Yahoo! News: World News

---

• Huge blasts at Chinese port kill 50, injure more than 700
• Greek ruling party heads toward split before bailout vote
• Shortages push some Venezuelans to queue overnight for food
• Fidel Castro celebrates 89th birthday with leftist allies
• U.S. believes Islamic State likely used mustard agent in Iraq attack: WSJ
• Britain says to protest to Ecuador over Assange asylum
• AP PHOTOS: Raids disrupt, but don't eradicate illegal mining
• Deadly China blast disrupts world's 10th largest port
• Syrians plan escape from Kos for better lives
• Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT
• UN council to meet on Islamic State gay attacks
• The Latest: Done and 1 (under) for Spieth, McIlroy at PGA
• Fifteen U.S. states seek to block EPA carbon rule
• ATP fines Kyrgios for 'insulting remark' toward Wawrinka
• General strike nearly paralyzes much of Ecuador
• Doctor row overshadows City-Chelsea build-up
• Bid to lift Guatemala president's immunity fails in congress
• Column: Same old Tiger, same old alibi at PGA Championship
• Mexico finds subterranean river under Chichen Itza pyramid
• Greek government defends bailout deal ahead of vote
• All Blacks, Wallabies primed for Bledisloe battle
• US investigating whether Islamic State used chemical weapons
• Fidel Castro turns 89; says US has hefty debt to Cuba
• New York man gets 16 years for trying to support terrorists
• US, Chile put spotlight on extremist attacks on LGBT people
• Hannah O'Sullivan easily advances in US Women's Amateur
• Severe 'food shocks' more likely due to extreme weather, experts warn
• New UN peacekeeping chief named for Central African Republic
• Halep, Bencic advance at Rogers Cup in Toronto
• Guinea-Bissau in turmoil as president sacks government
• Boring no more, Chelsea goes to City embroiled in doc row
• Venezuela frees 2nd prominent opponent in just over 24 hours
• EPA head meets with Navajo president over Colorado mine spill
• Jeb Bush leaves door open for use of torture by government
• Journalist, five others killed in Mexico state of Veracruz
• Air pollution killing 4,000 in China a day, US study finds
• Correction: Drug-Smuggling Drones story
• Letter reveals Prince Charles' dread of divorce
• US presses China on human rights ahead of leaders' summit

Huge blasts at Chinese port kill 50, injure more than 700 Posted: 13 Aug 2015 12:20 PM PDT By Sui-Lee Wee and Adam Rose TIANJIN, China (Reuters) - Two huge explosions tore through an industrial area where toxic chemicals and gas were stored in the northeast Chinese port city of Tianjin, killing at least 50 people, including at least a dozen fire fighters, officials and state media said on Thursday. At least 700 people were injured, more than 71 seriously, the Tianjin government said on its Weibo microblog, and the official Xinhua news agency said two fires were still burning. Wednesday night's blasts, so large that they were seen by satellites in space, sent shockwaves through apartment blocks kilometers away in the port city of 15 million people.

Greek ruling party heads toward split before bailout vote Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:15 PM PDT By Lefteris Papadimas and George Georgiopoulos ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party looked set to split after the leader of its far-left faction called on Thursday for a new movement to fight a bailout deal that lawmakers are expected to vote on in the coming hours. With euro zone finance ministers also due to decide on Friday on the bailout, the International Monetary Fund made clear it would participate in the program only if Europe agreed to ease Greece's huge debt burden. Days after striking a deal with foreign creditors, Tsipras is asking parliament to approve a bailout agreement that pledges tax rises and spending cuts in exchange for 85 billion euros ($95 billion) in fresh loans.

Shortages push some Venezuelans to queue overnight for food Posted: 13 Aug 2015 12:49 PM PDT By Girish Gupta MARACAIBO (Reuters) - As dawn breaks over the scorching Venezuelan city of Maracaibo, smugglers, young mothers and a handful of kids stir outside a supermarket where they spent the night, hoping to be first in line for scarce rice, milk or whatever may be available. With shortages of basic goods and looting on the rise, more Venezuelans say they are resorting to nighttime waits in front of closed stores. What are we going to do?" said Leida Silva, 54, breaking into tears outside the Latino supermarket in northern Maracaibo where she arrived at 3 a.m. on a recent day.

Fidel Castro celebrates 89th birthday with leftist allies Posted: 13 Aug 2015 02:38 PM PDT By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) - Retired Cuban President Fidel Castro celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday with two of his country's closest leftist allies from Latin America, a day ahead of a historic visit by the U.S. secretary of state. Castro, who handed power to his brother Raul in 2008 because of failing health, met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bolivian President Evo Morales, both staunch supporters of Havana's Communist government. Castro's birthday fell on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's trip to Havana.

U.S. believes Islamic State likely used mustard agent in Iraq attack: WSJ Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:07 PM PDT The United States believes Islamic State militants likely used mustard agent in an attack on Kurdish forces in Iraq earlier this week, the first indication the militant group has obtained a banned chemical weapon, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. "We have credible information that the agent used in the attack was mustard," a senior U.S. official told the Journal. Islamic State could have obtained the mustard agent in Syria, whose government admitted to having large quantities of the blistering agent in 2013, when it agreed to give up its chemical weapons arsenal, the newspaper reported.

Britain says to protest to Ecuador over Assange asylum Posted: 13 Aug 2015 12:01 PM PDT Britain said on Thursday it would make a formal protest to Ecuador over its decision to provide asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in its London embassy and so prevent his extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes. "Ecuador must recognize that its decision to harbor Mr Assange more than three years ago has prevented the proper course of justice," British Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said in a statement. Assange, who denies any wrongdoing, has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy since June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden.

AP PHOTOS: Raids disrupt, but don't eradicate illegal mining Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:11 PM PDT TAMBOPATA, Peru (AP) — Patricia Quispe sat sullen on a black suitcase outside a dismantled mining camp, nursing her baby son and waiting for her husband, who was among 41 wildcat gold miners arrested in Peru's latest crackdown on illegal mining in the Amazon.

Deadly China blast disrupts world's 10th largest port Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:08 PM PDT SHANGHAI (AP) — Explosions that sent huge fireballs through China's Tianjin port have disrupted the flow of cars, oil, iron ore and other items through the world's 10th largest port.

Syrians plan escape from Kos for better lives Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:08 PM PDT It may be paradise for tourists, but Syrian refugees on Kos are desperate to leave the island and start new lives further north after waiting in hellish conditions to get registered. Following a huge influx of migrants to the Greek island, Najjar was among about 2,000 relocated to a football stadium turned registration centre this week, where hundreds were beaten back by police with truncheons and sprayed with fire extinguishers. Many of them had camped along the Greek island's roads and beaches in poor conditions for weeks, and Najjar said the scuffles that broke out were partly down to some refugees' "impatience".

Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:02 PM PDT TIANJIN, China (AP) — The death toll from the fiery explosions at a warehouse of hazardous chemicals climbed Thursday to 50, and the Chinese government sent experts to the shattered and smoldering port to assess any environmental dangers from the spectacular blasts. More than 700 people were injured and dozens were reported missing in the explosions shortly before midnight Wednesday that demolished a workers' dormitory, tossed shipping containers as if they were toy blocks and turned a fleet of 1,000 new cars into scorched metal husks. Windows were shattered for miles around by the shockwaves.

UN council to meet on Islamic State gay attacks Posted: 13 Aug 2015 05:01 PM PDT The UN Security Council will hold a meeting this month to hear about Islamic State attacks on sexual minorities, the first-ever council meeting focussed on gay rights, the US ambassador said Thursday. The informal meeting on August 24 will shine a spotlight on "ISIL and its systematic targeting of LGBT persons who find themselves in ISIL-controlled territory," said Samantha Power. The United States and Chile will host the meeting that will be open to all member-states interested in the plight of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people persecuted by the jihadists.

The Latest: Done and 1 (under) for Spieth, McIlroy at PGA Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:57 PM PDT SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — The Latest from the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (all times local):

Fifteen U.S. states seek to block EPA carbon rule Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:57 PM PDT By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fifteen state attorneys general petitioned a federal court in Washington on Thursday to block new U.S. rules to curb carbon emissions from power plants, in the first of several expected legal challenges to the Obama administration measure. States that oppose the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan filed for the stay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The states asked for a ruling by Sept. 8, one year before they need to submit compliance plans to the EPA.

ATP fines Kyrgios for 'insulting remark' toward Wawrinka Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:56 PM PDT MONTREAL (AP) — The ATP fined Nick Kyrgios $10,000 on Thursday for his "insulting comment" toward French Open champion Stan Wawrinka during a match at the Rogers Cup.

General strike nearly paralyzes much of Ecuador Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:51 PM PDT QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A general strike against President Rafael Correa virtually paralyzed Ecuador's capital, provincial cities and major highways Thursday and violent clashes broke out between protesters and police in several cities.

Doctor row overshadows City-Chelsea build-up Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:41 PM PDT Premier League champions Chelsea travel to Manchester City, last season's runners-up, on Sunday with manager Jose Mourinho embroiled in a growing row over accusations he has sidelined team doctor Eva Carneiro. British media reports claim Carneiro will no longer attend matches or training sessions after Mourinho reacted furiously to the sight of her and physiotherapist Jon Fearn running on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during the latter stages of last weekend's opening 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City, which temporarily reduced Chelsea to nine players.

Bid to lift Guatemala president's immunity fails in congress Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:40 PM PDT GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — An attempt to withdraw Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina's immunity from prosecution died in Congress on Thursday, following a string of corruption scandals that sparked large protests.

Column: Same old Tiger, same old alibi at PGA Championship Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:37 PM PDT SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — There's a saying in golf that "If you're going to miss it, miss it fast."

Mexico finds subterranean river under Chichen Itza pyramid Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:34 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican experts have discovered that the main pyramid at Mexico's Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza was at least partially built atop a subterranean river.

Greek government defends bailout deal ahead of vote Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:31 PM PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Greek government defended its new bailout program in tumultuous parliamentary sessions Thursday, as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced a rebellion in his governing Syriza party ahead of a vote on the deal.

All Blacks, Wallabies primed for Bledisloe battle Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:28 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Australia has the chance to prise one trophy from New Zealand's grasp and to severely weaken its hold on another when the teams meet in the return Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland on Saturday.

US investigating whether Islamic State used chemical weapons Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:25 PM PDT EDGARTOWN, Massachusetts (AP) — The United States is investigating whether the Islamic State used chemical weapons, the White House said Thursday, following allegations that IS militants deployed chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.

Fidel Castro turns 89; says US has hefty debt to Cuba Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:23 PM PDT HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro marked his 89th birthday with a newspaper column Thursday repeating assertions that the U.S. owes socialist Cuba "numerous millions of dollars" for damages caused by its decades-long embargo.

New York man gets 16 years for trying to support terrorists Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:23 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A New York man will serve 16 years in prison after admitting to attempting to support terrorists in Pakistan.

US, Chile put spotlight on extremist attacks on LGBT people Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:14 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Chile are putting the spotlight on "the barbaric treatment" of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people by the Islamic State extremist group.

Hannah O'Sullivan easily advances in US Women's Amateur Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:05 PM PDT PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Hannah O'Sullivan routed two more opponents Thursday to advance to the U.S. Women's Amateur quarterfinals at Portland Golf Club

Severe 'food shocks' more likely due to extreme weather, experts warn Posted: 13 Aug 2015 04:05 PM PDT By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Extreme weather such as intense storms, droughts and heatwaves will cause more frequent and severe food shortages as the global climate and food supply systems change, British and American experts warned on Friday. The pressure on the world's food supplies is so great, and the increase in extreme weather events so rapid, they said, that food shortages on a scale likely to occur once a century under past conditions, may in future hit as often as once every 30 years. "The chance of having a weather-related food shock is increasing, and the size of that shock is also increasing," said Tim Benton, a professor of population ecology at Leeds University who presented a report commissioned by the British government.

New UN peacekeeping chief named for Central African Republic Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:59 PM PDT UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon to replace the ousted chief of the UN peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic, diplomats said Thursday. Ban informed Security Council members of his choice to replace Babacar Gaye of Senegal during a closed-door meeting called to discuss his unprecedented decision to fire a mission chief. Gaye was sacked following a string of allegations of child sex abuse by peacekeepers serving in the MINUSCA force that have been deeply damaging to the United Nations.

Halep, Bencic advance at Rogers Cup in Toronto Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:54 PM PDT TORONTO (AP) — Second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania advanced to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals Thursday, outlasting 13th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in hot conditions.

Guinea-Bissau in turmoil as president sacks government Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:51 PM PDT The troubled west African nation of Guinea-Bissau was plunged into fresh political turmoil Thursday after the president sacked the government in a row with the prime minister. The move came after President Jose Mario Vaz said there was a "crisis" in relations with the premier that were undermining the functioning of government, raising fears of instability. "The government headed by Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira has been dissolved," a presidential decree said bluntly.

Boring no more, Chelsea goes to City embroiled in doc row Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:48 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — How Jose Mourinho must long for the days last season when Chelsea was being goaded for being "boring." The start to the new campaign has been anything but mundane at Stamford Bridge.

Venezuela frees 2nd prominent opponent in just over 24 hours Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:48 PM PDT CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A former Venezuelan defense minister turned staunch government critic was freed from prison early Thursday, making him the second prominent opposition leader to be let go in a little more than 24 hours.

EPA head meets with Navajo president over Colorado mine spill Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:42 PM PDT By Alison Uralli FARMINGTON, N.M. (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection agency told the Navajo Nation president on Thursday that her agency would work closely with the Native American tribe in handling a toxic waste spill into river waters from a defunct Colorado gold mine. Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye has pledged to take legal action against the EPA, which has taken responsibility for inadvertently causing the spill last week that sent toxic waste flowing into rivers in the Four Corners region where part of the 250,000-member tribe's reservation is located.

Jeb Bush leaves door open for use of torture by government Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:39 PM PDT DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Thursday declined to rule out resuming the use of torture under some circumstances by the U.S. government.

Journalist, five others killed in Mexico state of Veracruz Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:37 PM PDT A journalist was among six people killed by armed men in a bar in the Mexican state of Veracruz, the state attorney general's office said on Thursday, days after the murder of another journalist based in the state sparked widespread outrage. It said it had identified among the dead the bodies of journalist Juan Heriberto Santos and Jose Marquez, a suspected drug boss. Two other journalists from a local newspaper who were in the bar at the time are in police custody, authorities said.

Air pollution killing 4,000 in China a day, US study finds Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:35 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Air pollution is killing about 4,000 people in China a day, accounting for 1 in 6 premature deaths in the world's most populous country, a new study finds.

Correction: Drug-Smuggling Drones story Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:30 PM PDT EL CENTRO, California (AP) — EL CENTRO, California (AP) — In a story Aug. 12 about drug-smuggling drones, The Associated Press reported erroneously, citing information from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, that defendant Jonathan Elias controlled a drone carrying heroin. Prosecutor Sherri Hobson said defendant Brayan Valle controlled the drone. According to a plea agreement, Valle loaded the drugs and drone controller in Elias' trunk.

Letter reveals Prince Charles' dread of divorce Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:18 PM PDT Britain's Prince Charles dreaded the prospect of divorce a year before he wed Princess Diana, suggests a letter he wrote in 1980 that is up for sale in the United States. "I do hope you have recovered from the traumatic business of marriage and divorce in such a short time," he told Janet Jenkins, a receptionist at the British consulate in Montreal whom he met in 1975. The letter is being put up for sale for $3,900 by Alicia Carroll, a Los Angeles collector and dealer of British royal memorabilia.

US presses China on human rights ahead of leaders' summit Posted: 13 Aug 2015 03:11 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Thursday pressed China to improve its deteriorating human rights record ahead of the September state visit to Washington by President Xi Jinping.

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