Yahoo! News: World News

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• Spate of attacks on Shi'ite Muslims kills 59 people in Iraq
• Rebel snipers kill high-ranking Syrian general
• Guinea opposition secures key seat in tense parliament vote
• Obama, Italy's Letta compare notes on budget woes
• Russia, U.S. deny date set for Syria peace conference
• Police arrest 40 as Canada shale gas protest turns violent
• Angolan troops enter Congo Republic, seize soldiers: officer
• FA defends Hodgson over 'monkey' joke
• Bodies recovered in Mekong after Laos plane crash
• Bushfires ravage communities in SE Australia
• Thousands of French students protest against deportations
• Obama: shutdown encouraged US foes, depressed friends
• Zimbabwe diamonds: Where has all the money gone?
• Lightning strikes Namibia cheetah centre
• US urges DR Congo, rebels to reach peace deal
• Tesoro detected anomalies on North Dakota line before spill
• Canada police clash with shale gas protesters
• I.Coast, Burkina Faso ink deal to fight child trafficking
• Donations, prisoners aid cities, ranchers after South Dakota blizzard
• UN sees mercury use phase-out within 3 decades
• Thirty million people are slaves, half in India - survey
• State TV: Top Syrian army general killed in battle
• Geneva talks herald new 'era' for Iran nuclear dispute
• Blackwater guards face new U.S. charges for Iraq shooting deaths
• API threatens suit if U.S. biofuel mandate not done by November 30
• Syrian refugees stranded at Milan rail hub
• Iran talks with West _ but battles over outreach
• Fear curbs holiday celebrations in Iraq's Mosul
• Canada set to sack three senators in expenses scandal
• Egypt denies mistreatment of Syrian refugees
• Lawmakers launch budget talks as Washington returns to work
• Family of Nazi criminal searches for missing body
• World welcomes US budget deal but fears remain
• Father of evicted Roma girl lied to France about family origin
• Mandela daughters drop bid to control 'handprint' firms
• Pirate attacks by heavily armed gangs surge off Nigerian coast

Spate of attacks on Shi'ite Muslims kills 59 people in Iraq Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:56 PM PDT MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Attacks on Shi'ite Muslims killed at least 59 people across Iraq on Thursday, including a suicide truck bomb targeting members of the country's Shabak minority, police and medics said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for any of the attacks, but Shi'ites are viewed as apostates by hardline Sunni Islamists who have been regrouping and gathering pace in an insurgency this year. Militants linked to al Qaeda have in the past attacked Shabaks, who are mainly Shi'ite. ...

Rebel snipers kill high-ranking Syrian general Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:49 PM PDT BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rebel snipers killed a top-ranking general in Syrian military intelligence on Thursday, state television and opposition activists said. State TV said General Jama'a Jama'a was shot dead in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, which is in a province largely held by opposition forces trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad monitoring group, said Jama'a was a member of Assad's inner circle and one of Syria's most prominent military figures. ...

Guinea opposition secures key seat in tense parliament vote Posted: 17 Oct 2013 03:59 PM PDT CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinea's election authorities on Thursday declared an opposition politician winner of the country's most hotly contested parliamentary seat, a result that should ease tensions and is likely to deny the ruling party of an outright majority. Final results from the September 28 vote are due on Friday, but the announcement of the result from Matoto, a heavily populated district in the capital, came after days of recounting and diplomatic pressure to avoid threatened street protests. ...

Obama, Italy's Letta compare notes on budget woes Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:55 PM PDT By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta congratulated each other on Thursday for surviving extended budget crises and pledged to work together to advance U.S.-EU trade talks and address security issues. The two leaders met at the Oval Office on the day after Congress agreed to fund the U.S. government until January and averted a debt default by lifting the nation's debt ceiling until February. The U.S. government reopened after a 16-day shutdown. Letta said the U.S. ...

Russia, U.S. deny date set for Syria peace conference Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:15 PM PDT By Alexei Anishchuk MOSCOW (Reuters) - A senior Syrian official said on Thursday that a long-delayed international conference aimed at ending his country's civil war was scheduled for November 23-24, but co-organizers Russia and the United States said no date had been set. A spokeswoman for the U.N. Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi also cast doubt on the statement, saying the timing of the conference intended to bring Syria's government and opposition together had not yet been agreed. ...

Police arrest 40 as Canada shale gas protest turns violent Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:33 PM PDT By Julie Gordon (Reuters) - Police in the eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick arrested about 40 people on Thursday after efforts to dismantle a highway barricade turned violent and protesters against shale gas exploration set several police vehicles on fire. The incident came in response to a weeks-long protest by activists and local aboriginals, who blocked a road near the town of Rexton to try to slow work by SWN Resources Canada, a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Co, which is exploring shale gas properties in the area. ...

Angolan troops enter Congo Republic, seize soldiers: officer Posted: 17 Oct 2013 04:28 PM PDT By Christian Tsoumou BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) - A detachment of Angolan troops crossed into neighboring Congo Republic earlier this week and has detained a group of Congolese soldiers, a senior Congolese officer said on Thursday. Angola's ambassador in Brazzaville said he was not aware of any Angolan troop movements inside Congo Republic and denied that his country's army was detaining Congolese soldiers. The incident highlights tensions around Angola's oil-rich Cabinda enclave, which is separated from the rest of Angola and surrounded by Congo Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. ...

FA defends Hodgson over 'monkey' joke Posted: 17 Oct 2013 04:22 PM PDT London (AFP) - The Football Association gave its backing to England manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday after he inadvertently created a media storm by telling his squad a joke about a monkey.

Bodies recovered in Mekong after Laos plane crash Posted: 17 Oct 2013 04:20 PM PDT PAKSE, Laos (AP) — Rescuers in fishing boats pulled bodies from the muddy Mekong River on Thursday as officials in Laos ruled out finding survivors from a plane that crashed in stormy weather, killing 49 people from 10 countries.

Bushfires ravage communities in SE Australia Posted: 17 Oct 2013 04:20 PM PDT Winmalee (Australia) (AFP) - Residents faced scenes of devastation Friday after bushfires ravaged communities and destroyed "hundreds" of homes in southeastern Australia with dozens of blazes still burning out of control.

Thousands of French students protest against deportations Posted: 17 Oct 2013 03:56 PM PDT Paris (AFP) - Thousands of high school students in Paris and other parts of France rose up Thursday in anger at the deportation of foreign pupils, after the high-profile eviction of a 15-year-old Roma girl.

Obama: shutdown encouraged US foes, depressed friends Posted: 17 Oct 2013 03:26 PM PDT Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama warned Thursday that America's recent bout of political dysfunction had encouraged its enemies and dismayed its friends, and said the crisis left "no winners" in Washington.

Zimbabwe diamonds: Where has all the money gone? Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:43 PM PDT HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Despite living in an impoverished country under sanctions, some in Zimbabwe seem awash in money, judging by the Mercedes-Benzes parked at a country club and the private woodland estate with artificial lake and mansion built by the nation's police chief.

Lightning strikes Namibia cheetah centre Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:41 PM PDT Windhoek (AFP) - A lightning strike set fire to Namibia's world-renowned cheetah conservation centre, injuring an intern and burning down buildings, an official said Thursday.

US urges DR Congo, rebels to reach peace deal Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:38 PM PDT Washington (AFP) - The United States called Thursday on the Democratic Republic of Congo and opposition rebels to end months of dragging negotiations and conclude a peace deal.

Tesoro detected anomalies on North Dakota line before spill Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:31 PM PDT (Reuters) - Tesoro Logistics LP detected anomalies during an inspection of its 20-year-old North Dakota pipeline just days before the line ruptured and spilled 20,600 barrels of oil onto farmland, the company said on Thursday. The six-inch pipeline was carrying Bakken oil to the Stampede rail facility outside Columbus, North Dakota, when it ruptured. A farmer harvesting wheat discovered oil spouting from the line on September 29. A robot, known as a "smart pig," detected anomalies during what Tesoro called routine internal inspections of the pipeline September 10 and 11. ...

Canada police clash with shale gas protesters Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:18 PM PDT Ottawa (AFP) - Police arrested at least 40 protesters opposed to shale gas development in easternmost Canada on Thursday after vehicles were set ablaze and a shot was fired.

I.Coast, Burkina Faso ink deal to fight child trafficking Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:14 PM PDT Abidjan (AFP) - The first ladies of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso on Thursday sealed an agreement to fight the growing child trafficking trade between the two west African nations.

Donations, prisoners aid cities, ranchers after South Dakota blizzard Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:13 PM PDT By Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) - Donations of money and some cattle have been rolling in for South Dakota ranchers after a blizzard last week killed tens of thousands of cattle in one of the state's worst agriculture tragedies, state officials said on Thursday. Dozens of minimum-security prison inmates were aiding the clean-up effort, gathering debris in three towns in the western part of the state hit by record snowfall that felled trees and knocked out power lines. "This is a very tough time in western South Dakota. ...

UN sees mercury use phase-out within 3 decades Posted: 17 Oct 2013 02:08 PM PDT GENEVA (AP) — A new global treaty could eliminate within three decades the commercial use of mercury in everything from batteries, paints and skin-lightening creams to utility plants and small-scale gold mining, the head of the U.N.'s environment agency said Thursday.

Thirty million people are slaves, half in India - survey Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:54 PM PDT By Timothy Large LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Some 30 million people are enslaved worldwide, trafficked into brothels, forced into manual labour, victims of debt bondage or even born into servitude, a global index on modern slavery showed on Thursday. Almost half are in India, where slavery ranges from bonded labour in quarries and kilns to commercial sex exploitation, although the scourge exists in all 162 countries surveyed by Walk Free, an Australian-based rights group. For factbox on the 10 countries where slavery is most prevalent, click http://in.reuters. ...

State TV: Top Syrian army general killed in battle Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:45 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — One of Syria's most powerful military officers was killed in fighting with al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists in an oil-rich eastern province largely controlled by the rebels, Syrian state-run television said Thursday.

Geneva talks herald new 'era' for Iran nuclear dispute Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:44 PM PDT Tehran (AFP) - Iranian analysts hailed Thursday the latest round of nuclear talks with world powers as a "new era" and a "new spring", praising Tehran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium.

Blackwater guards face new U.S. charges for Iraq shooting deaths Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:41 PM PDT By David Ingram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States brought new manslaughter charges on Thursday against four former Blackwater Worldwide security guards for a 2007 shooting in Baghdad that prosecutors said killed 14 unarmed civilians. The shooting caused tension in U.S.-Iraqi relations and raised concerns about the U.S. government's use of private contractors, who were shielded from prosecution in Iraq. The original U.S. charges filed against the Blackwater guards in 2008 were thrown out in December 2009, about a month before a scheduled trial. A U.S. ...

API threatens suit if U.S. biofuel mandate not done by November 30 Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:38 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. oil industry group the American Petroleum Institute told the federal environmental regulator on Thursday that it intends to file a lawsuit if the agency does not finalize 2014 biofuel requirements by the end of November. It was the oil industry's latest move to fight the so-called federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency. It requires fuel blenders to gradually mix more ethanol and biodiesel into the nation's gasoline and diesel supply. ...

Syrian refugees stranded at Milan rail hub Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:27 PM PDT Milan (AFP) - Syrian asylum seekers are living camped out in between commuters and tourists at Milan's busy rail hub, their number growing by the day as charities and city officials try to help.

Iran talks with West _ but battles over outreach Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:24 PM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Iranian foreign minister's parting words in Geneva carried hopes that the U.S. and other world powers could begin closing the gap with Tehran over its nuclear program. He returns home with perhaps an even tougher challenge at finding common ground.

Fear curbs holiday celebrations in Iraq's Mosul Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:18 PM PDT Mosul (Iraq) (AFP) - Fear generated by near-daily violence has kept residents of Iraq's second-largest city Mosul at home this Eid al-Adha rather than out celebrating the main Muslim holiday of the year.

Canada set to sack three senators in expenses scandal Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:11 PM PDT Ottawa (AFP) - A Canadian senator at the center of an expenses scandal sought medical leave on Thursday as he and two colleagues were set to be sacked from government.

Egypt denies mistreatment of Syrian refugees Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:02 PM PDT Cairo (AFP) - Egypt on Thursday denied it was mistreating Syrian refugees following a report by Amnesty International accusing authorities of unlawfully detaining and deporting hundreds of Syrians fleeing civil war.

Lawmakers launch budget talks as Washington returns to work Posted: 17 Oct 2013 01:01 PM PDT By David Lawder and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers launched an effort to resolve budget differences in a less confrontational fashion on Thursday as Washington picked up the pieces from a political crisis that has slowed the economy and undermined the country's international standing. As hundreds of thousands of federal employees returned to work, Republican and Democratic negotiators held their first meeting to tackle tax and spending issues that have led to repeated rounds of brinkmanship over the past three years. ...

Family of Nazi criminal searches for missing body Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:59 PM PDT ROME (AP) — The case of Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke took on another bizarre twist Thursday as his family said it doesn't know where his body is.

World welcomes US budget deal but fears remain Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:55 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — The world's disbelief at the political impasse in the U.S. turned to cautious relief Thursday as the country stepped back from the brink of default. But fears remain about another possible shutdown — and, even worse, a possible default — early next year.

Father of evicted Roma girl lied to France about family origin Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:51 PM PDT Pristina (AFP) - The father of a 15-year-old Roma girl whose detention during a school trip and deportation sparked an uproar in France, admitted Thursday he had lied to French authorities about his family's Kosovo origin in a bid to obtain asylum.

Mandela daughters drop bid to control 'handprint' firms Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:50 PM PDT Johannesburg (AFP) - Nelson Mandela's daughters have dropped a high-profile court battle to wrest control of two companies set up to manage proceeds from his iconic handprints, lawyers said Thursday.

Pirate attacks by heavily armed gangs surge off Nigerian coast Posted: 17 Oct 2013 12:48 PM PDT By Jonathan Saul LONDON (Reuters) - Pirate attacks off Nigeria's coast have jumped by a third this year with ships passing through West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a major commodities hub, increasingly under threat from gangs wanting to snatch cargoes and crews. Unlike the dangerous waters off Somalia and the Horn of Africa on the east coast of Africa, through which ships now speed with armed guards on board, many vessels have to anchor to do business off West African countries, with little protection. This makes them a soft target for criminals and jacks up insurance costs. ...

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