Yahoo! News: World News

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• Syria ceasefire begins, but is shaky with early clashes
• U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks
• Obama sanctions Russia for intervening in 2016 election
• Possible civilian casualties in Mosul air strike: Pentagon
• Gang-ravaged Mexico stuck in weed ban as U.S. opens up
• Ukraine hit by 6,500 hack attacks, sees Russian 'cyberwar'
• Russian Foreign Ministry says new sanctions will harm restoration of ties
• Kremlin says Putin will order appropriate response to U.S. sanctions
• FBI analysis fingers Russian spy agencies for U.S. election hacks
• Trump could reverse effects of Obama order on Russia: official
• US punishes Russia for hacking presidential campaign
• US beats Russia 3-2 in world junior hockey
• Quake hits eastern Indonesia, no reports of damage
• Ailing champions Leicester face must-win West Ham clash
• From DNA to laws to data, five key tools to combat trafficking in 2017
• Argentina court reopens probe of ex-president in bomb case
• New court claim brings more legal woes for Brexiteers
• Humanoid robot Pepper is amusing, but is it practical?
• Clashes violate Syria ceasefire soon after it starts
• Britain criticises focus on Israel settlements after Kerry speech
• Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits region in eastern Indonesia
• Top Asian News 12:11 a.m. GMT
• FBI analysis fingers Russian spy agencies for U.S. election hacks
• Philippine leader says once threw man from helicopter, would do it again
• The Latest: US closing Maryland compound used by Russians
• Obama hits Russia for election meddling
• Cease-fire goes into force in war-ravaged Syria
• Syria truce begins under deal backed by Russia, Turkey 
• Brazil police believe body found in Rio is missing Greek ambassador: Globo
• Argentine ex-president Kirchner faces new probe over bombing
• Magnitude 6.2 quake hits near Sumbwa, Indonesia - USGS
• Puerto Rico spends $8M for public air ambulance amid crisis
• Actions taken by Obama in response to Russian hacking
• Syrian Observatory says warring sides appear to cease firing
• The Latest: Cease-fire takes effect in war-ravaged Syria
• Syria ceasefire deal backed by Russia and Turkey takes effect
• 'Singin in the Rain' star Debbie Reynolds dies day after daughter Carrie Fisher
• Syria regime, rebels agree nationwide ceasefire
• How major US stock market indexes fared on Thursday

Syria ceasefire begins, but is shaky with early clashes Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:49 PM PST By John Davison BEIRUT (Reuters) - A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a shaky start after midnight on Friday (2200 GMT on Thursday) in the latest attempt to end nearly six years of bloodshed. Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after forging the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States could join the peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:31 PM PST By Jeff Mason and Lesley Wroughton HONOLULU/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election. The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties, which have deteriorated over differences about Syria and Ukraine. Allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally directed efforts to intervene in the U.S. election process by hacking mostly Democrats have made relations even worse.

Obama sanctions Russia for intervening in 2016 election Posted: 29 Dec 2016 11:40 AM PST President Barack Obama on Thursday authorized a series of sanctions against Russia for intervening in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and warned of more action to come. "These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement. "These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities.

Possible civilian casualties in Mosul air strike: Pentagon Posted: 29 Dec 2016 10:43 AM PST An air strike by the U.S.-led coalition near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul hit a van in a hospital compound parking lot and could have killed civilians, the U.S. military said on Thursday. A van carrying Islamic State fighters was targeted and hit in the air strike, the Combined Joint Strike Force said in a statement. "The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties," it said.

Gang-ravaged Mexico stuck in weed ban as U.S. opens up Posted: 29 Dec 2016 10:40 AM PST By Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican advocates for drug reform are voicing alarm about the country's widening gap with the United States on marijuana legislation, as criminal violence surges again south of the border. Tens of thousands have been killed over the years in Mexico, on the front line of a U.S.-led war on drugs. The country's prohibitionist approach to marijuana is increasingly at odds with the United States, where liberalization is advancing.

Ukraine hit by 6,500 hack attacks, sees Russian 'cyberwar' Posted: 29 Dec 2016 10:13 AM PST By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - Hackers have targeted Ukrainian state institutions about 6,500 times in the past two months, including incidents that showed Russian security services were waging a cyberwar against the country, President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday. In December, Ukraine suffered attacks on its finance and defense ministries and the State Treasury that allocates cash to government institutions. "Acts of terrorism and sabotage on critical infrastructure facilities remain possible today," Poroshenko said during a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council, according to a statement released by Poroshenko's office.

Russian Foreign Ministry says new sanctions will harm restoration of ties Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:31 PM PST MOSCOW (Reuters) - New U.S. sanctions on Russia are counterproductive and will harm a restoration of bilateral ties, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing Konstantin Dolgov, Foreign Ministry commissioner for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Kremlin says Putin will order appropriate response to U.S. sanctions Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:31 PM PST The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia would harm relations between Moscow and Washington. Dmitry Peskov said Putin would order an "appropriate" retaliation to the sanctions, which included the expulsion of 35 diplomats. In a conference call with reporters, Peskov said Moscow doubted the effectiveness of the measures as the current U.S. presidential administration was stepping down in three weeks.

FBI analysis fingers Russian spy agencies for U.S. election hacks Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:31 PM PST By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI squarely blamed Russian intelligence services on Thursday for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, releasing the most definitive report yet on the issue, including samples of malicious computer code said to have been used in a broad hacking campaign. Starting in mid-2015, Russia's foreign intelligence agency, the FSB, emailed a malicious link to more than 1,000 recipients, including U.S. government targets, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a 13-page report co-authored with the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump could reverse effects of Obama order on Russia: official Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:31 PM PST HONOLULU/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump could reverse President Barack Obama's executive order and allow Russian intelligence officials back into the United States once he takes office, but that would be inadvisable, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. There is no reason to believe Russia will cease interfering in U.S. and other countries' elections, Obama administration officials told reporters on a conference call after the president announced sanctions against Moscow. "We believe these steps are important because Russia is not going to stop," one official said. ...

US punishes Russia for hacking presidential campaign Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:18 PM PST HONOLULU (AP) — The United States struck back Thursday at Russia for hacking the U.S. presidential campaign with a sweeping set of punishments targeting Russia's spy agencies and diplomats. The U.S. said Russia must bear costs for its actions, but Moscow called the Obama administration "losers" and threatened retaliation.

US beats Russia 3-2 in world junior hockey Posted: 29 Dec 2016 05:07 PM PST TORONTO (AP) — Colin White and Troy Terry scored second-period goals and Tyler Parsons made 25 saves to help the United States beat Russia 3-2 on Thursday in the world junior hockey championship.

Quake hits eastern Indonesia, no reports of damage Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:50 PM PST JAKARTA/SYDNEY (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck on Friday off the island of Sumbawa in eastern Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. There was no tsunami warning issued. The undersea quake was felt strongly in the area and some surrounding islands including the resort of Bali, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, said Indonesia's national disaster management agency spokesman Sutopo.

Ailing champions Leicester face must-win West Ham clash Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:46 PM PST Claudio Ranieri admits victory is a must for Leicester City against West Ham United on Saturday, and the Italian is ready to turn to his struggling big guns in his moment of need. Ranieri is set to recall Riyad Mahrez after dropping the Algerian star for the Boxing Day defeat to Everton. Danny Drinkwater is expected to make his first Premier League start since November 22 after a three-match suspension and then a knee injury halted his campaign.

From DNA to laws to data, five key tools to combat trafficking in 2017 Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:37 PM PST By Ed Upright LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - With the power of technology and legal clout, many experts agree that 2017 could be the tipping point in the global battle against human trafficking and modern slavery. Technology Technological innovation and scientific advances are more important than ever in monitoring, detecting and prosecuting cases of trafficking. U.S.-based software group LaborVoices provides a mobile phone based service allowing factory employees to anonymously report abuse, late wages, safety conditions and child labor.

Argentina court reopens probe of ex-president in bomb case Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:36 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine court on Thursday ordered a renewed investigation into a prosecutor's accusation that former President Cristina Fernandez covered up the alleged involvement of Iranians in a 1994 attack on a Jewish community center.

New court claim brings more legal woes for Brexiteers Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:36 PM PST A fresh legal challenge to Britain's plans to leave the European Union was launched in London on Thursday, the latest in a series of claims against the government's approach to Brexit. The claim argues that separate parliamentary approval is needed to bring Britain out of the European Economic Area, which allows for tariff-free trade and free movement of people. The legal challenge has been started with the Administrative Court, which sits within London's High Court, a spokesman for the judiciary told AFP.

Humanoid robot Pepper is amusing, but is it practical? Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:35 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — While merrily chirping, dancing and posing for selfies, a robot named Pepper looks like another expensive toy at a San Francisco mall. But don't dismiss it as mere child's play.

Clashes violate Syria ceasefire soon after it starts Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:18 PM PST Clashes between rebels and Syrian government forces took place less than two hours after a ceasefire took effect on Friday, a monitoring group and a rebel official said, in the first violations of a deal backed by Russia and Turkey. Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, said government forces had violated the truce, shelling areas in Atshan and Skeik villages in Idlib province, which borders Hama.

Britain criticises focus on Israel settlements after Kerry speech Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:18 PM PST The British government on Thursday said peace between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be brokered by focusing solely on settlement construction, following a stern warning over the practice by US Secretary of State John Kerry. British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesperson said Britain supports a two-state solution and believes the construction of settlements on Palestinian lands is illegal. "In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits region in eastern Indonesia Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:11 PM PST TOLOTANGGA, Indonesia (AP) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake on Friday hit a region in the eastern part of Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Top Asian News 12:11 a.m. GMT Posted: 29 Dec 2016 04:11 PM PST TOLOTANGGA, Indonesia (AP) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake on Friday hit a region in the eastern part of Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The earthquake hit about 6:30 a.m. in the Sumbawa region, the agency said. The epicenter was about 33 kilometers south of the village of Tolotangga, which is 1,350 kilometers east of the nation's capital, Jakarta. The earthquake was about 72 kilometers deep, the agency said. In a statement, Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the earthquake was also felt in the neighboring province of East Nusa Tenggara and the tourist island of Bali. The earthquake caused many residents in the areas hit to pour out from their houses, the agency said.

FBI analysis fingers Russian spy agencies for U.S. election hacks Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:57 PM PST By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI squarely blamed Russian intelligence services on Thursday for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, releasing the most definitive report yet on the issue, including samples of malicious computer code said to have been used in a broad hacking campaign. Starting in mid-2015, Russia's foreign intelligence agency, the FSB, emailed a malicious link to more than 1,000 recipients, including U.S. government targets, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a 13-page report co-authored with the Department of Homeland Security.

Philippine leader says once threw man from helicopter, would do it again Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:46 PM PST Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened corrupt government officials with the prospect of being thrown out of a helicopter mid-air, warning he has done it himself before and would do it again. The fiery-tempered former prosecutor said he once hurled a Chinese man suspected of rape and murder out of a helicopter. "If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out.

The Latest: US closing Maryland compound used by Russians Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:46 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Obama administration's response to Russia's interference in the U.S. elections, which it denies (all times EST):

Obama hits Russia for election meddling Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:30 PM PST President Barack Obama on Thursday unleashed a barrage of retaliatory measures against Moscow for meddling in the US election, imposing sanctions on two intelligence agencies, expelling 35 agents and shuttering two Russian compounds inside the United States. Making good on a promise to punish Vladimir Putin's government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Donald Trump's favor, Obama unveiled a broad range of steps that will inflame tensions with both Moscow and the president-elect.

Cease-fire goes into force in war-ravaged Syria Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:26 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — A cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect in war-ravaged Syria at midnight Thursday, a potential breakthrough in the six years of fighting that have left more than a quarter-million people dead and triggered a refugee crisis across Europe.

Syria truce begins under deal backed by Russia, Turkey  Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:18 PM PST A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight (2200 GMT), in a potentially major breakthrough in the conflict of more than five years. The deal, which does not include designated "terrorists" like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been "total calm since the start of the ceasefire in many provinces all over Syria" adding that "no violations were monitored in all regions".

Brazil police believe body found in Rio is missing Greek ambassador: Globo Posted: 29 Dec 2016 03:17 PM PST Brazilian police suspect a body discovered inside a charred vehicle in Rio de Janeiro is Greece's ambassador to Brazil who went missing three days ago, television channel Globo reported on Thursday. A police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment. Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen Monday evening leaving the home of friends of his Brazilian wife in a poor and violent suburb of Rio's metropolitan area, police had said earlier on Thursday.

Argentine ex-president Kirchner faces new probe over bombing Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:53 PM PST An Argentine appeals court ordered a new investigation Thursday into charges that ex-president Cristina Kirchner obstructed a probe into a 1994 bombing that killed 85 people at a Jewish community center. Kirchner, Argentina's president from 2007 to 2015, allegedly received oil and trade benefits from Iran in exchange for signing off on a deal that enabled the suspects to avoid prosecution. The accusations were first leveled by the late prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found dead the night before he was due to present them to Congress in January 2015.

Magnitude 6.2 quake hits near Sumbwa, Indonesia - USGS Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:52 PM PST SYDNEY (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck on Friday off the island of Sumbawa in the Indonesian archipelago, 71 km (44 miles) south of Raba city, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake, initially measured as a magnitude 6.4, was quite deep, at 72 km (44.9 miles) below the seabed, the USGS said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) did not immediately issue a tsunami warning and was unlikely to cause one. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Puerto Rico spends $8M for public air ambulance amid crisis Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:50 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico's government has bought its own air ambulance months after the U.S. territory was left without one as a result of the administration's financial crisis.

Actions taken by Obama in response to Russian hacking Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:47 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama slapped harsh sanctions on the Russian intelligence services Thursday, both for the hacking that disrupted the U.S. presidential election and for the harassment of U.S. diplomats working in Russia.

Syrian Observatory says warring sides appear to cease firing Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:42 PM PST BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said warring sides appeared to cease firing across Syria after a truce deal came into effect at midnight on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday). The British-based Observatory said there had been some shellfire around Aleppo and in an area close to the capital Damascus shortly before the ceasefire, brokered by Russia and Turkey, began. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Chris Reese)

The Latest: Cease-fire takes effect in war-ravaged Syria Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:16 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the conflict in Syria, and the Russia-Turkey-brokered cease-fire agreement (all times local):

Syria ceasefire deal backed by Russia and Turkey takes effect Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:11 PM PST BEIRUT (Reuters) - A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, came into force at midnight on Friday, local time, (2200 GMT on Thursday) in the latest attempt to end nearly six years of bloodshed. Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after preparing the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

'Singin in the Rain' star Debbie Reynolds dies day after daughter Carrie Fisher Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:07 PM PST Debbie Reynolds, the "Singin' in the Rain" actress who tap-danced her way into American hearts as a star of Hollywood's Golden Age, has died, grief-stricken over daughter Carrie Fisher's death a day earlier. The 84-year-old suffered a stroke at son Todd Fisher's Beverly Hills home after telling him "I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie," he was quoted as telling celebrity news website TMZ. Coming so close to the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, this is truly a double tragedy," Screen Actors Guild president Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement.

Syria regime, rebels agree nationwide ceasefire Posted: 29 Dec 2016 02:03 PM PST Syria's army and key ally Russia Thursday announced a nationwide ceasefire to take effect at midnight, in a potential major breakthrough after nearly six years of civil war. The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow. The agreement, hailed by Syria's government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.

How major US stock market indexes fared on Thursday Posted: 29 Dec 2016 01:55 PM PST Major U.S. stock indexes closed slightly lower Thursday, led by declines in banks and energy stocks. High-dividend stocks like utilities, real estate investment trusts and phone companies rose as bond yields fell. Trading was subdued ahead of the New Year's Day holiday.

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