Yahoo! News: World News

Islamic State defies air strikes by shelling Syrian Kurdish town
Hong Kong clashes, arrests kick-start plans to blockade city
India's Modi jabs at Pakistan, encourages yoga in U.N. address
Candidate for top EU post stumbles into trade minefield
Russia at U.N. accuses U.S., allies of bossing world around
Exclusive: Rohingya could face detention under Myanmar draft plan
Clooney marries human rights lawyer in Venice
Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT
Abraham retains WBO title on points over Smith
Vigil in Idaho city for pastor jailed in Iran
4 governors visit Afghanistan for terror briefings
Griner leads US women to 87-56 win over China
Rio hopes it's turned corner; IOC inspectors visit
Inventor of World Wide Web warns of threat to internet
Cuba hands Canadian businessman 15-year sentence
Stars attend Gaultier's final ready-to-wear show
Saudi foreign minister: War on terror needs years
Messi reaches 400th goal, Barca routs Granada 6-0
"Magical Girl" wins Spanish top film award
World leaders give their annual speeches at the UN
Kurdish militants claim deadly ambush in Turkey's southeast
Austria's foreign minister brings Facebook age to U.N. stage
Benfica wins 3-2 at 10-man Estoril to keep lead
Rooney sent off for Man U; Neymar treble for Barca
Hong Kong activists start 'Occupy Central' protest
Police posted at home of former Haiti president
Islamic nations lobbying Palestinians to go to ICC
Germany to host conference on Syrian refugees
Far-right groups protest immigration at British port
Juventus and Roma remain perfect atop Serie A
Hong Kong pro-democracy movement Occupy kicks off blockade of city
McGinley fills team room with strong messages
NKorea tells UN it's ready to discuss human rights
Central African Republic asks U.N. to tweak arms embargo to aid troops
Europe seizes command over Americans at Ryder Cup
Russian FM issues blistering attack on US, NATO
UN warns of resurgence of Mali jihadists
Double blow for British PM on eve of party conference
Capsules from Saturday's matches

Islamic State defies air strikes by shelling Syrian Kurdish town

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 01:55 PM PDT

By Mariam Karouny and Jonny Hogg BEIRUT/MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) - New U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State fighters failed to stop them from pressing their assault on a strategic Syrian town near the Turkish border on Saturday, hitting it with shell fire for the first time. The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said the air strikes destroyed an IS building and two armed vehicles near the border town of Kobani, which the insurgents have been besieging for the past 10 days. ...

Hong Kong clashes, arrests kick-start plans to blockade city

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:30 PM PDT

By James Pomfret and Yimou Lee HONG KONG (Reuters) - Violent clashes between Hong Kong riot police and students galvanized tens of thousands of supporters for the city's pro-democracy movement and kick-started a plan to lock down the heart of the Asian financial center early on Sunday. Leaders and supporters of Occupy Central with Love and Peace rallied to support students who were doused with pepper spray early on Saturday after they broke through police barriers and stormed the city's government headquarters. "Whoever loves Hong Kong should come and join us. ...

India's Modi jabs at Pakistan, encourages yoga in U.N. address

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:39 PM PDT

By Jonathan Allen UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday he wants to hold bilateral talks with neighboring Pakistan "without a shadow of terrorism," a day after Pakistan's prime minister expressed frustration with stalled talks over Kashmir. In his first address to the U.N. General Assembly since his resounding election victory in May, Modi also invoked India's Hindu and ascetic traditions, saying they might provide answers to climate change and called for an International Yoga Day. ...

Candidate for top EU post stumbles into trade minefield

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 09:56 AM PDT

By Adrian Croft BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's trade commissioner-designate stumbled into a political minefield on Saturday by suggesting she wanted to exclude a controversial investor protection clause from a planned EU-U.S. trade agreement. A European Commission source said however that the furor was the result of an error in a leaked draft version of testimony by Sweden's Cecilia Malmstrom that would be corrected in the final version. ...

Russia at U.N. accuses U.S., allies of bossing world around

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 01:25 PM PDT

By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia used its annual appearance at the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday to accuse the United States and its Western allies of bossing the world around, complaining they were attempting to dictate to everyone "what is good and evil." The speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the 193-nation assembly was the latest example of the deteriorating relations between Moscow and Western powers, which have imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict in neighboring Ukraine. "The U.S. ...

Exclusive: Rohingya could face detention under Myanmar draft plan

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 07:31 AM PDT

By Jared Ferrie and Thin Lei Win YANGON/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar's national government has drafted a plan that will give around a million members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority a bleak choice: accept ethnic reclassification and the prospect of citizenship, or be detained. Most of Myanmar's 1.1 million Rohingya already live in apartheid-like conditions in western Rakhine, where deadly clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 displaced 140,000 people, mostly Rohingya. ...

Clooney marries human rights lawyer in Venice

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:38 PM PDT

VENICE, Italy (AP) — George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin Saturday, the actor's representative said, out of sight of pursuing paparazzi and adoring crowds.

Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:32 PM PDT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong activists kicked off a long-threatened mass civil disobedience protest early Sunday to challenge Beijing over restrictions on voting reforms, a surprise move that further escalates the battle for democracy in the former British colony after police arrested dozens of student demonstrators. Organizers of "Occupy Central with Love and Peace" said they were starting their protest by continuing the "current occupation" of the streets outside government headquarters begun earlier by a separate group of student demonstrators that drew tens of thousands of people at its peak around midnight Saturday.

Abraham retains WBO title on points over Smith

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:23 PM PDT

KIEL, Germany (AP) — Arthur Abraham retained his WBO super middleweight belt by defeating Paul Smith of England by unanimous decision on Saturday.

Vigil in Idaho city for pastor jailed in Iran

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:15 PM PDT

MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) — More than 100 people gathered for a vigil at the Meridian City Hall Ampitheater to pray for the safe return of a pastor from Boise, Idaho, jailed in Iran for preaching Christianity.

4 governors visit Afghanistan for terror briefings

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 04:04 PM PDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Four U.S. governors have made a surprise visit to Afghanistan as part of a delegation to receive counterterrorism briefings and greet troops stationed there.

Griner leads US women to 87-56 win over China

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:53 PM PDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Brittney Griner made an immediate impact in her first women's world championship game.

Rio hopes it's turned corner; IOC inspectors visit

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:50 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Organizers of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 hope they've turned a corner in preparations, spurred on by Brazil's better-than-expected World Cup and the role of IOC-appointed troubleshooter Gilbert Felli.

Inventor of World Wide Web warns of threat to internet

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:44 PM PDT

London (AFP) - The British inventor of the World Wide Web warned on Saturday that the freedom of the internet is under threat by governments and corporations interested in controlling the web.

Cuba hands Canadian businessman 15-year sentence

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:28 PM PDT

HAVANA (AP) — A Canadian automobile executive has been sentenced to 15 years in Cuban prison on corruption-related charges that officials here call part of a broad campaign against graft, his company said Saturday.

Stars attend Gaultier's final ready-to-wear show

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:25 PM PDT

PARIS (AP) — It was adieu to Jean Paul Gaultier's ready-to-wear.

Saudi foreign minister: War on terror needs years

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:07 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Saturday that the war against extremists in the Middle East may take years and must not stop before all terrorist organizations are eliminated.

Messi reaches 400th goal, Barca routs Granada 6-0

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his 400th and 401st goals for club and country and Neymar hit a hat trick as Barcelona thrashed Granada 6-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday.

"Magical Girl" wins Spanish top film award

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 03:00 PM PDT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish director Carlos Vermut won this year's top award for his film "Magical Girl" and also claimed the best director prize Saturday at Spain's San Sebastian Film Festival.

World leaders give their annual speeches at the UN

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:54 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — World leaders gathered Saturday for the fourth day of the annual ministerial meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to address the state of their countries and the world. Here are highlights from some of the newsworthy speakers:

Kurdish militants claim deadly ambush in Turkey's southeast

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:52 PM PDT

Istanbul (AFP) - Three Turkish police were killed after an ambush in Turkey's overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast, in an attack claimed Saturday by armed Kurdish militants despite a one-and-a-half-year ceasefire.

Austria's foreign minister brings Facebook age to U.N. stage

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:52 PM PDT

By Rodrigo Campos UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Austria's youthful foreign minister began his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday by acknowledging his place in the world and offering something rarely seen during the annual meeting of world leaders. "I look a bit younger than most of the other speakers before," said Sebastian Kurz. "Indeed, I believe I am the only person under the age of 30 who has the privilege of speaking here this week. ...

Benfica wins 3-2 at 10-man Estoril to keep lead

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:50 PM PDT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica won 3-2 at 10-man Estoril with a double by Talisca and Lima's winning goal to maintain its lead of the Portuguese league on Saturday.

Rooney sent off for Man U; Neymar treble for Barca

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:49 PM PDT

There were the two sides of Wayne Rooney, scoring before being sent off for a reckless challenge as Manchester United held on to beat West Ham 2-1.

Hong Kong activists start 'Occupy Central' protest

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:43 PM PDT

Police posted at home of former Haiti president

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:42 PM PDT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide rallied outside his home Saturday after a new unit of police officers was abruptly posted outside the walled compound in the capital amid fears that the ex-leader faces arrest for failing to heed a court summons.

Islamic nations lobbying Palestinians to go to ICC

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:39 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world's largest bloc of Islamic countries has been lobbying the Palestinians to join the International Criminal Court so it can prosecute Israeli politicians and military leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, the bloc's leader said Saturday.

Germany to host conference on Syrian refugees

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:39 PM PDT

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Germany will host an international conference next month to mobilize aid for Syrian refugees after the launch of US-led airstrikes, the foreign minister told the United Nations on Saturday.

Far-right groups protest immigration at British port

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:35 PM PDT

Dover (United Kingdom) (AFP) - British far-right groups demonstrated against immigrants entering the country from France on Saturday, in a protest at the southern English port of Dover.

Juventus and Roma remain perfect atop Serie A

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:28 PM PDT

MILAN (AP) — Roma and Juventus stayed perfect in the Serie A as they beat Hellas Verona and Atalanta respectively on Saturday.

Hong Kong pro-democracy movement Occupy kicks off blockade of city

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:27 PM PDT

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The leader of a Hong Kong movement seeking greater democracy announced in the early hours of Sunday the launch of a campaign to blockade the heart of the financial center to demand greater freedoms in the former British colony. The news came as tens of thousands of people massed in the center of Hong Kong less than 24 hours after riot police fired pepper spray to disperse activists who had stormed government headquarters to demand full democracy. ...

McGinley fills team room with strong messages

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:24 PM PDT

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) — On the verge of victory, Europe captain Paul McGinley began to reveal some of the inspirational messages his team has been hearing — and reading — all week in their room at Gleneagles.

NKorea tells UN it's ready to discuss human rights

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:17 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea says it is willing to cooperate with the U.N. and other international organizations on human rights, but is bristling at what it views as politicization of the issue by its arch enemy, the United States.

Central African Republic asks U.N. to tweak arms embargo to aid troops

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:14 PM PDT

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Central African Republic interim President Catherine Samba Panza asked the United Nations on Saturday to consider tweaking an arms embargo on the landlocked state so its security forces could be properly equipped to work alongside U.N. peacekeepers. An "anti-balaka" Christian militia took up arms last year in response to months of looting and killing by mostly Muslim Seleka rebels after they toppled President Francois Bozize and seized power in March 2013. ...

Europe seizes command over Americans at Ryder Cup

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:05 PM PDT

Gleneagles (United Kingdom) (AFP) - European golfers tightened their grip on the Ryder Cup, stretching their lead over the United States to 10-6 after Saturday's foursomes and fourball matches at Gleneagles.

Russian FM issues blistering attack on US, NATO

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 02:01 PM PDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Russian foreign minister issued a blistering attack on the West and NATO on Saturday, accusing them of being unable to change their Cold War "genetic code" and saying the United States must abandon its claims to "eternal uniqueness."

UN warns of resurgence of Mali jihadists

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 01:59 PM PDT

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations' peacekeeping chief on Saturday warned of a resurgence of Islamist fighters in northern Mali, where several UN peacekeepers have been killed in a wave of recent attacks.

Double blow for British PM on eve of party conference

Posted: 27 Sep 2014 01:57 PM PDT

Doncaster (United Kingdom) (AFP) - British Prime Minister David Cameron suffered a double blow as a minister resigned in a sex scandal and a lawmaker defected to eurosceptic party UKIP on Saturday, the eve of his Conservative party's conference.