fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates, a key US ally, landed at an Italian base on Sunday ahead of their deployment to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.

The six planes could be seen landing at the Decimomannu base on the island of Sardinia after a logistics plane also arrived at the base.

The UAE said Thursday it had committed six F-16 and six Mirage fighters.

"The UAE air force has committed six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft to participate in the patrols that will enforce the no-fly zone now established over Libya," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said then.

A former UAE air force commander said last week that his country had delayed its military deployment because of disagreements with the West over the unrest in Bahrain, where there is a Shiite-led revolt against the Sunni royal family.

Two Mirage fighter planes carried out Qatar's first mission over Libya accompanied by two French jets, the French military said Friday.

Arsenal fightback stuns Barca in Champions League

LONDON (AFP) – Arsenal gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals here on Wednesday, coming from behind to stun favourites Barcelona 2-1 in a pulsating encounter.

Two goals in the final 12 minutes from Robin van Persie and substitute Andrey Arshavin clinched a dramatic victory for the English Premier League side after Barcelona had taken the lead through a first-half David Villa strike.

The result means Arsenal -- thrashed 6-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in last year's quarter-finals -- will carry a narrow lead into Camp Nou when the two sides meet in the second leg on March 8.

The thrilling finale capped a superb encounter at the Emirates as arguably the two most stylish sides in Europea laid on a feast of attacking football.

Arsenal started brightly and tested Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes after only five minutes, when a jinking run from Theo Walcott saw the ball transferred to Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the area.

The Spanish maestro flicked an exquisite pass to van Persie, whose angled half-volley from close range forced a good save from Valdes.

The threat of Lionel Messi was never far away however, and the Argentinian star drew a desperate challenge from behind from Alex Song after only seven minutes that earned the Cameroonian a booking.

Arsenal were given a huge let-off on 15 minutes when Messi was sent racing clear after an immaculate pass from Villa.

Messi committed Wojciech Szczesny with a magical feint and beat the Arsenal keeper with a delicate dink but the effort rolled just wide of the post.

Arsenal continued to live dangerously, and Andres Iniesta just failed to find Villa with another penetrative pass along the deck.

After numerous ominous warning signs for Arsenal, the opening goal duly arrived on 26 minutes.

Another eye-of-the-needle pass from Messi sent Villa racing clear and the Spanish World Cup star drilled a low shot beneath Szczesny.

Arsenal's players appealed for offside as boos rang out around the Emirates, but Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli remained unmoved.

With Barcelona dominating possession, Arsenal's most promising moments of the half came on the counter-attack, where Walcott's pace regularly unnerved the visitors' defence.

The England international was at the heart of a lightning break on 29 minutes that ended with van Persie slicing his shot wide.

Arsenal breathed another sigh of relief on 38 minutes when Messi had the ball in the net, only to be adjudged fractionally offside.

A frenetic start to the second half saw both sides struggle to create clear chances, although Arsenal were grateful when Laurent Koscielny -- magnificent throughout -- just managed to knock Pedro Rodriguez off-balance as he went clear on goal on 57 minutes.

Arsenal continued to probe for openings on the break however, and a sweeping move ended in a booking for Gerard Pique, who tripped Samir Nasri.

The booking rules the Barca centre-back out of the second leg.

Just when it seemed Arsenal's labours were to be in vain, van Persie conjured a goal out of nothing on 78 minutes.

Gael Clichy flicked a ball over the top and van Persie went clear wide on the left. Nothing seemed on but the Dutchman spotted daylight between Valdes and the Barcelona goalkeeper's near post and thundered home a rasping low shot.

With Barcelona suddenly rocking, Arsenal pressed home their advantage, and seven minutes from time their persistence paid off.

Another counter-attack saw Nasri burst clear down the right. The Frenchman checked and weighed his options before picking out Arshavin, who had replaced Song, and the diminutive Russian swept in a majestic winner.

Umberger, Huselius lead Jackets 4-3

COLUMBUS, Ohio – R.J. Umberger scored twice and assisted on both of Kristian Huselius' goals, including the game-winning tally with 4 minutes left, to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night.

With the Blue Jackets trailing 3-2 and 6:16 left, Umberger tied it with a nifty move and a snap shot. He then fed Huselius on a 2-on-1 break, with Huselius tucking a wrist shot inside the near post and past goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Magnus Paajarvi had a career-best two goals for the Oilers, who lost their fourth in a row — both goals coming on almost identical plays off assists from fellow rookie Linus Omark. Dustin Penner also scored.

Steve Mason was solid in goal for Columbus, allowing the Blue Jackets to come back from an early 2-0 deficit. He finished with 23 saves.

Huselius also assisted on one of Umberger's goals. Kris Russell also had two assists.

The win was critical for the Blue Jackets, who have little margin for error as they try to stay in the chase for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They began the night six points out of the eighth and final qualifying spot.

On the tying goal, Umberger showed the puck to Omark and then pulled it back between the winger's skates before stepping into a shot from near the left dot.

Huselius had scored just one goal over the past 13 games and had been a healthy scratch in Friday night's 3-0 victory at Detroit.

Omark pivoted in the left corner near the goal line and whipped quick passes through the crease that Paajarvi converted for the Oilers' first and third goals. It was the first two-goal game of Paajarvi's NHL career.

The teams entered the third period tied at 2 after the Blue Jackets fought back to pull even on Huselius' first goal.

Umberger made a great effort play after Huselius was wide with a shot from the slot. Umberger collected the puck on the back boards, skated to the side of the net and sent a pass back to Huselius, who mishit the puck but it went in off Khabibulin's leg pad.

The Oilers came in last in the NHL with only 15 wins (in 51 games) and 38 points. But they needed just 7:44 to take the 2-0 lead.

After Omark's pass to Paajarvi for the first goal, Penner took a pass from Ales Hemsky and wound up on a hard one-timer from the high slot for his 17th goal while Shawn Horcoff supplied a screen of Mason.

Khabibulin, who had 30 saves, made several nice stops to preserve the lead. But the Blue Jackets finally broke through late in the first. Umberger carried the puck across the blue line along the right boards, then skated laterally through the high slot before unleashing a wrister that trickled in.

Notes: John Moore, a touted 20-year-old defenseman who was the Blue Jackets' first-round pick in the 2009 draft, made his NHL debut. ... Mason had stopped 34 shots on Friday night in Columbus' first-ever shutout win in Detroit.