Yahoo! News: World News

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• Houthis take Yemen presidential palace-witnesses, sources
• Islamic State threatens two Japanese captives in video
• Prosecutors seek formal probe for Paris attack suspects
• Questions mount over death of Argentine prosecutor
• Ukraine says its forces come under attack from Russian troops
• U.N. presses for Libya ceasefire to hold
• Obama, Hollande discuss Paris shooting investigation in call
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• Ex-US Open champ Del Potro has surgery again on left wrist
• As Obama talks of Cuba opening, hard diplomatic work begins
• UN says despite progress fight against Ebola is far from won
• Roma beats Empoli 2-1 to reach Italian Cup quarterfinals
• Mourinho jokes about possible loan bid for Gerrard
• Boko Haram claims Baga attack, threatens Nigeria's neighbours
• Kepu, White join post-World Cup Wallabies exodus
• Obama to say US turning the page on 'vicious recession'
• EU official proposes widening Mideast peace talks body
• Supporters doubt Argentine prosecutor killed self
• Nori Aoki finalizes $4.7M, 1-year deal with Giants
• Sampdoria deal for Eto'o 'almost finalized'
• Liverpool, Chelsea 1-1 after 1st leg of League Cup semi
• Pneumonia raises risk of heart disease, stroke
• Vonn backs Tiger Woods' account of missing tooth
• 'Russian forces' attack Ukraine troops in separatist east
• World has duty to ensure Ukraine's 'success': EU
• Fourth-tier Quevilly upsets Bastia in French Cup
• Rebels killed in UN helicopter gunship strike in Mali
• FARC demands Colombia stop ceasefire 'abuse'
• Rainstorms mar Zambia's presidential vote
• Supporters of US vigilante call for her release in Mexico
• Canadian soldiers directing air strikes in Iraq
• Ice may delay restart of pipeline's breached Montana section
• Ukrainian leader cuts short Davos visit as situation 'worsens'
• Weakness of Yemen's government undermines US terror fight
• Sterling slalom checks Chelsea in League Cup
• Shiite rebels shell Yemen president's home, take over palace
• Hundreds flee Nigeria villages 'after Boko Haram threats'
• Embattled Cleveland coach Blatt remains beloved in Israel
• Shelling in eastern Ukraine kills at least 6 civilians

Houthis take Yemen presidential palace-witnesses, sources Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:51 PM PST By Yara Bayoumy and Mohammed Ghobari SANAA (Reuters) - Fighters from the Houthi group battled guards at the Yemeni president's private home and entered the presidential palace on Tuesday, witnesses said, as a second day of violence in Sanaa raised fears the country was descending into chaos. In a speech on live television, Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi suggested two days of fighting involving his men were part of an attempt to protect a power-sharing deal meant to steer Yemen to stability. His speech was critical of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a U.S. ally with whom Houthi has been at odds over a draft constitution intended to help end decades of conflict and underdevelopment. He said no one, including Hadi, was above any steps when it came to implementing the power-sharing accord, which was negotiated after his men seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in September.

Islamic State threatens two Japanese captives in video Posted: 20 Jan 2015 06:31 AM PST By Luke Baker JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The militant group Islamic State released an online video on Tuesday purporting to show two Japanese captives and threatening to kill them unless it received $200 million in ransom. A black-clad figure with a knife, standing in a barren landscape along with two kneeling men wearing orange clothing, said the Japanese public had 72 hours to pressure their government to stop its "foolish" support for the U.S.-led coalition waging a military campaign against Islamic State. "To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,500 km away from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade," said the militant, who spoke in English. The footage named the men as Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto.

Prosecutors seek formal probe for Paris attack suspects Posted: 20 Jan 2015 11:21 AM PST French prosecutors asked magistrates on Tuesday to open a formal investigation into four men suspected of helping prepare the Islamist attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, one of three attacks in France that claimed 17 victims. The four suspects, ages 22 to 28, have been in police custody since Friday. Police have been searching for possible accomplices to brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, who carried out attacks on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, and Amedy Coulibaly, who killed a policewoman and four people in the Jewish foodstore. For the most part, those arrested were already known to police, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Friday.

Questions mount over death of Argentine prosecutor Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:43 PM PST By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The mysterious death of an Argentine prosecutor just days after he accused the president of directing a cover-up in the bombing of a Jewish community center two decades earlier has jolted the country with accusations of foul play coming from all sides. The body of Alberto Nisman, lead investigator into the 1994 car bomb that killed 85 people, was found in his apartment on Sunday night, a handgun by his side along with a single shell casing. He had been scheduled to present his findings in Congress on Monday and his death sparked street protests over the slow pace of justice for the attack on the AMIA Jewish center in 1984. Officials said Nisman apparently committed suicide but his former wife, Sandra Arroyo, said on Tuesday that she did not believe he killed himself, and some Argentines suspect the government might be behind his death.

Ukraine says its forces come under attack from Russian troops Posted: 20 Jan 2015 12:31 PM PST By Natalia Zinets and Richard Balmforth KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian army units came under attack from Russian regular forces in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday and heavy fighting was taking place, a Ukrainian military spokesman said. The announcement at a specially called news briefing was one of the boldest assertions yet by Ukraine of direct Russian military involvement in the nine-month conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government forces. "In spite of preliminary agreements, Ukrainian military units were attacked in the north of the anti-terrorist operational zone by regular military formations of the armed forces of Russia," the spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said.

U.N. presses for Libya ceasefire to hold Posted: 20 Jan 2015 11:37 AM PST The United Nations on Tuesday called on Libya's warring factions to maintain a ceasefire agreed as part of U.N.-backed negotiations, amid reports of continued fighting in parts of the North African country. Four years after a NATO-backed uprising toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Western powers fear Libya is sliding closer to civil war. The internationally recognized government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and the elected parliament have based themselves in eastern Libya since summer, when an armed faction known as Libya Dawn took over the Tripoli, the capital. Libya Dawn set up its own government and reinstalled the old parliament, the GNC.

Obama, Hollande discuss Paris shooting investigation in call Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:49 PM PST President Barack Obama spoke to French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday about the status of the investigation into the recent deadly shootings in Paris and about supporting peaceful elections in Nigeria, the White House said. "President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to provide whatever assistance the French government needs," the White House said in a statement, referring to the investigation.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:32 PM PST CAIRO (AP) — The Islamic State group threatened to kill two Japanese hostages within 72 hours, demanding a $200 million ransom in a video posted online Tuesday that showed a knife-brandishing masked militant standing over the two kneeling captives. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was traveling in the Middle East, vowed to save the men. But with his military only operating in a self-defense capacity at home, Abe faces a hard choice: openly pay the extremists or ask an ally like the United States to attempt a risky rescue inside Syria.

Ex-US Open champ Del Potro has surgery again on left wrist Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:31 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro underwent surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, just days after he pulled out of the Australian Open.

As Obama talks of Cuba opening, hard diplomatic work begins Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:24 PM PST HAVANA (AP) — Cuba says re-establishing diplomatic ties with the U.S. does not mean the two countries are normalizing relations.

UN says despite progress fight against Ebola is far from won Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:20 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Close to 1,000 new cases were recorded in the last three weeks despite recent progress in fighting Ebola in West Africa and "the fight is far from won," the U.N. mission chief said Tuesday.

Roma beats Empoli 2-1 to reach Italian Cup quarterfinals Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:15 PM PST ROME (AP) — Roma beat Empoli 2-1 after extra time to reach the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday thanks to a very contentious penalty.

Mourinho jokes about possible loan bid for Gerrard Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:15 PM PST LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has joked that he could try to sign Steven Gerrard on loan next season following the former England captain's departure from Liverpool.

Boko Haram claims Baga attack, threatens Nigeria's neighbours Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:12 PM PST Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau claimed a massive attack on the northeast Nigerian town of Baga and threatened Niger, Chad and Cameroon in a new video published online on Tuesday evening. The message came as Nigeria and its neighbours met in Niger's capital, Niamey, to discuss a regional response to the threat and Chadian troops headed to Cameroon to help repel repeated Boko Haram attacks.

Kepu, White join post-World Cup Wallabies exodus Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:07 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu and scrumhalf Nic White have confirmed they will leave Australia to join French clubs after this year's World Cup.

Obama to say US turning the page on 'vicious recession' Posted: 20 Jan 2015 04:06 PM PST President Barack Obama will draw a line under years of economic hardship during his State of the Union address Tuesday, directly challenging his Republican foes to help the middle class. Facing a hostile Republican-controlled Congress, an emboldened Obama will declare that the United States is ready to "turn the page" on difficult years that have also taken a toll on his political standing.

EU official proposes widening Mideast peace talks body Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:57 PM PST Diplomats must take a fresh look at the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in the hopes of reviving the negotiations after March elections in Israel, the EU's foreign policy chief said Tuesday. "What I'm afraid of is that on one side the lack of process is in itself something that is deteriorating the situation," the EU's Federica Mogherini said. Speaking at the Brookings Institution, Mogherini suggested one way forward would be to enlarge the Middle East Quartet steering the negotiations. Set up in Madrid in 2002, the body is composed of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

Supporters doubt Argentine prosecutor killed self Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:49 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The ex-wife of a prosecutor who accused Argentine President Cristina Fernandez of protecting the masterminds of a 1994 bombing does not believe an initial finding that he killed himself on the eve of his testimony before congress.

Nori Aoki finalizes $4.7M, 1-year deal with Giants Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:35 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nori Aoki is offering a bold challenge to World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, one of his new San Francisco Giants teammates.

Sampdoria deal for Eto'o 'almost finalized' Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:30 PM PST MILAN (AP) — Samuel Eto'o is in talks with Everton to leave the Premier League side and join Sampdoria according to the Italian club's sporting director Carlo Osti.

Liverpool, Chelsea 1-1 after 1st leg of League Cup semi Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:24 PM PST LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Raheem Sterling found a way past formidable Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with an exquisite solo goal to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their English League Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

Pneumonia raises risk of heart disease, stroke Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:23 PM PST People who are hospitalized for pneumonia face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke in the following weeks and months, Canadian researchers reported on Tuesday. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association is the first to focus on pneumonia patients with no previous history of cardiovascular disease. Researchers are still trying to figure out why the body may be more vulnerable after a bout of pneumonia, but said in the meantime, hospitalization for pneumonia should be considered its own risk factor for future cardiovascular disease. By comparing more than 1,200 pneumonia patients to some 2,500 control patients of the same age over a period of 10 years, they found the heart risks were highest in the first weeks and months after a bout of pneumonia.

Vonn backs Tiger Woods' account of missing tooth Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:10 PM PST CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — World Cup ski champion Lindsey Vonn is backing boyfriend Tiger Woods' account of how he lost a front tooth.

'Russian forces' attack Ukraine troops in separatist east Posted: 20 Jan 2015 03:01 PM PST Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russian forces of attacking its soldiers after crossing over into the ex-Soviet state's war-wrecked separatist east in violation of a September truce deal. The charges -- met with initial silence by Moscow -- should add further tensions to difficult talks in Berlin on Wednesday aimed at stemming a spike in fighting that has already killed 4,800 people and driven a million from their homes. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, on a visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum, planned to cut short his trip due to the "worsening situation" in his country's rebel-held east, his spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko said. "In violation of all prior agreements, Ukrainian military units were attacked in the north (of the war zone) by regular units of the Russian armed forces," Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told a hastily convened press conference in Kiev.

World has duty to ensure Ukraine's 'success': EU Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:57 PM PST The European Union has not forgotten Crimea, the bloc's foreign policy chief insisted Tuesday, stressing the world's "first duty" to Ukraine was to ensure it becomes a success. On her first trip to the US since coming to office, the EU's Federica Mogherini moved to squash fears the body was considering turning a blind eye to last year's annexation of the southern Ukrainian peninsula by Russia in order to boost vital ties with Moscow. "Our policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea is there and will stay. A policy document drawn up by her office last week appeared to suggest the EU should leave Crimea's annexation by Moscow last February out of the debate over sanctions.

Fourth-tier Quevilly upsets Bastia in French Cup Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:56 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Quevilly continued its tradition of producing French Cup upsets as the fourth-tier side beat top-flight Bastia 3-1 on penalties in the round of 32 on Tuesday, while Vincent Bessat's hat trick gave Nantes a 3-2 win over league leader Lyon.

Rebels killed in UN helicopter gunship strike in Mali Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:56 PM PST A UN helicopter gunship on Tuesday destroyed a rebel vehicle in northern Mali, causing some fatalities, after UN troops came under heavy weapons fire on the ground, the UN mission said. UN peacekeepers were "compelled to use force in response to direct heavy weapons fire on (them) in Tabankort," its MINUSMA mission said in a statement corroborated by a rebel umbrella group joining ethnic Tuaregs and Arabs. The statement said the peacekeepers fired warning shots on the rebel vehicle that had attacked MINUSMA ground troops stationed in Tabankort, near Gao, the largest city in northern Mali. "Despite these warning shots, the shooting continued, so and MINUSMA's attack helicopters reacted, rendering the vehicle harmless," it said.

FARC demands Colombia stop ceasefire 'abuse' Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:49 PM PST The communist FARC guerrillas demanded on Tuesday that Colombia's government do more to respect a unilateral ceasefire begun last month, as the sides work to end a half-century of civil war. The government's military actions in the weeks since the ceasefire "go against the national mood" and contradict President Juan Manuel Santos's desire to de-escalate the conflict, the FARC said. "You cannot abuse the good faith with which we undertook the ceasefire," the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said in a statement posted on its website and attributed to its peace delegation in Havana, where the two sides are in talks. FARC said on December 20 it would observe an indefinite, unilateral truce so long as its forces do not come under attack.

Rainstorms mar Zambia's presidential vote Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:45 PM PST Heavy rains on Tuesday held up the start of voting in parts of Zambia, where a close-fought presidential election was under way to replace Michael Sata, who died in office last year. "A number of polling stations will start tomorrow (Wednesday)," elections director Priscilla Isaacs said late Tuesday. Material for more than 140 polling stations and some 1,500 polling officers were to have been airlifted to villages cut off by the rains Tuesday. Voters in at least two dozen out of around 6,000 polling stations are expected to cast ballots on Wednesday.

Supporters of US vigilante call for her release in Mexico Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:43 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Relatives and supporters of a jailed vigilante leader who holds dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship said Tuesday that she and her community police force never demanded bail for or mistreated the prisoners in their care.

Canadian soldiers directing air strikes in Iraq Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:40 PM PST TORONTO (AP) — Canadian special forces in northern Iraq have been helping Kurdish peshmerga fighters by directing coalition airstrikes against Islamic State extremists — work generally considered risky because it means they are close to the battle against the group.

Ice may delay restart of pipeline's breached Montana section Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:35 PM PST (Reuters) - A ruptured section of a pipeline that spilled 1,200 barrels of Bakken crude oil is under a frozen part of the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana, which may delay an investigation that is required for the pipeline's restart. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration would need to sign off on the investigation before Bridger Pipeline LLC can restart the pipeline, said agency spokesman Damon Hill. The agency will have to sign off on the investigation before Bridger can restart the pipeline, and Hill said he did not know how long that would take. The icy river is also causing problems for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is searching for evidence of wildlife affected by the oil, spokesman Ryan Moehring said.

Ukrainian leader cuts short Davos visit as situation 'worsens' Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:33 PM PST Kiev (AFP) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will cut short his visit to an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, to head home in view of the "worsening situation" in rebel-held eastern Ukraine, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Weakness of Yemen's government undermines US terror fight Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:22 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The violent push Tuesday by Houthi rebels against the American-backed government in Yemen is undermining military and intelligence operations against al-Qaida's Yemen-based affiliate, which made its reach felt in this month's deadly Paris attacks, U.S. officials say.

Sterling slalom checks Chelsea in League Cup Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:15 PM PST Raheem Sterling's magnificent second-half solo goal earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at a snow-speckled Anfield on Tuesday. With Chelsea leading through Eden Hazard's 18th-minute penalty, Jose Mourinho's side were poised to pull off a classic smash-and-grab when Sterling surged through their defence to equalise in the 59th minute.

Shiite rebels shell Yemen president's home, take over palace Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:13 PM PST SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Shiite rebels shelled the residence of Yemen's leader and swept into the nearby presidential palace Tuesday in what a top army commander said was an unfolding coup.

Hundreds flee Nigeria villages 'after Boko Haram threats' Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:04 PM PST Hundreds of people from four villages near the devastated Nigerian town of Baga were forced to flee after Boko Haram militants told them to leave or face consequences, witnesses said Tuesday. News of the exodus from Kekenu, Budur, Yoyo and Mile 90 villages came as Niger hosted a meeting on how to fight the rebels as concern mounted at their threat to regional security. Also Tuesday in neighbouring Cameroon, Boko Haram insurgents engaged in "heavy clashes" with government soldiers in the far northern border village of Bonderi, though a security source said it was "too early to give a casualty toll". The insurgents have been stepping up attacks in neighbouring countries as well as inside Nigeria.

Embattled Cleveland coach Blatt remains beloved in Israel Posted: 20 Jan 2015 02:02 PM PST TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Even casual Israeli basketball fans begin their day with an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the newfound obsession with the NBA franchise has little to do with superstar LeBron James. Rookie head coach David Blatt is one of their own, making his name professionally in Israel and raising a family there.

Shelling in eastern Ukraine kills at least 6 civilians Posted: 20 Jan 2015 01:54 PM PST DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk killed at least six civilians Tuesday, as fighting intensified between government and rebel forces.

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