Yahoo! News: World News

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• Malaysian airliner downed in Ukraine war zone, 295 dead
• Israel says ground offensive under way in Gaza
• Thailand's ex-PM Yingluck given permission to leave country
• West considers early sanctions moves in troubled Iran nuclear talks
• U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea missile launches
• Scottish separatists close gap on pro-union rivals: poll
• UN Security Council sets urgent meeting on Ukraine
• Mexico reports 1st litter of wolf cubs in the wild
• AP Interview: Ukraine blames Russia for crash
• Ukraine: Pro-Russia rebels downed Malaysian plane
• Obama pledges U.S. help for Malaysian plane probe, talks to Putin
• U.N. Security Council to meet on Friday on Ukraine
• Sharks chase elusive 1st title in Super Rugby
• China says shocked by Malaysia airliner crash
• Ukraine accuses Russian officers over Malaysian airliner
• Bolivia legalizes work by children as young as 10
• Body discovered in area of Northern California wildfire
• Libyan militia says ceasefire reached to end airport fighting
• Lawyer: US terror-case client is 'terminally ill'
• Some defend founder of Mexican shelter
• Global investigation sought in Ukraine plane crash
• Germany calls for independent inquiry into plane's downing in Ukraine
• Puerto Rico declares chikungunya epidemic
• AP source: Missile took down jet in Ukraine
• US: Israel must do more to protect Gaza civilians
• First cases of mosquito virus reported in US
• California couple conserving water amid drought could face fine for brown lawn
• Madagascar denies approving exiled leader's return
• Deleted posts suggest Ukraine rebels downed Malaysian jet in error
• Malaysian jet, possibly shot down, crashes in Ukraine
• Colorado finds link between quakes and wastewater wells
• Puerto Rico power company's finances spark concern
• Arsenal makes Mathieu Debuchy 2nd summer signing
• US intel says Malaysian plane shot down by missile
• Israel tank fire kills 5 in Gaza, including baby: medics
• Obama calls Kerry, national security team about Malaysian plane
• Malaysia says jetliner did not make distress call

Malaysian airliner downed in Ukraine war zone, 295 dead Posted: 17 Jul 2014 02:37 PM PDT By Anton Zverev HRABOVE Ukraine (Reuters) - A Malaysian airliner was brought down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising the stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels that has set Russia and the West at daggers drawn. As the United States said the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was "blown out of the sky", probably by a ground-launched missile, Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of blame, cranking up global pressure for a way out of a bloody local conflict that risks fueling a new Cold War. Ukraine accused pro-Moscow militants, aided by Russian military intelligence officers, of firing a long-range, Soviet-era SA-11 ground-to-air missile.

Israel says ground offensive under way in Gaza Posted: 17 Jul 2014 02:54 PM PDT By Jeffrey Heller and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) - Israel announced the start of a Gaza ground campaign on Thursday after 10 days of aerial and naval bombardments failed to stop persistent Palestinian rocket attacks, but it signalled the invasion would be limited in scope. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had given orders to destroy tunnels that militants had dug to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks. An Israeli military spokesman said Israel was not out to try to topple the dominant Hamas Islamist group. Israel last mounted a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip during a three-week war in late 2008 and early 2009 that claimed 1,400 Palestinian and 13 Israeli lives.

Thailand's ex-PM Yingluck given permission to leave country Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:31 AM PDT By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military rulers have given permission to former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe where she is expected to attend the birthday party of her brother Thaksin, also a deposed former premier, officers said on Thursday. A military spokesman said Yingluck, forced from office by a court ruling days before the military seized power in May, was permitted to leave provided she stayed out of politics. He said she would be allowed back into Thailand at the end of her trip. The military briefly detained Yingluck and hundreds of other politicians, activists, academics and journalists after the May 22 coup, which it says it staged to restore order after months of sometimes violent protests against her government.

West considers early sanctions moves in troubled Iran nuclear talks Posted: 17 Jul 2014 06:09 AM PDT By Justyna Pawlak and Louis Charbonneau BRUSSELS/VIENNA (Reuters) - With talks between world powers and Iran over a broad nuclear accord at an impasse, Western governments are considering offering a significant easing of sanctions early on in the process to try to wring concessions from Tehran, diplomats say. To be effective, such a plan would have to involve clear guidance to companies made wary by U.S. fines for sanctions-busting, be reversible and not go too far, or skeptical U.S. lawmakers would simply reimpose restrictions. The OPEC oil producer has seen its economy devastated by years of sanctions imposed over its contested nuclear program, which Western states say appears to be aimed at producing a nuclear bomb and Tehran says is purely peaceful. Diplomats said the six world powers negotiating with Iran - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - were working out terms for an extension of talks, beyond their self-imposed July 20 deadline, instead of seeking to close a deal now.

U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea missile launches Posted: 17 Jul 2014 02:55 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea, describing the three rounds of Scud short-range missiles fired in June and July as a violation of council demands on Pyongyang. "The members of the Security Council condemned these launches ... and urged the DPRK (North Korea) to fully comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions," said Rwandan U.N. Ambassador Eugene Gasana, council president for July. North Korea is under an array of United Nations, U.S. ...

Scottish separatists close gap on pro-union rivals: poll Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:07 PM PDT Scottish separatists are closing the gap on their unionist rivals as a September independence referendum draws nearer, according to a poll on Friday. Scots will vote on Sept. 18 on whether to end the 307-year union with England, a break that would affect everything from currency arrangements to control of North Sea oil and gas. In a poll of 995 adults, TNS found that support for the pro-independence "Yes" campaign had grown by two points to 32 percent compared with last month, while the campaign to reject independence had slipped back a point to 41 percent. Both sides of the debate received a boost in support as undecided voters made up their minds in a poll last week by Survation.

UN Security Council sets urgent meeting on Ukraine Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:52 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday morning on Ukraine.

Mexico reports 1st litter of wolf cubs in the wild Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:50 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — The first known litter of Mexican gray wolves has been born in the wild as part of a three-year effort to re-introduce the subspecies to a habitat where it disappeared three decades ago, Mexican officials reported Thursday.

AP Interview: Ukraine blames Russia for crash Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:47 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukraine's U.N. ambassador said Thursday that the Malaysian airliner would not have crashed if Russia hadn't given pro-Russian separatists a sophisticated missile system that can hit planes.

Ukraine: Pro-Russia rebels downed Malaysian plane Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:44 PM PDT HRABOVE, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine accused pro-Russian separatists of shooting down a Malaysian jetliner with 295 people aboard Thursday, sharply escalating the crisis and threatening to draw both East and West deeper into the conflict. The rebels denied downing the aircraft.

Obama pledges U.S. help for Malaysian plane probe, talks to Putin Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:39 PM PDT By Jeff Mason NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Barack Obama directed U.S. officials on Thursday to do all they could to support an investigation into what caused a Malaysian jetliner to crash in a Ukraine war zone and pledged support to the affected countries as the probe moves forward. Obama went ahead with a trip to tout infrastructure investment in Delaware and to raise money for Democrats in New York despite the incident in which 295 people, including reportedly 23 Americans, lost their lives. Before leaving the White House, Obama held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the United States on Wednesday imposed the most wide-ranging sanctions yet on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

U.N. Security Council to meet on Friday on Ukraine Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:39 PM PDT By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Ukraine on Friday and is mulling a draft statement calling for "a full, thorough and independent international investigation" into what caused the crash of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine. The British-drafted statement, reviewed by Reuters, stressed the need for "all parties to grant immediate access by investigators to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident." The Malaysia Airlines jet was carrying 295 people. The Security Council is then due to meet to discuss the situation in Ukraine at 10 a.m. EDT Friday. The draft statement calls for an investigation into the incident in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines and "for appropriate accountability." U.N. political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman is due to brief the council on Friday, said Rwanda's U.N. mission, president of the council for July.

Sharks chase elusive 1st title in Super Rugby Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:35 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The defending champions, two-time former champions and two teams aspiring to win their first titles will clash Saturday in the first round of playoffs in Super Rugby, all endeavoring to become the first wild card to win the southern hemisphere championships.

China says shocked by Malaysia airliner crash Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:35 PM PDT China expressed its shock and offered its condolences to those on board a Malaysian airliner that crashed in Ukraine, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, came down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, probably after being hit by a missile, killing all 295 people on board. A foreign ministry spokesman said in the statement China was checking to see if any Chinese nationals were on board, adding that it hoped the cause of the crash would be identified soon.

Ukraine accuses Russian officers over Malaysian airliner Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:31 PM PDT By Natalia Zinets and Richard Balmforth KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's state security chief accused two Russian military intelligence officers of involvement with pro-Russian rebels in the downing of a Malaysian airliner on Thursday, releasing chilling testimony of what he called an "inhuman crime." SBU chief Valentyn Nalivaychenko based his allegation on intercepted telephone conversations between the two officers and pro-Russian fighters, one of whom referred to seeing "a sea of women and children" in the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. "We will do everything for the Russian military who carried out this crime to be punished," Nalivaychenko told journalists, who were shown video and audio transcripts of the recordings.

Bolivia legalizes work by children as young as 10 Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:28 PM PDT EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) — Alicia weaves through El Alto's stalled traffic under a blazing sun, hawking colorful woven flowers to grumpy drivers and lovers.

Body discovered in area of Northern California wildfire Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:27 PM PDT (Reuters) - A body has been discovered in an area where a wildfire allegedly started by a marijuana grower has charred 10,700 acres (4,330 hectares) in Northern California, officials said on Thursday. The so-called Bully Fire broke out last Friday in Shasta County near the town of Redding and has destroyed 18 structures, authorities said on a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal-Fire) website. The body was discovered on Wednesday near a home and the person appears to have died soon after the blaze broke out, Cal-Fire said in a statement. The fire's location in a remote canyon, along with high winds and dry conditions due to ongoing drought, made the Bully Fire difficult to fight, Cal-Fire officials said earlier in the week.

Libyan militia says ceasefire reached to end airport fighting Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:25 PM PDT A Libyan militia battling a rival armed group over control of the country's biggest airport is ready for a peaceful solution after five days of heavy fighting, a spokesman said on Thursday. The news, if confirmed by the rival militia, would be a huge relief for Libyan citizens who were stunned after two armed groups turned Tripoli International Airport into a battlefield. "There is an agreement between the conflict parties on a ceasefire and to hand over the airport to a committee tasked by the prime minister (to find a peaceful solution)," said Mahmoud al-Hatwish, spokesman for the town council of Zintan.

Lawyer: US terror-case client is 'terminally ill' Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:19 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A New York lawyer says the government is rushing to bring to trial a terminally ill Libyan man it says helped orchestrate the 1998 deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies.

Some defend founder of Mexican shelter Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:09 PM PDT ZAMORA, Mexico (AP) — About 500 people marched through this western Mexico city Thursday in support of the embattled but highly regarded founder of a shelter raided amid allegations of sexual and physical abuse and filthy living conditions.

Global investigation sought in Ukraine plane crash Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:06 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A global air safety group says an international coalition of countries should lead the investigation of a Malaysia plane that crashed in Ukraine.

Germany calls for independent inquiry into plane's downing in Ukraine Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:05 PM PDT BERLIN/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday called for an independent, international investigation into the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine. Ukraine accused "terrorists" - militants fighting to unite eastern Ukraine with Russia - of shooting down the Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 777 as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 295 people aboard. Merkel called for an "immediate, independent investigation into the causes of the crash", German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement. "If this news is confirmed, she said it would represent a further tragic escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine," Seibert added.

Puerto Rico declares chikungunya epidemic Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:04 PM PDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Health officials in Puerto Rico on Thursday declared an epidemic of the mosquito-borne virus known as chikungunya, which was introduced into the Caribbean region late last year.

AP source: Missile took down jet in Ukraine Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:03 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — American intelligence authorities believe a surface-to-air missile took down a passenger jet in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, a U.S. official said, but the Obama administration was still scrambling to confirm who launched the strike and whether there were American citizens killed in the crash.

US: Israel must do more to protect Gaza civilians Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:02 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration accused Israel on Thursday of failing to do all it can to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza during cross-border attacks as Israel and Hama consider a cease-fire agreement.

First cases of mosquito virus reported in US Posted: 17 Jul 2014 04:01 PM PDT WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — Health officials are reporting that for the first time, U.S. mosquitoes are spreading a virus that has been tearing through the Caribbean.

California couple conserving water amid drought could face fine for brown lawn Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:59 PM PDT A Southern California couple who scaled back watering their lawn amid the state's drought received a warning from the suburb where they live that they might be fined for creating an eyesore - despite emergency statewide orders to conserve. Michael Korte and Laura Whitney, who live near Los Angeles in Glendora, said on Thursday they received a letter from the city warning they had 60 days to green up their partially brown lawn or pay a fine ranging from $100 to $500. "We're kind of in a quandary about what to do." The letter, bearing the official symbols of Glendora and its police department, came the same week that statewide water regulators passed emergency drought restrictions for outdoor water use. California is in the third year of an extreme drought that is expected to cost the state an estimated $2.2 billion and more than 17,000 agricultural jobs.

Madagascar denies approving exiled leader's return Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:56 PM PDT Madagascar on Thursday denied saying ousted leader Marc Ravalomanana was free to come home after five years in exile, claiming hackers may have issued a bogus government statement. The apparently fake foreign ministry statement said that the 64-year-old Ravalomanana was "free to return to Madagascar" given "the evolution of the current political situation". "We took this decision to restore the political situation on the island," said the statement, which was sent to major news outlets earlier Thursday. Ravalomanana, who lives in exile in South Africa, has made several failed attempts to return to the Indian Ocean island which he fled following a coup led by rival Andry Rajoelina in 2009.

Deleted posts suggest Ukraine rebels downed Malaysian jet in error Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:51 PM PDT Social media posts by pro-Russian insurgents -- most of them hastily removed -- suggest the rebels thought they had shot down a Ukrainian army plane before realising in horror that it was in fact a packed Malaysian airliner. The Twitter and blog messages were immediately publicised by top Kiev officials in their furious information war with the Kremlin for global opinion and the hearts and minds of ethnic Russians caught in the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War. Confirmation of separatist fighters killing 298 passengers and crew on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur would further complicate Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to paint their uprising as a fight for self-determination. Russia's state media avoided any mention of the controversial posts and instead reported militia leaders' later charges that the Ukrainian air force had shot down the Boeing 777 liner instead.

Malaysian jet, possibly shot down, crashes in Ukraine Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:50 PM PDT A Malaysian airliner carrying 298 people from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed Thursday in strife-torn east Ukraine, with US officials saying it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Ukraine's government said the jet was shot down in a "terrorist act", while comments attributed to a pro-Russia rebel chief suggested his men may have downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by mistake, believing it was a Ukrainian army transport plane. Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile said Kiev bore responsibility for the crash, which came as Ukrainian forces battle pro-Moscow insurgents in the east of the country. As Malaysian investigators headed to the scene, the UN Security Council called an emergency session on Friday to discuss the disaster -- the second to strike the airline in just four months.

Colorado finds link between quakes and wastewater wells Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:50 PM PDT By Edward McAllister NEW YORK (Reuters) - Colorado regulators said on Thursday that the disposal of oil and gas wastewater at a well in Weld County likely caused a series of small earthquakes this year, in another sign that a U.S. drilling boom is contributing to higher seismic activity. The issue of wastewater disposal disturbing underground faultlines has become a national issue in the United States where drilling and wastewater disposal have increased sharply in recent years. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) halted activity at a wastewater disposal site owned by NGL Water Solutions DJ LLC on June 23, after a 3.2 magnitude quake on May 31 was followed by other smaller tremblers in the area. COGCC is investigating whether the company exceeded permitted injection volumes.

Puerto Rico power company's finances spark concern Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:49 PM PDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. investors on Thursday pressed Puerto Rico government officials about the financial health of the island's power company amid fears it might soon seek to restructure millions of dollars in debt.

Arsenal makes Mathieu Debuchy 2nd summer signing Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:46 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Arsenal has signed Mathieu Debuchy and selling club Newcastle has replaced the defender with Daryl Janmaat.

US intel says Malaysian plane shot down by missile Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:44 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. official said Thursday that American intelligence authorities now believe a surface-to-air missile took down the Malaysian passenger plane as it flew over eastern Ukraine.

Israel tank fire kills 5 in Gaza, including baby: medics Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:43 PM PDT Israeli tank fire killed five people in the Gaza Strip, including a five-month-old baby, early on Friday, medics said. Emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra announced the deaths as Israel said it was launching a ground operation after 10 days of conflict with the Palestinian Hamas group. The five deaths were the first reported after Israel began its ground operation, and raised the overall toll in Gaza since July 8 to 246.

Obama calls Kerry, national security team about Malaysian plane Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:41 PM PDT President Barack Obama spoke to Secretary of State John Kerry and senior members of his national security team on Thursday about the downed Malaysian jetliner in Ukraine, the White House said. Obama, who is on a Democratic fundraising trip, held the separate calls after his arrival in New York. "The president was briefed on our ongoing efforts to support the Ukrainian government and a prompt international investigation into what took place," the White House said. "The president directed his national security team to continue offering whatever assistance is necessary to advance the international effort to determine what happened." Participants in the national security call included CIA Director John Brennan, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and deputy national security adviser Lisa Monaco.

Malaysia says jetliner did not make distress call Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:37 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went down in war-torn Ukraine did not make any distress call, Malaysia's prime minister said Friday, adding that its flight route also had been declared safe by the global civil aviation body.

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