Yahoo! News: World News

---

• After U.S. torture report, Poland asks what its leaders knew
• Russia accuses U.S. of destroying 'carcass of cooperation' with Ukraine bill
• Syrian rebel 'hell cannons' kill 300 civilians: monitoring group
• Explosion damages French cultural center in Gaza
• Islamic State target of 27 strikes by U.S. allies
• U.S. seeks to defuse tensions over Israeli-Palestinian resolutions
• Haiti leader accepts report calling for new gov't
• Thai princess relinquishes royal title
• China's Feng takes 5-stroke lead in Dubai
• Kerry aims to avert UN crisis on Mideast
• Indonesia landslide kills 3 people; 107 missing
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• Higher prices, shortages create pressure for IS
• Officials say 3 dead, 107 missing in landslide caused by heavy rains in central Indonesia
• Germany finishes 1-2 in World Cup luge doubles
• Defense disputes detective in German student case
• 18 fishermen missing after Nicaraguan shipwreck
• UN backs agreement for NATO to train Afghan forces
• Ex-Guantanamo prisoners stroll streets of Uruguay
• All 100 top-ranked men set for Australian Open
• Immigrant's family in US hopes he can leave church
• Lima climate talks at crossroads on ways to slow warming
• Australia declares, sets India 364 to win 1st test
• Fitch downgrades France's rating a notch to 'AA'
• Kerry seeks to avert UN Palestinian showdown
• Dukurs, Yarnold win World Cup skeleton openers
• Police: California tourist drowns in Puerto Rico
• Canada's competition watchdog probing Apple
• Haiti: Anti-government demo turns violent
• Goalkeeper leaving Maryland to sign with Freiburg
• US sends mixed message to Myanmar military
• US Coast Guard to probe fatal St. Lucia ship fire
• US Senate OKs defense policy bill
• Hanyu fights back to lead GP final
• Guatemala police arrest US woman
• Gregorius arrives in New York with title: Sir Didi
• US stocks plunge as oil rout continues
• Deadlocked climate talks head for extra time
• Real Madrid beats Almeria 4-1 in Spanish League

After U.S. torture report, Poland asks what its leaders knew Posted: 12 Dec 2014 08:36 AM PST By Christian Lowe and Pawel Sobczak WARSAW (Reuters) - The disclosure of details about the CIA's brutal interrogation program could provide new leads for Polish prosecutors investigating how much Poland's leaders at the time knew about a secret jail the agency was running in a Polish forest. Prompted by a U.S. Senate report on the CIA's "black sites" for interrogating al Qaeda suspects, former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, at a joint news conference with former Prime Minister Leszek Miller, said on Wednesday he knew about the facility in Poland. ...

Russia accuses U.S. of destroying 'carcass of cooperation' with Ukraine bill Posted: 12 Dec 2014 11:58 AM PST MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday sternly criticized a bill on Ukraine that passed the U.S. Senate, saying Washington was doing its utmost to "destroy the carcass of cooperation" between the two countries. Relations between Russia and the United States are at their lowest since the Cold War because of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last March, and its support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. ...

Syrian rebel 'hell cannons' kill 300 civilians: monitoring group Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:26 AM PST BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels using improvised mortar bombs made of cooking gas canisters killed 311 civilians between July and December this year, a monitoring group said on Friday, condemning the use of the wildly inaccurate weapons. Two-thirds of the deaths, or 203 people, were in the northern city of Aleppo where the so-called "hell cannons" have been fired on government-held districts of Syria's second city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence using sources on both sides, said that 42 children and 25 women were among the dead in Aleppo. ...

Explosion damages French cultural center in Gaza Posted: 12 Dec 2014 01:15 PM PST GAZA (Reuters) - An explosion damaged a French cultural center in the Gaza Strip on Friday and wounded a Palestinian policeman, security sources said. The sources said the blast, the cause of which was unclear, damaged a wall of the building, which also provides consular services for the French government. Palestinian police deployed a cordon of officers around the building as they investigated the cause of the explosion, the second at the site since October. ...

Islamic State target of 27 strikes by U.S. allies Posted: 12 Dec 2014 06:32 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies carried out 27 airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq in the past three days, U.S. military officials said on Friday. Fighting positions, buildings and fortifications were hit in seven attacks near the Syrian cities of Kobani and Aleppo and on the border with Iraq, according to a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force for the coalition overseeing the operation. Islamic State was hit with 20 strikes in Iraq near the cities of Ramadi, Ar Rutbah, Mosul, al-Qaim, Samarra, Rawah and al Asad, the statement said. ...

U.S. seeks to defuse tensions over Israeli-Palestinian resolutions Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:38 PM PST By Patricia Zengerle BOGOTA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday the United States was seeking to defuse tensions over proposed U.N. resolutions to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during talks in Europe next week. Kerry will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome on Monday and senior European officials to discuss possible resolutions, which would require a vote in the U.N. Security Council where the United States holds a veto. ...

Haiti leader accepts report calling for new gov't Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:56 PM PST PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — President Michel Martelly said Friday night that he accepted all the findings of a report this week from a government-appointed commission, including its recommendation that the prime minister resign.

Thai princess relinquishes royal title Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:53 PM PST BANGKOK (AP) — The woman who was in line to be Thailand's next queen has relinquished her royal title.

China's Feng takes 5-stroke lead in Dubai Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:42 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — China's Shanshan Feng shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Ladies European Tour's season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters.

Kerry aims to avert UN crisis on Mideast Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:40 PM PST BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he hopes upcoming talks with Israel's prime minister and European officials will avert the possibility of a U.N. Security Council clash over proposed resolutions dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Indonesia landslide kills 3 people; 107 missing Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:36 PM PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's disaster-response agency says three people have been confirmed dead and 107 others are missing after a landslide triggered by torrential rains buried houses on the main island of Java.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:33 PM PST JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A teenager described in a blog post from his home in Afghanistan how he felt more comfortable there than in his native South Africa, which has a high crime rate. Just weeks later, he was killed by Taliban gunmen who stormed a Kabul aid office where his family lived. "If you're going to be constantly paranoid that you're going to die if you go out, then there's no point in being here," the 17-year-old Jean-Pierre Groenewald had written. He was buried Friday in South Africa along with his father and sister. The three were fatally shot in the Nov. 29 attack in the Afghan capital, according to a family member in South Africa.

Higher prices, shortages create pressure for IS Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:30 PM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Saadi Abdul-Rahman was recently forced to pull his three children out of school in the Iraqi city of Mosul, where Islamic State militants have ruled with an iron fist since June. The cost of living has soared there, and the family is barely able to make ends meet, even after putting the kids to work.

Officials say 3 dead, 107 missing in landslide caused by heavy rains in central Indonesia Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:29 PM PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Officials say 3 dead, 107 missing in landslide caused by heavy rains in central Indonesia.

Germany finishes 1-2 in World Cup luge doubles Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:26 PM PST CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken extended their World Cup luge men's doubles winning streak to four races on Friday, leading a 1-2 German finish at Canada Olympic Park.

Defense disputes detective in German student case Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:19 PM PST MISSOULA, Montana (AP) — An expert in police practices called by lawyers for a Montana man on trial for killing a German exchange student said detectives missed critical things when investigating.

18 fishermen missing after Nicaraguan shipwreck Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:09 PM PST MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Nicaraguan authorities said Friday that they had rescued eight more crewmen from a fishing boat that capsized in the Caribbean three days earlier and were still searching for 18 others.

UN backs agreement for NATO to train Afghan forces Posted: 12 Dec 2014 04:04 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Friday strongly backed the new agreement for NATO to train, advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces after its combat operations end on Dec. 31.

Ex-Guantanamo prisoners stroll streets of Uruguay Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:40 PM PST MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Four of the men released this week after years of captivity at Guantanamo Bay have finally had their first long walk in freedom, stopping to buy a bit of cheese and bread on a stroll through Uruguay's capital.

All 100 top-ranked men set for Australian Open Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:37 PM PST MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — All 100 top-ranked men and 99 of the top 100 women have entered to play the Australian Open in January.

Immigrant's family in US hopes he can leave church Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:35 PM PST DENVER (AP) — The family of a Mexican immigrant living in a Colorado church to avoid deportation hopes he will be home in time for Christmas.

Lima climate talks at crossroads on ways to slow warming Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:33 PM PST By Mitra Taj and Marcelo Teixeira LIMA (Reuters) - About 190 nations faced a crossroads Friday on how boldly to fight global warming as United Nations talks in Lima went into overtime amid concerns that watered-down goals could undermine a U.N. climate summit in Paris next year. Representatives at the talks, which opened on Dec. 1 with hopes for momentum following a climate deal last month between China and the United States, were split over issues including greenhouse gas cuts and new cash to help poor nations cope with a warming world. ...

Australia declares, sets India 364 to win 1st test Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:18 PM PST ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia declared its second innings closed at 290-5 before the start of play on the final day Saturday, setting India 364 runs to win the first test at the Adelaide Oval.

Fitch downgrades France's rating a notch to 'AA' Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:16 PM PST Fitch Ratings has lowered France's ratings on concerns about the country's budget.

Kerry seeks to avert UN Palestinian showdown Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:09 PM PST US Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday he hoped to head off an end-of-year showdown at the United Nations over Palestinian statehood in meetings next week in Europe. The Palestinians are carrying out a major campaign aiming to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution setting out a two- or three-year timetable for an end to Israeli occupation. They have said they would like to see the text submitted before the end of the year, prompting a surprise meeting next Monday in Rome between Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Palestinians' UN push comes amid tensions in the region and as a wave of European countries have seen parliamentary votes urging their governments to recognize a state of Palestine.

Dukurs, Yarnold win World Cup skeleton openers Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:08 PM PST LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Latvia's Martins Dukurs and brother Tomass Dukurs swept the first two spots of the World Cup men's skeleton in the season-opening event on Friday.

Police: California tourist drowns in Puerto Rico Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:07 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in Puerto Rico say a 59-year-old tourist from California has drowned along the island's northwest coast.

Canada's competition watchdog probing Apple Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:06 PM PST Canada's Competition Bureau said Friday it is pouring over Apple's contracts with local wireless carriers to determine if the company illegally stifled competition when it first introduced the iPhone. Spokesman Greg Scott told AFP the bureau sought a court order this week to force Apple to hand over its records relating to the supply of iPhones sold in Canada.

Haiti: Anti-government demo turns violent Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:04 PM PST Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Haitian police and UN peacekeepers fired tear gas and clashed with several thousand opposition supporters who tried to march on the presidential palace Friday. The unrest was only the latest in a series of demonstrations by opposition supporters demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. The march in downtown Port-au-Prince, which still bears the scars of a devastating January 2010 earthquake, was broken up when UN blue helmets fired tear gas grenades.

Goalkeeper leaving Maryland to sign with Freiburg Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:02 PM PST COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland sophomore goalkeeper Zack Steffen is leaving college to sign with Freiburg of Germany's Bundesliga.

US sends mixed message to Myanmar military Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:00 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Human rights advocates and some lawmakers say the United States is sending the wrong signal by opening the door for broader engagement with Myanmar's widely criticized military just weeks after President Barack Obama assured opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi that closer ties weren't going to happen soon.

US Coast Guard to probe fatal St. Lucia ship fire Posted: 12 Dec 2014 03:00 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard said Friday that it will help investigate a cruise ship fire that killed one crew member and two contractors in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia.

US Senate OKs defense policy bill Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:55 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress on Friday sent President Barack Obama a massive U.S. defense policy bill that endorses his stepped-up military campaign of air strikes and training of Iraqis and moderate Syrian rebels in the war against Islamic State militants.

Hanyu fights back to lead GP final Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:53 PM PST Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu put his doubts behind him after suffering head injuries early in the season to lead after the short programme at the ISU Grand Prix figure skating final on Friday. Hanyu, 20, scraped into the final after finishing fourth at the NHK Trophy, having ignored pleas not to compete following a collision which left him with bad head injuries during the Cup of China in which he took silver. He opened with a quad toeloop and included a triple Axel before falling on the second toeloop jump, his triple-triple combination, but pushed through to complete the programme cleanly. Home hope Javier Fernandez, who is Hanyu's training partner in Toronto, is struggling in fifth in the six-man field after succumbing to nerves amid the huge expectations.

Guatemala police arrest US woman Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:49 PM PST GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A 60-year-old U.S. citizen under arrest in Guatemala on extortion charges says she's the victim of identity theft.

Gregorius arrives in New York with title: Sir Didi Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:49 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter earned five titles for the New York Yankees. His successor at shortstop already has one: Sir Didi Gregorius, proud member of Order of Orange-Nassau.

US stocks plunge as oil rout continues Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:38 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A rout in oil prices shook financial markets Friday, pushing stocks to their worst weekly loss in two and a half years.

Deadlocked climate talks head for extra time Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:36 PM PST Negotiators scrambled on the final day of UN talks Friday to break a deadlock between rich and developing countries on forging the elements of a world pact to curb climate change. Two hours before the scheduled closure, Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal agreed to give negotiators more time. Campaigners in Lima said they feared a weak-willed compromise. "The latest text which countries are working on has been stripped down to its bare bones to accommodate the whims of the lowest common denominator," said Christian Aid's Mohamed Adow.

Real Madrid beats Almeria 4-1 in Spanish League Posted: 12 Dec 2014 02:29 PM PST ALMERIA, Spain (AP) — Two goals by Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid stretch its Spanish record winning streak to 20 matches as it beat Almeria 4-1 in the league on Friday.

You are subscribed to email updates from World News Headlines - Yahoo News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States