Yahoo! News: World News

Simpler inauguration planned for a more modest pope
Syrian opposition elects Hitto as provisional premier
Many questions, few answers await Obama on Mideast visit
Congo ICC war suspect surrenders at U.S. Embassy in Rwanda
Six powers flesh out nuclear proposals in Iran talks
U.S. confirms Syrian aircraft fired rockets into Lebanon
Lawmakers push to restructure Egypt aid
Obama tells Iranians now is the time to settle nuclear dispute
Top general urges caution on Syria options, rebels
Backers of Israeli settlers stake claim in cabinet
Pair accused of plotting to kill singer Joss Stone
Pope Francis to get simple coat of arms, ring
Politicians strike deal over UK press regulation
Orthodox patriarch to Rome for pope's installation
2 inmates escape from Quebec prison in helicopter
Savings account seizure plan draws fury in Cyprus
Pope Francis lauded for interfaith dialogue
Ex-Guatemala strongman on trial after 30 years
US says hunger strike grows to 21 at Guantanamo
Pope installation draws world, religious leaders
All sides claim victory with new UK press regulator - except the press
How German fears of underwriting Russian oligarchs pushed Cyprus to crisis
Making nice? Argentina's Kirchner and Pope Francis meet in Rome
Can Latin America ride out the global economic storm?
Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 2: weapons of mass destruction
Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 1: Saddam was 'evil'
Pakistan's education crisis: What ever happened to Malala's friends?
In Senegal, a new president confronts an ancient tradition: child beggars
US drops Europe missile defense plan – but Moscow is unimpressed
The new face of Chinese diplomacy: Who is Wang Yi?
The latest hot language among Palestinians in Gaza? Hebrew
China warns US missile defense plan will antagonize North Korea
More an immigrant holiday, St. Patrick's Day has come home to Ireland

Simpler inauguration planned for a more modest pope

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:03 PM PDT

By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis celebrates his inaugural Mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to cram St. Peter's Square and surrounding streets for the Mass on Tuesday to formally install Francis as the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. Six sovereigns, U.S. ...

Syrian opposition elects Hitto as provisional premier

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 04:43 PM PDT

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The opposition Syrian National Coalition chose Western-educated former businessman Ghasssan Hitto as provisional prime minister in a vote on Tuesday at a meeting in Istanbul. Hitto, who according to a Reuters witness received 35 votes of around 50 cast by coalition members, will be in charge of forming a government to fill a power vacuum in Syria arising from a two-year-long revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. (Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Many questions, few answers await Obama on Mideast visit

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 12:37 PM PDT

By Crispian Balmer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is due to make his first official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories this week, looking to improve ties after sometimes rocky relations with both sides during his first term in office. Obama is not expected to come with any new Palestinian peace initiative and will spend most of his time in Israel, the closest U.S. ally in the Middle East, where he will make a keynote speech to hundreds of students. ...

Congo ICC war suspect surrenders at U.S. Embassy in Rwanda

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 01:40 PM PDT

By Jenny Clover KIGALI (Reuters) - Fugitive Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda walked into the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda on Monday and asked to be transferred to the International Criminal Court, where he faces war crimes charges racked up during years of rebellion. By surrendering in Kigali, where an embassy official said staff were "shocked" by his sudden arrival, Ntaganda ended a career that saw him fight as a rebel and government soldier on both sides of the Rwanda-Congo border during nearly 20 years of conflict in Africa's Great Lakes region. ...

Six powers flesh out nuclear proposals in Iran talks

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 04:35 PM PDT

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Six major powers gave Iran more details of their proposals to end a standoff over Tehran's nuclear program in talks in Istanbul on Monday, the European Union (EU) said. The EU's short statement on the expert-level talks between the six powers and Iran offered no clue how the proposals were received by the Iranian experts or whether any progress had been made. ...

U.S. confirms Syrian aircraft fired rockets into Lebanon

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:26 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department confirmed on Monday that Syrian government aircraft fired rockets into northern Lebanon and it described the incident as "a significant escalation." "We can confirm what you are seeing in the press, that regime jets and helicopters did fire rockets into northern Lebanon," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily briefing. "This constitutes a significant escalation in the violations of Lebanese sovereignty that the Syrian regime has been guilty of. These kinds of violations of sovereignty are absolutely unacceptable. ...

Lawmakers push to restructure Egypt aid

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:06 PM PDT

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers have seized upon a domestic spending bill as a chance to tighten controls on how Egypt's Islamist government can use well over $1 billion in military and other aid that Washington sends to Cairo each year. Five senators - four Republicans and one Democrat - offered separate amendments related to the aid to a fast-track spending measure that seeks to avert a government shutdown on March 27. Lawmakers have expressed concern about Egypt's stability. ...

Obama tells Iranians now is the time to settle nuclear dispute

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:10 PM PDT

By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama insisted on Monday that "now is the time" for Iran to take meaningful steps to resolve its nuclear standoff with the West as he issued a direct appeal to the Iranian people on the eve of his first official trip to Israel. Obama used the occasion of Iran's new year celebration, as he has in the past, to try to ratchet up pressure on Tehran. But this time he focused squarely on its disputed nuclear program, which is expected to be high on the agenda when he visits Israel, Iran's arch-foe. ...

Top general urges caution on Syria options, rebels

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 01:31 PM PDT

By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has a less clear understanding of Syria's opposition than it did last year, the top U.S. military officer said on Monday, in comments likely to disappoint rebels hoping that America might be inching toward a decision to arm them. "About six months ago, we had a very opaque understanding of the opposition and now I would say it's even more opaque," said General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff. ...

Backers of Israeli settlers stake claim in cabinet

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:12 PM PDT

By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new governing coalition took office after a parliamentary vote on Monday with powerful roles reserved for supporters of settlers in occupied territory. While the new line-up includes more moderates than in the outgoing government, the predominance of legislators who are either settlers or among their staunchest supporters could hamper any efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. ...

Pair accused of plotting to kill singer Joss Stone

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:48 PM PDT

LONDON (AP) — Prosecutors said Monday two men accused of plotting to rob and kill soul singer Joss Stone planned to decapitate her, then dump her body in a river.

Pope Francis to get simple coat of arms, ring

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:27 PM PDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is mixing his Argentine past with his Roman present to create his new papal coat of arms, while harking back to a pope associated with the Second Vatican Council for the simple ring that he will receive during Tuesday's installation Mass.

Politicians strike deal over UK press regulation

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:16 PM PDT

LONDON (AP) — British politicians struck a last-minute deal on press regulation Monday, unveiling new rules that aim to curb the worst abuses of the country's scandal-ridden media.

Orthodox patriarch to Rome for pope's installation

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:54 PM PDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, will attend Pope Francis' installation Mass — the first time a patriarch from the Istanbul-based church has attended a papal investiture since the two branches of Christianity split nearly 1,000 years ago.

2 inmates escape from Quebec prison in helicopter

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:00 PM PDT

MONTREAL (AP) — Two inmates made a daring daylight escape from a prison outside Montreal in a hijacked helicopter, then led police in a car chase and exchanged gunfire at a rural cabin before they were finally recaptured, authorities said Monday.

Savings account seizure plan draws fury in Cyprus

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:47 PM PDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A plan to seize up to 10 percent of savings accounts in Cyprus to help pay for a €15.8 billion ($20.4 billion) financial bailout was met with fury Monday, and the government shut down banks until later this week while lawmakers wrangled over how to keep the island nation from bankruptcy.

Pope Francis lauded for interfaith dialogue

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:47 PM PDT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The election of Pope Francis has thrilled Jewish leaders in Argentina, who predict that their friend will continue to foster warm relations and open dialogue between Catholicism and other faiths during his pontificate.

Ex-Guatemala strongman on trial after 30 years

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:14 PM PDT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — There is no smoking gun in the case files, no direct order from Guatemala's then military dictator to carry out the slaughter of civilians during one of the bloodiest phases of the country's long civil war.

US says hunger strike grows to 21 at Guantanamo

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:07 PM PDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A hunger strike at the Guantanamo Bay prison has grown and now involves at least 21 men, a U.S. military official said Monday while denying reports trickling out from prisoners through lawyers that there is a more widespread protest and lives are in danger.

Pope installation draws world, religious leaders

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:20 PM PDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis' diplomatic skills will be put to the test on Tuesday as he hosts political leaders from 130 nations and religious representatives from a variety of faiths who are descending on Rome for his installation Mass, with Latin America strongly represented to celebrate the first pope from the New World.

All sides claim victory with new UK press regulator - except the press

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:41 PM PDT

One of the most turbulent eras of British newspaper history ended in a backroom political deal today with all three main parties claiming victory over new regulation.

How German fears of underwriting Russian oligarchs pushed Cyprus to crisis

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:10 PM PDT

Could the tiny economy of Mediterranean Cyprus, in urgent need of a bailout package, pull the whole eurozone back into crisis?

Making nice? Argentina's Kirchner and Pope Francis meet in Rome

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 02:06 PM PDT

After lunch and a short meeting today in Vatican City, newly-elected Pope Francis exchanged gifts with Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Can Latin America ride out the global economic storm?

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:41 AM PDT

While most developed nations struggle to weather financial storms, Latin America has been riding out the choppy economic waters thanks in large part to a wave of high commodity prices and active monetary policies.

Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 2: weapons of mass destruction

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:30 AM PDT

I covered the Iraq war from the summer of 2003 until 2008, and saw at first hand the consequences of the decision to invade. Skeptical of the wisdom of the war before the invasion, living and working in Iraq solidified that into certainty. I'll be putting out some of my thoughts on the war in a series of posts in the next few days.

Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 1: Saddam was 'evil'

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 10:23 AM PDT

(I covered the Iraq war from the summer of 2003 until 2008, and saw first hand the consequences of the decision to invade. Skeptical of the wisdom of the war before the invasion, living and working in Iraq solidified that into certainty. I'll be putting out some of my thoughts on the war into a series of posts in the next few days.)

Pakistan's education crisis: What ever happened to Malala's friends?

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 09:24 AM PDT

When 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot point-blank on her school bus in October for her vocal support of girls' education in Pakistan, it provoked an outcry in Pakistan and around the globe, but it also changed the lives of the two girls sitting next to her on that bus.

In Senegal, a new president confronts an ancient tradition: child beggars

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 09:45 AM PDT

Slowing to a stop at an intersection in the developing world, it's not uncommon to look out the car window and see children – often clad in tattered clothes or without shoes – buzz into traffic to solicit donations.

US drops Europe missile defense plan – but Moscow is unimpressed

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 08:18 AM PDT

Russia is officially unimpressed by a unilateral US decision to cancel the final phase of European missile defense – a program that Moscow has gone so far in the past as to almost threaten World War III over.

The new face of Chinese diplomacy: Who is Wang Yi?

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 06:50 AM PDT

Wang Yi, China's newly-named foreign minister, has a reputation as a brilliant and urbane diplomat. He is also a wily negotiator with some tricks up his sleeve.

The latest hot language among Palestinians in Gaza? Hebrew

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 06:20 AM PDT

For the first time in nearly 20 years, government-run schools in Gaza are teaching Hebrew, and demand is outstripping the supply of qualified teachers. The driving force behind this pilot program? Hamas.

China warns US missile defense plan will antagonize North Korea

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 06:07 AM PDT

• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

More an immigrant holiday, St. Patrick's Day has come home to Ireland

Posted: 17 Mar 2013 10:57 AM PDT

Half a million people will parade in Dublin today to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but since when did Irish people celebrate this holiday?