Yahoo! News: World News

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• Thailand's army declares martial law
• Election officials at sharp end in separatist Ukraine city
• Gunmen kill three policemen at Cairo's Al-Azhar University
• U.S. warns of risk of renewed conflict after Mali clashes
• London imam Abu Hamza convicted of U.S. terrorism charges
• Libyan special forces commander says his forces join renegade general
• Credit Suisse charged in tax evasion case
• Tuareg rebels free hostages seized in northern Mali
• Cairns denies being 'Player X' in fixing probe
• Gunmen shoot dead three policemen, wound nine in Cairo: ministry
• Bahamas court won't halt Bimini resort dredging
• Colombia probes bus fire that killed 32 children
• Thai army says restoring order, not mounting coup: AFP
• US Military: Buildup will boost Guam revenue
• Thailand's army invokes martial law: military TV
• Facing tough EU election, UK's Clegg attacks 'false patriot' euro-skeptics
• Panama to renew consular relations with Venezuela
• U.S. hopes for Pacific cooperation with India navy under Modi
• Nani picked for Portugal's World Cup squad
• Valcke expecting 'busy days ahead' of World Cup
• New Zealand leader John Key to meet with Obama
• London cleric convicted in NYC terrorism trial
• CANNES WATCH: R-Patz rates romps; Chastain billows
• Florida pastor gets jail in fake Hirst art case
• U.S. accuses China of cyber spying on American companies
• Romanian historian who debunked Dracula myth dies
• CANNES WATCH: Chastain flutters in Saab couture
• U.S. indicts five in China's secret 'Unit 61398' for cyber-spying
• Mexico plans to extract 13,000-year-old skeleton
• Barcelona entrusts Enrique with delivering change
• Seven bodies dumped in truck in northern Mexico
• 58 countries urge UN to refer Syria to ICC
• Chile president sends education reform to Congress
• CIA: Will not use vaccination programs for spying

Thailand's army declares martial law Posted: 19 May 2014 04:37 PM PDT Thailand's army declared martial law on Tuesday to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a functioning government. Thailand has been stuck in political limbo since Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine of her ministers were dismissed on May 7 after a court found them guilty of abuse of power.

Election officials at sharp end in separatist Ukraine city Posted: 19 May 2014 10:45 AM PDT By Sabina Zawadzki DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - From a cramped office in residential Donetsk, election officials were frantically working on Sunday to prepare for Ukraine's May 25 presidential poll, despite what they described as intimidation and threats from pro-Russian separatists. "We're not working out of safety concerns," said Volodymyr Klotsky, a member of election commission no. 43, adding that he and his colleagues had reluctantly taken the decision after "terrorists" had seized the offices of another voting commission nearby. Klotsky's commission had been the last of five such election bodies opened up in the eastern Ukrainian city, an industrial hub of about 1 million, which is now the centre of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic. The separatists' revolt, fuelled by heady Russian propaganda, was focused at several points in the east following the overthrow of the Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich and the annexation by Russia of Crimea.

Gunmen kill three policemen at Cairo's Al-Azhar University Posted: 19 May 2014 03:42 PM PDT (Reuters) - Gunmen killed three policemen on Monday night at Cairo's Al-Azhar University, security sources said, a week before a presidential election former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win. The assailants stepped out of two cars and opened fire on a security checkpoint just outside the university, also wounding 11 people, the sources said. Militants have stepped up attacks on security forces since Sisi toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi last year. In an interview with Reuters last week, Sisi said Egypt needed support from the United States in its battle against Islamist militants who pose a threat from several areas, including the Sinai Peninsula and the border with Libya.

U.S. warns of risk of renewed conflict after Mali clashes Posted: 19 May 2014 01:27 PM PDT By Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO (Reuters) - The United States warned on Monday that northern Mali risked sliding back into war and called for the government and Tuareg separatists to return to talks after deadly clashes in a traditional rebel stronghold at the weekend. The Malian army was preparing to launch an assault on the northern town of Kidal, where at least eight soldiers and eight civilians including six government officials were killed when rebels attacked the regional governor's office on Saturday while Prime Minister Moussa Mara was in the town. Around 30 civil servants who were taken hostage in the attack were released on Monday, according to Radhia Achouri, spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was due to address the nation on Monday evening, after Mara said on Sunday that Keita was now convinced it was "highly desirable ... that Kidal be totally under the control of the Malian state".

London imam Abu Hamza convicted of U.S. terrorism charges Posted: 19 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - London imam Abu Hamza al-Masri was convicted of terrorism charges in New York on Monday, following a four-week trial that shined a spotlight on the preacher's controversial anti-Western statements. After deliberating for less than two days, a jury of eight men and four women found Abu Hamza, 56, guilty on all 11 counts he faced, handing Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara his second high-profile terrorism conviction in three months. Abu Hamza could face life in prison when he is sentenced in September. Prosecutors had charged the one-eyed, handless Abu Hamza with providing a satellite phone and advice to Yemeni militants who kidnapped Western tourists in 1998, an operation that led to the deaths of four hostages.

Libyan special forces commander says his forces join renegade general Posted: 19 May 2014 03:51 PM PDT By Ayman al-Warfalli and Ulf Laessing BENGHAZI/TRIPOLI, Libya (Reuters) - The commander of Libyan army special forces said on Monday he had allied with renegade general Khalifa Haftar in his campaign against militant Islamists, highlighting the failure of central government in Tripoli to assert its authority. It remains unclear how many troops support Haftar, whose forces launched an attack on Islamist militants in Benghazi on Friday in which more than 70 people died. The violence has compounded government's apparent weakness in combating militias which helped oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but now defy state authority. "We are with Haftar," Special Forces Commander Wanis Bukhamada told Reuters in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Credit Suisse charged in tax evasion case Posted: 19 May 2014 04:55 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Swiss bank Credit Suisse AG pleaded guilty Monday to helping wealthy Americans avoid paying taxes through secret offshore accounts and agreed to pay about $2.6 billion.

Tuareg rebels free hostages seized in northern Mali Posted: 19 May 2014 04:44 PM PDT Tuareg rebels on Monday released 32 civil servants taken hostage in a deadly siege at government offices in northern Mali, the United Nations' MINUSMA peacekeeping force said. The release of the hostages came as 1,500 Malian troops poured into the town, sent to restore government control to the bastion of Mali's Tuareg separatist movement, 1,500 kilometre (900 miles) northeast of the capital. A firefight between the army and separatists from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) outside the regional governor's headquarters on Saturday left eight Malian soldiers and 28 insurgents dead. "After negotiations that took place during the night of Sunday May 18 and Monday May 19, MINUSMA recovered 32 prisoners from the MNLA and transported them to the MINUSMA camp in Kidal where a medical check-up was offered," the force said in a statement.

Cairns denies being 'Player X' in fixing probe Posted: 19 May 2014 04:39 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Chris Cairns says current New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum lied if he has named him to anti-corruption authorities as the former star player who attempted to lure McCullum into match-fixing.

Gunmen shoot dead three policemen, wound nine in Cairo: ministry Posted: 19 May 2014 04:25 PM PDT Gunmen travelling in a car opened fire on Tuesday on a group of Egyptian policemen outside Cairo's Al-Azhar university, killing three and wounding nine others, the interior ministry said. The attack comes just days ahead of a presidential election on May 26-27, which former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win. The number of attacks targeting policemen has risen since Sisi ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year. The latest came as some students of Cairo's Al-Azhar university, a prestigious seat of Sunni Islamic teaching, were protesting in favour of Morsi, the ministry said in a statement.

Bahamas court won't halt Bimini resort dredging Posted: 19 May 2014 04:22 PM PDT NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — A court in the Bahamas rejected an effort Monday to halt a dredging project off Bimini that is part of a major new resort development in the small cluster of islands near Florida.

Colombia probes bus fire that killed 32 children Posted: 19 May 2014 04:19 PM PDT BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian authorities have detained a bus driver and are questioning him in the deaths of 32 children who were killed when the overcrowded vehicle bringing them home from Sunday school caught fire.

Thai army says restoring order, not mounting coup: AFP Posted: 19 May 2014 04:19 PM PDT (Reuters) - The Thai army's declaration of martial law on Tuesday is designed to restore peace and order and does not constitute a coup, Agence France-Presse said, quoting an announcement on military-run television. Earlier, media quoted an army statement issued in Bangkok as saying that martial law had been declared after six months of anti-government protests and political crisis. (Reporting by Mark Bendeich)

US Military: Buildup will boost Guam revenue Posted: 19 May 2014 04:18 PM PDT HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — The relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan, will boost Guam's revenue by at least $37 million a year, defense officials say.

Thailand's army invokes martial law: military TV Posted: 19 May 2014 04:08 PM PDT Thailand's army on Tuesday declared martial law across the crisis-gripped kingdom to restore order following months of anti-government protests that have left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded. An announcement on military-run television said martial law had been invoked "to restore peace and order for people from all sides", stressing that the move "is not a coup". The imposition of martial law risks angering supporters of the government if it is seen as tantamount to a coup. The dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier this month in a controversial court ruling has sent tensions soaring in the kingdom, which has endured years of political turmoil.

Facing tough EU election, UK's Clegg attacks 'false patriot' euro-skeptics Posted: 19 May 2014 04:04 PM PDT By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Politicians who want Britain to withdraw from the European Union are "false patriots" who act against Britain's national interests, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will say in a speech on Tuesday. Clegg, a Liberal Democrat, aimed the attack at the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) and euro-skeptic factions of Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives two days before European elections, which are forecast to bring big losses for his pro-Europe party.

Panama to renew consular relations with Venezuela Posted: 19 May 2014 03:55 PM PDT Panama said on Monday it would restore consular relations with Venezuela in the coming days, months after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro broke diplomatic and economic ties, accusing Panama's government of joining an alleged U.S. conspiracy against him. The Central American country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the decision was "in response to the proposal made by the government of Venezuela to resume consular relations." The statement did not make clear when full diplomatic relations might be reinstated. Diplomatic relations were broken on March 5 after Maduro used the anniversary of former President Hugo Chavez's death to accuse Panama's conservative government of joining the United States in an "open conspiracy" against him.

U.S. hopes for Pacific cooperation with India navy under Modi Posted: 19 May 2014 03:53 PM PDT By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States hopes to be able to expand naval cooperation with India once a new government is in place in New Delhi, the chief of U.S. naval operations said on Monday. Admiral Jonathan Greenert said the United States would like to see this cooperation extend to India's participation in exercises in the Western Pacific region, where an increasingly powerful China is becoming more assertive. "There's a strategic partnership and opportunity up there with India that is emerging," Greenert told a Washington think tank. "Then maybe India would be willing to come over to Western Pacific ... we will just have to see what the political ramifications are and where they are willing to go." U.S. officials say plans to expand naval cooperation with India ended up on a back burner during a long-running row between New Delhi and Washington over the treatment of an Indian diplomat in New York and in the run-up to India's election earlier in May. Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party won a resounding victory in the election.

Nani picked for Portugal's World Cup squad Posted: 19 May 2014 03:48 PM PDT LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Nani has been included in Portugal's World Cup squad despite an injury-hit season during which he made just 13 appearances for Manchester United.

Valcke expecting 'busy days ahead' of World Cup Posted: 19 May 2014 03:46 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke arrived in Brazil on Monday to oversee the final preparations for the World Cup, saying he expects "busy days ahead" to make sure everything is ready in time.

New Zealand leader John Key to meet with Obama Posted: 19 May 2014 03:37 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will meet President Barack Obama in Washington next month to discuss trade and military issues.

London cleric convicted in NYC terrorism trial Posted: 19 May 2014 03:32 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — An Egyptian Islamic preacher whose fiery sermons before and after 9/11 attracted extremists to his London mosque was convicted Monday in a trial that a prosecutor said should provide justice for the victims of a kidnapping in Yemen more than a decade ago.

CANNES WATCH: R-Patz rates romps; Chastain billows Posted: 19 May 2014 03:14 PM PDT CANNES, France (AP) — The Associated Press is all over the Cannes Film Festival — from its glitzy premieres to the celeb parties and quirky moments in between. Here's what reporters have seen and heard:

Florida pastor gets jail in fake Hirst art case Posted: 19 May 2014 03:10 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A Miami pastor was sentenced Monday to six months in jail for peddling bogus examples of some of British artist Damien Hirst's signature paintings.

U.S. accuses China of cyber spying on American companies Posted: 19 May 2014 03:04 PM PDT By Jim Finkle, Joseph Menn and Aruna Viswanatha (Reuters) - The United States on Monday charged five Chinese military officers and accused them of hacking into American nuclear, metal and solar companies to steal trade secrets, ratcheting up tensions between the two world powers over cyber espionage. China immediately denied the charges, saying in a strongly worded Foreign Ministry statement the U.S. grand jury indictment was "made up" and would damage trust between the two nations. Officials in Washington have argued for years that cyber espionage is a top national security concern. The indictment was the first criminal hacking charge that the United States has filed against specific foreign officials, and follows a steady increase in public criticism and private confrontation, including at a summit last year between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Romanian historian who debunked Dracula myth dies Posted: 19 May 2014 02:56 PM PDT BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — He was a Romanian-born historian, professor and philanthropist who intrigued American popular culture by writing a book linking the fictional Count Dracula to the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad the Impaler.

CANNES WATCH: Chastain flutters in Saab couture Posted: 19 May 2014 02:55 PM PDT CANNES, France (AP) — Ivory-skinned, red-head beauty Jessica Chastain looked like an ethereal Roman goddess for the "Foxcatcher" premiere at Cannes in a gown by Elie Saab.

U.S. indicts five in China's secret 'Unit 61398' for cyber-spying Posted: 19 May 2014 02:49 PM PDT After years of complaining that China is engaged in stealing trade secrets from American companies, the United States on Monday for the first time filed cyber-espionage charges against individuals belonging to a unit of the Chinese military, accusing them of hacking trade secrets since 2006 from five domestic manufacturers and the steelworkers union. The indictment, filed by the US Attorney's Office for the western district of Pennsylvania, where several of the US companies are based, names five Chinese nationals who worked for China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Unit 61398, a cyber-intelligence-gathering section. The PLA workers named in the indictment are not in US custody, and probably never will be. By taking this legal action, the US is signaling to China that its tolerance of economic cyber-spying, which results in loss of American firms' competitive position on the world market, is at a breaking point.

Mexico plans to extract 13,000-year-old skeleton Posted: 19 May 2014 02:38 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican experts plan to extract the entire skeleton of a teenage girl who nearly 13,000 years ago toppled into a deep hole in a Mexican cave and died, an official said Monday.

Barcelona entrusts Enrique with delivering change Posted: 19 May 2014 02:38 PM PDT MADRID (AP) — Barcelona promised change, and delivered it quickly.

Seven bodies dumped in truck in northern Mexico Posted: 19 May 2014 02:37 PM PDT Seven bodies were dumped in a light truck in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas where a battle between drug gangs has sparked a wave of bloody shootouts and massacres, the government said on Monday. The bodies of four men and three women who have not yet been identified were found late Sunday in the port city of Tampico, according to a statement from a government task force set up last month to respond to the spike in violence across the state. Mexico's feared Gulf cartel has been battling the Zetas over control of drug and migrant smuggling routes around Nuevo Laredo, the biggest border crossing for trade between the United States and Mexico. Tamaulipas houses vast deposits of shale resources and major energy installations, including the smallest of the country's six oil refineries.

58 countries urge UN to refer Syria to ICC Posted: 19 May 2014 02:37 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Nearly 60 countries urged the U.N. Security Council on Monday to refer the war in Syria to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Chile president sends education reform to Congress Posted: 19 May 2014 02:33 PM PDT SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — President Michelle Bachelet announced the first stage of her promised education overhaul Monday, proposing an end to state subsidies to for-profit schools — a step toward eventual free university education in Chile.

CIA: Will not use vaccination programs for spying Posted: 19 May 2014 05:00 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official has pledged that the CIA will no longer use vaccination programs as cover for spying operations. The agency used the ruse in targeting Osama bin Laden before the U.S. raid that killed him in 2011.

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