Yahoo! News: World News

---

• Venezuela security forces block anti-Maduro protesters
• Chinese jets intercept U.S. military plane over South China Sea: Pentagon
• Bomb kills nine Iraqi soldiers during raid south of Baghdad
• For European banks, U.S. assurances on Iran come with asterisks
• Nigerian schoolgirl rescued after two years as Boko Haram captive
• Canada wildfire evacuees get tentative return date
• Sevilla stuns Liverpool with 3-1 win in Europa League final
• Sizing up the field for the Preakness
• CDC director Freiden warns GOP Zika bill is inadequate
• Opposition accuses Canada PM Trudeau of elbowing lawmaker
• Muslim nations block gay groups from UN Aids conference
• Wallabies coach Michael Cheika's contract extended to 2019
• After 2 decades, Luyendyk is still Indy's fastest driver
• Peter Sagan wins seconds stage of Tour of California
• Thorpe: retesting of doping samples like solving old crimes
• Swiss send last of FIFA suspects to US in bribery case
• Indonesia's 'red scare' stokes unease over military's growing influence
• UN welcomes release of two anti-slavery activists in Mauritania
• The Latest: FIFA suspect extradited to US pleads not guilty
• Federal panel: Pacific trade pact would deliver modest gains
• Derby winner Nyquist draws No. 3 post as Preakness favorite
• NAACP sues Michigan, governor over Flint's lead-contaminated water
• Flooding by Brazil dams affects Amazon rainforest, satellite maps show
• Andretti's Hunter-Reay leads pack at Indy 500 practice
• Lady Vols sign junior-college forward Cheridene Green
• Venezuela president ready to escalate state of emergency
• Venezuelan anti-government protesters clash with police
• Car bomb, clashes with IS kill 32 Libya unity govt forces: military
• FBI said Sydney gunman prone to violence years before siege
• Venezuela police block anti-Maduro protest in Caracas
• 'We want food!': Venezuela crisis deepens
• Top Asian News 10:07 p.m. GMT
• Rescued Chibok girl to meet Nigerian leader, hopes raised for other captives
• Chinese jets conduct 'unsafe' intercept of US spy plane: Pentagon
• Colombia troops, ex-guerillas may protect rebels in peace: minister
• Coke breaks Liverpool hearts in Europa League triumph
• Fort McMurray homecoming set for June

Venezuela security forces block anti-Maduro protesters Posted: 18 May 2016 02:48 PM PDT By Alexandra Ulmer CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas at protesters in Caracas on Wednesday amid nationwide rallies demanding a recall referendum to end President Nicolas Maduro's socialist rule. In the third day of opposition rallies in the past week, several thousand protesters descended on downtown Caracas for a march to the national election board, witnesses said.

Chinese jets intercept U.S. military plane over South China Sea: Pentagon Posted: 18 May 2016 03:55 PM PDT By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Chinese fighter jets carried out an "unsafe" intercept of a U.S. military aircraft on Tuesday over the South China Sea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The incident took place in international airspace as the U.S. reconnaissance aircraft carried out "a routine U.S. patrol," a Pentagon statement said. The incident comes a week after China scrambled fighter jets as a U.S. Navy ship sailed close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

Bomb kills nine Iraqi soldiers during raid south of Baghdad Posted: 18 May 2016 01:43 PM PDT Nine Iraqi soldiers were killed and nine more wounded on Wednesday when a house rigged with explosives blew up south of Baghdad during a raid of suspected Islamic State militants, two army sources said. More than 170 people have been killed in blasts claimed by Islamic State in and around Baghdad over the past week, including at least 77 in three attacks on Tuesday, in the deadliest spate of attacks in the city so far this year. In a separate incident in Latifiya on Wednesday, an army officer was killed and three soldiers were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their Humvee, the army sources said.

For European banks, U.S. assurances on Iran come with asterisks Posted: 18 May 2016 02:13 PM PDT By Yeganeh Torbati and Joel Schectman WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has a simple answer for executives of European banks scratching their heads over whether it is now legal for them to do business with Iran: Just ask. Any firm concerned whether a prospective business deal with Iran would be legal, Secretary of State John Kerry said before a meeting with British bankers in London last week, should call the U.S. agency in charge of sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC. Sanctions lawyers say OFAC does not do enough to clear up the ambiguity caused by a maze of overlapping sanctions and exemptions.

Nigerian schoolgirl rescued after two years as Boko Haram captive Posted: 18 May 2016 01:48 PM PDT By Lanre Ola MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian teenager kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago has been rescued, the first of more than 200 girls seized in a raid on their school in Chibok town to return from captivity in the insurgents' forest lair, officials said on Wednesday. Soldiers working together with a civilian vigilante group rescued the girl and her four-month-old baby near Damboa in the remote northeast, army spokesman Sani Usman said. "Preliminary investigation shows that she is indeed one of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on 14th April 2014 in Chibok," Usman said in a statement.

Canada wildfire evacuees get tentative return date Posted: 18 May 2016 02:58 PM PDT By Nia Williams and Eric M. Johnson CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Evacuees who fled a wildfire in northern Alberta two weeks ago may be allowed to return home as soon as June 1, officials said on Wednesday, as the massive blaze kept oil production shuttered north of Fort McMurray. Poor air quality in the Alberta city still poses a serious threat, officials said, delaying the return of the more than 90,000 people who were evacuated from the region on May 3 and 4, as the uncontrolled wildfire breached the city limits. Alberta premier Rachel Notley said that re-entry would begin on June 1, if all safety conditions were met, with the return to be staged over two weeks.

Sevilla stuns Liverpool with 3-1 win in Europa League final Posted: 18 May 2016 04:52 PM PDT BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Spain did it again, Sevilla did it again and Liverpool could do little to turn the tide as a Europa League title slipped away on Wednesday.

Sizing up the field for the Preakness Posted: 18 May 2016 04:39 PM PDT BALTIMORE (AP) — A closer look at the field for the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday (horses listed by post position, with trainer, jockey, analysis, morning-line odds):

CDC director Freiden warns GOP Zika bill is inadequate Posted: 18 May 2016 04:36 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The House moved toward a Wednesday night vote on a $622 million GOP measure to combat the Zika virus, despite a White House veto threat and a warning from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it wouldn't do enough to respond to the swelling threat to public health.

Opposition accuses Canada PM Trudeau of elbowing lawmaker Posted: 18 May 2016 04:31 PM PDT TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized twice "unreservedly" for making physical contact with a female opposition member of Parliament who said Trudeau elbowed her in the chest as he waded through a group of mostly opposition lawmakers.

Muslim nations block gay groups from UN Aids conference Posted: 18 May 2016 04:22 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Major Western nations are protesting a move to block gay and transgender groups from attending a high-level United Nations conference on AIDS.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika's contract extended to 2019 Posted: 18 May 2016 04:22 PM PDT SYDNEY (AP) — Michael Cheika has extended his contract with the Australian Rugby Union to remain as head coach of the Wallabies through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

After 2 decades, Luyendyk is still Indy's fastest driver Posted: 18 May 2016 04:21 PM PDT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Twenty years and one week after Arie Luyendyk became the fastest man to conquer Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2.5-mile oval, his records remain untouched and unchallenged.

Peter Sagan wins seconds stage of Tour of California Posted: 18 May 2016 04:16 PM PDT MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) — It was fitting that Peter Sagan would win a stage of the Tour of California on a racetrack.

Thorpe: retesting of doping samples like solving old crimes Posted: 18 May 2016 04:15 PM PDT SYDNEY (AP) — Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe says retesting of doping samples from previous games is a "good thing" and compared it with the solving of cold-case crimes.

Swiss send last of FIFA suspects to US in bribery case Posted: 18 May 2016 04:11 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime former head of the Nicaraguan soccer federation who most recently was employed by FIFA pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges Wednesday after he became the last of seven men extradited after their arrests in Zurich last year.

Indonesia's 'red scare' stokes unease over military's growing influence Posted: 18 May 2016 04:11 PM PDT By Randy Fabi and Kanupriya Kapoor JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's military elite are openly stoking public anxiety about communism, gays and other 'foreign influences', a drive critics say is aimed at seizing a greater role in civilian affairs of the world's third-largest democracy. Widodo last week publicly rebuked the military after it detained a handful of Indonesians suspected of spreading communist ideology, the first public resistance by the president to the military's growing influence in everyday life. Under Widodo, the military has joined the nation's fight against drugs, terrorism and corruption, areas previously reserved for the police.

UN welcomes release of two anti-slavery activists in Mauritania Posted: 18 May 2016 04:10 PM PDT UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the release of two human rights activists from prison in Mauritania by a decision of the Supreme Court. Ban "commends efforts by the Mauritanian authorities to strengthen the rule of law and urges the judicial authorities to pursue their efforts to carefully investigate the circumstances that led to the arrests of the activists," a UN statement said. "The secretary-general also encourages the Mauritanian Government to pursue its efforts to promote national unity and social cohesion," it added.

The Latest: FIFA suspect extradited to US pleads not guilty Posted: 18 May 2016 04:08 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on former FIFA staffer Julio Rocha, who was extradited to the United States to face racketeering charges in a sprawling bribery case (all times local):

Federal panel: Pacific trade pact would deliver modest gains Posted: 18 May 2016 03:58 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A contentious trade deal between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim nations would give the U.S. economy a modest boost, an independent federal agency reported Wednesday.

Derby winner Nyquist draws No. 3 post as Preakness favorite Posted: 18 May 2016 03:56 PM PDT BALTIMORE (AP) — Doug O'Neill couldn't have done any better if he picked Nyquist's post position himself.

NAACP sues Michigan, governor over Flint's lead-contaminated water Posted: 18 May 2016 03:54 PM PDT The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against Michigan and its governor on behalf of the residents and businesses in Flint, where high levels of lead in the drinking water has created a health crisis. The civil lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, accused city and state officials and two engineering firms hired to evaluate water quality of failing to detect the problems or properly treat the water. The lawsuit was filed on March 31 by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in U.S. District Court in Detroit, but announced on Wednesday.

Flooding by Brazil dams affects Amazon rainforest, satellite maps show Posted: 18 May 2016 03:35 PM PDT By Chris Arsenault RIO DE JANEIRO(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Dams along the Madeira River in western Brazil have flooded 36,100 hectares of rainforest, according to satellite images released on Wednesday, affecting people who live along the river and harming fish populations upon which they depend. The impacts of the two new dams, Jirau and Santo Antonio, could extend beyond Brazil to Peru and Bolivia as they disrupt the long-distance migration patterns of catfish, said the Amazon Conservation Association, a U.S.-based group which released the satellite maps. Luis Fernando Novoa, a professor of planning at the Federal University of Rondonia, said at least 30,000 people who farm, fish and otherwise depend on local natural resources have been affected.

Andretti's Hunter-Reay leads pack at Indy 500 practice Posted: 18 May 2016 03:34 PM PDT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Hunter-Reay returned to the top of the IndyCar world Wednesday.

Lady Vols sign junior-college forward Cheridene Green Posted: 18 May 2016 03:33 PM PDT KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has signed junior-college transfer Cheridene Green, though a knee injury will prevent the 6-foot-3 forward from playing for the Lady Volunteers in the upcoming season.

Venezuela president ready to escalate state of emergency Posted: 18 May 2016 03:31 PM PDT Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he was prepared to escalate a state of emergency imposed this week after opposition-led protests in the capital and other cities. Maduro told supporters he would give the order -- which implies suspending laws and rights to maintain public order -- if "violent" anti-government acts occurred. Faced with a crippling recession triggered by low prices for the oil Venezuela depends on, and hyperinflation and a severe energy shortage, Maduro ordered a state of emergency starting this week.

Venezuelan anti-government protesters clash with police Posted: 18 May 2016 03:30 PM PDT CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan police in riot gear clashed on Wednesday with thousands of protesters trying to reach the headquarters of the country's electoral body to demand a referendum to recall unpopular President Nicolas Maduro.

Car bomb, clashes with IS kill 32 Libya unity govt forces: military Posted: 18 May 2016 03:18 PM PDT Thirty-two fighters loyal to Libya's unity government were killed in clashes with Islamic State group jihadists and a car bombing Wednesday near the IS stronghold of Sirte, the military said. "The toll of today's martyrs reached 32, and 50 others were wounded," the operations room set up by the new Government of National Unity (GNA) said on its Facebook page and Twitter account late Wednesday, updating an earlier toll of 18 dead. Of the earlier toll, seven died in a car bomb attack in Buairat el-Hassun, 60 kilometres (35 miles) west of Sirte and the others were killed in an IS foray in Abu Grein, further west, that the GNA recaptured on Tuesday.

FBI said Sydney gunman prone to violence years before siege Posted: 18 May 2016 03:12 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Five years before he held 18 people hostage inside a Sydney cafe, Iranian-born Man Haron Monis attracted the attention of the FBI as someone who had "the potential to incite others to violence," according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Venezuela police block anti-Maduro protest in Caracas Posted: 18 May 2016 03:08 PM PDT Riot police firing tear gas blocked a 1,000-strong anti-government protest in the center of Caracas on Wednesday, one of 20 opposition rallies across crisis-hit Venezuela venting fury at President Nicolas Maduro and demanding his ouster. The demonstrations were the first major test of a state of emergency the unpopular Maduro imposed this week that gives broad powers to security forces to maintain public order. In a stinging rebuke to Maduro's dismissal of the referendum as "not viable" and his increasing authoritarianism, the head of the Organization of American States called the Venezuelan president a "traitor" to his people.

'We want food!': Venezuela crisis deepens Posted: 18 May 2016 03:08 PM PDT It was around noon when a food truck rolled up to a Venezuelan state-subsidized supermarket in the town of Guarenas just east of the capital. "We want food!" the crowd roared in protest, to no avail. Under the state of emergency imposed by President Nicolas Maduro, the military, along with government-organized civilian committees, ensures that food packets are delivered door-to-door in order to -- as officials say -- cut out black market operators.

Top Asian News 10:07 p.m. GMT Posted: 18 May 2016 03:07 PM PDT BOSTON (AP) — The recipient of the nation's first penis transplant says he is looking forward to walking out of the hospital a "complete" man. "There is no doubt in my mind that everything is going to work. And I mean everything," 64-year-old Thomas Manning said Wednesday with a grin as he continued to recover at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. "You can interpret that any way you wish." Seated by a window overlooking the Charles River, Manning was upbeat and chatty after undergoing the 15-hour operation last week. The former Halifax, Massachusetts, bank courier whose organ was amputated after he was diagnosed with penile cancer in 2012 has been ambling around his room with a walker and said he doesn't feel any pain.

Rescued Chibok girl to meet Nigerian leader, hopes raised for other captives Posted: 18 May 2016 03:03 PM PDT By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani ABUJA, Nigeria (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A Nigerian schoolgirl rescued after two years of being held captive by Boko Haram militants will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday amid hopes that she can help shed light on the whereabouts of more than 200 other missing girls. Soldiers working with a civilian vigilante group rescued the girl, named as Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki, on Tuesday near Damboa in the remote northeast with officials confirming she was one of 219 girls abducted from a secondary school in Chibok. An army spokesman said she was found with her four-month old baby and a "suspected Boko Haram terrorist" called Mohammed Hayatu, who claimed to be the girl's husband, was also detained.

Chinese jets conduct 'unsafe' intercept of US spy plane: Pentagon Posted: 18 May 2016 03:02 PM PDT Two Chinese fighters have conducted an "unsafe" intercept of a US spy plane in international air space over the South China Sea, the Pentagon said Wednesday. "The Department of Defense is reviewing a May 17 intercept of a US maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft by two tactical aircraft from the People's Republic of China," Pentagon spokesman Major Jamie Davis said in a statement. Tensions between China and the United States are high in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been building islets into military bases and is asserting sovereignty over large parts of the critical waterway.

Colombia troops, ex-guerillas may protect rebels in peace: minister Posted: 18 May 2016 02:51 PM PDT By Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's FARC rebel leaders will likely be protected by their own demobilized security units in coordination with the armed forces once peace is signed and the Marxist group enters politics, the defense minister said on Wednesday. The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are expected to agree to end five decades of conflict this year, and ink an accord that would allow the group to form a political party and enter civil society. "We cannot allow that Colombian politics is carried out with weapons, not for the FARC or against the FARC," Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said in an interview, adding the group's security was still being discussed at talks in Havana.

Coke breaks Liverpool hearts in Europa League triumph Posted: 18 May 2016 02:49 PM PDT Sevilla midfielder Coke broke Liverpool hearts with a second-half brace in a controversy-filled 3-1 victory that secured a record third consecutive Europa League title on Wednesday. Liverpool travelled to St Jakob-Park confident in their chances of a first Europa League trophy since 2001 after an impressive campaign in Europe's second tier competition.

Fort McMurray homecoming set for June Posted: 18 May 2016 02:48 PM PDT Tens of thousands of evacuees from the wildfire-ravaged Canadian oil city of Fort McMurray received word Wednesday that they can return home next month if conditions are favorable. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told a televised press conference that re-entry would start on June 1 and wrap up by June 15. "Many hazards remain in Fort McMurray," Notley said.

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