Yahoo! News: World News

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• Trump's Pentagon choice says U.S. needs to be ready to confront Russia
• China, Russia agree on more 'countermeasures' against U.S. anti-missile system: Xinhua
• Obama administration ends special immigration policy for Cubans
• U.S. set to lift some financial sanctions against Sudan
• Syrian army says Israel fires rockets at military airport near Damascus
• French far right leader Le Pen visits Trump Tower but no Trump talks
• Obama ends visa-free path for Cubans who make it to US soil
• U.S. veterans exposed to tainted water at Marine base to get benefits
• United brace for Liverpool crunch, Chelsea eye recovery
• Argentina clinches $6 billion loan deal with 6 banks
• Congress to start undoing Obama-era regulations this month: leader
• Cypriot leaders, key powers vow to push on towards deal
• Trump says buy LL Bean _ but many products are made in China
• Peru's Julian Perico shoots 64, leads Latin America Amateur
• U.S. House Speaker Ryan sets no deadline on Obamacare bill
• London trip just the ticket for Nuggets
• The Latest: Man says in 911 call he can't find his daughter
• France's Montebourg marginally wins first left-wing primary debate: poll
• Bangladesh 269-4 at lunch on day 2, 1st test vs. New Zealand
• Syrian army says Israel fires rockets at military airport near Damascus
• Villagers evacuated as Britain faces severe flood warnings
• Top Asian News 1:37 a.m. GMT
• Venezuela arrests 3 opponents amid threat of crackdown
• Mexican priest missing since Jan. 3 found dead, diocese says
• Real Madrid sets Spanish record of 40 unbeaten games
• U.S. Congress to start undoing Obama-era regulations this month: leader
• Phone hacking company falls victim to hackers
• As the smog lifts, China's ports grapple with huge traffic jam of ships
• Explosions hit Damascus military airport: Syria state TV
• UN: Humanitarian crisis triggered by Boko Haram is worsening
• Official: Cyprus security talks break, resume after Jan. 18
• Fleeing gang warfare, more Central Americans seek refuge in Mexico
• Jokic, Chandler help Nuggets roll past Pacers in London
• Malawi hit by armyworm outbreak, threatens maize crop
• Europe erects defenses to counter Russia's information war
• Cypriot leaders, key powers vow to push ahead towards deal: UN
• Blasts hit key military airport in Damascus: Syrian state TV

Trump's Pentagon choice says U.S. needs to be ready to confront Russia Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:18 PM PST By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon put Russia at the top of a list of threats to U.S. interests on Thursday and told Congress that America must be ready to confront Moscow where necessary, even as he backed Trump's bid for better relations. The remarks by retired Marine General James Mattis were the latest by one of Trump's Cabinet picks that veered away from the president-elect's campaign rhetoric, which included praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledges to improve ties with him.

China, Russia agree on more 'countermeasures' against U.S. anti-missile system: Xinhua Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:12 PM PST China and Russia have agreed to take further unspecified "countermeasures" in response to a U.S. plan to deploy an anti-missile system in South Korea, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday. The countermeasures "will be aimed at safeguarding interests of China and Russia and the strategic balance in the region", Xinhua said, citing a statement released after a China-Russia security meeting.

Obama administration ends special immigration policy for Cubans Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:12 PM PST By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Thursday announced the repeal of a measure granting automatic residency to virtually every Cuban who arrived in the United States, whether or not they had visas, ending a longstanding exception to U.S. immigration policy. The end of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, which allowed any Cuban who reached U.S. soil to stay but returned any picked up at sea, is effective immediately. Cuban officials had sought the change for years.

U.S. set to lift some financial sanctions against Sudan Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:11 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is set to announce the easing of some financial sanctions against Sudan on Friday for its recent efforts in helping tackle terrorism, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. "The limited sanctions relief is an acknowledgement of progress by the government of Sudan," the official told Reuters ahead of the announcement expected from the White House. The United States first imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997, including a trade embargo and blocking the government's assets, for human rights violations and terrorism concerns.

Syrian army says Israel fires rockets at military airport near Damascus Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:55 PM PST By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian army command said on Friday that Israel fired rockets at a major military airport west of Damascus, the capital, and warned Tel Aviv of repercussions of what it called a "flagrant" attack. Syrian state television quoted the army as saying several rockets were fired from an area near Lake Tiberias in northern Israel just after midnight which landed in the compound of the airport, a major facility for elite Republican Guards.

French far right leader Le Pen visits Trump Tower but no Trump talks Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:30 PM PST By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was seen at Trump Tower on Thursday, but a spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump said she did not meet with him or his team. "It's a public building." Le Pen, whose National Front party holds anti-immigrant and anti-European Union views, was seen entering an elevator at the building, according to a Reuters witness, but she did not speak to reporters gathered there. George Lombardi, a Trump friend who lives in Trump Tower, told reporters that he had coffee there Thursday with Le Pen, who he said he has known for 20 years.

Obama ends visa-free path for Cubans who make it to US soil Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:30 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama announced Thursday he is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident.

U.S. veterans exposed to tainted water at Marine base to get benefits Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:16 PM PST The Obama administration has agreed to provide disability benefits to military veterans exposed to contaminated drinking water while at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to an official notice published on Thursday. Veterans, former reservists and former National Guard members who served for at least 30 days at the U.S. Marine Corps Base from 1953 to 1987 and have been diagnosed with one of eight diseases are eligible, according to the document published in the Federal Register, the government's official journal. The additional payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs would start in March and go to veterans who developed adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Parkinson's disease, the notice said.

United brace for Liverpool crunch, Chelsea eye recovery Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:14 PM PST Manchester United have a golden opportunity to haul themselves into the Premier League title race at the expense of bitter rivals Liverpool this weekend, while leaders Chelsea will look to steady their nerves at Leicester. United go into the Old Trafford showdown in fine fettle after beating Hull in the League Cup semi-final first leg in midweek to extend their winning streak in all competitions to nine matches. Jose Mourinho's sixth-placed side still trail Chelsea by 10 points and lag five behind second-placed Liverpool.

Argentina clinches $6 billion loan deal with 6 banks Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:10 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's government says it has struck a deal to borrow $6 billion from a group of six banks.

Congress to start undoing Obama-era regulations this month: leader Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:07 PM PST By Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers will begin voiding dozens of new U.S. regulations at the end of the month to fulfill their promise to undo Democratic President Barack Obama's legacy, focusing on environmental and labor rules, the House of Representatives' second most powerful Republican said on Thursday. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the Republicans who will shortly control both Congress and the White House for the first time in 10 years have made reforming federal regulation a top priority alongside repealing the Obamacare healthcare program and rewriting the tax code. Once Republican President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, they will have a like-minded ally in the Oval Office to sign their measures into law.

Cypriot leaders, key powers vow to push on towards deal Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:07 PM PST Rival Cypriot leaders, along with top diplomats from Turkey, Greece and Britain, agreed to push on with efforts to reunite the divided island and end one of the world's longest-running political rows. The United Nations' new Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who hosted the historic conference in Geneva on his first foreign trip at the helm of the world body, said a deal was "close" but not to expect a "quick fix". Guterres told reporters he was hoping for a breakthrough at the Geneva conference, which involved rival Cypriot sides as well as Greece, Turkey and former colonial power Britain.

Trump says buy LL Bean _ but many products are made in China Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:58 PM PST AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday urged people to buy from outdoors retailer L.L. Bean — even though many of its products are made in China — as it faces calls for a boycott because of a company heiress' donations to his candidacy.

Peru's Julian Perico shoots 64, leads Latin America Amateur Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:49 PM PST PANAMA CITY (AP) — Peruvian teen Julian Perico shot a tournament-record 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Latin America Amateur Championship.

U.S. House Speaker Ryan sets no deadline on Obamacare bill Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:48 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republicans promising to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare law are under "no hard deadlines" for producing an alternate program, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Ryan said House Republicans will have an in-depth "conversation" about healthcare legislation during a retreat in Philadelphia at the end of this month, but that the House nonetheless will kick off the complicated process with a vote on Friday on a Senate-passed measure paving the way for Obamacare repeal. ...

London trip just the ticket for Nuggets Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:47 PM PST A trans-Atlantic trek proved just the tonic the Denver Nuggets needed Thursday as they snapped a five-game NBA skid with a comprehensive 140-112 victory over the Indiana Pacers in London. Nikola Jokic scored 22 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out seven assists and Wilson Chandler added 21 points for Denver in the NBA Global Games showcase at O2 Arena. It was billed as a home game for the Nuggets, but Jokic said the three-day stay in unfamiliar territory was even more advantageous to the team than a true homestand.

The Latest: Man says in 911 call he can't find his daughter Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:40 PM PST MASSILLON, Ohio (AP) — The Latest on the death of a 5-year-old girl whose mother is charged with murder (all times local):

France's Montebourg marginally wins first left-wing primary debate: poll Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:37 PM PST By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Former Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg was seen as marginally winning the first French left-wing primary television debate on Thursday, raising the prospect of a tight race to select the Left's candidate for the 2017 presidential election. The winner of the primary at this stage has little prospect of topping the April-May presidential vote with all the leading candidates - conservative Francois Fillon, far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and independent former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron - all well ahead. The flash survey by Elabe pollsters after Thursday's debate found that 29 percent of people considered Montebourg most convincing, with former Prime Minister Manuel Valls at 26 percent and former Education Minister Benoit Hamon third at 20 percent.

Bangladesh 269-4 at lunch on day 2, 1st test vs. New Zealand Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:33 PM PST WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Shakib Al Hasan and captain Mushfiqur Rahman made half centuries in unbroken 109-run partnership which steered Bangladesh to 269-4 in its first innings at lunch on Friday, the second day of the first test against New Zealand.

Syrian army says Israel fires rockets at military airport near Damascus Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:30 PM PST AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian army command said on Friday Israel had fired rockets at a major military airport west of the capital Damascus and warned Tel Aviv of the repercussions of what it said was a "flagrant" attack. Syrian state television quoted the army as saying several rockets were fired from an area near Lake Tiberias in northern Israel just after midnight which landed in the compound of the airport, a major facility for elite Republican Guards, and warned it would take revenge for the attack. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Villagers evacuated as Britain faces severe flood warnings Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:25 PM PST Seaside residents in southern England were ordered to evacuate Thursday as Britain faced severe flood warnings, after snow caused flights to be cancelled. Police officers went door-to-door in the village of Jaywick, south-eastern England, to warn residents they would be evacuated on Friday morning ahead of heavy rain and high winds. The order came as the Environment Agency issued seven severe flood warnings, indicating danger to life, and 68 further flood warnings which call for immediate action.

Top Asian News 1:37 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jan 2017 05:37 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) _ Pointing toward possible confrontation, Donald Trump's selection for secretary of state likened Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea to a takeover of another country's territory and spoke of forcing Beijing to fully apply sanctions on North Korea. China will likely be alarmed by former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson's Senate confirmation hearing remarks on Wednesday. While they focused largely on Russia, reflecting Tillerson's past relationship with its President Vladimir Putin and allegations of Russian hacking into the U.S. election, his testimony on China presented a sharp change in tone from the Obama administration's focus on cooperation.

Venezuela arrests 3 opponents amid threat of crackdown Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:22 PM PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela jailed three anti-government politicians in what the opposition denounced on Thursday as a new crackdown on dissent in the economically struggling country.

Mexican priest missing since Jan. 3 found dead, diocese says Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:13 PM PST MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican priest missing since Jan. 3 was found dead Thursday in northern Mexico, government and Roman Catholic authorities in northern Mexico reported.

Real Madrid sets Spanish record of 40 unbeaten games Posted: 12 Jan 2017 04:11 PM PST MADRID (AP) — With a remarkable injury time goal, Real Madrid salvaged a 3-3 draw against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey to set a Spanish record of 40 consecutive games unbeaten on Thursday.

U.S. Congress to start undoing Obama-era regulations this month: leader Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:59 PM PST By Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers will begin voiding dozens of new U.S. regulations at the end of the month to fulfill their promise to undo Democratic President Barack Obama's legacy, focusing on environmental and labor rules, the House of Representatives' second most powerful Republican said on Thursday. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the Republicans who will shortly control both Congress and the White House for the first time in 10 years have made reforming federal regulation a top priority alongside repealing the Obamacare healthcare program and rewriting the tax code. Once Republican President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, they will have a like-minded ally in the Oval Office to sign their measures into law.

Phone hacking company falls victim to hackers Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:58 PM PST Cellebrite, a digital forensics firm known for helping law enforcement crack into locked smartphones, has itself fallen victim to hackers.

As the smog lifts, China's ports grapple with huge traffic jam of ships Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:58 PM PST By Keith Wallis and Henning Gloystein SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A huge traffic jam of hundreds of ships carrying coal and iron ore into China has built up outside key ports like Tianjin and Caofeidian, just as winter demand hits its peak ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday later this month. Major northern Chinese ports have suspended loading of ships several times since December 20 due to poor visibility largely caused by smog that has enveloped large parts of northern China at various times in recent weeks. This has left hundreds of ships sitting in China's Bohai Bay waiting to offload into key Chinese industrial hubs like Tianjin, which is close to Beijing.

Explosions hit Damascus military airport: Syria state TV Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:57 PM PST A series of explosions ripped through a military airport on the western outskirts of Damascus overnight Friday, Syrian state TV reported. An AFP correspondent heard several explosions and saw a large fire inside the Mazzeh military airport, with smoke ​visible across the capital. SANA TV, which is close to the regime, said the airport had been bombed.

UN: Humanitarian crisis triggered by Boko Haram is worsening Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:54 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The humanitarian crisis triggered by Boko Haram's "violent and inhuman campaign" is worsening, with 10.7 million people in need of aid in northeast Nigeria and parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Thursday.

Official: Cyprus security talks break, resume after Jan. 18 Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:53 PM PST GENEVA (AP) — Top diplomats from Turkey, Greece and Britain temporarily suspended talks aimed at helping unify long-divided Cyprus after failing to narrow differences Thursday on security guarantees for its ethnic Greek and Turkish communities.

Fleeing gang warfare, more Central Americans seek refuge in Mexico Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:51 PM PST By Anastasia Moloney TAPACHULA, Mexico (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As Juan walked to school one morning a year ago in El Salvador, two men on a motorbike sped by and fatally shot a boy on the street in front of him. Juan's mother, Teresa, took him out of school and he went into hiding for six months, living with relatives. "We had to leave," Teresa said, sitting on a bench with her sons at the Three Angels shelter for asylum seeking families in the Mexican city of Tapachula near the Guatemalan border.

Jokic, Chandler help Nuggets roll past Pacers in London Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:50 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Italian star Danilo Gallinari and the Denver Nuggets made themselves right at home at O2 Arena.

Malawi hit by armyworm outbreak, threatens maize crop Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:50 PM PST Malawi, which was hit by a crippling drought last year, has become the third southern African nation to report an outbreak of armyworms, a voracious pest that devours maize and other crops. "We have a reported invasion this week but we are confident in dealing with this because we have pesticides," Malawi's Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda told Reuters late Wednesday. "We have been able to deal with such issues in the past." The current outbreak is around Zomba, the former colonial capital in southern Malawi.

Europe erects defenses to counter Russia's information war Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:49 PM PST By Andrea Shalal BERLIN (Reuters) - Nations in Europe, where Germany and France this year hold elections, are erecting defenses to counter possible Russian cyber attacks and disinformation to sway Western politics, but intelligence experts say this might be too little and too late. The issue of Russian "influence operations" has taken on new urgency after U.S. intelligence agencies released a non-classified assessment that President Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign to move the U.S. election in favor of Donald Trump. European nations and NATO are setting up centers to identify "fake news", bolstering cyber defenses and tracking use of social media which target Russian-speaking communities, far-right groups, political parties, voters and decision-makers.

Cypriot leaders, key powers vow to push ahead towards deal: UN Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:49 PM PST Rival Cypriot leaders, along with top diplomats from Turkey, Greece and Britain, agreed Thursday to push on with efforts to reunite the divided island and end one of the world's longest-running political rows. The conference in Geneva for the first time brought together Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci with top diplomats of the three guarantor countries to discuss security and other sticking points that have blocked progress for decades. "The participants recognised that this is the time to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion," the United Nations said in a statement after the conference wrapped up late Thursday.

Blasts hit key military airport in Damascus: Syrian state TV Posted: 12 Jan 2017 03:34 PM PST AMMAN (Reuters) - Several major explosions hit Mezzah military airport compound near the Syrian capital Damascus and ambulances were rushed to the area, Syrian state television said on Friday. The airport southwest of the capital is a major strategic air base used mainly by Syrian elite Republican Guards and had been a base used to fire rockets at former rebel-held areas in the suburbs of Damascus. State television did not give any further details. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by James Dalgleish)

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