Yahoo! News: World News

---

• Germany says U.S. may have monitored Merkel's phone
• Pakistan prime minister urges Obama to end drone strikes
• Insight: China party's secretive judicial system laid bare in torture case
• U.S., Israel differ on how to resolve Iran nuclear issue
• Much of Syria blacked out by rebel attack on gas pipeline: government
• Egypt military officers back army chief for president
• No progress for now on Iran rights situation: UN envoy
• United Nations set to send mission guards to Central African Republic
• U.N. envoy says Iran human rights record should not be overlooked amid overtures
• British broadcaster faces further sex charges
• 2 peacekeepers killed in N. Mali suicide attack
• Records: Guantanamo inmate injured in CIA custody
• Roma families in Ireland given back their children
• Tunisia PM says committed to 'principle' of resigning
• India says Pakistani troops attacked border posts
• EPA hits the road to seek input on power plant rules
• Iran lawmaker: No need for more 20 percent uranium
• Narrow win keeps Man United in control
• Obama, Pakistani vow cooperation as tensions ease
• Ireland returns 2 blond children to Gypsy parents
• 3-month-old Prince George is christened in London
• Raymond weakens to tropical storm, spares Mexico
• Kennedy cousin Skakel wins new trial in 1975 killing in appeal over attorney
• A new leader rises as India's regions flex their muscle
• Afghan bomb squads in short supply as NATO prepares to leave
• Ban seeks UN peacekeepers to Central African Republic
• DR Congo's Kabila promises national unity government
• Tunisian police battle militants before political talks
• Over 156,000 hit in South Sudan 'disaster' floods: UN
• US envoy meeting Syria rebels on peace talks plans
• African Union seeks suspension of Kenya leader trials
• Russia reduces charges against Greenpeace activists over Arctic protest
• Obama, Pakistani leader talk drones, security
• Chubby Prince George shown off at royal christening
• Malawi summons S.Africa's envoy over Zuma remarks

Germany says U.S. may have monitored Merkel's phone Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:40 PM PDT By Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government has obtained information that the United States may have monitored the mobile phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel and she called President Barack Obama on Wednesday to demand an immediate clarification, her spokesman said. In a strongly worded statement, the spokesman said Merkel had told Obama that if such surveillance had taken place it would represent a "grave breach of trust" between close allies. ...

Pakistan prime minister urges Obama to end drone strikes Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:40 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday urged U.S. President Barack Obama to end drone strikes in Pakistan, touching on a sore subject just as relations between the two countries improve after years of suspicion over Afghanistan and the U.S. counterterrorism fight. "I ... brought up the issue of drones in our meeting, emphasizing the need for an end to such strikes," Sharif told reporters after meeting with Obama in the Oval Office. ...

Insight: China party's secretive judicial system laid bare in torture case Posted: 23 Oct 2013 04:53 PM PDT By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) - As Yu Qiyi's interrogation entered its 39th day, officials from the Chinese Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog debated how to get a confession out of the detained man, the chief engineer at a state-owned firm in eastern Wenzhou city. One official noted he had forced Yu's head under water the night before. A day later, Yu died after being dunked repeatedly in a bucket of ice-cold water. Six officials were convicted last month of torturing Yu to death. ...

U.S., Israel differ on how to resolve Iran nuclear issue Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:00 PM PDT By Arshad Mohammed ROME (Reuters) - U.S. and Israeli officials differed over Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday as Israel called for its effective dismantlement and the United States suggested better safeguards could assure that it is peaceful rather than military in nature. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke as they began seven hours of talks that also covered Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which resumed in July after a nearly three-year hiatus. Hints of a possible U.S. ...

Much of Syria blacked out by rebel attack on gas pipeline: government Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:03 PM PDT BEIRUT (Reuters) - Much of Syria, including the capital Damascus, was hit by a power cut late on Wednesday after rebels attacked a gas pipeline, state media said. "A terrorist attack on a gas pipeline that feeds a power station in the south has led to a power outage in the provinces and work to repair it is in progress," Electricity Minister Emad Khamis told state news agency SANA. A resident in the center of Damascus who asked to remain anonymous said "the whole city just went dark" and she could see the glow of a fire near the international airport and hear heavy machinegun fire. ...

Egypt military officers back army chief for president Posted: 23 Oct 2013 12:39 PM PDT By Yasmine Saleh CAIRO (Reuters) - Anxious over months of turmoil in Egypt, military officers are pushing popular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to run for president, after a 2011 popular uprising had inspired hopes for democratic change in a country long dominated by generals. Sisi ousted Egypt's first freely-elected president, Mohamed Mursi, the man who appointed him, in July after mass protests against the Islamist leader's rule. ...

No progress for now on Iran rights situation: UN envoy Posted: 23 Oct 2013 04:26 PM PDT New York City (AFP) - Iran so far has not made significant improvements on the human rights front, the top UN official for the Islamic republic's rights situation said Wednesday.

United Nations set to send mission guards to Central African Republic Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:56 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended 560 troops be sent to the Central African Republic to protect a United Nations political mission in the virtually lawless country. The landlocked, mineral-rich country has slipped into chaos since northern Seleka rebels seized the capital, Bangui, and ousted President Francois Bozize in March. U.N. officials and rights groups say both sides may have committed war crimes. The U.N. ...

U.N. envoy says Iran human rights record should not be overlooked amid overtures Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:53 PM PDT By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran's human rights record should not be overlooked amid overtures to the West by new President Hassan Rouhani, a U.N. envoy said on Wednesday as he criticized Tehran for executing 724 people in 18 months, including dozens just after Rouhani was elected in June. Ahmed Shaheed, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, said at least 44 people were executed shortly after the Iranian polls and that the majority of all executions were related to drug-trafficking cases. ...

British broadcaster faces further sex charges Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:37 PM PDT London (AFP) - Former BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall, currently in prison serving 30 months for sexual offences, was on Wednesday charged with a further 15 rapes and one count of indecent assault against two girls.

2 peacekeepers killed in N. Mali suicide attack Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:16 PM PDT DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Assailants killed two Chadian peacekeepers and injured nine other soldiers and civilians in a suicide attack on a checkpoint in northern Mali, the United Nations said.

Records: Guantanamo inmate injured in CIA custody Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:06 PM PDT GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Medical records show an accused terrorist now held at Guantanamo Bay sustained a head injury while he was in CIA custody and has suffered lasting health problems as a result, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Roma families in Ireland given back their children Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:55 PM PDT Dublin (AFP) - Irish authorities said Wednesday they had removed two children from Roma families due to concerns about their identity, sparking warnings about racial profiling following the Greek 'mystery girl' inquiry.

Tunisia PM says committed to 'principle' of resigning Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:52 PM PDT Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's Islamist Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said on Wednesday that his government was committed to the "principle" of resigning in line with a roadmap to end months of political deadlock.

India says Pakistani troops attacked border posts Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:49 PM PDT SRINAGAR, India (AP) — India on Wednesday accused Pakistani troops of firing guns and mortars on at least 50 Indian border posts overnight in disputed Kashmir, calling it the most serious cease-fire violation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in a decade.

EPA hits the road to seek input on power plant rules Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:42 PM PDT By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday kicked off an 11-city "listening tour" as part of its effort to craft emissions rules for existing power plants under the Obama administration's strategy to address climate change. States that already have plans in place to cut carbon pollution are likely to make the case that their programs offer a viable model for others. The tour started in New York and Atlanta, with meetings wrapping up on November 8. ...

Iran lawmaker: No need for more 20 percent uranium Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:40 PM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A prominent Iranian lawmaker said Tehran doesn't need any more 20 percent-enriched uranium, a news agency covering the country's parliament reported late Wednesday night, a key point in negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the West.

Narrow win keeps Man United in control Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:38 PM PDT Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Manchester United ground out a tight 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Wednesday to move closer to a place in the Champions League knockout phase.

Obama, Pakistani vow cooperation as tensions ease Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to improve a rocky relationship, President Barack Obama and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday pledged cooperation on the security issues that have strained ties between their nations. But the sources of the long-standing tensions did briefly bubble to the surface.

Ireland returns 2 blond children to Gypsy parents Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:28 PM PDT DUBLIN (AP) — Two blond children who were taken by Irish police from their Romanian Gypsy parents were returned Wednesday to their families after DNA tests determined that the children were rightfully theirs, an episode that raised accusations of racism.

3-month-old Prince George is christened in London Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:25 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Dressed in a lace and satin gown designed in the 1840s, Britain's 3-month-old future monarch, Prince George, was christened Wednesday with water from the River Jordan at a rare gathering of four generations of the royal family.

Raymond weakens to tropical storm, spares Mexico Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:22 PM PDT ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — A weakening Tropical Storm Raymond moved away from Mexico's Pacific coast Wednesday, granting relief to a region devastated by a storm last month.

Kennedy cousin Skakel wins new trial in 1975 killing in appeal over attorney Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:13 PM PDT NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A U.S. judge has granted a new trial for Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, ruling his attorney failed to adequately represent him when he was convicted in 2002 of killing his neighbour in 1975.

A new leader rises as India's regions flex their muscle Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:10 PM PDT By Sruthi Gottipati HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - When Jagan Mohan Reddy finally emerged from 16 months behind bars in southern India last month, the adoring crowd that greeted the young politician was so enormous that it took him six hours to drive the 11 km (7 miles) to his home. The scene underscored Reddy's growing popularity - despite a thicket of corruption scandals around him - and it served as a rude reminder to national leaders up north in New Delhi that regional party bosses like Reddy will hold the key to power after elections next year. ...

Afghan bomb squads in short supply as NATO prepares to leave Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:06 PM PDT By Jessica Donati MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - The Afghan soldiers studying the art of controlled detonations of explosive devices would have to wait until another day for a practical demonstration due to an unspecified security threat. NATO trainers were ordered to observe a 72-hour lockdown and suspend classes at what was, until this month, the only school in Afghanistan dedicated to countering the most deadly weapon in the Taliban's locker -- the improvised explosive device (IED). ...

Ban seeks UN peacekeepers to Central African Republic Posted: 23 Oct 2013 02:00 PM PDT New York (AFP) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday requested the deployment of 250 peacekeepers to protect the global body's personnel and facilities in the strife-torn Central African Republic.

DR Congo's Kabila promises national unity government Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:52 PM PDT Kinshasa (AFP) - DR Congo President Joseph Kabila promised Wednesday to build a national unity government, after talks with civil society and opposition members in the troubled African country.

Tunisian police battle militants before political talks Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:50 PM PDT By Tarek Amara and Patrick Markey TUNIS (Reuters) - Six Tunisian policemen were killed in armed clashes with militants in a central town on Wednesday, as the government cracked down on Islamist fighters using the chaos in neighboring Libya's to get weapons and training. The violence, some of the worst since Tunisia's 2011 uprising, unsettled the start of negotiations between the Islamist-led government and opposition to end a crisis over the country's transition to democracy. ...

Over 156,000 hit in South Sudan 'disaster' floods: UN Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:47 PM PDT Juba (AFP) - Extreme floods across vast parts of remote and impoverished South Sudan have affected over 156,000 people, the United Nations said Wednesday, with many areas now accessible only by air.

US envoy meeting Syria rebels on peace talks plans Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:45 PM PDT Washington (AFP) - US officials were working hard behind the scenes Wednesday to try to persuade the Syrian opposition to agree to join peace talks mooted for next month.

African Union seeks suspension of Kenya leader trials Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:43 PM PDT New York (AFP) - The African Union has asked the UN Security Council to approve a one-year suspension of proceedings against Kenya's leaders at the International Criminal Court, diplomats said Wednesday.

Russia reduces charges against Greenpeace activists over Arctic protest Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:39 PM PDT By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday dropped piracy charges against 30 people involved in a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling, replacing them with lesser offences and cutting the maximum jail sentence they face to seven years from 15. The charges against activists who protested at a Gazprom oil platform off Russia's northern coast last month have been changed from piracy to hooliganism, the federal Investigative Committee said in a statement. Greenpeace said the new charges were still "wildly disproportionate" and promised to contest them. ...

Obama, Pakistani leader talk drones, security Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:36 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he wants to prevent security cooperation from being a source of tension between the U.S. and Pakistan.

Chubby Prince George shown off at royal christening Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:35 PM PDT London (AFP) - Britain's baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony on Wednesday, with his proud parents Prince William and Kate giving the world a rare glimpse of the chubby three-month-old boy.

Malawi summons S.Africa's envoy over Zuma remarks Posted: 23 Oct 2013 01:31 PM PDT Blantyre (Malawi) (AFP) - Malawi on Wednesday summoned South Africa's High Commissioner over President Jacob Zuma's disparaging remarks about the country.

You are subscribed to email updates from World News Headlines - Yahoo! News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610