Yahoo! News: World News

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• Obama, despite dissent on Syria, not shifting toward strikes on Assad
• Iraqi PM declares victory over Islamic State in Falluja
• UK police examine right-wing extremism link to murder of lawmaker
• Putin says U.S. missile shield is a 'great danger'
• Police couple killer seen with aborted church attack suspect: source
• Russia's Putin: why did Britain call Brexit referendum?
• Top Asian News 12:33 a.m. GMT
• Russian track and field athletes banned from Rio Games
• Dustin Johnson back in tie for US Open lead
• Suspect charged with murdering British MP: police
• Charge dropped against immigrant who took refuge in church
• The Latest: Zeppelin's bassist Jones testifies for bandmates
• Brazil fines Samarco 142 million reais for damages to protected areas
• US appeals Jermaine Jones red card, Bobby Wood yellow
• Shops shut after deadly looting in Venezuela crisis
• Heat wave, winds feared as southern California wildfire advances
• The Times backs Britain staying in EU
• New suspect charged over Brussels attacks
• Mexico's Congress passes package of anti-corruption measures
• Seven charged in Rio de Janeiro gang-rape case
• IMF says Brexit impact 'negative and substantial' for UK
• Brazil's Rio state declares financial disaster before Games
• UK probes neo-Nazi ties, mental health in Jo Cox slaying
• Cardinals sign first-round pick Delvin Perez
• Strike at French oil hub near Marseille ends: port management
• IMF warns of 'negative and substantial' impact of Brexit
• Obama offers condolences to husband of slain British MP: White House
• Lexi Thompson fights back pain, takes Meijer LPGA lead
• Obama family explores 'Big Room' cavern on national parks tour
• U.S. denies plan to include Syrian opposition in Assad government
• Morocco offers to let some U.N. Western Sahara mission staff back
• Women's soccer: US looks for gold and brings the drama
• Coach: Messi 'quite possible' to start in Copa vs Venezuela
• Rio de Janeiro displays itsy-bitsy bikinis at fashion show
• Putin says Russia will work with any US president
• IAAF head Coe set for another grilling by British lawmakers
• FIFA should threaten Russia over World Cup hosting: Collins
• Boko Haram militants kill seven police in attack in Niger: military
• 'Sports terrorists' bring new chaos to Euro 2016
• Canada's doctor-assisted suicide law passes final hurdle

Obama, despite dissent on Syria, not shifting toward strikes on Assad Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:47 PM PDT By Arshad Mohammed and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. administration sought on Friday to contain fallout from a leaked internal memo critical of its Syria policy, but showed no sign it was willing to consider military strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces called for in the letter signed by dozens of American diplomats. Several U.S. officials said that while the White House is prepared to hear the diplomats' dissenting viewpoint, it is not expected to spur any changes in President Barack Obama's approach to Syria in his final seven months in office. One senior official said that the test for whether these proposals for more aggressive action are given high-level consideration will be whether they "fall in line with our contention that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria." The document - sent through the State Department's "dissent channel," a conduit for voicing contrary opinions meant to be confidential - underscored long-standing divisions and frustrations among Obama's aides over his response to Syria's five-year-old civil war.

Iraqi PM declares victory over Islamic State in Falluja Posted: 17 Jun 2016 11:34 AM PDT By Thaier al-Sudani and Stephen Kalin FALLUJA/BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi forces on Friday entered the center of Falluja, the Iraqi city longest held by Islamic State, nearly four weeks after the start of a U.S.-backed offensive that cleared out the tens of thousands of residents still there. Government troops, supported by multiple air strikes from a U.S.-led coalition, recaptured the municipal building, though the ultra-hardline militants still controlled a significant portion of Falluja, an hour's drive west of Baghdad, and many streets and houses remain mined with explosives. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Iraqi forces had taken back a portion of the city, although he added: "There's still some fighting to be done." Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory shortly after nightfall, as government forces continued pushing into parts of the city held by the militants.

UK police examine right-wing extremism link to murder of lawmaker Posted: 17 Jun 2016 12:53 PM PDT By Elisabeth O'Leary and Paul Sandle BIRSTALL, England (Reuters) - British police said on Friday that right-wing extremism was an important line of inquiry in the murder of lawmaker Jo Cox, after a man with suspected neo-Nazi links and a history of mental illness was arrested over the killing. Cox, 41, a supporter of Britain staying in the EU, was shot and stabbed on Thursday by a man who witnesses said shouted "Britain first", in her own electoral district near Leeds in the county of West Yorkshire in northern England. Officers arrested a 52-year-old man, named by British media as Thomas Mair, near the murder scene and he remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives.

Putin says U.S. missile shield is a 'great danger' Posted: 17 Jun 2016 02:02 PM PDT (Reuters) - Russia views the U.S. missile shield in eastern Europe as a "great danger" and Moscow will be forced to respond by enhancing its missile strike capability, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. "We will perfect our missile strike capability, to preserve balance, only because of that," Putin told leaders of international media organizations at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. (Reporting by Alessandra Galloni; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Catherine Evans)

Police couple killer seen with aborted church attack suspect: source Posted: 17 Jun 2016 01:27 PM PDT A Frenchman who killed a police commander and his partner this week was seen in a van with a man involved in an aborted attack on churchgoers in the Paris suburb of Villejuif, a source close to the investigation said on Friday. Larossi Abballa, 25, was killed by police commandos after killing the couple with a knife at their home and taking their three-year-old son hostage on Monday. "Police authorities of the Yvelines area received in April 2015 information according to which Larossi Abballa was seen in a van with a man later suspected in the (Villejuif) affair," the source told Reuters.

Russia's Putin: why did Britain call Brexit referendum? Posted: 17 Jun 2016 01:45 PM PDT (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday questioned why British Prime Minister David Cameron had called a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. "If it's such a problem, why did he initiate this, if he is against it himself?" Putin said of Cameron at a meeting on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Putin said that he had a view on whether Britain should leave the EU but that it was not appropriate for him to voice it because it was Britain's internal affair.

Top Asian News 12:33 a.m. GMT Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:33 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior diplomats of the U.S. and North Korea are slated to attend a security conference in Beijing next week, but the State Department said Friday there is no plan for direct talks between them. The annual Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue is an informal meeting that brings together government officials and scholars of the six nations that were involved in long-stalled talks on the North's nuclear program. Among those attending will be Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Friday that North Korea would also send a representative. That offers an opportunity for a rare meeting between the adversaries, amid heightened tensions following a North Korean nuclear test and rocket launch that drew stiff sanctions.

Russian track and field athletes banned from Rio Games Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:24 PM PDT VIENNA (AP) — In an unprecedented move, Russia's track and field athletes have been banned from competing for their country at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because the country has failed to do enough to clean up a deep-rooted doping system that tainted athletes who may be clean.

Dustin Johnson back in tie for US Open lead Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:21 PM PDT OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — The latest from the U.S. Open golf championship (all times local):

Suspect charged with murdering British MP: police Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:20 PM PDT London (AFP) - Sole suspect Thomas Mair has been charged with murdering British MP Jo Cox, police said Saturday.

Charge dropped against immigrant who took refuge in church Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:19 PM PDT PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped a charge of illegal re-entry against an immigrant activist who took refuge at an Oregon church in 2014 to avoid deportation.

The Latest: Zeppelin's bassist Jones testifies for bandmates Posted: 17 Jun 2016 05:03 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on the copyright lawsuit involving Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" (all times local):

Brazil fines Samarco 142 million reais for damages to protected areas Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:59 PM PDT Brazil's Environment Ministry fined mining company Samarco 142 million reais ($41.6 million) for damages to three protected areas resulting from a tailings dam burst in November, the ministry said on Friday. The ministry said in a statement the three areas on the coast of Espirito Santo state were contaminated by metals such as lead, coper and cadmium. The metals spilled from the dam and were carried all the way from Minas Gerais through the Doce River to the ocean.

US appeals Jermaine Jones red card, Bobby Wood yellow Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:57 PM PDT SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation has appealed the red card given to midfielder Jermaine Jones and a yellow card assessed to forward Bobby Wood, who are both suspended for Tuesday's Copa America semifinal.

Shops shut after deadly looting in Venezuela crisis Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:43 PM PDT Residents barricaded their shops Friday in a Venezuelan city hit by violence after the country's food crisis erupted into deadly looting. The unrest came days ahead of a new key stage in the opposition's bid to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office: the authentication of signatures calling for a recall referendum. Some shop owners welded their shutters closed in the old colonial city of Cumana, where dozens of stores were looted on Tuesday.

Heat wave, winds feared as southern California wildfire advances Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:40 PM PDT By Krystian Orlinski GOLETA, Calif. (Reuters) - A blistering heat wave in Southern California this weekend along with strong winds could further fan a wildfire that has sent swirling flames close to ranches and triggered mandatory evacuations, officials said on Friday. The so-called Sherpa Fire feeding on chaparral and grass about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the affluent city of Santa Barbara tripled in size from 1,200 acres (486 hectares) on Thursday night to more than 4,000 acres (1,619 hectares) early on Friday, fire officials said. With temperatures forecast to hit the triple digits in coming days and winds picking up, officials said the blaze, in a largely rural area, was a harbinger of heightened fire risks for all of Southern California.

The Times backs Britain staying in EU Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:31 PM PDT The Times newspaper came out Saturday in favour of Britain staying in the European Union. "Why remain is best for Britain" it said on the front page, five days ahead of the referendum on the UK's membership of the bloc. "The best outcome of next week's referendum would be a new alliance of sovereign EU nations dedicated to free trade and reform, led by Britain," it said in a 2,000-word editorial.

New suspect charged over Brussels attacks Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:25 PM PDT A Belgian man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Islamic State suicide bombings that killed 32 people in Brussels in March, prosecutors said late Friday. The 30-year-old, named as Youssef E.A, is one of several charged over the March 22 attacks that struck Brussels airport and a city metro station. The man has been charged with "participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts to terrorist murders, as a perpetrator, co-perpetrator of accomplice", Belgium's federal prosecutor said.

Mexico's Congress passes package of anti-corruption measures Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:23 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Congress passed a package of laws targeting the corruption that is seen as one of the country's biggest obstacles, but last-minute changes could limit their effectiveness.

Seven charged in Rio de Janeiro gang-rape case Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:19 PM PDT Six men and a boy were charged on Friday with raping a 16-year-old girl and posting videos and pictures of her on the internet, Rio de Janeiro police said in a statement. The case has sparked a debate about sexism and violence in Brazil and added to security concerns ahead of Rio's hosting of the Summer Olympics in August. The lead investigator in the case that shocked Brazilians, Cristiana Bento, sent her conclusions to Brazilian prosecutors on Friday.

IMF says Brexit impact 'negative and substantial' for UK Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:18 PM PDT The International Monetary Fund warned Friday that if Britain votes to exit the European Union next week it could deal the economy a "negative and substantial" blow. The Washington-based global crisis lender revealed the findings of its annual British economic checkup less than a week ahead of the June 23 vote on EU membership, adding that "contagion effects" from a "Leave" vote could hit markets worldwide. "While there is much uncertainty about the precise economic effects of an exit from the EU, they are likely negative and substantial," the IMF concluded.

Brazil's Rio state declares financial disaster before Games Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:11 PM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The acting governor of Rio de Janeiro state has declared a state of financial disaster so he has more leeway to manage the state's scarce resources less than two months Brazil hosts the Olympic Games.

UK probes neo-Nazi ties, mental health in Jo Cox slaying Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:07 PM PDT BIRSTALL, England (AP) — Evidence emerged Friday that the reclusive gardener suspected of slaying a popular Labour Party lawmaker had decades-old ties to a neo-Nazi movement and an interest in anarchist weapons literature.

Cardinals sign first-round pick Delvin Perez Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:06 PM PDT ST. LOUIS (AP) — Delvin Perez, the 17-year-old Puerto Rican shortstop who fell to the 23rd pick in the draft after testing positive for performance enhancing substances, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Strike at French oil hub near Marseille ends: port management Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:05 PM PDT MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - France's hardline CGT union ended on Friday a strike that had paralyzed traffic for 26 days at the Fos Lavera oil terminals on the Mediterranean, the country's biggest oil hub, a management official at port operator Fluxel said. "Unloading resumed at the port at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Friday," the official told Reuters. More than 50 oil tankers and other vessels had been held up in the harbor near Marseille, unable to unload cargo, since CGT union members joined the nationwide rolling protest against a government labor reform on May 23. ...

IMF warns of 'negative and substantial' impact of Brexit Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:02 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.K. vote to leave the European Union would seriously hurt the British economy and possibly lead to a recession next year, the International Monetary Fund warned Friday.

Obama offers condolences to husband of slain British MP: White House Posted: 17 Jun 2016 04:00 PM PDT U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday spoke by phone with Brendan Cox, the husband of slain British Member of Parliament Jo Cox, the White House said. Obama, who is touring some Western U.S. national parks with his family, offered his sincere condolences to Cox on behalf of the American people during a phone call from Air Force One, the White House said.

Lexi Thompson fights back pain, takes Meijer LPGA lead Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:53 PM PDT BELMONT, Mich. (AP) — Defending champion Lexi Thompson fought through back pain Friday to take the second-round lead in the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Obama family explores 'Big Room' cavern on national parks tour Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:49 PM PDT By Roberta Rampton CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK, N.M. (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and his family escaped the blistering heat of the Chihuahuan Desert on Friday when they went through a maze of ancient caverns where the only sound was the drip-dripping from stalactites. The subterranean adventure was the first stop on a working vacation during which Obama will spend some time with his teenaged daughters while making the case for more spending on conservation and curbing climate change. It was just like any other family holiday, except the entourage of Secret Service agents, aides and press who follow Obama wherever he goes had to descend the 754 feet (230 m) on elevators in eight shifts.

U.S. denies plan to include Syrian opposition in Assad government Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:47 PM PDT The United States denied it has proposed including members of the Syrian opposition in the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, contradicting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking in St. Petersburg, Putin said on Friday he agreed with what he said were U.S. proposals to incorporate parts of the opposition into the current Syrian government. Putin also said Assad accepted there was a need for a political process.

Morocco offers to let some U.N. Western Sahara mission staff back Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:43 PM PDT By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Morocco has proposed allowing around 25 civilian staff to immediately return to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara in a sign that tensions between Rabat and the U.N. may be easing, diplomatic sources said on Friday. Earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon used the word "occupation" to describe Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara in 1975, when Rabat took it over from colonial power Spain. Infuriated by what it saw as a shift away from a neutral position, Morocco expelled dozens of U.N. staff working for the mission there known as MINURSO.

Women's soccer: US looks for gold and brings the drama Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:42 PM PDT With a labor dispute simmering at home, the U.S. women's national soccer team travels to Rio de Janeiro as the favorite to win its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.

Coach: Messi 'quite possible' to start in Copa vs Venezuela Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:39 PM PDT FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Argentina coach Gerardo Martino says Lionel Messi is in good shape and it is "quite possible" the star midfielder will start Saturday in the Copa America quarterfinal against Venezuela.

Rio de Janeiro displays itsy-bitsy bikinis at fashion show Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:33 PM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The city synonymous with minuscule beachwear will now have a new venue to show off its itsy-bitsy bikinis.

Putin says Russia will work with any US president Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:32 PM PDT ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — After two days of meetings with top European officials and international executives, Russian President Vladimir Putin sounded reconciliatory in a round-table with international media Friday, saying Russia is ready to work with whoever is elected the new U.S. president and offering only a mild condemnation of the IAAF's decision to ban Russian track and field athletes from competing in the upcoming Olympics.

IAAF head Coe set for another grilling by British lawmakers Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:23 PM PDT Embattled world athletics supremo Sebastian Coe will face another session with British lawmakers to explain potentially damaging allegations made in a television documentary, it was claimed Friday. A BBC documentary claimed Coe, elected president of the International Association of Athletics Federations last August, succeeding the now disgraced Lamine Diack, may have misled a parliamentary committee as to when he first knew about the Russian doping scandal and allegations of corruption against IAAF officials. Coe said he had not opened an email attachment which contained an explosive allegation by the agent of Russian marathon runner Lilya Shobukhova that she had been blackmailed by Russian and IAAF officials including Papa Missata Diack, Diack's son, to the tune of 450,000 euros (£356,000, $505,000) over a failed dope test.

FIFA should threaten Russia over World Cup hosting: Collins Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:19 PM PDT FIFA should warn Russia they could be stripped as hosts of the 2018 World Cup if they don't take measures to root out their hooligan element, British lawmaker Damian Collins told AFP on Friday. Collins said it would be unacceptable for Russia to host a World Cup if the government cannot give assurances over the safety of foreign football supporters. "I think they (Russia) should realise it matters and I think FIFA have a duty of care to football fans and football family to make sure that the hosts provide a safe World Cup," Collins told AFP.

Boko Haram militants kill seven police in attack in Niger: military Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:16 PM PDT Boko Haram militants killed seven soldiers and injured others in military barracks in southeastern Niger and stole weapons, the Nigeria-based radical group said in a statement on Friday, according to SITE Intelligence Group. Before the statement was issued, military sources had said that militants from Boko Haram attacked a town in Niger while a delegation of ministers were visiting, killing seven gendarmes and wounding 12 in a gun battle. Boko Haram said in the statement that "a detachment from the soldiers of the Caliphate carried out an attack on military barracks of the Nigerien apostate army in the town of Ghafam in the area of Diffa ... A quantity of weapons and various ammunition was taken as spoils." Neighboring Chad has sent troops to help Niger in a planned counterattack against Boko Haram after the militants seized the southern Niger town of Bosso in an attack that killed 26 soldiers.

'Sports terrorists' bring new chaos to Euro 2016 Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:15 PM PDT Saint-Étienne (France) (AFP) - Croatian fans who hurled flares on the pitch to halt their country's Euro 2016 match against Czech Republic were branded "sports terrorists" as the showcase tournament suffered new troubles. Less than a week after Russian fans tried to attack England rivals inside the Marseille stadium, the European Championship finals suffered a double blow. President Vladimir Putin said "I truly don't understand how 200 of our fans could beat up several thousand English." But 20 Russians detained near Marseille were to be expelled on Saturday.

Canada's doctor-assisted suicide law passes final hurdle Posted: 17 Jun 2016 03:12 PM PDT Canada's Senate voted Friday to pass legislation allowing the terminally ill to end their life with a doctor's assistance, clearing the final hurdle for the bill to become law after a clash between the upper and lower houses. Senators approved Bill C-14 in a vote of 44 to 28, giving in to pressure by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, which controls the House of Commons. The bill sets out new rules for consenting adults with serious health problems to end their suffering, coming one year after the Supreme Court struck down a prohibition against doctor-assisted suicide.

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