Yahoo! News: World News

Airstrikes rock Gaza as truce remains elusive (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 01:40 AM CST

AP - Israeli jets bombed the Palestinian parliament building in Gaza early Thursday and navy ships opened fire at Hamas positions along the coastline as diplomatic pressure to end six days of devastating violence showed little immediate effect.

Dozens die in nightclub fire in Bangkok (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 01:32 AM CST

AP - A fire raced through a two-story nightclub packed with hundreds of well-heeled New Year's revelers early Thursday, killing at least 59 people as they stampeded to escape the flames, officials said. More than 200 were injured.

Report: Gazprom starts cutting gas to Ukraine (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 02:18 AM CST

AP - Russian state radio says Gazprom has cut gas supplies to Ukraine by 75 percent, citing the chief engineer at the pumping station.

UN: Gaza faces 'alarming' humanitarian situation (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 01:32 AM CST

AP - Gaza's 1.5 million residents are facing an "alarming" humanitarian situation under constant Israeli bombardment, with the main power plant shut down, overcrowded hospitals struggling to cope and very limited food supplies, U.N. officials said.

Israel targets Gaza mosques used by Hamas (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 01:34 AM CST

AP - Mosques and Muslim prayer halls have not escaped the relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza by Israel, which claims the Islamic militants misuse some of the holy sites as weapons depots and command centers.

Ukraine students seek to save their White House (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 02:36 AM CST

AP - Its paint is peeling, its grounds are scruffy and there are no Secret Service agents in sight. But the 19th-century mansion otherwise bears an uncanny resemblance to one of the world's most famous residences the White House.

US deaths down in Iraq in 2008, up in Afghanistan (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 12:13 AM CST

AP - U.S. military deaths in Iraq plunged by two-thirds in 2008 from the previous year, a reflection of the improving security following the U.S. military's counterinsurgency campaign and al-Qaida's slow retreat from the battlefield. By comparison, the war in Afghanistan saw American military deaths rise by 35 percent in 2008 as Islamic extremists shift their focus to a new front with the West.

Mexico extradites 10 drug suspects to US (AP)

Posted: 31 Dec 2008 05:04 PM CST

AP - Mexico sent 10 alleged drug smugglers to the United States on Wednesday, capping an already record year for extraditions between the two countries.

Malaysian chopper saves Indian tanker from pirates (AP)

Posted: 01 Jan 2009 01:55 AM CST

AP - A Malaysian military helicopter saved an Indian tanker from being hijacked Thursday, foiling the new year's first attack by pirates in the dangerous Gulf of Aden off the chaotic African nation of Somalia, an official said.