Yahoo! News: World News

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• Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces
• Nigeria signals readiness to talk to Boko Haram rebels
• Frustrated Syria mediator Brahimi to step down, U.N. seeks replacement
• Big gaps remain in Iran nuclear talks but deal possible: U.S.
• Rush hour bombs targeting Shi'ites kill 24 in Baghdad
• Turkish coal mine explosion kills 157, hundreds trapped: mayor
• European court: Google must yield on personal info
• Pollution plagues China's Baoding despite bid to clean up act
• White House says no issue with Biden's son, Ukraine gas company
• NASA downplays Russian's talk on space cooperation
• New Zealand says housing loan strictures a success
• 70 dead, many trapped in Turkish coal mine
• Russia aims to exit ISS project in 2020
• Mexico to purge corrupt cops in violent state
• Fulham's Khan calls for 'ground-up restoration'
• Environmentalists sue to list bumble bee as endangered
• French journalist killed in C.Africa: Hollande
• Pekerman includes Falcao in 30-man WCup squad
• Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam
• Tevez excluded from Argentina World Cup squad
• 'Searching for Sugar Man' director dies at 36
• Men charged in Quebec railway disaster in court
• Guam hoping to add lifeguards this year
• German federation opens probe into anti-gay banner
• Nigeria opens door for talks with kidnappers
• French journalist, 26, dies in C. African Republic
• Top Asian News at 9:30 p.m. GMT
• Mexico sets security plan for violent border state
• Father of slain US soldier seeks Iraqi justice
• NZ to play United States in Chicago
• Sweden tops Norway 2-1 at hockey worlds
• Uruguay: Prisoner hacks US ambassador's cellphone
• Germany and Poland draw 0-0 in friendly
• Brother and sister survive siege of Syria's Homs
• US confident Thai military won't resort to coup
• Guatemala eyes alternative crop subsidies to dampen poppy allure
• Strike hits Brazilian consulates in US, Europe

Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces Posted: 13 May 2014 01:19 PM PDT By Richard Balmforth and Alissa de Carbonnel KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Pro-Russian separatists ambushed Ukrainian troops on Tuesday, killing seven in the heaviest loss of life for government forces in a single clash since Kiev sent soldiers to put down a rebellion in the country's east. With the uprising and Russia's annexation of Crimea poisoning East-West relations, Moscow retaliated against U.S. sanctions by hitting aerospace projects, including refusing to extend the life of the International Space Station, a showcase of post-Cold War cooperation. In Kiev, Ukraine's defense ministry and state security service said the troops were killed and seven others wounded when their armored column was ambushed near the town of Kramatorsk, one of several hot spots in the largely Russian-speaking east where the army has had scant success against the rebels. About 30 rebels, who had taken cover among bushes along a river, attacked with grenade-launchers and automatic weapons near a village 20 km (12 miles) from Kramatorsk, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Nigeria signals readiness to talk to Boko Haram rebels Posted: 13 May 2014 01:42 PM PDT By Felix Onuah ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's government signaled willingness on Tuesday to negotiate with Islamist militants holding more than 200 schoolgirls, a month after the kidnap that has provoked global outrage. He was speaking a day after Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau posted a video offering to release the girls in exchange for prisoners held by the government. Instead, he referred to an amnesty committee that he heads set up by President Goodluck Jonathan last year to talk to the Boko Haram militants behind a five-year-old insurgency. Boko Haram has killed thousands of people since 2009 and destabilized parts of northeast Nigeria, the country with Africa's largest population and biggest economy.

Frustrated Syria mediator Brahimi to step down, U.N. seeks replacement Posted: 13 May 2014 01:36 PM PDT By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will step down on May 31, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, blaming an international deadlock over how to end the three-year civil war in the country for hampering his bid to broker peace. The veteran Algerian diplomat had long threatened to leave, just as his predecessor, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, did in 2012. Annan quit after six months as the U.N. and Arab League joint special representative on Syria, slamming the U.N. Security Council for failing to unite behind his efforts. It's very sad that I leave this position and leave Syria behind in such a bad state,\" Brahimi told reporters after Ban announced his departure.

Big gaps remain in Iran nuclear talks but deal possible: U.S. Posted: 13 May 2014 12:48 PM PDT By Louis Charbonneau and Fredrik Dahl VIENNA (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official on Tuesday cautioned against excessive optimism over six world powers' nuclear talks with Iran but said disputes could be overcome and a deal reached by their self-imposed July 20 deadline. The official noted some media reports about the negotiations that have wrongly implied a deal called a \"comprehensive plan of action\" between Iran and the six powers was a virtual certainty. Iran joined talks on its nuclear dispute with big powers after President Hassan Rouhani was elected last June. \"There are some very significant gaps (but) we can get to a resolution, I believe.\" The official said delegations from Iran, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China would begin drafting an agreement this week that aims to cover specific curbs on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the gradual lifting of sanctions against Iran.

Rush hour bombs targeting Shi'ites kill 24 in Baghdad Posted: 13 May 2014 06:50 AM PDT A series of car bombs exploded across Baghdad at rush hour on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people in the deadliest attacks since last month's election, from which votes are still being counted. \"I was trying to pick up a passenger when a fireball and a thunderous blast shook my taxi,\" said Kadhim Ali, a driver who narrowly escaped one of three explosions in the slums of Sadr City. \"I saw people with their clothes stained with blood shouting for help.\" Preliminary results from the April 30 parliamentary election are expected within the coming days. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite, is seeking a third term despite worsening violence that critics blame in no small part on his policies towards the country's Sunni minority.

Turkish coal mine explosion kills 157, hundreds trapped: mayor Posted: 13 May 2014 03:33 PM PDT By Humeyra Pamuk and Orhan Coskun ISTANBUL (Reuters) - An explosion followed by a fire in a coal mine in western Turkey killed 157 miners and trapped hundreds more on Tuesday, a provincial mayor said, in what appeared to be the country's worst mining accident in years. Rescue workers pumped oxygen into the mine to try to keep those still trapped by the blaze alive as thousands of family members and fellow workers, clamoring for information, gathered outside the town's hospital, held back behind police lines. Citing health officials at the entrance to the mine, he told broadcaster CNN Turk that 157 miners had died. Government officials told Reuters 104 people had been confirmed dead and 54 injured, but said the toll was likely to rise.

European court: Google must yield on personal info Posted: 13 May 2014 03:50 PM PDT In a landmark ruling that could rock the Internet search-engine industry, Europe's highest court said Tuesday that people are entitled to some control over what pops up when their name is Googled.

Pollution plagues China's Baoding despite bid to clean up act Posted: 13 May 2014 03:49 PM PDT By David Stanway BAODING China (Reuters) - Seven years ago, the Chinese city of Baoding launched an ambitious \"low-carbon\" plan using renewables like solar power to light its streets and heat residential buildings, putting it at the forefront of the country's battle to cut pollution. In 2013, Baoding was still the third most polluted city in the country, with levels of harmful particles in the air more than 40 percent above those in the nearby capital Beijing. Baoding's failure to clean up its act underlines the scale of the challenge facing China as it seeks to end an obsession with economic growth and make protecting the environment a priority nationwide. Baoding's fight against pollution also sheds light on the way local governments have viewed environmental protection as another source of growth, with its efforts to churn out thousands of megawatts of solar power capacity every year merely making the smog thicker.

White House says no issue with Biden's son, Ukraine gas company Posted: 13 May 2014 03:35 PM PDT The White House on Tuesday brushed aside questions about whether the involvement of Vice President Joe Biden's son in a Ukrainian natural gas company raised ethical issues at a time when the administration is promoting energy diversity in the country. R. Hunter Biden, a lawyer and a partner in an investment firm, was named this week to the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, a private company that has drilled for natural gas in Ukraine since 2002. In a statement on Burisma's website, Hunter Biden said he would help the company with \"transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion,\" and other issues. Ukraine depends on Russia for most of its natural gas, and has accused Moscow of hiking natural gas prices as punishment for moving closer to the European Union.

NASA downplays Russian's talk on space cooperation Posted: 13 May 2014 03:34 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA is downplaying a Russian official's statements about an earlier end to cooperation on the International Space Station because of U.S. sanctions on Moscow.

New Zealand says housing loan strictures a success Posted: 13 May 2014 03:29 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Six months after introducing unusual rules to try to tame a booming housing market, New Zealand's Reserve Bank says those measures have been a success.

70 dead, many trapped in Turkish coal mine Posted: 13 May 2014 03:27 PM PDT ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — An explosion and a fire Tuesday killed some 70 workers at a coal mine in western Turkey and trapped more than 200 others underground, government officials said as Turkey launched a massive rescue operation.

Russia aims to exit ISS project in 2020 Posted: 13 May 2014 03:22 PM PDT MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday his country doesn't intend to use the International Space Station past the year 2020 and that this would effectively exclude the United States from using the orbiting laboratory.

Mexico to purge corrupt cops in violent state Posted: 13 May 2014 03:21 PM PDT Nuevo Laredo (Mexico) (AFP) - Mexico's government decided Tuesday to increase military control over security in the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas and purge corrupt police to reverse a surge in drug cartel violence. Authorities have blamed much of the recent violence on an internal power struggle within the Gulf cartel following the arrests of key leaders, but the gang has also been at war with the rival Zetas cartel in recent years. He said Tamaulipas will be divided into four security zones with a military officer in charge of each. Authorities will conduct reviews of the state and municipal police forces as well as the Tamaulipas prosecutor's office to get rid of bad apples.

Fulham's Khan calls for 'ground-up restoration' Posted: 13 May 2014 03:17 PM PDT JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) — Fulham owner Shad Khan expects a "ground-up restoration" after the west London club was relegated from the Premier League.

Environmentalists sue to list bumble bee as endangered Posted: 13 May 2014 03:15 PM PDT A bumble bee once common in the United States is disappearing so quickly it should be listed as an endangered species, environmentalists said in a lawsuit filed against U.S. government agencies on Tuesday. The rusty patched bumble bee is now found in fewer and fewer areas as urbanization and agriculture reshape their traditional habitat on the Midwestern prairies, said the suit, which was filed in U.S. district court in Washington, D.C., against the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. \"The leading hypothesis suggests that disease may be playing a role,\" said Sarina Jepsen, a program director at the Oregon-based Xerces Society, which brought the lawsuit along with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Bumble bees pollinate a wide variety of plants and crops and are used commercially by farmers to help grow tomatoes in greenhouses.

French journalist killed in C.Africa: Hollande Posted: 13 May 2014 03:13 PM PDT A French photojournalist has been killed while on a reporting assignment in conflict-torn Central African Republic, probably in an ambush, French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday. Speaking to the press in Tbilisi on his visit to Georgia, Hollande said that the journalist, Camille Lepage, \"was taking photographs, doing her job and no doubt fell into an ambush\". Her body was found by a patrol of French peacekeeping troops, who were checking a vehicle driven by \"anti-balaka\" militia in the region of Bouar, in the west of Central Africa, a French presidency statement said, referring to militamen from the mainly Christian vigilante group. Hollande has ordered the immediate dispatch of a French team as well as African police deployed in Central Africa to the scene to ensure that all measures are taken to find and punish the assailants.

Pekerman includes Falcao in 30-man WCup squad Posted: 13 May 2014 03:12 PM PDT BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Radamel Falcao, who is recovering from left-knee surgery, was named Tuesday in Colombia's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup.

Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam Posted: 13 May 2014 03:10 PM PDT A Sudanese court gave a 27-year-old woman until Thursday to abandon her newly adopted Christian faith and return to Islam or face a death sentence, judicial sources said on Monday. Mariam Yahya Ibrahim was charged with apostasy as well as adultery for marrying a Christian man, something prohibited for Muslim women to do and which makes the marriage void. Ibrahim's case was the first of its kind to be heard in Sudan. Young Sudanese university students have mounted a series of protests near Khartoum University in recent weeks asking for an end to human rights abuses, more freedoms and better social and economic conditions.

Tevez excluded from Argentina World Cup squad Posted: 13 May 2014 03:08 PM PDT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Striker Carlos Tevez was left out of Argentina's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.

'Searching for Sugar Man' director dies at 36 Posted: 13 May 2014 02:58 PM PDT STOCKHOLM (AP) — Malik Bendjelloul, the acclaimed Swedish film director behind the Oscar-winning music documentary "Searching for Sugar Man" has died. He was 36.

Men charged in Quebec railway disaster in court Posted: 13 May 2014 02:57 PM PDT MONTREAL (AP) — Three railway employees arrested in the runaway oil train explosion that killed 47 people were arraigned and released on bail Tuesday. They face criminal negligence charges in the small Quebec town that was devastated by the horrific inferno, which led to calls for making oil trains safer across North America.

Guam hoping to add lifeguards this year Posted: 13 May 2014 02:57 PM PDT HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Guam is hoping to boost the number of lifeguards it has patrolling beaches and swimming pools in the territory.

German federation opens probe into anti-gay banner Posted: 13 May 2014 02:56 PM PDT FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The German Football Federation has opened an investigation after an anti-gay sign was seen in the stands during Bayer Leverkusen's last match of the season.

Nigeria opens door for talks with kidnappers Posted: 13 May 2014 02:55 PM PDT ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — U.S. reconnaissance aircraft flew over Nigeria in search of the nearly 300 kidnapped schoolgirls Tuesday, a day after the Boko Haram militant group released the first evidence that at least some of them are still alive and demanded that jailed fighters be swapped for their freedom.

French journalist, 26, dies in C. African Republic Posted: 13 May 2014 02:53 PM PDT BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — A 26-year-old French photojournalist who had spent months documenting deadly conflict in Central African Republic has been killed, the French presidency said Tuesday.

Top Asian News at 9:30 p.m. GMT Posted: 13 May 2014 02:52 PM PDT BANGKOK (AP) — The leader of Thailand's anti-government movement pushed Tuesday for the appointment of an unelected prime minister in a news conference televised from the government's compound, which protesters have seized. Suthep Thaugsuban urged the Senate to name a new prime minister, arguing that the caretaker leader, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, has no legitimacy. Niwattumrong was selected by the Cabinet last week after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for nepotism in a ruling that many viewed as politically motivated.

Mexico sets security plan for violent border state Posted: 13 May 2014 02:52 PM PDT REYNOSA, Mexico (AP) — Mexico's top security official says military commanders will lead a new security plan for the border state of Tamaulipas, where dozens of people have been killed in drug-related violence this year.

Father of slain US soldier seeks Iraqi justice Posted: 13 May 2014 02:51 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The father of a U.S. soldier whose remains were found near Baghdad in 2008 says he urged an Iraqi judge at a hearing to fully prosecute the insurgent accused of killing his son.

NZ to play United States in Chicago Posted: 13 May 2014 02:50 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Rugby world champion New Zealand is to play the United States in an international on Nov. 1 at Chicago's Soldier Field, 34 years since they last played a match on American soil.

Sweden tops Norway 2-1 at hockey worlds Posted: 13 May 2014 02:49 PM PDT MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Defending champion Sweden edged Norway 2-1 Tuesday for its third straight victory at the hockey world championships.

Uruguay: Prisoner hacks US ambassador's cellphone Posted: 13 May 2014 02:48 PM PDT MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A prisoner in Uruguay tapped into the U.S. ambassador's cellphone and sent messages to some of her contacts in an attempt to commit a still undisclosed fraud, authorities said Tuesday.

Germany and Poland draw 0-0 in friendly Posted: 13 May 2014 02:47 PM PDT HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Germany and Poland's second-string sides played to a lackluster 0-0 draw on Tuesday that gave Germany coach Joachim Loew few insights into possible World Cup candidates.

Brother and sister survive siege of Syria's Homs Posted: 13 May 2014 02:26 PM PDT Homs (Syria) (AFP) - Antoinette Fares lost nearly half her weight during the hellish siege she and her brother Sobei endured in Homs' Old City because they didn't want to be a burden to relatives. Cloistered in their home despite daily bombardment and raging battles, the siblings rode out the siege until its bitter end last week, when the last rebels left under a deal with the government. A UN-brokered deal in February led to hundreds of civilians being evacuated, but Antoinette and Sobei insisted on staying put. Then last week, some 2,000 people, most of them rebels, were the last to leave the siege.

US confident Thai military won't resort to coup Posted: 13 May 2014 02:25 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is "reasonably confident" Thailand's military won't launch a coup, a senior defense official said Tuesday, although analysts warned the nation's political crisis could trigger armed conflict.

Guatemala eyes alternative crop subsidies to dampen poppy allure Posted: 13 May 2014 02:17 PM PDT By Mike McDonald ANTIGUA, Guatemala (Reuters) - Guatemala is considering subsidizing alternative crops for poppy farmers in order to curb the production of narcotics and raise funds for social programs, a senior government official said on Tuesday. The government could offer seeds for potatoes, corn and peas to farmers who grow poppies in northwestern Guatemala along the border with Mexico, where powerful drug cartels buy the plants and convert them into heroin, said Eunice Mendizabal, anti-narcotics deputy minister. The Central American nation, with tight budget constraints, spends close to $2 million annually eliminating poppy plants. \"Every time we perform an operation to eradicate poppies, that area becomes more conflictive,\" Mendizabal told Reuters at a conference to discuss alternatives to the drug war.

Strike hits Brazilian consulates in US, Europe Posted: 13 May 2014 02:17 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — Employees at Brazil's consulates began a two-day strike Tuesday that affected visa services in major cities in the United States and Europe just weeks before the World Cup.

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