Yahoo! News: World News

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• Obama under pressure as China dissident appeals for help
• Bin Laden had disdain for al Qaeda affiliates: documents
• Assad side kills four at Syrian university: protesters
• Two Mexican journalists found dismembered in eastern Mexico
• Sarkozy's chances fade two days before French runoff
• Prosecutors seek 80-year sentence for Charles Taylor
• Gunmen fire on Nigeria cattle market, 60 killed
• Documents show tense al Qaeda-Iran relationship
• Blasts in Russia's Dagestan kill up to 20, wound dozens
• Cayman premier says London aims to "ruin" his nation
• Activist's fate deepens US-China suspicions
• US uses bin Laden letters to degrade al-Qaida
• Family concerns key to Chinese activist's choices
• 4 students killed as Syrian forces raid university
• French candidate goes from wishy-washy to wow
• Russian military ups the ante on missile defense
• Journalists being killed at 'astonishing pace'
• Prosecution wants 80 years for Charles Taylor
• Sudan agrees to AU roadmap, must meet South Sudan
• French debate: No knockout punch from Sarkozy
• Japanese job seekers hold Tokyo pep rally
• New Year celebrations cause 194 Beijing fires
• Sumo questions wrestlers in bout-fixing scandal
• Philippine general in graft probe shot dead
• Health secretary says former Philippine military chief in center of corruption probe shot dead
• Taiwan recalls Manila rep over China deportation
• Koreas to hold defense meeting to ease tensions
• Cruise employee found dead in Cozumel, Mexico
• Reputed drug 'queen' sentenced for arms possession
• Egyptians return to unfamiliar homeland
• Egyptians seek normalcy after days of unrest
• Officials: Unrest could affect EU, Israel security
• Egypt's Mubarak holds meeting with economy team
• Mubarak's resignation now could hamper transition
• Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore dead at 58
• Tunisian minister suspends ex-ruling party
• Egypt's Brotherhood to hold talks with government
• Police evict indigenous Easter Island protesters
• Cuban opposition leader urges end to hunger strike
• Nobel prize winner calls for Mubarak to step down

Obama under pressure as China dissident appeals for help Posted: BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng made a dramatic plea for help in a cellphone call to a U.S. congressional hearing from his hospital bed in Beijing, raising the pressure on President Barack Obama over his administration's handling of the case. Chen, a self-taught legal activist, sheltered in the U.S. Embassy for six days until Wednesday. He left the embassy shortly before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary of Clinton arrived in Beijing for talks aimed at improving economic and strategic relations between the two superpowers. ...

Bin Laden had disdain for al Qaeda affiliates: documents Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden showed disdain for al Qaeda affiliates, fretted about his organization's image and was deeply worried about its security, according to documents seized from his hideout in Pakistan and released publicly on Thursday. The Combating Terrorism Center, a privately funded research center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, posted on its website 17 declassified documents seized during the raid on bin Laden's house in Abbottabad in which he was killed by U.S. commandos a year ago. (http:www.ctc.usma. ...

Assad side kills four at Syrian university: protesters Posted: BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian security forces and students armed with knives stormed a protest march at Aleppo University early on Thursday, activists said, killing four and rounding up 200 demonstrators demanding President Bashar al-Assad step down. The pre-dawn raid was an unusually bloody incident for Aleppo, Syria's normally fairly peaceful commercial hub, and prompted condemnation from the White House. ...

Two Mexican journalists found dismembered in eastern Mexico Posted: MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The mutilated corpses of two Mexican photographers were found on Thursday by police in the eastern state of Veracruz, the latest in a series of attacks that have made Mexico one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. The bodies of Guillermo Luna and Gabriel Huge were discovered chopped up in garbage bags and dumped in a canal in the town of Boca del Rio, the Veracruz government said in a statement. Police also found two other corpses in the canal but have not yet identified them. ...

Sarkozy's chances fade two days before French runoff Posted: PARIS (Reuters) - President Nicolas Sarkozy's chances of holding on to power were fading two days before France's election runoff, with far-right and centrist leaders refusing to endorse him and his usually bland Socialist rival performing confidently in a TV debate. Opinion polls suggested Sarkozy could squeeze Socialist challenger Francois Hollande's lead down to around five percentage points from as much as 10 in the last few days. However, centrist Francois Bayrou effectively buried one of Sarkozy's last hopes of hauling himself higher on Sunday. ...

Prosecutors seek 80-year sentence for Charles Taylor Posted: AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Prosecutors have demanded an 80-year jail term for former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who last week was convicted of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity, before a sentencing decision that is expected to set a precedent. Taylor's sentencing, on May 30, will be closely watched for its impact on other heads of state involved in cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of Ivory Coast, is due to face charges of crimes against humanity. ...

Gunmen fire on Nigeria cattle market, 60 killed Posted: MAIDUGURI/ABUJA (Reuters) - Gunmen threw bombs and opened fire on a cattle market in remote northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 60 people, a spokesman for Yobe state governor said, an attack whose motives remain unknown. "The Yobe State Governor has visited the Potiskum cattle market where he was informed that 60 people had been killed in the attack, while 29 people are receiving treatment at the Hospital," Abdullahi Bego, spokesman for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, told Reuters by telephone. It was not clear who was behind the attack overnight on Wednesday in the town of Potiskum. ...

Documents show tense al Qaeda-Iran relationship Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's relationship with Iran's government has been fractious at best and openly antagonistic at worst, according to documents confiscated from Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan and made public on Thursday. In the years since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, high-ranking al Qaeda leaders, lower level militants and members of bin Laden's family were held in custody by Iranian authorities, though U.S. officials say precise conditions of their confinement are unclear. ...

Blasts in Russia's Dagestan kill up to 20, wound dozens Posted: MOSCOW (Reuters) - As many as 20 people were killed and 30 more wounded when two powerful blasts hit a police post outside the capital of Russia's violence-plagued Dagestan region, Russian media reported on Friday. The first explosion occurred when police stopped a vehicle for document checks, RIA news agency reported, citing a statement by the National Anti-Terrorist Committee. A second bomb exploded when fire brigades and ambulances arrived, causing additional casualties. ...

Cayman premier says London aims to "ruin" his nation Posted: GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (Reuters) - A diplomatic spat in the normally tranquil Cayman Islands has put the ruling party and the British government at loggerheads after the locally elected premier accused London of conspiring with opposition politicians to "ruin this country." Premier McKeeva Bush accused British officials, including the British-appointed governor and police commissioner, of conducting baseless investigations into his handling of government contracts. He described the investigations on local television as "nothing more than fishing expeditions. ...

Activist's fate deepens US-China suspicions Posted: The diplomatic disarray deepened Thursday after a blind activist reversed course and asked to leave China with his family, abandoning an arduously negotiated agreement even though he had left the protection of the U.S. Embassy and was in a Beijing hospital ringed by Chinese police.

US uses bin Laden letters to degrade al-Qaida Posted: Letters from Osama bin Laden's last hideaway, released by U.S. officials intent on discrediting his terror organization, portray a network weak, inept and under siege — and its leader seemingly near wit's end about the passing of his global jihad's glory days.

Family concerns key to Chinese activist's choices Posted: Chen Guangcheng's sudden change of heart to leave China after insisting for days he wanted to stay has caught his American supporters off guard. But his reason was simple: His family's safety came first.

4 students killed as Syrian forces raid university Posted: Syrian forces stormed student dormitories during an anti-government protest at Aleppo University Thursday, firing tear gas and bullets in an hours-long siege that killed at least four students and forced the closure of the state-run school, activists said.

French candidate goes from wishy-washy to wow Posted: The last time France voted for president, Francois Hollande was a portly, smiley man likened to custard pudding who played second fiddle to Segolene Royal, his Socialist party's candidate and the mother of his four kids.

Russian military ups the ante on missile defense Posted: Russia's top military officer has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive strike on U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe if Washington goes ahead with its controversial plan to build a missile shield.

Journalists being killed at 'astonishing pace' Posted: On World Press Freedom Day, Reporters Without Borders condemned the "astonishing pace" at which journalists are being attacked and murdered — 67 killed in 2011 and 22 more deaths since the beginning of the year.

Prosecution wants 80 years for Charles Taylor Posted: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor deserves an 80-year sentence for the war crimes he was convicted of last week, including aiding and abetting murder and rape on a mass scale, prosecutors said in a written filing Thursday.

Sudan agrees to AU roadmap, must meet South Sudan Posted: Sudan on Thursday endorsed the African Union's roadmap to avert an all-out war with South Sudan, though it insisted on retaining the right to self-defense.

French debate: No knockout punch from Sarkozy Posted: Socialist candidate Francois Hollande appeared to solidify his chances at winning France's presidency Thursday after his strong showing in a debate against beleaguered incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

Japanese job seekers hold Tokyo pep rally Posted: With cheerleaders shouting encouragement, more than 1,000 young Japanese trying to break into the job market have held a pep rally in Tokyo to highlight what officials say is the bleakest employment outlook Japan has faced in years.

New Year celebrations cause 194 Beijing fires Posted: State media are reporting that people celebrating the Lunar New Year by setting off fireworks in Beijing caused 194 fires in the Chinese capital, double the number from last year.

Sumo questions wrestlers in bout-fixing scandal Posted: Japan's sumo association began questioning dozens of top wrestlers Tuesday in a widening investigation into allegations of bout-fixing that have deeply tarnished the image of the nation's ancient national sport.

Philippine general in graft probe shot dead Posted: The Philippine health secretary says a former military chief implicated in a corruption scandal has died of a gunshot wound.

Health secretary says former Philippine military chief in center of corruption probe shot dead Posted: Health secretary says former Philippine military chief in center of corruption probe shot dead.

Taiwan recalls Manila rep over China deportation Posted: Taiwan has recalled its representative to the Philippines over Manila's decision to extradite 14 Taiwanese citizens to face criminal prosecution in China.

Koreas to hold defense meeting to ease tensions Posted: A group of South Korean military officers has headed to a rare meeting with North Korean officials to try to lay the groundwork for high-level defense talks aimed at easing hostilities on the peninsula.

Cruise employee found dead in Cozumel, Mexico Posted: A crew member of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was found dead in the Mexican resort island of Cozumel, possibly the victim of a violent crime, authorities and company officials said Sunday.

Reputed drug 'queen' sentenced for arms possession Posted: A reputed Mexican drug cartel "queen" who once got Botox in prison has been sentenced to time already served on a weapons charge, authorities said Sunday.

Egyptians return to unfamiliar homeland Posted: The plane was nearly empty when it took off en route to Cairo. Most people have gone in the other direction, escaping the chaos surrounding mass protests demanding President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.

Egyptians seek normalcy after days of unrest Posted: Egyptians desperate for cash lined up at newly reopened banks and Cairo's infamous traffic jams reappeared Sunday as the capital struggled to regain a sense of normalcy after nearly two weeks of unrest.

Officials: Unrest could affect EU, Israel security Posted: Top defense officials and diplomats warned Friday that growing unrest in Egypt and elsewhere could affect Israeli and European security, although it may provide new impetus to the Mideast peace process.

Egypt's Mubarak holds meeting with economy team Posted: President Hosni Mubarak assembled his economy team on Saturday in an effort to project calm as the country's turmoil triggered global economic jitters and the standoff continued, with thousands of anti-government protesters remaining camped out on Cairo's Tahrir, or Liberation, Square.

Mubarak's resignation now could hamper transition Posted: President Hosni Mubarak's immediate resignation — the key demand of protesters in the streets of Cairo — would trigger snap presidential elections under the Egyptian constitution and could make political reform more difficult, experts say.

Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore dead at 58 Posted: Bandmates say Gary Moore, guitarist with influential Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, has died. He was 58.

Tunisian minister suspends ex-ruling party Posted: Tunisia's interior minister on Sunday suspended all activities of the country's former ruling party amid the most serious protests since the country's autocratic president fled into exile less than a month ago.

Egypt's Brotherhood to hold talks with government Posted: Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, said it would begin talks Sunday with the government to try to end the country's political crisis but made clear it would insist on the immediate ouster of longtime authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak.

Police evict indigenous Easter Island protesters Posted: Relatives of activists occupying a posh Easter Island hotel say Chilean police have raided and removed the last of the indigenous protesters. They have been battling for ancestral lands and a share of profits from the thousands of tourists who come to see the Pacific Island's famed statues of giant heads.

Cuban opposition leader urges end to hunger strike Posted: A leader of the Ladies in White opposition group says she will urge a colleague to end a 10-day old hunger strike she launched to demand freedom for her jailed husband.

Nobel prize winner calls for Mubarak to step down Posted: Egyptian-American scholar and Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail added his weight Sunday to calls for President Hosni Mubarak to step down to help end the standoff with anti-government protesters.

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