Yahoo! News: World News

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• Germany frees suspect in market attack, says perpetrator maybe still at large
• Turkish police detain six after Russian ambassador shot dead
• U.S. government loses to Russia's disinformation campaign: advisers
• Syrian army closes in on last Aleppo rebels
• Mexico fireworks market blast kills at least 27, hurts scores
• U.S. sanctions companies, people over Russia actions in Ukraine
• Massive fireworks market blast kills at least 26 in Mexico
• Taiwan expresses regret as Sao Tome ends ties
• Top Asian News 1:25 a.m. GMT
• 10 Chinese men charged with drug smuggling in Australia
• At least 26 dead, 70 hurt in Mexico fireworks market blast
• Gambian President Jammeh says he will not step down
• Russia's Lavrov informs Kerry by phone about Moscow talks on Syria
• Gambia's Jammeh does not face prosecution on leaving office: opposition
• U.N. human rights chief urges murder inquiry into Duterte's killing claim
• Berlin Christmas markets shut, others tighten security
• May raises possibility of Brexit transition deal
• The Latest: Prosecutor ups death toll to 26 in Mexico blast
• Nine killed, 70 hurt in Mexico fireworks market blast
• South Korea special prosecutors raid national pension service office: Yonhap
• China welcomes Sao Tome decision to ditch Taiwan ties
• Sabres sending Nylander to play for Sweden at world juniors
• Oklahoma's new fracking guidelines aim to reduce quake risk
• Venezuela reopens Colombia, Brazil border crossings
• China welcomes Sao Tome decision to ditch Taiwan ties
• Mexican Federal Police: 9 dead, 70 injured in explosion at fireworks market outside Mexico City
• Congo forces kill 26 protesters against leader Kabila
• South African police fire rubber bullets at Congo embassy protesters
• Rights Group: Testimony links Colombia general to killings
• Trump hosts candidates for key Veterans Affairs post
• U.S. plays down absence from Moscow talks on Syria, says not 'sidelined'
• Fidel Castro hailed at UN as iconic leader of 20th century
• Obama bans new oil, gas drilling off Alaska, part of Atlantic coast
• VW agrees to fix, buy back more polluting U.S. diesel vehicles
• Argentina, Britain agree to identify bodies of soldiers on Falklands
• Atletico beats Guijuelo, eases into last 16 of Copa del Rey
• U.S. tightens sanctions against North Korea's U.N. diplomats

Germany frees suspect in market attack, says perpetrator maybe still at large Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:43 PM PST By Michelle Martin and Sabine Siebold BERLIN (Reuters) - German authorities on Tuesday released a Pakistani asylum-seeker suspected of driving a truck into a Berlin Christmas market and killing 12 people due to a lack of evidence and the interior minister said the real perpetrator may still be on the run. Islamic State claimed responsibility the attack, saying the perpetrator was a "soldier" of the militant group.

Turkish police detain six after Russian ambassador shot dead Posted: 20 Dec 2016 09:22 AM PST By Orhan Coskun and Daren Butler ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish police have detained six people over the killing of Russia's ambassador, security sources said, widening an investigation to relatives of the off-duty policeman who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo!" as he gunned the envoy down. Both countries cast Monday's attack at an art gallery in the capital Ankara as an attempt to undermine a recent thawing of ties that have been strained by civil war in Syria, where they back opposing sides. The war, which has killed more than 300,000 people and created a power vacuum exploited by Islamic State, reached a potential turning point last week when Syrian forces ended rebel resistance in the northern city of Aleppo.

U.S. government loses to Russia's disinformation campaign: advisers Posted: 20 Dec 2016 02:28 PM PST The U.S. government spent more than a decade preparing responses to malicious hacking by a foreign power but had no clear strategy when Russia launched a disinformation campaign over the internet during the U.S. election campaign, current and former White House cyber security advisers said. Over the last several years, U.S. intelligence agencies tracked Russia's use of coordinated hacking and disinformation in Ukraine and elsewhere, the advisers and intelligence experts said, but there was little sustained, high-level government conversation about the risk of the propaganda coming to the United States.

Syrian army closes in on last Aleppo rebels Posted: 20 Dec 2016 10:21 AM PST By Angus McDowall and Maria Tsvetkova BEIRUT/MOSCOW (Reuters) - As President Bashar al-Assad's army closed in on the last rebel enclave in Aleppo on Tuesday, Russia, Iran and Turkey said they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal. The Syrian army used loudspeakers to broadcast warnings to insurgents that it was poised to enter their rapidly diminishing area during the day and told them to speed up their evacuation of the city. Complete control of Aleppo would be a major victory for Assad against rebels who have defied him in Syria's most populous city for four years.

Mexico fireworks market blast kills at least 27, hurts scores Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:11 PM PST By David Alire Garcia and Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - At least 27 people died and at least 70 were injured in an explosion at a fireworks market outside the Mexican capital on Tuesday, local authorities said. The blast was the third to strike the popular San Pablito marketplace in Tultepec, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Mexico City, in just over a decade. Isidro Sanchez, the head of Tultepec emergency services, said the death toll was preliminary as rescue workers scoured the site.

U.S. sanctions companies, people over Russia actions in Ukraine Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:23 PM PST By Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday targeted more Russian businessmen and companies over Russia's annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, slapping them with U.S. sanctions in a move Moscow criticized as hostile. The measures come a month before U.S. President Barack Obama hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and said it would be good if the two countries could get along. Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of State, Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson, has opposed U.S. sanctions on Russia, which awarded him a friendship medal in 2013.

Massive fireworks market blast kills at least 26 in Mexico Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:29 PM PST TULTEPEC, Mexico (AP) — A powerful chain-reaction explosion ripped through Mexico's best-known fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital Tuesday, killing at least 26 people, injuring scores more and sending a huge plume of charcoal-gray smoke billowing into the sky.

Taiwan expresses regret as Sao Tome ends ties Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:28 PM PST TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister David Lee expressed regret on Wednesday after Sao Tome ended ties with the self-ruled island, and said Taiwan would not engage in "dollar diplomacy". Taiwan was unable to satisfy the small West Africa nation's financial shortages, Lee told a news conference in Taipei. China earlier welcomed the move, without explicitly saying it had established formal relations with Sao Tome. (Reporting by J.R. Wu; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

Top Asian News 1:25 a.m. GMT Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:25 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Ten Chinese nationals were charged on Tuesday with drug smuggling in Australia after officials said they found a stash of cocaine worth more than 60 million Australian dollars ($44 million) on their ship. Last week, the Australian Defense Force intercepted the 50-meter (160-foot) former research vessel off the island state of Tasmania, and escorted the boat to the state capital, Hobart. During a subsequent search, police found 186 kilograms (410 pounds) of cocaine on board, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said in a statement. The 10 crew members, all men aged between 23 and 50, were charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

10 Chinese men charged with drug smuggling in Australia Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:24 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — Ten Chinese nationals were charged on Tuesday with drug smuggling in Australia after officials said they found a stash of cocaine worth more than 60 million Australian dollars ($44 million) on their ship.

At least 26 dead, 70 hurt in Mexico fireworks market blast Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:18 PM PST A massive explosion gutted Mexico's biggest fireworks market Tuesday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 70, authorities said. The conflagration, in the suburb of Tultepec, set off a quickfire series of multicolored blasts and a vast cloud of smoke that hung over Mexico City. Christmas and New Year's parties in many Latin American countries very often wrap up with clattering firework blasts.

Gambian President Jammeh says he will not step down Posted: 20 Dec 2016 05:02 PM PST Gambian President Yahya Jammeh said he would not step down and condemned mediation by West African regional bloc ECOWAS that aims to get him to leave power after he lost a Dec. 1 election to challenger Adama Barrow. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah," Jammeh said. "Already the ECOWAS meeting was a formality.

Russia's Lavrov informs Kerry by phone about Moscow talks on Syria Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:57 PM PST Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call about the results of talks in Moscow on Tuesday on the Syria crisis, the Russian foreign ministry said. The foreign ministers of Turkey and Iran attended the Moscow talks with Lavrov and the defense ministers of the three countries met separately in the Russian capital. The Russian foreign ministry also said in its statement that U.N.-brokered negotiations in Geneva on the Syrian crisis had hit a dead end due to ultimatums from the Syrian opposition in exile.

Gambia's Jammeh does not face prosecution on leaving office: opposition Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:51 PM PST Gambian President Yahya Jammeh will not face prosecution on leaving office, a spokesman for the opposition coalition that backed president-elect Adama Barrow told AFP late Tuesday. Jammeh led the Gambia for 22 years but conceded defeat in polls this month before reversing his position and claiming victory, bringing calls from the international community to accept the result and step down. "ECOWAS wanted to know whether the incoming administration plans to prosecute outgoing President Yahya Jammeh," spokesman Halifa Sallah said following talks with the Economic Community of West African States on the peaceful transfer of power.

U.N. human rights chief urges murder inquiry into Duterte's killing claim Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:51 PM PST The United Nations human rights commission has urged the Philippines to launch a murder investigations into President Rodrigo Duterte claims he killed three people as mayor of Davao City and all killings in his war on drugs. Since July when Duterte assumed the presidency, there had been 6,000 people killed in the government's war on drugs, about a third died in police anti-narcotics operations and the rest by motorcycle-riding masked men and vigilante groups. Duterte told a gathering of businessmen last week that as mayor of Davao City he "personally" killed criminals as he prowled the streets.

Berlin Christmas markets shut, others tighten security Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:43 PM PST By Caroline Copley BERLIN (Reuters) - Christmas markets in Berlin stayed shut on Tuesday as the city mourned the victims of the previous evening's truck rampage, while security measures were stepped up at similar events elsewhere in Germany and abroad. Germany's interior ministry said other Christmas markets and large gatherings would not be called off, and appropriate steps to increase security should be decided at each location. Flags flew at half-mast out of respect for those killed when a truck ploughed into a crowd at a market by Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church on Monday.

May raises possibility of Brexit transition deal Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:41 PM PST Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday said she was planning to negotiate both Brexit and Britain's future relationship with the EU by 2019 but a transition period may be required after that. Appearing before a parliamentary committee, May said companies and government might require time to adjust, in her first comments explicitly evoking a possible transition arrangement to ease Britain's EU departure. It "would tend towards a smoother transition and would run less risks of disruption including, crucially, risks to financial stability which must be a fairly real concern", he said last week.

The Latest: Prosecutor ups death toll to 26 in Mexico blast Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:40 PM PST TULTEPEC, Mexico (AP) — The Latest on an explosion at Mexico's best-known fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital. (all times local):

Nine killed, 70 hurt in Mexico fireworks market blast Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:27 PM PST A massive explosion gutted Mexico's biggest fireworks market Tuesday, killing at least nine people and injuring 70, police said. The conflagration, in the suburb of Tultepec, set off a quickfire series of multicolored blasts and a vast cloud of smoke that hung over Mexico City. Christmas and New Year's parties in many Latin American countries very often wrap up with clattering firework blasts.

South Korea special prosecutors raid national pension service office: Yonhap Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:24 PM PST SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's special prosecution investigators raided the office of the world's third-largest pension fund, the National Pension Service (NPS), on Wednesday, the Yonhap news agency reported. Neither the special prosecutors' office nor the NPS could be reached immediately for comment. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Paul Tait)

China welcomes Sao Tome decision to ditch Taiwan ties Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:18 PM PST China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it welcomed an announcement from the small west African country of Sao Tome to end diplomatic relations with self-ruled Taiwan. "We have noted the statement from the government of Sao Tome and Principe on the 20th to break so-called 'diplomat' ties with Taiwan.

Sabres sending Nylander to play for Sweden at world juniors Posted: 20 Dec 2016 04:15 PM PST BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres are sending top prospect Alexander Nylander to play for Sweden in the world junior hockey championships next week.

Oklahoma's new fracking guidelines aim to reduce quake risk Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:58 PM PST By Liz Hampton HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oklahoma is imposing guidelines to reduce the risk of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing in its oil-rich shale formations, the first rules in the state to target the controversial production technique. The guidelines are aimed at the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP) and Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher counties (STACK) formations, which are anticipated to account for most new oil and gas activity in the state, authorities said on Tuesday. The moves by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Conservation Division and the Oklahoma Geological Survey came as earthquakes in the state have risen sharply since the shale boom and the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Venezuela reopens Colombia, Brazil border crossings Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:55 PM PST Thousands of Venezuelans crossed into Colombia on Tuesday to buy food and medicine after their government partially reopened the border following a messy crackdown on what it called currency hoarders. The border with Brazil was also partially reopened, officials in Brasilia said. "Thank God the border is open again," one 29-year-old, Christian Sanchez, told AFP.

China welcomes Sao Tome decision to ditch Taiwan ties Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:49 PM PST China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it welcomed an announcement from the small west African country of Sao Tome to end diplomatic relations with self-ruled Taiwan. "We have noted the statement from the government of Sao Tome and Principe on the 20th to break so-called 'diplomat' ties with Taiwan.

Mexican Federal Police: 9 dead, 70 injured in explosion at fireworks market outside Mexico City Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:47 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican Federal Police: 9 dead, 70 injured in explosion at fireworks market outside Mexico City.

Congo forces kill 26 protesters against leader Kabila Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:40 PM PST By Tim Cocks and Aaron Ross KINSHASA (Reuters) - Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight. Scattered protests started on Tuesday, and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on the Congolese people to peacefully resist Kabila, who has remained in power beyond his constitutional mandate with no election to pick a successor. Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that at least 26 people were killed by security forces.

South African police fire rubber bullets at Congo embassy protesters Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:40 PM PST JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police fired rubber bullets on Tuesday at scores of protesters outside the Democratic Republic of Congo embassy (DRC) in Pretoria demanding President Joseph Kabila step down, a spokesman said. Several protesters were wounded and seven were arrested for public order offences, provincial police spokesman Kay Makhubela said. Kabila's mandate as DRC president expired at midnight, with no elected successor in place. (Reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Ed Stoddard)

Rights Group: Testimony links Colombia general to killings Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:21 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Human Rights Watch says that sworn testimony from six Colombian generals implicates the former head of the U.S.-backed army in the extrajudicial killings of civilians.

Trump hosts candidates for key Veterans Affairs post Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:15 PM PST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump met Tuesday met with candidates for his unfilled Cabinet positions, including prospective hires to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, a beleaguered agency that the Republican businessman has vowed to overhaul.

U.S. plays down absence from Moscow talks on Syria, says not 'sidelined' Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:13 PM PST By Yeganeh Torbati and David Alexander WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday sought to downplay its absence from talks on the Syrian conflict among Russia, Iran and Turkey in Moscow, saying it was not a "snub" and did not reflect a decline of U.S. influence in the Middle East. Although Washington has long been a player in efforts to end the Syria civil war and other Mideast conflicts, the United States was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, mounted an assault to pin down the rebels in east Aleppo that culminated in a ceasefire deal.

Fidel Castro hailed at UN as iconic leader of 20th century Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:10 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The president of the U.N. General Assembly called Fidel Castro "one of the 20th century's most iconic and influential leaders" at a memorial tribute Tuesday to the late commander of the Cuban revolution who led his country for nearly 50 years.

Obama bans new oil, gas drilling off Alaska, part of Atlantic coast Posted: 20 Dec 2016 03:00 PM PST By Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday banned new oil and gas drilling in federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, in a push to leave his stamp on the environment before Republican Donald Trump takes office next month. Obama used a 1950s-era law called the Outer Continental Shelf Act that allows presidents to limit areas from mineral leasing and drilling. Environmental groups said that meant Trump's incoming administration would have to go court if it sought to reverse the move.

VW agrees to fix, buy back more polluting U.S. diesel vehicles Posted: 20 Dec 2016 02:57 PM PST By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG has agreed to a $1 billion settlement to fix or buy back another 80,000 polluting diesel vehicles sold in the United States as the German automaker on Tuesday took new steps to put its emissions cheating scandal behind it. The settlement deal covered luxury VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles with 3.0-liter engines, meaning Volkswagen has now agreed to spend as much as $17.5 billion in the United States to resolve claims from owners as well as federal and state regulators over polluting diesel vehicles. The new agreement, settling part of litigation brought against VW by federal and California regulators, "is another important step forward in our efforts to make things right for our customers," Hinrich Woebcken, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said in a statement.

Argentina, Britain agree to identify bodies of soldiers on Falklands Posted: 20 Dec 2016 02:50 PM PST Argentina and Britain agreed on a framework to identify the bodies of dozens of unknown Argentine soldiers buried on the disputed Falkland Islands, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in on Tuesday. Britain has been keen to improve relations with Argentina since pro-business President Mauricio Macri took over from Cristina Fernandez in December, although Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.

Atletico beats Guijuelo, eases into last 16 of Copa del Rey Posted: 20 Dec 2016 02:49 PM PST MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid cruised into the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by defeating third-division Guijuelo 4-1 on Tuesday for a 10-1 win on aggregate.

U.S. tightens sanctions against North Korea's U.N. diplomats Posted: 20 Dec 2016 02:47 PM PST By Joel Schectman and John Walcott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department tightened sanctions against North Korean diplomats to the United Nations, requiring banks to get special permission before granting them accounts, the agency said in a notice posted online Tuesday. The United States removed an exemption in the broad economic sanctions against Pyongyang that had allowed U.S. banks to service North Korean diplomats without getting specific permission from the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

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