Yahoo! News: World News

Indonesia naval captain says may have located missing plane's tail section
Smaller NATO mission has big job to train Afghan army in time
Syria tells U.N. that McCain and former diplomats visited illegally
Abbas rolls statehood dice with International Criminal Court move
U.S. troops training Iraqi military at bases in Anbar, Taji
Genocide retrial of Guatemala ex-dictator Rios Montt suspended
Brutal death of bull in festival angers Colombians
US charges two over failed Gambia coup
NZ leads Sri Lanka by 190 at lunch on day 4, 2nd test
Colombia's president signals flexibility in peace talks
Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
NYC Mayor de Blasio: Police were disrespectful to turn backs
Strong dollar makes world travel cheaper for Americans
US House to vote on Keystone pipeline Friday
Australia, SCG pay tribute to fallen Phillip Hughes
Guam police probe selfie photo showing detective, suspect
Niger border region fears Boko Haram incursion
UN Security Council heading to Haiti to press for elections
Gambian radio station reopens, but can only broadcast music
Australia wins toss, bats first in 4th cricket test vs India
Guatemala ex-dictator Rios Montt's retrial suspended
Boston bombing trial opens with jury selection
At least eight dead in raid on Mali army base
Expert who oversaw German World War II records dead at 93
German anti-migrant march draws highest turnout, opponents rally
Turkey ex-ministers escape trial over graft scandal
Celtic close gap at top with Killie win
Squalid conditions on board Syrian migrant boat pictured
Stocks plunge on fears about implications of oil slump
Man United faces Cambridge in 4th round of FA Cup
France says ready to strike extremists on Libya border
Hirscher seeks Austrian record at Zagreb slalom
Al-Attiyah bounces back to take overall lead
Mexico charges mayor's wife with organized crime
Flag-raising by Taiwan in Washington riles China
U.S. charges Texas businessman, vet in Gambia coup bid
'Like Cristiano Ronaldo': Anderson leads Lazio to 3-0 win
Gerrard gives Liverpool 2-1 FA Cup win at Wimbledon

Indonesia naval captain says may have located missing plane's tail section

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:50 AM PST

By Fergus Jensen and Adriana Nina Kusuma PANGKALAN BUN/JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - An Indonesian naval patrol vessel has found what could be the tail of a crashed AirAsia passenger jet, the section where the crucial black box voice and flight data recorders are located, officials said on Monday. News of the possible breakthrough came as the transport ministry in Jakarta said some officials on duty at the time of the accident will be moved to other roles. It also announced it was tightening rules on pre-flight procedures. ...

Smaller NATO mission has big job to train Afghan army in time

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:12 PM PST

By Kay Johnson TACTICAL BASE GAMBERI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S. Army Major Eric Lightfoot, serving at a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan, knows NATO has its work cut out to prepare local forces to go it alone against Taliban insurgents once its training mission ends in two years' time. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said at the weekend the United States, which provides the bulk of a scaled-down force of 13,000 foreign troops tasked with training local soldiers and police, might want to "re-examine" its deadline to withdraw by the end of 2016. ...

Syria tells U.N. that McCain and former diplomats visited illegally

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:27 PM PST

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria has complained to the United Nations that U.S. Senator John McCain, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and former U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith entered the country without visas in separate visits in violation of its sovereignty. Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, called on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the 15-member Security Council to pressure governments to take "the necessary measures against their nationals who enter Syrian territory illegally. ...

Abbas rolls statehood dice with International Criminal Court move

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 01:15 PM PST

By Luke Baker JERUSALEM (Reuters) - For someone nearing 80, President Mahmoud Abbas still knows how to shake things up. But his decision last week to join the International Criminal Court is a high-risk move that may set back the ultimate goal: an independent Palestinian state. Frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations with Israel - the last, fruitless talks broke down in April - and the failure of his New Year's Eve statehood bid at the United Nations, Abbas followed through on a long-promised threat to join the ICC, filing the relevant documents on Jan. 2. ...

U.S. troops training Iraqi military at bases in Anbar, Taji

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 12:25 PM PST

By David Alexander WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. troops have started training Iraqi military forces at two bases in Iraq as they work to build a force that can take the offensive against Islamic State militants who overran part of the country last year, the Pentagon said on Monday. About 320 U.S. Marines are training members of the Iraqi 7th Division at Ain al-Asad air base in western al Anbar province, which is taking regular harassing mortar fire from Islamic State militants, said Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. The training began on Dec. 20. Another 170 U.S. ...

Genocide retrial of Guatemala ex-dictator Rios Montt suspended

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:25 PM PST

By Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's Supreme Court on Monday began a retrial of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt for genocide, but in a fresh twist to a bizarre legal saga suspended it as the defense sought the removal of one of the judges hearing the case. Rios Montt's opponents accuse him of implementing a scorched earth policy in the bloodiest phase of the country's 36-year civil war. The 88-year-old was found guilty in May 2013 of overseeing the killings by the armed forces of at least 1,771 members of the Maya Ixil population during his 1982-83 rule. ...

Brutal death of bull in festival angers Colombians

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:49 PM PST

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The brutal killing of a bull in a popular festival in a town in northern Colombia has sparked indignation and calls for a public debate on traditions involving animal cruelty.

US charges two over failed Gambia coup

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:44 PM PST

US prosecutors on Monday charged two men with conspiring to overthrow the government of Gambia in a failed coup ostensibly aimed at restoring democracy to the small west African nation. US-Gambian dual national Papa Faal and US resident Cherno Njie were arrested in the United States after they returned from Gambia, where they had traveled to help launch a December 30 coup attempt against President Yahya Jammeh's government, according to the US Justice Department. Faal, 46, was expected to make an initial appearance in court Monday in his home state of Minnesota, while Njie, 57, living in Texas, was to appear Monday in US District Court in Baltimore, Maryland. "The United States strongly condemns such conspiracies.

NZ leads Sri Lanka by 190 at lunch on day 4, 2nd test

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:39 PM PST

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Kane Williamson reached his ninth test century in a 166-run partnership with B.J. Watling to widen New Zealand's lead over Sri Lanka to 190 runs by lunch the fourth day Tuesday and revive the home team's chances of sweeping the two-test series.

Colombia's president signals flexibility in peace talks

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:33 PM PST

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Juan Manuel Santos has signaled that he could ease his longstanding opposition to a ceasefire in Colombia's armed conflict because recent progress in peace talks with leftist rebels has caused the government to rethink its negotiating strategy.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:32 PM PST

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia (AP) — Highlighting the depth of Indonesia's air safety problems, the transportation ministry announced harsh measures Monday against everyone who allowed AirAsia Flight 8501 to take off without proper permits — including the suspension of the airport's operator and officials in the control tower. The routing permits of all airlines flying in the country also will be examined to see if they are violating the rules, said Djoko Murjatmodjo, acting director general of air transportation.

NYC Mayor de Blasio: Police were disrespectful to turn backs

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:28 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was "disrespectful" for some New York Police Department officers to turn their backs to him during a pair of funerals for slain police officers.

Strong dollar makes world travel cheaper for Americans

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:23 PM PST

DALLAS (AP) — If you've been putting off a trip abroad because it's too expensive, start packing your bags.

US House to vote on Keystone pipeline Friday

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:16 PM PST

The US House of Representatives will vote Friday on a bill authorizing construction of the Canada-to-US Keystone XL oil pipeline, currently blocked by Democrats but a priority in the new Republican Congress. The House passed similar legislation in November but it fell one vote short in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The new leadership in the Senate, which flips to a Republican majority Tuesday following November elections, has said it has enough votes to pass the measure. House Republican Kevin Cramer said he will introduce the new bill Tuesday, the day lawmakers return to Washington to begin the new congressional session.

Australia, SCG pay tribute to fallen Phillip Hughes

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:11 PM PST

SYDNEY (AP) — The Australian cricket team has made an emotional return to the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch, where former test batsman Phillip Hughes was fatally injured during a domestic match in November.

Guam police probe selfie photo showing detective, suspect

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:09 PM PST

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Guam police said they have launched an internal investigation after a selfie showing a detective with an assault suspect began circulating online.

Niger border region fears Boko Haram incursion

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 04:04 PM PST

Towns in Niger are living in fear following the advance of extremist group Boko Haram into neighbouring northeast Nigeria, the mayor of a border town told AFP on Monday. Boko Haram overran two Nigerian towns near Niger in October after fierce fighting with the Nigerian army. "Nearly all the villages and all the big towns in Nigeria near to Niger are now under Boko Haram's control. We are living in fear of attacks from the Islamists," said Hankaraou Biri Kassoum, the mayor of one border town in Niger, Diffa.

UN Security Council heading to Haiti to press for elections

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:42 PM PST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council is heading to Haiti later this month with a message for President Michel Martelly: It's past time to urgently organize credible elections.

Gambian radio station reopens, but can only broadcast music

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:38 PM PST

Gambian authorities let a popular radio station resume broadcasting Monday, days after closing it down as part of a crackdown, as long as it airs only music, a government source said. The source said the manager of Teranga FM radio station, Alagie Ceesay, had been informed of the decision when he presented himself to police in a southern suburb of the capital Banjul, as he must do according to his bail conditions. On Saturday, security agents had ordered Ceesay to immediately stop broadcasts by his independent station which translates news from English into local languages. No explanation was given for the clampdown on the station, but it followed a failed coup attack against the west African country's strongman President Yahya Jammeh last Tuesday.

Australia wins toss, bats first in 4th cricket test vs India

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:37 PM PST

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss Tuesday and elected to bat first in the fourth cricket test against India, Virat Kohli's first since taking over the captaincy of the Indian test team.

Guatemala ex-dictator Rios Montt's retrial suspended

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:34 PM PST

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt's retrial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity was postponed Monday, dismaying victims who have long sought to see him punished for the massacre of thousands of Mayan Indians during his 1982-83 regime.

Boston bombing trial opens with jury selection

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:24 PM PST

The long-awaited trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began Monday with jury selection, 20 months after the shocking attack that killed three at the city's signature race. Tsarnaev, a 21-year-old Muslim of Chechen origin, faces the death penalty if convicted in federal court for what was the worst act of terror on US soil since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

At least eight dead in raid on Mali army base

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:20 PM PST

At least eight people were killed in a gun attack Monday on a Malian army base close to the Mauritanian border, a UN military source said. The assault, claimed in one report by Al-Qaeda-linked militants, took place at the base in Nampala near the border with Mauritania, where armed groups operate. They were all wearing military fatigues," another military source said, adding that two injured Malian soldiers were being treated in the home of the town's mayor. "We have occupied Nampala without a major combat.

Expert who oversaw German World War II records dead at 93

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:18 PM PST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Wolfe, who for more than 30 years served as a specialist in Nazi Germany at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, has died. He was 93.

German anti-migrant march draws highest turnout, opponents rally

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:16 PM PST

A record 18,000 people turned out Monday for an anti-immigrant rally by a right-wing populist movement, ignoring a call by Chancellor Angela Merkel to snub such street protests. Thousands also joined counter-demonstrations in several cities against the "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident", or PEGIDA group, whose weekly protests have been condemned by church, business and political leaders. PEGIDA drew 18,000 people in the eastern city of Dresden, police said, up from the 17,500 that joined its last march there a few days before Christmas, in a movement that began with just a few hundred in October. Offshoot PEGIDA marches took place in the capital, Berlin, Stuttgart and Cologne but initially appeared to have been eclipsed by anti-PEGIDA supporters.

Turkey ex-ministers escape trial over graft scandal

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:15 PM PST

Four Turkish ex-ministers who resigned over a 2013 graft scandal that shook President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government will not have to stand trial, a commission ruled Monday, in a decision the opposition called a "black day" for democracy. The parliamentary commission's decision appears to draw a line under the December 2013 scandal which presented Erdogan, then prime minister, with one of the biggest crises of his rule over Turkey. Erdogan angrily claimed the scandal was the brainchild of his ally-turned-foe, the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose Hizmet (Service) group the authorities have since moved to destroy with dozens of arrests which also continued on Monday. The commission -- dominated by MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) -- ruled against sending the cases to the Supreme Council court, its chairman Hakki Koylu said on national television.

Celtic close gap at top with Killie win

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:10 PM PST

Glasgow (AFP) - Celtic closed to within one point of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a comfortable 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Squalid conditions on board Syrian migrant boat pictured

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:08 PM PST

Packed in like cattle and huddled under blankets on the cold, bare floor, this is the scene aboard the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M cargo ship which people traffickers left drifting towards the Italian coast last week with 768 desperate Syrian migrants aboard. The Syrian man who had piloted the migrants says the Turkish authorities failed to undertake any inspection of the Blue Sky M before it went out to sea.

Stocks plunge on fears about implications of oil slump

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 03:07 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — After six months of falling oil prices, investors are starting to worry that the prolonged slump is signaling a weaker global economy.

Man United faces Cambridge in 4th round of FA Cup

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:58 PM PST

LONDON (AP) — Manchester United will play fourth-tier Cambridge United in the fourth round of the FA Cup after being drawn against the lowest-ranked team left in the competition on Monday.

France says ready to strike extremists on Libya border

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:45 PM PST

PARIS (AP) — France said Monday its troops south of Libya are ready to strike extremists crossing the border, but the speaker of Libya's internationally recognized parliament rejected any Western military intervention in his country.

Hirscher seeks Austrian record at Zagreb slalom

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:42 PM PST

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — While Marcel Hirscher can become Austria's most successful slalom skier with 15 wins, the American team is seeking its first top-15 result of the season in Tuesday's night race.

Al-Attiyah bounces back to take overall lead

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:40 PM PST

Nasser Al-Attiyah bounced back from being stripped of victory on Sunday's opening stage by taking the overall lead after winning Monday's second stage at the Dakar Rally in Argentina. Driving a Mini, Al-Attiyah had claimed victory on Sunday only to be stripped of his success for speeding -- clocking 68km/h in a section limited to 50km/h -- and earning a two-minute penalty that saw him relegated to seventh place. De Villiers's Toyota team-mate Bernhard Ten Brinke was second at more than 10 minutes behind and those two now hold the same positions in the overall standings.

Mexico charges mayor's wife with organized crime

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:39 PM PST

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The wife of a Mexican mayor whose police force turned 43 students over to a drug gang that allegedly killed them has been charged with organized crime and money laundering.

Flag-raising by Taiwan in Washington riles China

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:39 PM PST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. State Department said Monday it was not given advance notice about a New Year's flag-raising ceremony at the residence of Taiwan's representative to Washington that has angered China.

U.S. charges Texas businessman, vet in Gambia coup bid

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:36 PM PST

By Mark Hosenball and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a Texas businessman who allegedly wanted to be the president of Gambia with conspiring with a former U.S. Army sergeant and others to orchestrate a deadly coup attempt in the tiny African nation last week. The handful of coup plotters headed and bankrolled by housing developer Cherno Njie, 57, of Austin, had expected presidential palace guards to flee at a shot in the air when they attacked on Dec. 30, according to a federal complaint. ...

'Like Cristiano Ronaldo': Anderson leads Lazio to 3-0 win

Posted: 05 Jan 2015 02:36 PM PST

ROME (AP) — Felipe Anderson scored once and set up two other goals as Lazio beat visiting Sampdoria 3-0 Monday in a key match for third place and Serie A's final Champions League berth.