| Ukraine gives rebels deadline to disarm or face military operation Posted: 13 Apr 2014 12:27 PM PDT  By Conor Humphries and Thomas Grove KIEV/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine has given pro-Russian separatists a Monday morning deadline to disarm or face a "full-scale anti-terrorist operation" by its armed forces, raising the risk of a military confrontation with Moscow. Angered by the death of a state security officer and the wounding of two comrades near the flashpoint eastern city of Slaviansk, acting president Oleksander Turchinov gave rebels occupying state buildings until 0600 GMT to lay down their weapons. He blamed Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimea region when Moscow-backed former president Viktor Yanukovich fled after months of pro-Western protests, for being behind the rash of rebellions across Russian-speaking towns in eastern Ukraine. "We will not allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in the eastern regions of Ukraine," Turchinov said.
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| Warily, Lebanon tackles violent spillover from Syria Posted: 13 Apr 2014 05:54 AM PDT  By Alexander Dziadosz TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - For two weeks now, the rifles have been silent along Syria Street in Lebanon's Tripoli, an area shot up so often that even memorial posters of men killed just a few months ago are speckled with bullet holes. Soldiers patrol quiet streets where gunmen used to fight day and night - part of the Lebanese authorities' most serious effort yet to contain spillover from Syria's civil war since the three-year-old conflict began in its much larger neighbor. "Traffic is returning, the area is coming back to life," said Ahmed Qashour, 57, raising his voice as armored vehicles rumbled past the tahini sesame-paste shop where he works on Syria Street, in the north of the Mediterranean port city. "But what we want, what we're asking of the government, is that this security plan continues - that it doesn't stop." Syria's civil war has divided Lebanon's politicians, while gunbattles, car bombs and rocket attacks linked to Syria have killed scores of Lebanese and revived memories of the country's own 15-year civil war that formally ended in 1990.
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| Abdullah leads in first official results from Afghan vote Posted: 13 Apr 2014 09:07 AM PDT  By Mirwais Harooni and Jessica Donati KABUL (Reuters) - Initial election results put Afghan opposition figure Abdullah Abdullah in the lead on Sunday, but with less than 10 percent of votes counted and widespread allegations of fraud, there was no clear indication of who would succeed Hamid Karzai. Results based on 10 percent of votes from 26 out of 34 provinces showed Abdullah with 41.9 percent and Western-leaning academic Ashraf Ghani second with 37.6 percent. A third candidate, Zalmay Rassoul, backed by two of Karzai's brothers, trailed far behind with 9.8 percent. "I want to make clear that the results could change in future, as we announce the results with additional percentages of the vote, and this is not the final result," said Independent Election Commission (IEC) chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani.
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| Sahara Islamists release video of Algerian diplomat hostage: agency Posted: 13 Apr 2014 11:12 AM PDT By Laurent Prieur NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Sahara-based Islamists holding three Algerian diplomats hostage have sent a video of one of them to Mauritania's ANI news agency, ANI said, the first proof of life in over a year. Seven Algerians were kidnapped in the north Mali town of Gao when it was taken over by al Qaeda-linked Islamists in April 2012. Three were released, one was reported executed and the last video released to media was in January 2013. Little has been heard of the diplomats since then, despite France's dispatch of some 4,000 troops to scatter Islamists who occupied Mali's north and the deployment of thousands of United Nations peace keepers to the region. |
| Israel appropriates land in West Bank: newspaper Posted: 13 Apr 2014 11:10 AM PDT  By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has carried out a new land appropriation in the occupied West Bank, the Haaretz daily said on Sunday, in a move that could complicate efforts to extend troubled peace talks with the Palestinians. Haaretz said the Defense Ministry declared nearly 250 acres of territory in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc just south of Jerusalem "state land". The land appropriation, the left-leaning newspaper said, was the largest in years and could eventually lead to the expansion of several settlements and authorization of a settler outpost built without Israeli government permission in 2001. The measure, which falls short of annexing the land to Israel, is based on an Israeli interpretation of an Ottoman-era law that allowed the confiscation of tracts that had not been planted or cultivated for several years in a row.
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| Most Pakistani villagers abducted from 'hashish festival' freed Posted: 13 Apr 2014 09:43 AM PDT By Jibran Ahmad PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Gunmen on Sunday freed most of the Pakistani villagers they had kidnapped from a hashish festival in the remote mountainous northwest, a government official said. The gunmen, suspected to be Taliban, raided the festival on Saturday and seized around 100 men. Initial reports suggested the men may have been seized because they supported the government against the Taliban. The Taliban insurgents have been fighting to overthrow the government and impose a strict form of Islamic law on Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 180 million people. |
| Chile fire toll: 11 dead, 1,000 homes destroyed Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:57 PM PDT  VALPARAISO, Chile (AP) — A raging fire leaped from hilltop to hilltop in this colorful port city throughout the night and day on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and destroying at least 1,000 homes. More than 10,000 people were evacuated, including more than 200 female inmates at a prison.
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| McIlroy still to master Augusta National Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:49 PM PDT  Augusta (United States) (AFP) - Another Masters and another flop for Rory McIlroy, for whom Augusta National and how to play it remain something of a mystery. The 24-year-old Irishman came into the year's first major as the tournament favorite once Tiger Woods had pulled out though injury. McIlroy said that his failure to take advantage of the four par-fives the course offers up for birdies was crucual to his hopes. Sadly for McIlroy, the story so far in six appearances at Augusta National has always been the same -- one of frustration and at times despair.
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| Terry admits red-card chat with referee Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:38 PM PDT  Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Chelsea captain John Terry said he'd spoken to referee Phil Dowd in the lead-up to the official's decision to send off Swansea's Chico Flores. Swansea had to play most of the match a man down after Flores was dismissed in the 16th minute for two reckless tackles at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. But it wasn't until the 68th minute that Demba Ba scored the only goal of the match Chelsea won 1-0 to stay second in the Premier League table, two points behind leaders Liverpool with four games to play. However, Swansea caretaker head coach Garry Monk was rather less impressed with the conduct of Terry and several other Chelsea players, and indeed the Blues' management, in the lead-up to Dowd dismissing Spanish defender Flores for his second challenge on Andre Schurrle.
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| Bruce reveals skipper's blast fired Cup win Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:36 PM PDT  Hull City manager Steve Bruce revealed a half-time blast from captain Curtis Davies inspired a thrilling 5-3 win over Sheffield United that booked his club's first FA Cup final appearance. Bruce's side were in danger of suffering a humiliating defeat in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley after a woeful first half display left them trailing 2-1 against the League One underdogs. The former Manchester United defender was set to give his players a major rollicking at the interval, but before he even got started Davies took the words right out of his mouth. Shaken out of their lethargy by Davies's tirade and transformed by Bruce's decision to send on Matty Fryatt and Sone Aluko so he could revert to his usual approach of playing two strikers, the Premier League team finally showed why 44 places separate them from United in the league structure.
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| Bubba Watson wins another green jacket at Augusta Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:36 PM PDT  AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Bubba Watson's second Masters title was nothing like the green jacket he won two years ago.
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| Window opens on secret camp within Guantanamo Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:35 PM PDT  GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Attorney James Connell has visited his client inside the secret Guantanamo prison complex known as Camp 7 only once, taken in a van with covered windows on a circuitous trek to disguise the route on the scrub brush-and-cactus covered military base.
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| Kiev government to deploy troops in Ukraine's east Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:24 PM PDT  DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Turning to force to try to restore its authority in the vital industrial east, Ukraine's government announced Sunday it was sending in troops to try to quash an increasingly brazen pro-Russian insurgency, despite repeated warnings from the Kremlin.
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| Kipsang sets London Marathon record Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:18 PM PDT  World record-holder Wilson Kipsang won the men's London Marathon in a course record two hours, four minutes and 29 seconds on Sunday as Britain's Mo Farah found life tough on his debut over the distance. Kipsang's smashed the previous London record of 2hr 04min 40sec set by fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai in 2011. It was a second London victory for Kipsang, the 2012 champion, who outpaced compatriot Stanley Biwatt in the finishing straight. Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, last year's winner was third, and Ayele Abshero of Ethiopia was fourth.
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| Bus hits truck on Mexico highway; 36 reported dead Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:14 PM PDT  VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) — A passenger bus slammed into a broken-down truck and burst into flames, killing at least 36 people Sunday in southern Mexico, the Veracruz state government reported.
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| Liverpool, Atletico continue sparkling form Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:05 PM PDT  LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — There could be unlikely league winners in England and Spain this season, with Liverpool and Atletico Madrid keeping up their good form with wins on Sunday.
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| Flamengo scores late to win Rio state title Posted: 13 Apr 2014 04:03 PM PDT  SAO PAULO (AP) — Flamengo scored in stoppage time to draw 1-1 with Vasco da Gama on Sunday and win the Rio de Janeiro state championship for a record 33rd time.
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| 'Chimerica,' 'Book of Mormon' win at Oliviers Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:52 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Irreverent musical "The Book of Mormon" and hit geopolitical drama "Chimerica" were the big winners Sunday at Britain's Olivier stage awards, on a night when London's small theaters flexed their substantial muscle.
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| UN Security Council to meet late Sunday on Ukraine Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:51 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has called an emergency meeting at Russia's request to discuss the growing crisis in Ukraine. |
| Argentine club named for Pope Francis opens play Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:44 PM PDT  LUJAN, Argentina (AP) — A new Argentine football team named after Pope Francis and meant to promote nonviolence has played it first official match in a regional league — a 2-2 draw that saw four players sent off.
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| Masters to distribute $9M in prize money Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:43 PM PDT  AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The Masters will distribute a record $9 million in prize money.
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| Bubba Watson closing in on another green jacket Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:39 PM PDT  AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Bubba Watson is closing in on another green jacket.
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| Ivanov leads Macedonian polls by wide margin Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:39 PM PDT SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov is leading in the country's presidential election, but will require a runoff to see whether he can win a second five-year term. |
| 13 dead as Syria planes hit rebel bastions near Damascus Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:29 PM PDT  Syrian warplanes on Sunday launched an offensive against a string of opposition bastions on the edges of the capital, including the besieged Eastern Ghouta area, a monitoring group said. "Warplanes carried out two air strikes against areas of Douma," northeast of Damascus, killing 13 people, including three women and three children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. One of the strikes on Douma, an opposition stronghold since early in the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, hit a crowded marketplace, said the Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists on the ground. Douma and other towns and villages in Eastern Ghouta have been under army siege for a year.
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| Greek bishop Theoklitos of Ioannina dies Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:28 PM PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek bishop Theoklitos of Ioannina has died at the age of 83. |
| Syria's Assad says war turning in regime's favour Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:24 PM PDT  President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday that the war that has torn Syria apart for three years and cost more than 150,000 lives is turning in the government's favour, state news agency SANA reported. Syria's army has made a series of advances in recent months, overrunning opposition bastions near the Lebanese border and in the central province of Homs. Syrian warplanes on Sunday launched fresh strikes on rebel strongholds on the edge of Damascus, some of which used highly destructive barrel bomb attacks, a monitoring group said. "Warplanes carried out two air strikes against areas of Douma," northeast of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said adding that 13 people, including three children and three women, were killed in that particular raid.
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| Jamaica reports big drop in lionfish sightings Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:18 PM PDT KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica is reporting a big decline in sightings of lionfish, the voracious invasive species that has been wreaking havoc on regional reefs for years and wolfing down native juvenile fish and crustaceans. |
| PSG loses 1-0 at Lyon in French league Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:11 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain failed to get over the disappointment of its Champions League exit as it lost 1-0 at Lyon in the French league on Sunday.
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| Macedonia presidential election set for second vote Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:10 PM PDT  Macedonia's presidential election looks set for a run-off vote later this month after preliminary results from Sunday's first round seemed to show the incumbent falling short of outright victory. President Gjorge Ivanov, candidate for the ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, heads the race with 51.8 percent of the votes cast, electoral officials said. His main rival, Social Democrat Stevo Pendarovski, won 36.3 percent, unofficial results showed, based on just over 70 percent of the vote counted so far. However, a president can only be elected on the first round of votes in Macedonia if a candidate gathers the support of more than 50 percent of all 1.7 million registered voters, around 870,000 votes.
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| Venezuela probes 97 security troops for torture Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:04 PM PDT  Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela is investigating nearly 100 armed forces and police staff for alleged torture during more than two months of ongoing deadly anti-government protests, authorities said Sunday.
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| Russia boosts military, global arms spending fall Posted: 13 Apr 2014 03:02 PM PDT STOCKHOLM (AP) — For the first time in 10 years, Russia last year spent a bigger share of its overall economy on arms investments than the U.S. as it seeks to bolster its military capability, a Swedish arms watchdog said Monday. |
| Cost of fighting warming 'modest,' says UN panel Posted: 13 Apr 2014 02:47 PM PDT  BERLIN (AP) — The cost of keeping global warming in check is "relatively modest," but only if the world acts quickly to reverse the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, the head of the U.N.'s expert panel on climate change said Sunday.
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| Benfica wins 2-0 at Arouca to close in on title Posted: 13 Apr 2014 02:47 PM PDT LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica won 2-0 at Arouca on Sunday to close to within two points of its first Portuguese league title since 2010. |
| Macedonia to hold presidential runoff vote April 27 Posted: 13 Apr 2014 02:40 PM PDT By Kole Casule SKOPJE (Reuters) - Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov will seek his second term in office in a runoff ballot against an opposition contender on April 27 after the first round on Sunday produced no outright winner. The second-round vote for the largely ceremonial post will be held together with a snap parliamentary election, called after the ruling multiethnic coalition in the small Balkan country failed to agree on a single presidential candidate. Ivanov, nominated by the VMRO-DPMNE party of conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, captured 52 percent of the votes cast, according to preliminary results by the state electoral commission after counting almost 90 percent of the ballots. The runoff should be held two weeks after an inconclusive presidential election, according to the constitution. |
| Ukraine to deploy troops in anti-terror operation Posted: 13 Apr 2014 02:32 PM PDT SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is deploying troops in a "large-scale anti-terrorist operation" to resist attacks by armed pro-Russian forces, Ukraine's President Oleksandr Turchynov said on Sunday in a televised address. |
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