Yahoo! News: World News

Islamist fighters advance in Syria despite U.S. strikes
Warplane attacks Libya's Benghazi port after threats by ex-general
Qatar, a partner in U.S. airstrikes, says Syrian regime main problem
In U.N. speech, Obama appeals for broad coalition against Islamic State
Mexico lawmaker likely killed by drug cartel: prosecutor
Vietnam welcomes efforts by U.S. to end its weapons embargo
Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT
Celtic thrive in 'no fear' zone
Honduras leader rails against ineffective drug war
Nigeria military claims Boko Haram leader dead
Judge delays Marathon bombing trial, won't move it
Colombia publishes parts of draft peace agreement
Colombia rebels, government publish accords agreed so far at talks
Turkish leader says world not doing enough
Vietnam eyes US arms sales, downplays China impact
Mexico to take part in UN peacekeeping missions
China's girl power set to last
Malaga holds Barcelona to 0-0 draw in Liga
Risks for Arab states in joining anti-IS campaign
US strikes IS oil refineries in Syria
Argentina uses drones to spot wealthy tax evaders
US-led air strikes target IS oil refineries in Syria
Judge grants 2-month delay in Boston Marathon bombing trial, denies change of venue
Hooker Coles to miss All Blacks-Pumas test
Missing Tour helped Wiggins win world timetrial title
UK recalls lawmakers to vote on air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq
Netherlands to send F-16s to fight Islamic State in Iraq
U.N. backs strong laws against foreign extremist fighters
Businesses won't have to return BP spill payouts
Turkey shifts tone on IS but action awaited
With canal and hut, India stands up to China on disputed frontier
Jihadist says Foley, Cantlie converted to Islam in captivity
Pirate: $1.6 million ransom paid for journalist
US hits Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq
Turkish leader presses Europe on Syria refugees
Ghana captain denies claims of ritual sacrifice
US condemns Shiite rebels in Yemen
U.S., allies launching more airstrikes in Syria
Jamaica police probe senior cop's poisoning death

Islamist fighters advance in Syria despite U.S. strikes

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:00 PM PDT

By Kinda Makieh and Jonny Hogg DAMASCUS/MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) - U.S. planes pounded Islamic State positions in Syria for a second day on Wednesday, but the strikes did not halt the fighters' advance in a Kurdish area where fleeing refugees told of villages burnt and captives beheaded. U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking at the United Nations, asked the world to join together to fight the militants and vowed to keep up military pressure against them. ...

Warplane attacks Libya's Benghazi port after threats by ex-general

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 01:03 PM PDT

By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) - A war plane attacked a port in Benghazi on Wednesday in a strike claimed by forces loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar, bringing their battle against Islamists to the heart of the eastern Libyan city. A Reuters reporter near the port, which is not an oil installation, saw a warplane open fire several times, although it was unclear whether any harbor facilities were hit. The port is the main gateway for wheat and fuel imports into eastern Libya, a country struggling with anarchy three years after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. ...

Qatar, a partner in U.S. airstrikes, says Syrian regime main problem

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:11 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Qatar, which provided support for U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria this week, urged the international community to confront the Syrian regime, highlighting pressure by some of Washington's Gulf Arab allies to widen its campaign against Islamic State. Qatar is among five Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain that joined in or supported U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria beginning late on Monday. U.S. officials said Qatar's role consisted mostly of logistical support. ...

In U.N. speech, Obama appeals for broad coalition against Islamic State

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 11:53 AM PDT

By Steve Holland UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama made his case to the United Nations on Wednesday for a more forceful, coordinated global response against Islamic militants in the Middle East that would seek to dismantle their "network of death." In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Obama used graphic language to condemn the methods of the Islamic State group that has taken over swaths of Iraq and Syria, saying it had used rape as a weapon of war, gunned down children, dumped bodies in mass graves, and beheaded their victims. ...

Mexico lawmaker likely killed by drug cartel: prosecutor

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:54 PM PDT

By Anahi Rama MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican federal congressman Gabriel Gomez, the most high-profile politician murdered in recent years, was likely executed by a drug cartel, a state prosecutor said on Wednesday. Gomez was kidnapped with an aide in Mexico's second-largest city of Guadalajara on Monday. Their charred remains were found in a burned-out pickup truck the following day. The identities of Gomez and his assistant Heriberto Nunez were confirmed on Wednesday. Authorities have so far given no motive for the murder. ...

Vietnam welcomes efforts by U.S. to end its weapons embargo

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:44 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Vietnam would welcome an end to the arms embargo clamped on it by the United States, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday, as he played down the notion that the move would inflame Hanoi's maritime dispute with China. Pham Binh Minh, who also serves as Vietnam's deputy prime minister, was responding to a Reuters report on Tuesday that said Washington was moving closer to lifting the embargo to help Vietnam deal with growing naval challenges from China. U.S. ...

Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:03 PM PDT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India celebrated putting a spacecraft into orbit around Mars on Wednesday, hoping the rare feat will show the world it is open for business in space exploration and inspire a new generation of homegrown scientists to help drive growth. Those motivations help explain why India, a poor country of 1.2 billion, even invests in a space program when so many of its people lack access to proper toilets, electricity and health care.

Celtic thrive in 'no fear' zone

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 05:01 PM PDT

Glasgow (AFP) - Celtic manager Ronny Deila says his side fear no one after they eased into the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead.

Honduras leader rails against ineffective drug war

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:58 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The president of Honduras blamed the flight of migrant children to the U.S. on a drug war his country didn't start and demanded the world pay as much attention to displaced Central American families as it does to those terrorized by wars elsewhere.

Nigeria military claims Boko Haram leader dead

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:57 PM PDT

Nigeria's military on Wednesday claimed for the first time that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was dead, saying troops had shot a lookalike who had been posing as the militant commander.

Judge delays Marathon bombing trial, won't move it

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:52 PM PDT

A judge has granted a two-month trial delay for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, but denied a defense request to move his trial.

Colombia publishes parts of draft peace agreement

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:49 PM PDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's government and main rebel movement are releasing parts of a draft peace agreement to deflect criticism that the country's democratic institutions are being redrawn behind their countrymen*s backs.

Colombia rebels, government publish accords agreed so far at talks

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:49 PM PDT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels on Wednesday released copies of previously unpublished agreements reached at peace talks to end five decades of war, providing a glimpse of accords that could make up a final deal. The nearly two-year-old talks, in Havana, Cuba, have produced deals on land reform, political participation for demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, fighters and the illegal-drug trade. ...

Turkish leader says world not doing enough

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:45 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The president of Turkey on Wednesday accused the international community of doing too little to stem the flow of foreign fighters to Syria and slammed the U.N. Security Council's inaction on some of the world's most pressing issues.

Vietnam eyes US arms sales, downplays China impact

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:45 PM PDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Vietnam said Wednesday it wants to be able to buy weapons from the United States and that regional powerhouse China should not be alarmed.

Mexico to take part in UN peacekeeping missions

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:36 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Mexico says it has decided to participate in U.N. peacekeeping missions again.

China's girl power set to last

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:36 PM PDT

Incheon (South Korea) (AFP) - Chna's female swimmers added three gold medals to an already impressive haul at the Asian Games Wednesday, stating they had no intention of giving up their dominance in the pool.

Malaga holds Barcelona to 0-0 draw in Liga

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:05 PM PDT

MADRID (AP) — Lionel Messi failed to take his chances as Barcelona was held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined and defensive Malaga side in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Risks for Arab states in joining anti-IS campaign

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:04 PM PDT

Dubai (AFP) - By joining US-led strikes in Syria, Gulf Arab monarchies are hoping to eliminate the threat to their authority from Islamic State jihadists and push the regime in Damascus out of power.

US strikes IS oil refineries in Syria

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 04:00 PM PDT

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States bombed Islamic State-controlled oil refineries in Syria on Wednesday as President Barack Obama recruited more allies to fight the jihadist "network of death."

Argentina uses drones to spot wealthy tax evaders

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:58 PM PDT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine tax evaders beware: The government is using a drone to spot you.

US-led air strikes target IS oil refineries in Syria

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:57 PM PDT

Washington (AFP) - The US-led air war against Islamic State extremists targeted oil refineries in eastern Syria on Wednesday, in a bid to undercut the group's oil smuggling profits, the Pentagon said.

Judge grants 2-month delay in Boston Marathon bombing trial, denies change of venue

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:56 PM PDT

BOSTON (AP) — Judge grants 2-month delay in Boston Marathon bombing trial, denies change of venue.

Hooker Coles to miss All Blacks-Pumas test

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:51 PM PDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hooker Dane Coles will miss the All Blacks' Rugby Championship test against Argentina on Saturday to return to New Zealand for the birth of his first child.

Missing Tour helped Wiggins win world timetrial title

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:50 PM PDT

Ponferrada (Spain) (AFP) - Bradley Wiggins said that his exclusion from Sky's Tour de France team in July had a silver lining as it enabled him to dethrone Tony Martin at the world timetrial championships.

UK recalls lawmakers to vote on air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:44 PM PDT

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers will vote on Friday whether to join U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq after Baghdad requested help, the British government said on Wednesday. "I have requested that Parliament be recalled to debate the UK response to the Iraqi government's request for support against ISIL (Islamic State)," British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter. Baghdad had asked for British air strikes to support its operations against the Islamist fighters, a spokesman for Cameron said. The U.S. ...

Netherlands to send F-16s to fight Islamic State in Iraq

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:44 PM PDT

By Thomas Escritt THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The Dutch government said on Wednesday it would deploy six F-16 fighter jets, which could be operational in a week, to support the U.S.-led strikes against Islamic State insurgents in Iraq. The Netherlands, a member of NATO and a close U.S. ally, will target the ultra-radical Islamist militants in Iraq and provide training and advice to Iraqi and Kurdish regional military forces for a period of up to one year, Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher told journalists. ...

U.N. backs strong laws against foreign extremist fighters

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:41 PM PDT

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council demanded on Wednesday that all states make it a serious criminal offense for their citizens to travel abroad to fight with militant groups, or to recruit and fund others to do so, in a move sparked by the rise of Islamic State. At a meeting chaired by U.S. President Barack Obama, the 15-member council unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution that compels countries to "prevent and suppress" the recruitment and travel of militant fighters to foreign conflicts. The U.N. ...

Businesses won't have to return BP spill payouts

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:41 PM PDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP wants its money back — hundreds of millions of dollars of it — but a federal judge said Wednesday that the oil giant must stand by the agreement it made with the companies it compensated for losses blamed on the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Turkey shifts tone on IS but action awaited

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:37 PM PDT

Ankara (AFP) - Turkey has toughened its rhetoric against Islamic State jihadists but the West is still waiting for action from Ankara after months of frustration with its lukewarm cooperation.

With canal and hut, India stands up to China on disputed frontier

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:32 PM PDT

The move so irked China's military that it laid a road on territory claimed by India and demanded that the tin hut be dismantled. India refused, destroyed a part of the new road and promptly raised troop numbers in the area. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making good on election promises of a more robust national security policy, and the fact that around 1,000 soldiers from each side are facing off in Ladakh is evidence even mighty China is not off limits. Modi, a nationalist who swept to power in May, was unusually forthright when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India in mid-September, challenging Xi in private on the question of incursions along their 3,500-km contested frontier.

Jihadist says Foley, Cantlie converted to Islam in captivity

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:30 PM PDT

Brussels (AFP) - Western journalists James Foley and John Cantlie converted to Islam while being held hostage in Syria, a Belgian newspaper quoted a jihadist suspect as saying Wednesday, adding that the pair may have been forced to do so.

Pirate: $1.6 million ransom paid for journalist

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:27 PM PDT

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Negotiators paid a $1.6 million ransom for the release of a German-American journalist who was kidnapped in Somalia and held for two years and eight months, a commander of pirates who held him said Wednesday. A German spokeswoman would not confirm that money was paid for the freedom of Michael Scott Moore and U.S. policy prohibits paying ransoms.

US hits Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:24 PM PDT

BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. fighter jets and bombers expanded their aerial campaign against Islamic State targets Wednesday, striking the militants in both Syria and Iraq even as the extremists pressed their offensive in Kurdish areas within sight of the Turkish border, where fleeing refugees told of civilians beheaded and towns torched.

Turkish leader presses Europe on Syria refugees

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged European governments to provide greater support to Syrian refugees after the launch of Western airstrikes in the country.

Ghana captain denies claims of ritual sacrifice

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:22 PM PDT

Accra (AFP) - Ghana national football team captain Asamoah Gyan was not involved in the disappearance of two friends, his lawyer said on Wednesday after months of rumours and even claims of ritual sacrifice.

US condemns Shiite rebels in Yemen

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 03:17 PM PDT

New York (AFP) - President Barack Obama's top counter-terrorism advisor called President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi on Wednesday to condemn Shiite rebels the Yemeni leader says have brought his country to the brink of civil war.