Yahoo! News: World News

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• U.S., Russia seek new Syria peace talks; rebels skeptical
• Bangladesh braces for unrest as judges prepare war crime verdict
• Hamas looks to root out Israel's spy networks
• Kurdish rebels begin withdrawal from Turkey
• Egypt NGO law could betray revolt's ideals: U.N. rights chief
• Suicide bombers target Iraqi Kurds in disputed areas
• Cleveland kidnapping: police hint at what three women's lives were like
• Times Square: How safe is New York's 'Crossroads of the World'?
• Defense secretary worries sexual assault in military nearing a tipping point
• 20 most obscure team nicknames in pro sports
• 7 dead, 2 missing after ship crashes in Genoa
• Syria blames Internet outage on technical problem
• Stephen Hawking backs boycott of Israeli academics
• Former US official describes Libya attack
• Bangladesh garment disaster death toll crosses 800
• Attack kills at least 20 Nigeria police officers
• Police arrest 17 over $50 million Brussels diamond heist
• Puerto Rico Catholics support archbishop
• Analysis: Race politics may stunt reforms after Malaysia election
• Obama, Cameron to meet at White House Monday on economy, Syria
• Bolivia's challenge: Making coca palatable
• Tensions high as Amplats to unveil S.Africa job cuts plan
• Malta party defeated in March poll elects new leader
• British director Bryan Forbes dies at age 86
• Mexico push for easier foreclosures, cheaper loans
• Guinean opposition suspends protest for U.N.-led talks
• Soldier says she faced harassment over Muslim name
• Lawyers: Haiti cholera lawsuit threatened at UN
• Italy court upholds Berlusconi tax fraud verdict
• Libya's new charter can shoot down contentious law
• South Korea's Park urges North Korea to choose new path
• Influential Muslim cleric visits Hamas-ruled Gaza
• Egyptian president OKs law allowing Islamic bonds
• Obama, Netanyahu discuss regional security, Mideast peace in call

U.S., Russia seek new Syria peace talks; rebels skeptical Posted: 08 May 2013 03:42 PM PDT By Arshad Mohammed and Erika Solomon MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia and the United States agreed to seek new peace talks with both sides to end Syria's civil war, but opposition leaders were skeptical on Wednesday of an initiative they fear might let President Bashar al-Assad hang on to power. Mindful the conflict may be far from over, Britain has urged fellow European Union states to lift an arms embargo, arguing it would strengthen those rebel groups favored by Western powers. ...

Bangladesh braces for unrest as judges prepare war crime verdict Posted: 08 May 2013 09:41 AM PDT By Serajul Quadir DHAKA (Reuters) - A Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal is due to pronounce judgment on a top Islamist politician on Thursday, raising fears a guilty verdict could ignite a fresh round of clashes between members of his party and security forces. Bangladesh, reeling from a factory collapse that killed more than 700 people two weeks ago, is navigating one of its most turbulent periods since independence as a series of political conflicts converge ahead of elections due early next year. ...

Hamas looks to root out Israel's spy networks Posted: 08 May 2013 07:35 AM PDT By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - The alleged spy buried his face in his hands inside a Gaza jail as he admitted passing intelligence to Israel during its battles with armed Palestinian groups. "My handlers in Israel called me and told me that collaborators in Gaza don't know one another and that each worked alone, so hide and stay as you are," the man told visiting reporters, under the watchful eye of a plainclothed Hamas security officer. "I should have turned myself in. This is my problem now. Maybe if I had, you wouldn't find me here," he said. ...

Kurdish rebels begin withdrawal from Turkey Posted: 08 May 2013 09:10 AM PDT By Ayla Jean Yackley SEMDINLI, Turkey (Reuters) - Kurdish militants began to withdraw from Turkey on Wednesday, pursuing a peace process meant to end a three-decade insurgency that has killed 40,000 people, ravaged the region's economy and tarnished the country's image abroad. Turkish security forces manned checkpoints along the mountainous border with Iraq, keeping watch as the agreed pullout started by the first small groups of up to 2,000 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters. ...

Egypt NGO law could betray revolt's ideals: U.N. rights chief Posted: 08 May 2013 11:03 AM PDT By Alexander Dziadosz CAIRO (Reuters) - The U.N.'s human rights chief said on Wednesday Egypt risked betraying the ideals behind the 2011 revolution and slipping into authoritarianism with a new civil society law. The Arab country was at a "critical moment" more than two years after the uprising that ousted autocratic President Hosni Mubarak, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said, citing a range of social and political rights concerns. ...

Suicide bombers target Iraqi Kurds in disputed areas Posted: 08 May 2013 03:16 PM PDT KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - Three suicide bombers attacked Kurdish security forces and the local headquarters of a Kurdish political party in a disputed oil-rich area of northern Iraq on Wednesday, killing three people, police and medics said. The attacks took place in a band of territory over which both the central government in Baghdad and the Kurds, who run their own administration in the north and are selling oil in defiance of Baghdad, claim jurisdiction. At the heart of the dispute is the ethnically mixed oil city of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad. ...

Cleveland kidnapping: police hint at what three women's lives were like Posted: 08 May 2013 04:27 PM PDT Cleveland prosecutors charged Ariel Castro with four counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape Wednesday while clearing his brothers, Pedro and Onil Castro, of any involvement in holding captive three women and one young girl for years.

Times Square: How safe is New York's 'Crossroads of the World'? Posted: 08 May 2013 03:32 PM PDT As he stands in Times Square, tourists streaming past, Sgt. Ed Mullins of the New York Police Department points to vendors selling drinks and T-shirts out of plastic bins.

Defense secretary worries sexual assault in military nearing a tipping point Posted: 08 May 2013 03:01 PM PDT Calls to change how the US military justice system prosecutes those accused of sexual assault grew increasingly robust as lawmakers vowed to create a minimum punishment for US troops convicted of the crime.

20 most obscure team nicknames in pro sports Posted: 08 May 2013 02:46 PM PDT Most pro team nicknames make sense at some level. But there are a fair number of head-scratching nicknames. Here are 20 with explanations on their selection:

7 dead, 2 missing after ship crashes in Genoa Posted: 08 May 2013 02:33 PM PDT ROME (AP) — Italian prosecutors placed the captain of the Jolly Nero cargo ship under investigation Wednesday for alleged manslaughter after his vessel slammed into the dock at Genoa's busy port and toppled the control tower into the harbor, killing at least seven people.

Syria blames Internet outage on technical problem Posted: 08 May 2013 02:27 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — A problem with a fiber optics cable was responsible for an Internet outage that cut off civil war-ravaged Syria from the rest of the world for nearly 20 hours, state media said Wednesday.

Stephen Hawking backs boycott of Israeli academics Posted: 08 May 2013 03:19 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — British physicist Stephen Hawking has dropped plans to attend a major international conference in Israel in June, citing his belief that he should respect a Palestinian call to boycott contacts with Israeli academics.

Former US official describes Libya attack Posted: 08 May 2013 01:42 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A former top diplomat in Libya on Wednesday delivered a riveting minute-by-minute account of the chaotic events during the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi last September, with a 2 a.m. call from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and confusion about the fate of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Bangladesh garment disaster death toll crosses 800 Posted: 08 May 2013 10:03 AM PDT DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Dozens of bodies recovered Wednesday from a collapsed garment factory building were so decomposed they were being sent to a lab for DNA identification, police said, as the death toll from Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster topped 800.

Attack kills at least 20 Nigeria police officers Posted: 08 May 2013 02:49 PM PDT LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — An ethnic militia killed at least 20 police officers who launched a raid to try and arrest them in central Nigeria, a police commissioner said Wednesday.

Police arrest 17 over $50 million Brussels diamond heist Posted: 08 May 2013 11:30 AM PDT By Ben Deighton BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Police have detained 17 people over the heist of $50 million in diamonds in February - one of the biggest jewelry robberies in history - after coordinated raids in Belgium, France and Switzerland, Belgian prosecutors said on Wednesday. More than 300 police were involved in the Belgian operations near Brussels which led to 10 people being detained, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor said. One suspect was held in France and the rest in Switzerland. ...

Puerto Rico Catholics support archbishop Posted: 08 May 2013 04:29 PM PDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Roman Catholics in Puerto Rico rallied Wednesday around an archbishop who is apparently under pressure from the Vatican to resign for allegedly covering up for sexually abusive priests and other misdeeds.

Analysis: Race politics may stunt reforms after Malaysia election Posted: 08 May 2013 04:24 PM PDT By Stuart Grudgings KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's racially divisive election result has sparked a battle within the country's ruling party that is likely to slow Prime Minister Najib Razak's drive to reform the economy and roll back policies favoring majority ethnic Malays. Najib's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition retained power in Sunday's election in the multi-ethnic Southeast Asian nation. But the coalition lost the popular vote and turned in its worst-ever electoral performance as it was heavily abandoned by the minority Chinese and rejected by many voters of all races in urban areas. ...

Obama, Cameron to meet at White House Monday on economy, Syria Posted: 08 May 2013 04:13 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet at the White House on Monday to discuss Syria, the global economy, trade and the upcoming meeting in Northern Ireland of the Group of Eight major world economies. "The visit will highlight the fundamental importance of the U.S.-UK relationship - a relationship through which together we address a broad range of shared global and regional security concerns," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Bolivia's challenge: Making coca palatable Posted: 08 May 2013 04:04 PM PDT VILLA TUNARI, Bolivia (AP) — Since taking office seven years ago, President Evo Morales has tried to persuade the world that he has no tolerance for cocaine and that Bolivia's thousands of acres of coca plants can be dedicated to such traditional uses as fighting fatigue as well as whipping up wholesome treats like sweet breads and coca puffed snacks.

Tensions high as Amplats to unveil S.Africa job cuts plan Posted: 08 May 2013 04:02 PM PDT By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Anglo American's platinum arm, under pressure from South Africa's government, could announce a restructuring plan as early as Thursday that will sharply scale back job losses as it tries to balance out cost cuts and the threat of labor unrest. Anglo American Platinum had planned to slash 14,000 jobs and mothball two mines to pull back to profit but industry sources have told Reuters that the final plan would be pared back, with as few as 5,000 jobs cut. ...

Malta party defeated in March poll elects new leader Posted: 08 May 2013 03:18 PM PDT VALLETTA (Reuters) - Malta's opposition Nationalist Party elected lawyer Simon Busuttil as its leader on Wednesday to succeed Lawrence Gonzi, who resigned after a heavy loss in a March 9 general election. Gonzi, who had been party leader and prime minister for nine years, had led the party to a narrow victory in 2008. Busuttil, 44, a member of the European Parliament until March when he resigned upon being elected to the Maltese parliament, has never held a government post. He was elected to the party leadership after defeating three other candidates, including two former ministers. ...

British director Bryan Forbes dies at age 86 Posted: 08 May 2013 02:55 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — British film director Bryan Forbes, whose work includes the original 1970s horror classic "The Stepford Wives," has died at age 86 after a long illness, a family spokesman said Wednesday.

Mexico push for easier foreclosures, cheaper loans Posted: 08 May 2013 02:54 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's government proposed a sweeping overhaul of the banking sector Wednesday to make credit cheaper and more available, a move desperately needed in a country where bank loans represent less than 20 percent of GDP — one-tenth the level seen in the United States.

Guinean opposition suspends protest for U.N.-led talks Posted: 08 May 2013 02:53 PM PDT CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinea opposition leaders have suspended protests planned for Thursday to allow United Nations-mediated talks intended to end a violent impasse over the organization of delayed legislative elections. At least 20 people have been killed, several by gunshots, and more than 300 others wounded in clashes since March between opposition supporters, security forces and President Alpha Conde's backers in the world's top bauxite producer. ...

Soldier says she faced harassment over Muslim name Posted: 08 May 2013 02:47 PM PDT RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sgt. 1st Class Naida Hosan is not a Muslim — she's a Catholic. But her name sounded Islamic to fellow U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and they would taunt her, calling her "Sgt. Hussein" and asking what God she prayed to.

Lawyers: Haiti cholera lawsuit threatened at UN Posted: 08 May 2013 02:47 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A Boston-based human rights group said Wednesday it will sue the United Nations in 60 days if the world body does not agree to compensate Haitian cholera victims, apologize to the Caribbean nation for introducing the disease through its peacekeeping force, and launch a major effort to improve sanitation.

Italy court upholds Berlusconi tax fraud verdict Posted: 08 May 2013 02:24 PM PDT MILAN (AP) — Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's tax fraud conviction and four-year prison sentence were upheld on the first appeal Wednesday in a case that could see him barred from public office for five years.

Libya's new charter can shoot down contentious law Posted: 08 May 2013 02:23 PM PDT TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — A new law that excludes former officials of the Moammar Gadhafi era from public office is dividing Libya and deepening the turmoil plaguing the country since the 2011 civil war that ousted the erratic leader.

South Korea's Park urges North Korea to choose new path Posted: 08 May 2013 02:21 PM PDT By Paul Eckert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on North Korea on Wednesday to end a "vicious circle" in which it raises and reduces tensions to win diplomatic rewards and buy time to build up its nuclear arms program. In an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, Park said she wanted to break the pattern in which North Korea "provokes a crisis" that draws sanctions from the international community, which later tries concessions to calm things down. ...

Influential Muslim cleric visits Hamas-ruled Gaza Posted: 08 May 2013 02:05 PM PDT By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Leading Muslim cleric Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi paid a high-profile visit to Gaza on Thursday, giving a boost to the Islamist group Hamas that runs the enclave, but also laying bare Palestinian rivalries. Qaradawi, chairman of the International Federation of Muslim Clerics, is based in Qatar and has been a vociferous supporter of the revolutions that have shaken the Arab world in the last two years, bringing new governments to Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. ...

Egyptian president OKs law allowing Islamic bonds Posted: 08 May 2013 01:44 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has signed a new law allowing the state to issue Islamic bonds — an effort to help ease an expanding budget deficit.

Obama, Netanyahu discuss regional security, Mideast peace in call Posted: 08 May 2013 01:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed regional security and Middle East peace in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the White House said. It is the first conversation between the two leaders the White House has made public since Israeli jets attacked Syrian targets twice in recent days. The two leaders agreed to continue close cooperation on a range of security issues, the White House said but did not provide further details. (Reporting By Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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