Yahoo! News: World News

---

• U.N. aid convoy struck in Syria's besieged Homs
• U.S. urges removal of foreign fighters from South Sudan
• Iran says warships sailing towards U.S.: agency
• Japan PM-backed candidate seen ahead as Tokyo voters go to polls
• Falling rock derails train in French Alps, two dead
• Kosovo's head of university quits after violent protests
• Salvadoran sea survivor still too frail to go home
• Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT
• India 180-2 at lunch on day 4, 1st test vs. NZ
• Rugby fan dies after falling ill at Murrayfield
• Tokyo chooses governor in test for anti-nuke vote
• Men's cross-country favorites struggling for form
• Britain's Charles and William urge end to illegal wildlife trade
• 2nd-tier women's teams to take the ice at Olympics
• Kotsenburg uses a new trick to take 1st gold
• 5 Things: Men jump for 1st gold on Olympic hill
• Women ski jumpers return to hill on Olympic debut
• Vigilantes enter Mexican drug cartel's key bastion
• Claudia Pechstein going for records in 3,000
• Rugby fan dies after collapsing at Murrayfield
• Madrid's win & Atletico's loss leaves tie at top
• Russia on verge of gold in 1st Olympic team event
• Bode Miller poised to hit Olympic peak in downhill
• Vigilante groups: we're in major gang-held city
• Loch on cusp of winning back-to-back gold medals
• Tokyo governor election puts nuclear power to test
• Anderson hoping for golden slopestyle debut
• 5 Things: Gold pursuit begins in Nordic combined
• Sprint kicks off women's biathlon at Sochi Games
• Sydney FC fans rebel as A-League slump continues
• Higuain scores twice as Napoli beats AC Milan 3-1
• Bale & Jese lead Madrid to 4-2 win over Villarreal
• Vegas puppy shop arson suspect caught in Indiana

U.N. aid convoy struck in Syria's besieged Homs Posted: 08 Feb 2014 01:12 PM PST By Dominic Evans BEIRUT (Reuters) - An aid convoy came under fire in a besieged rebel district of Homs on Saturday, threatening a United Nations-led operation to bring food and medicine to 2,500 people and evacuate civilians trapped by months of fighting in the Syrian city. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) said mortar fire landed close to its convoy and shots were fired at its trucks, wounding one of its drivers. At least nine Red Crescent and U.N. vehicles were holed up in the city for several hours after dark when the explosions struck, but the team managed to pull out shortly before 10 pm (2000 GMT), leaving two damaged trucks, the Red Crescent said. "Although the team was shelled and fired upon we managed to deliver 250 food parcels (and) 190 hygiene kits and chronic disease medicines," it said.

U.S. urges removal of foreign fighters from South Sudan Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:22 PM PST By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday expressed concern over reported violations of a shaky ceasefire agreement between South Sudan's government and rebel forces and urged the removal of foreign fighters engaged in the conflict. Thousands of people have been killed and more than half a million have fled their homes since fighting erupted in December in a conflict that has brought oil-producing South Sudan to the brink of civil war. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States is "deeply concerned by reports of violations by both the government of South Sudan and anti-government forces" of the ceasefire deal. President Salva Kiir's government and rebels loyal to his fired deputy, Riek Machar, agreed to the ceasefire on January 23, but both sides have since accused each other of violations.

Iran says warships sailing towards U.S.: agency Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:40 PM PST An Iranian naval officer said a number of warships had been ordered to approach U.S. maritime borders as a response to the stationing of U.S. vessels in the Gulf, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday. "Iran's military fleet is approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a message," the agency quoted Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad as saying. Fars said the plan was part of "Iran's response to Washington's beefed up naval presence in the Persian Gulf." The Fars report, which carried no details of the vessels, could not be confirmed independently. In Washington, a U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cast doubt on any claims that the Iranian ships were approaching U.S. maritime borders.

Japan PM-backed candidate seen ahead as Tokyo voters go to polls Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:01 PM PST By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - Voters in Japan's capital go to the polls on Sunday with a candidate backed by the ruling party likely to win the race to become governor, frustrating rivals' efforts to make the vote a referendum on the prime minister's pro-nuclear energy policy. Media surveys have shown a former health minister, Yoichi Masuzoe, backed by ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), far ahead of ex-prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa, who has made opposition to nuclear power the top of his platform. A Masuzoe victory would be a relief for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who suffered a rare setback last month when an LDP-backed candidate lost an election for mayor of the city of Nago on Okinawa island to the incumbent, who opposes a government plan to move a U.S. Marines' air base to his city. Masuzoe, 65, has campaigned on promises to improve social welfare in the capital city of 13.3 million people and to ensure the success of the 2020 Olympics, which Tokyo will host.

Falling rock derails train in French Alps, two dead Posted: 08 Feb 2014 11:37 AM PST A huge falling rock derailed a train in the French Alps on Saturday, killing two people and partly pushing one of its carriages over the edge of a mountain slope, officials said. Nine people were injured, one of them seriously, in the accident, which occurred on Saturday morning on a train line popular with tourists between the villages of Saint-Benoit and Annot in southeastern France, the officials said. "An enormous rock broke off from the mountain and hit the side of the train with extreme force," Charbel Aboud, deputy prefect for the region, told a news conference, adding it may have weighed as much as 20 tonnes. "It is too early to establish what were the factors, notably the weather conditions, that may have led to this boulder to break off," Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier told reporters.

Kosovo's head of university quits after violent protests Posted: 08 Feb 2014 12:02 PM PST The rector of Kosovo's state university Ibrahim Gashi resigned on Saturday following protests by students over reports their professors had forged academic works. More than 30 students and other members of civil society and opposition political parties were arrested. The protests started when a flurry of reports in the Kosovo media accused professors at the university of publishing works in fake online journals in order to further their academic credentials. "I am aware that this situation is created from a group of students instrumented and politicized by some NGOs and political parties." The controversy has struck a nerve in Kosovo, where corruption is rife and the education system is widely regarded as politicized and of poor quality.

Salvadoran sea survivor still too frail to go home Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:34 PM PST MAJURO, Marshall Islands (AP) — The Salvadoran man who says he spent more than a year drifting across the Pacific Ocean before making landfall in the Marshall Islands is too weak to travel and will remain in the island nation for a while, an official said.

Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:33 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Two charismatic former prime ministers joining forces on a rare anti-nuclear power ticket are pitted against a former health minister and a human-rights activist in the election to lead Japan's capital. Sunday's ballot for Tokyo governor is likely to influence national policy as Japan goes through soul-searching on energy options after the March 2011 nuclear disaster — the worst since Chernobyl.

India 180-2 at lunch on day 4, 1st test vs. NZ Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:28 PM PST AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli made patient, unbeaten half centuries, guiding India to 180-2 at lunch Sunday as it chased 407 to beat New Zealand in the first cricket test at Eden Park.

Rugby fan dies after falling ill at Murrayfield Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:25 PM PST EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Police say a 60-year-old man has died in hospital after collapsing at Murrayfield soon after the start of the Scotland-England Six Nations rugby match on Saturday.

Tokyo chooses governor in test for anti-nuke vote Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:20 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Two charismatic former prime ministers joining forces on a rare anti-nuclear power ticket are pitted against a former health minister and a human-rights activist in the election to lead Japan's capital.

Men's cross-country favorites struggling for form Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:11 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Petter Northug's form has been one of the big question marks heading into the cross-country skiing events at the Sochi Olympics. The first indication of whether the Norwegian is back to his best will come Sunday in the men's 30-kilometer skiathlon.

Britain's Charles and William urge end to illegal wildlife trade Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:06 PM PST Britain's Prince Charles and Prince William made a father-and-son appeal on Sunday for an end to the illegal wildlife trade, ahead of a major international conference in London. Charles, the heir to Queen Elizabeth II, and his eldest child William released a video message warning of the "grave threat" to some of the world's most treasured species. The royals are attending a series of conservation events this week, including a London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade hosted by the British government on Thursday.

2nd-tier women's teams to take the ice at Olympics Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:04 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Eight years after upsetting the United States to win the women's hockey silver medal in Turin, Sweden opens its Sochi Games tournament Sunday against Japan.

Kotsenburg uses a new trick to take 1st gold Posted: 08 Feb 2014 04:04 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Sage Kotsenburg loves snowboarding for all its unexpected surprises.

5 Things: Men jump for 1st gold on Olympic hill Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:59 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — The RusSki Gorki Jumping Center hosts its first gold medal event of the Sochi Games — the normal hill final Sunday evening on the hills overlooking Krasnaya Polyana.

Women ski jumpers return to hill on Olympic debut Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:53 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria is taking a pragmatic approach to a possible podium finish in the first-ever women's ski jumping event at the Winter Olympics, despite an impressive opening day of training.

Vigilantes enter Mexican drug cartel's key bastion Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST Morelia (Mexico) (AFP) - Vigilante militias that have fought a drug cartel in western Mexico for a year entered on Saturday a city considered a key gang bastion and they are helping authorities police the town. Fernando Cano, the Michoacan state deputy government secretary, told AFP that the self-defense forces entered Apatzingan and that "they will be in charge of security" along with federal police. Vigilante leader Estanislao Beltran said that hundreds of his colleagues manned checkpoints outside the city to "check who goes in and out." Another 150 vigilantes were deployed with police and military patrols inside Apatzigan in order to find the "all the homes" of suspected members of the Knights Templar drug cartel.

Claudia Pechstein going for records in 3,000 Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:45 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Still cursing the suspension which ruled her out of the Vancouver Games four years ago, German veteran Claudia Pechstein is back at the Olympics with a realistic shot at a record-breaking win in Sunday's 3,000 meters.

Rugby fan dies after collapsing at Murrayfield Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:41 PM PST A rugby fan died Saturday after falling ill at Murrayfield stadium during the Six Nations match between Scotland and England, authorities said. The 60-year-old man was watching the Calcutta Cup game in Edinburgh with friends when he collapsed around 15 minutes into the match. He was treated by paramedics and taken from the Murrayfield stadium to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died a short time later. England got their Six Nations campaign back on track with a crushing 20-0 win.

Madrid's win & Atletico's loss leaves tie at top Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid forwards Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez each scored and set up goals for Karim Benzema in a 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday, giving the powerhouse a share of the Spanish league lead after Atletico Madrid stumbled to a 1-0 loss at Almeria.

Russia on verge of gold in 1st Olympic team event Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:34 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — In Russia's storied figure skating history, Evgeni Plushenko is already one of the greats.

Bode Miller poised to hit Olympic peak in downhill Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:29 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Bode Miller's career in the Olympics has twisted and turned through five Winter Games, 15 races so far and five medals won — including one gold.

Vigilante groups: we're in major gang-held city Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:25 PM PST APATZINGAN, Mexico (AP) — Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered a gang-held city on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said.

Loch on cusp of winning back-to-back gold medals Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:23 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Defending the Olympic title in men's luge used to seem impossible. The first seven times the sport was in the Olympic program, from 1964 through 1988, seven different men won the gold medal.

Tokyo governor election puts nuclear power to test Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:22 PM PST Voters in Tokyo went to the polls Sunday to elect a new governor in a race that was being closely watched as a popular verdict on the use of nuclear power. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (2200 GMT Saturday), with observers saying the heaviest snowfall in more than 45 years may affect voter turnout in the city of 13 million people. Media surveys suggest one-time television presenter and former cabinet minister Yoichi Masuzoe has a commanding lead, despite his alignment with the government on the need to restart Japan's idled nuclear reactors. Separate polls by the Asahi Shimbun and Mainichi Shimbun have consistently found 65-year-old Masuzoe with a comfortable lead over his closest rival, former prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa, 76, and renowned lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, 67.

Anderson hoping for golden slopestyle debut Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:15 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Jamie Anderson isn't the type to be intimidated. Making a career out of flinging yourself down mountains isn't for the faint of heart.

5 Things: Gold pursuit begins in Nordic combined Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:08 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — To be furthest on the jumping hill, followed by fastest on the cross-country ski course: that's the ultimate goal for Nordic combined athletes as they begin their quest Sunday for Sochi Olympics gold.

Sprint kicks off women's biathlon at Sochi Games Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:04 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — After the men kicked off the biathlon events at the Sochi Olympics, the women come next with the 7.5-kilometer sprint on Sunday. Here are five things to know about the first women's biathlon competition of the Sochi Games:

Sydney FC fans rebel as A-League slump continues Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:56 PM PST SYDNEY (AP) — A-League glamor club Sydney FC faces a fan revolt after its 3-0 loss to Adelaide United in the weekend's 18th round left it clinging precariously to playoffs contention.

Higuain scores twice as Napoli beats AC Milan 3-1 Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:46 PM PST Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Napoli came from behind to beat AC Milan 3-1 and reinforce its bid for a Champions League place after Fiorentina's earlier victory over Atalanta in Serie A on Saturday.

Bale & Jese lead Madrid to 4-2 win over Villarreal Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:42 PM PST BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid forwards Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez each scored and set up goals for Karim Benzema in an entertaining 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday, provisionally pulling the powerhouse to the top of the Spanish standings.

Vegas puppy shop arson suspect caught in Indiana Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:27 PM PST LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man accused in Las Vegas of helping a pet shop owner in the city torch her store with 27 puppies inside is expected to face transport in custody from Indiana to Nevada to face multiple felony charges.

You are subscribed to email updates from World News Headlines - Yahoo News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610