Yahoo! News: World News

---

• Americans seek swap in U.S. reporter case, says Iranian official
• Explosions, gunshots at Indian consulate in Afghan city Mazar
• Man who drove car at French troops not charged with terrorism
• Operation to flush out Indian air base attackers enters second night
• Erdogan backs criminal probe into Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition
• Israel charges two over arson attack that killed Palestinian family
• Combative Venezuela opposition leader will head congress
• Saudi severs ties with Iran after embassy attacked
• Haiti vote was marred by fraud: probe
• Top Asian News 12:28 a.m. GMT
• Australia names 13-man squad for India one-day series
• Venezuela opposition taps Henry Ramos to lead National Assembly
• Saudis cut ties with Iran following Shiite cleric execution
• Rain hits second day of Sydney Test
• 'Stokelona' eyes another upset in League Cup semifinals
• Mexico mayor's killing a threat to others: governor
• 'Enough is enough,' source familiar with Saudi thinking says
• Lovren rallies Liverpool for League Cup semi
• Madrid draws at Valencia, Chelsea routs Crystal Palace
• Dakar Rally opening stage cancelled due to weather
• Southern Illinois battles flooding as Mississippi River builds downstream
• Earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude strikes India: USGS
• US urges Mideast leaders to take 'steps to calm tensions'
• NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions
• The Latest: Insider says Saudis decided 'enough was enough'
• Portugal's last-place Tondela gets much-needed 1st away win
• Ibrahimovic scores winner as PSG advances in French Cup
• Promising English cricketer Matthew Hobden dies at age 22
• Benitez's Madrid stumbles again in 2-2 draw at Valencia
• France, Germany slam Saudi's execution of Shia cleric
• Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran as row over cleric's death escalates
• New government, same claim over Falklands in Argentina
• U.S. urges engagement, calm after Saudi Arabia cuts Iran ties
• Apple raises iPhone prices in Germany over new content levy
• Mexico mayor slain a day after taking office
• Escalation with Iran after Saudi executes Shiite cleric
• Olympiakos beats Panionios 3-1 to extend record run
• Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran: minister
• Saudi diplomats evacuated from Iran land in Dubai: Al Arabiya TV

Americans seek swap in U.S. reporter case, says Iranian official Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:13 AM PST Unnamed Americans have contacted Iran for a deal to swap Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, convicted and jailed in Iran on spying charges, for other unspecified detainees, according to a senior Iranian official quoted on Sunday. "Some Americans contact us sometimes, asking us to exchange him with other detainees, but the sentence has not been announced yet," said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, quoted by Iran's Fars news agency. Other Iranian officials have played down the possibility of such a swap.

Explosions, gunshots at Indian consulate in Afghan city Mazar Posted: 03 Jan 2016 12:43 PM PST By Bashir Ansari MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Gunfire and explosions rocked the area around the Indian consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Sunday night as security forces battled gunmen who tried to enter the compound, officials said. Two loud blasts and shots were heard earlier as the gunmen launched an attack from a nearby house after darkness fell, Muneer Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the Balkh province governor said. "Right now our security forces are fighting them," he said.

Man who drove car at French troops not charged with terrorism Posted: 03 Jan 2016 10:52 AM PST A man who drove a car at troops guarding a French mosque was placed under investigation on charges of attempted manslaughter on Sunday, the local prosecutor said, but investigators said they ruled out terrorism for now. The driver, unemployed for several months, rammed his car into a group of four soldiers in a car park outside a large mosque in the southeastern town of Valence on Friday afternoon, investigators said. "He explained that when he parked his car in front of the mosque and saw the soldiers, he got the urge to ram into them because French troops are killing civilians in Syria," Valence prosecutor Alex Perrin told Reuters.

Operation to flush out Indian air base attackers enters second night Posted: 03 Jan 2016 08:12 AM PST By Mukesh Gupta and Krista Mahr PATHANKOT, India/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian security forces battled into Sunday evening to secure an air base near the border with Pakistan, a day after a militant attack that has killed seven military personnel and wounded another 20. As night fell, it was unclear whether two or more militants were still at large after Saturday's pre-dawn raid on the Pathankot air base in northwestern Punjab state. "The area cannot be declared fully sanitized," Air Marshal Anil Khosla told a news briefing in New Delhi.

Erdogan backs criminal probe into Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:09 AM PST Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said he backs a criminal investigation into leaders of the pro-Kurdish opposition over comments about Kurdish self-rule, saying those who committed constitutional crimes must pay the price. A Turkish prosecutor opened an investigation into Selahattin Demirtas, co-head of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), last week after a two-day congress of Kurdish groups called for greater self-governance. The probe comes as predominantly Kurdish southeast Turkey experiences some of its worst violence since the 1990s after a two-year ceasefire between Kurdish militants and the state collapsed in July.

Israel charges two over arson attack that killed Palestinian family Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:16 AM PST By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli prosecutors filed murder charges on Sunday against a man and a minor for an arson attack in the occupied West Bank that killed three members of a Palestinian family and helped fuel the fiercest eruption of street violence in years. The attack on July 31 killed 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh and his parents Saad and Riham. Amiram Ben-Uliel, a 21-year-old from a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, was charged with three counts of racially motivated murder at Lod court near Tel Aviv.

Combative Venezuela opposition leader will head congress Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:52 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — An outspoken opposition leader known for embracing confrontation was selected Sunday to head the new congress that will open in two days as a counterweight to Venezuela's socialist administration.

Saudi severs ties with Iran after embassy attacked Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:43 PM PST Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters ransacked its embassy in Tehran to protest the execution of a Shiite cleric whose killing has sparked fury. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir made the announcement at a news conference in Riyadh, and said Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave the kingdom. The diplomatic fallout come as Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia would face "quick consequences" for executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and as Washington urged regional leaders to soothe escalating sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

Haiti vote was marred by fraud: probe Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:34 PM PST Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Haiti's first round of presidential and legislative voting was marred by fraud, as opposition forces have charged, an independent panel said in its report released Sunday. In the October 25 first round to choose a successor to President Michel Martelly, the candidate he backed -- Jovenel Moise -- drew 32.8 percent of the vote against 25.3 percent for Jude Celestin. A runoff had been due to go ahead on December 27 but was canceled after fraud allegations.

Top Asian News 12:28 a.m. GMT Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:28 PM PST GAUHATI, India (AP) — India's remote northeast region was hit before dawn on Monday by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake but there was no immediate word on casualties. India's Meteorological Department said the epicenter of the quake was in Tamenglong region of Manipur state. It struck before dawn on Monday at a depth of 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) in the India-Myanmar border region. The U.S. Geological Survey said the depth was 55 kilometers (about 34 miles). People panicked and rushed out of their homes in Gauhati, the capital of neighboring Assam state as they felt massive shaking at least twice within 60 seconds.

Australia names 13-man squad for India one-day series Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:27 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Australia has named a 13-man squad for the upcoming one-day series against India, with pacemen Joel Paris and Scott Boland set for their international debuts.

Venezuela opposition taps Henry Ramos to lead National Assembly Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:05 PM PST Venezuela's opposition coalition on Sunday chose Henry Ramos to lead the country's National Assembly, which convenes Tuesday for its first session with an opposition majority in more than 16 years. Ramos, 72, is secretary general of the Democratic Action party, one that is seen by critics as representing the old guard of Venezuelan politics that Hugo Chavez successfully rallied against when elected to the presidency in 1998. "We represent an alternative... We are not going to be the anti-establishment, rather an autonomous legislative power," said Ramos, a lawyer, who won the election with 62 of the 111 votes cast.

Saudis cut ties with Iran following Shiite cleric execution Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:04 PM PST TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Saudi Arabia announced Sunday it was severing diplomatic relations with Shiite powerhouse Iran amid escalating tensions over the Sunni kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Rain hits second day of Sydney Test Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:03 PM PST Sydney (AFP) - Only three balls were bowled before rain sent the players from the field on the second day of the third Test between Australia and the West Indies in Sydney on Monday.

'Stokelona' eyes another upset in League Cup semifinals Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:58 PM PST MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Think of Stoke City over the last past decade, and what immediately springs to mind is a physical, powerful team, route-one football and Rory Delap's long throw.

Mexico mayor's killing a threat to others: governor Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:52 PM PST A central Mexico state took over police command in several towns on Sunday after a mayor was assassinated, a crime described as a gang threat to other mayors. Governor Graco Ramirez ordered the State Security Commission to take charge charge of police in 15 municipalities of Morelos state, including the capital, Cuernavaca, and Temixco, where the slain mayor served. Gisela Mota, 33, a left-of-center former member of Congress, was gunned down on Saturday, barely 24 hours after taking her oath of office in Temixco, which is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Mexico City.

'Enough is enough,' source familiar with Saudi thinking says Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:48 PM PST Saudi Arabia's position toward Iran is that "enough is enough," a source familiar with the Saudi government's thinking said on Sunday after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran over the execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric and Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested the Saudi government was upset not merely with Iran but also with the United States for a perceived failure to respond to what Riyadh sees as Tehran's interference throughout the region.

Lovren rallies Liverpool for League Cup semi Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:38 PM PST Stoke-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Dejan Lovren has urged Liverpool to show a stronger mental streak as they seek to recover from their latest disappointment in Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke City. Manager Jurgen Klopp's hopes of ending his first season in English football with a top-four Premier League finish and a place in next season's Champions League suffered a blow when Liverpool started the new year with a 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday.

Madrid draws at Valencia, Chelsea routs Crystal Palace Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:33 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Rafa Benitez's return to Valencia ended with his Real Madrid stumbling again in the Spanish league's title race on Sunday, while Chelsea finally showed what made them champions in England last season.

Dakar Rally opening stage cancelled due to weather Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:31 PM PST Poor weather forced the cancellation of Sunday's Dakar Rally opening stage because of safety concerns, a day after 10 people were injured when a car crashed into spectators. Thunderstorms and heavy rain prompted organisers to scrap the scheduled 600-kilometre plus route from Rosario to Villa Carlos Paz, with the conditions grounding safety helicopters and leaving parts of the course flooded. "The Dakar doesn't stop when it rains but when it's not possible to guarantee the normal security presence" for the rally, race director Etienne Lavigne told AFP.

Southern Illinois battles flooding as Mississippi River builds downstream Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST (Reuters) - Residents of flooded areas in far southern Illinois anxiously waited for the swollen Mississippi River to peak on Sunday, with hundreds electing to remain in their homes, as states downstream prepared for the rising waters. About 125 structures were flooded in hard-hit Alexander County, the southernmost point in Illinois, where three families near one breach stayed dry behind sandbag fortifications and private levees, county board Chairman Chalen Tatum said. The National Weather Service on Sunday canceled a flash flood watch for Alexander and two other Illinois counties, where record or near-record river levels have threatened levees.

Earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude strikes India: USGS Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:20 PM PST (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 6.8 struck northwest of Imphal in India, near the Myanmar border, on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The USGS said the quake was 57 kms (35 miles) deep, and initially reported it had struck inside Myanmar. (Reporting by Stephen Coates; Editing by Michael Perry)

US urges Mideast leaders to take 'steps to calm tensions' Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:14 PM PST The United States on Sunday urged Mideast leaders to take measures to soothe tensions in the region after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric, provoking outrage from Iran. The execution was followed by an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, prompting Riyadh to sever ties. "We're aware that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered the closure of Iranian diplomatic missions in the kingdom," US State Department spokesman John Kirby said about the diplomatic rift.

NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:01 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Demonstrations erupted across the Middle East Sunday as Shiite Muslims protested Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Protesters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, broke into the Saudi embassy early Sunday morning — setting fires and throwing papers from the roof before being dispersed by police. Demonstrations also took place in Bahrain, Turkey, Pakistan and northern India.

The Latest: Insider says Saudis decided 'enough was enough' Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:51 PM PST RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The latest developments after Saudi Arabia executes a prominent opposition Shiite cleric convicted of terrorism charges, sparking anger in Iran and among Shiites across the region (All times local).

Portugal's last-place Tondela gets much-needed 1st away win Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:50 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Tondela fought back to win 3-2 at Rio Ave for the last-place team's first away win of the season in the Portuguese league on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic scores winner as PSG advances in French Cup Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:44 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed home the winner as Paris Saint-Gemain started the defense of its French Cup title with a scrappy 1-0 win over fourth-tier side Wasquehal while Monaco scored 10 goals to advance on Sunday.

Promising English cricketer Matthew Hobden dies at age 22 Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:37 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Matthew Hobden, an English cricketer regarded as one of the most talented up-and-coming players in the country, has died. He was 22.

Benitez's Madrid stumbles again in 2-2 draw at Valencia Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:17 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid squandered a great opening goal and a chance to catch Barcelona in the Spanish league standings when it slipped to a 2-2 draw at Valencia in a match it ended with 10 men on Sunday.

France, Germany slam Saudi's execution of Shia cleric Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:11 PM PST France and Germany on Sunday condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners, including a Shiite cleric, voicing concerns over growing tensions in the Middle East following riots in Shiite-dominated Iran. France "deeply deplores" Saturday's mass execution, including that of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the foreign ministry said in a statement, calling on leaders in the region to "do everything to avoid exacerbating sectarian and religious tensions". France opposes the death penalty "in all places and circumstances," it said, in comments echoed by Berlin.

Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran as row over cleric's death escalates Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:54 PM PST By Sam Wilkin and Angus McDowall DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran on Sunday, responding to the storming of its embassy in Tehran in an escalating row between the rival Middle East powers over Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a news conference in Riyadh that the envoy of Shi'ite Iran had been asked to quit Saudi Arabia within 48 hours. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran early on Sunday and Shi'ite Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the ruling Al Saudi family.

New government, same claim over Falklands in Argentina Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:49 PM PST Argentina's new conservative government affirmed on Sunday that it will continue to press the country's claims to the Falkland Islands, which Britain insists that it owns. Britain and Argentina fought a two-month long war over the archipelago in 1982, in which 649 Argentinian servicemen and 255 British were killed. "Argentina renews its firm commitment to peacefully settling its differences, to international law and multilateralism, the foreign ministry under the country's new president, Mauricio Macri, said in a statement.

U.S. urges engagement, calm after Saudi Arabia cuts Iran ties Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:39 PM PST The United States on Sunday responded to Saudi Arabia's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Iran by encouraging diplomatic engagement and calling for leaders throughout the region to take "affirmative steps" to reduce tensions. "We're aware of reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered the closure of Iranian diplomatic missions in the Kingdom," an Obama administration official said.

Apple raises iPhone prices in Germany over new content levy Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:37 PM PST BERLIN (AP) — Apple raised the prices for hand-held devices in Germany at the start of the year, following a deal between the tech industry and content producers that will benefit a range of creative professionals including musicians, actors and pornographic filmmakers.

Mexico mayor slain a day after taking office Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:35 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three people, including a minor, were being held Sunday in the slaying of a newly inaugurated mayor in a gang-troubled central Mexican city.

Escalation with Iran after Saudi executes Shiite cleric Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:35 PM PST Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading Shiite cleric reflects an assertive but risky new approach that threatens to escalate its proxy wars with arch-rival Iran in Syria and Yemen, experts said Sunday. Hours after the Sunni-ruled kingdom announced Saturday's execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests in 2011, angry demonstrators set fire to its embassy in Shiite-dominated Iran. In response, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced Sunday that Riyadh was severing diplomatic ties with Tehran and said all Iranian diplomats must leave the kingdom within 48 hours.

Olympiakos beats Panionios 3-1 to extend record run Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:15 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Olympiakos continued its perfect start in the Greek league by beating Panionios 3-1 away on Sunday, extending its record run of consecutive wins to 16.

Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran: minister Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:02 PM PST Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it had severed ties with Iran over the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, in a worsening diplomatic crisis between the regional rivals following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a news conference Iran's diplomatic mission and related entities in Saudi Arabia had been given 48 hours to leave. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran early on Sunday and Shi'ite Muslim Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the kingdom's ruling Al Saudi family.

Saudi diplomats evacuated from Iran land in Dubai: Al Arabiya TV Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:02 PM PST DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi diplomats evacuated from Iran after their embassy was stormed by protesters in Tehran landed in Dubai on their way home to the kingdom, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported early on Monday. Their arrival coincided with an announcement by Saudi Arabia that it was cutting ties with Iran in protest at the assault on its embassy, in a worsening diplomatic crisis between the regional rivals following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric. (Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh and Omar Fahmy, Editing by William Maclean; editing by Ralph Boulton)

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