Yahoo! News: World News

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• Second round of Syria talks makes faltering start
• Iran test-fires long-range missile: minister
• Roadside bomb explodes near Iraqi parliament speaker's convoy
• Brazil cameraman pronounced brain dead after protest injury
• U.S. grants $20 million to rebuild schools destroyed in Texas blast
• Bomb kills two American contractors in Afghan capital Kabul
• Danny Davis, a man with no Olympic expectations
• Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT
• 4 Latin America economic powers sign trade pact
• Kuzmina takes 20-second lead into Olympic pursuit
• Journalist hurt in Brazil protest brain dead
• Email shows effort to shield bin Laden photos
• Abraham Foxman stepping down as ADL director
• Ex-Guatemalan army officer tied to massacre sentenced to U.S. prison
• Guatemala begins process to replace top prosecutor
• Leader of US Jewish group stepping down
• 2 playoff spots on line in Olympic women's hockey
• Russia, China skip Security Council talks on Syria
• State dinner menu: beef, caviar and Mary J. Blige
• Pioneers inaugurating women's slopestyle skiing
• AP: Fidel Castro handout photos digitally altered
• Fifth-seeded Granollers reaches second round
• Puerto Rico gov seeks tax reform to boost economy
• Sprint events up next for cross-country skiers
• C. Africa militia is 'enemy of peace': French commander
• In women's luge, the Olympic race is for 2nd place
• A rush to evacuate as truce extended in Syria city
• Berdych, Tsonga, Kohlschreiber win at ABN Amro
• Family of American detained in North Korea reacts
• Passenger arrested, flight to New York diverted
• White says he's antsy; thanks his fans
• Obama, Hollande tour Jefferson's Monticello estate
• Obama, Hollande renew historic bonds at Jefferson shrine
• Iraqi militants accidentally kill 21 of their own
• Obama, France's Hollande make pilgrimage to Jefferson's Monticello
• Lee overwhelming favorite for women's 500
• Pacific storm eases California drought, but state has long way to go

Second round of Syria talks makes faltering start Posted: 10 Feb 2014 12:25 PM PST By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Mariam Karouny GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - A second round of Syria peace talks got off to a shaky start on Monday, with the two sides complaining about violations of a local ceasefire and an Islamist offensive respectively in separate meetings with the international mediator. Ahead of the talks, mediator Lakhdar Brahimi told delegates to commit first to discussing both ending the fighting and setting up a transitional government. In a further bad sign, Brahimi cancelled a planned news conference. During the first round of talks in nearly three years of civil war last month, Brahimi had tried to break down mistrust by focusing on agreeing a truce for a single city, Homs.

Iran test-fires long-range missile: minister Posted: 10 Feb 2014 02:35 PM PST By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's military has successfully test-fired two new domestically made missiles, the defense minister said on Monday according to state television, ahead of talks with world powers to try to reach an agreement on curbing Tehran's nuclear program. Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said one of them was a long-range ballistic missile with radar-evading capabilities. "The new generation of long-range ground-to-ground ballistic missile with a fragmentation warhead and the laser-guided air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile dubbed Bina (Insightful) have been successfully test-fired," state television quoted him as saying. "The Bina missile is capable of striking important targets such as bridges, tanks and enemy command centers with great precision." Iran already has long-range surface-to-surface Shahab missiles with a range of about 2,000 km (1,250 miles) that are capable of reaching Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Roadside bomb explodes near Iraqi parliament speaker's convoy Posted: 10 Feb 2014 12:22 PM PST The speaker of Iraq's parliament narrowly escaped death on Monday when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy close to the northern city of Mosul, his office said. Usama al-Nujaifi, one of Iraq's most senior Sunni Muslim politicians, was visiting al-Salam area south of Mosul when the bomb exploded, badly damaging a vehicle carrying his bodyguards, who were wounded, it said. "The speaker's convoy was targeted by a roadside bomb in an area with a heavy presence of armed forces," Nujaifi's office said in a statement. Sunni Islamist militants have been regaining ground in Iraq, particularly in the western province of Anbar where they overran two cities on January 1.

Brazil cameraman pronounced brain dead after protest injury Posted: 10 Feb 2014 01:06 PM PST By Paulo Prada RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A Brazilian television cameraman was pronounced brain dead by surgeons at a Rio de Janeiro hospital Monday, four days after a firework lit by a protester struck him in the head. His death, the first in Brazil this year due to protests that threaten to disrupt the World Cup soccer tournament beginning in June, underscores the unruliness and violence that have come to characterize the small, but continued rallies that began with a series of mass demonstrations last year. Santiago Ilídio Andrade, a 49-year-old cameraman for the Bandeirantes television network, was filming a protest over a hike in Rio's bus fares last Thursday when a protestor, as yet unidentified, lit a large bottle rocket that flew up from the ground and struck him.

U.S. grants $20 million to rebuild schools destroyed in Texas blast Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:13 PM PST By Lisa Maria Garza DALLAS (Reuters) - The federal government has awarded $20 million in grants to rebuild two schools that were destroyed last year in the central Texas town of West by a deadly fertilizer plant explosion, officials said on Monday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said the money will be used by the West Independent School District, which has struggled for resources to rebuild from the April 17 blast that obliterated large parts of the town. Superintendent Marty Crawford estimated two of the four campuses suffered as much as $53 million in damage from the explosion. The intermediate school and high school were within about 800 yards (meters) of the blast site and could not be salvaged.

Bomb kills two American contractors in Afghan capital Kabul Posted: 10 Feb 2014 06:56 AM PST A car bomb in the Afghan capital Kabul killed two United States contractors for the international security force ISAF on Monday, the NATO-led force and a U.S. official said. The explosion in eastern Kabul was the latest incident to rattle the city ahead of April's presidential election due to choose the country's first new leader since 2001. "Two International Security Assistance Force contracted civilians died as the result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today," ISAF said in a statement. Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as the Taliban continue their insurgent campaign and Washington and President Hamid Karzai are deadlocked over a bilateral security deal to let some U.S. forces stay beyond the end of 2014.

Danny Davis, a man with no Olympic expectations Posted: 10 Feb 2014 05:03 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — He's the man with the best chance of taking down Shaun White at the Olympics.

Top Asian News at 1:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 10 Feb 2014 05:02 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is coming under pressure to give Congress detailed information on the handling of sex crime cases in the armed forces following an Associated Press investigation that found a pattern of inconsistent judgments and light penalties for sexual assaults at U.S. bases in Japan. Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who's led efforts in Congress to address military sexual crimes, is pressing the Defense Department to turn over case information from four major U.S. bases: Fort Hood in Texas, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

4 Latin America economic powers sign trade pact Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:57 PM PST CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) — The presidents of four nations collectively responsible for half of Latin America's economic output have signed an accord to eliminate tariffs on 92 percent of the products they trade.

Kuzmina takes 20-second lead into Olympic pursuit Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:47 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Her strong run to gold in Sunday's 7.5-kilometer sprint has earned Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia a useful head start in the second women's biathlon event at the Sochi Olympics.

Journalist hurt in Brazil protest brain dead Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:45 PM PST A Brazilian journalist injured while reporting on violent clashes with protesters was declared brain dead on Monday, as yet another demonstration paralyzed downtown Rio just four months ahead of the World Cup. Television news cameraman Santiago Ilidio Andrade, 49, was left in a coma after being struck on the head by a flare during protests against bus fare increases last Thursday. Rio de Janeiro's public health office said Monday that neurosurgeons at Souza Aguiar municipal hospital had declared the married father-of-one brain dead. They have destroyed a solid family," Andrade's heartbroken wife told the Globo television channel in an interview.

Email shows effort to shield bin Laden photos Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:44 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A newly-released email shows that 11 days after the killing of terror leader Osama bin Laden in 2011, the U.S. military's top special operations officer ordered subordinates to destroy any photographs of the al-Qaida founder's corpse or turn them over to the CIA.

Abraham Foxman stepping down as ADL director Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:42 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League is stepping down after almost a half century working for the Jewish nonprofit.

Ex-Guatemalan army officer tied to massacre sentenced to U.S. prison Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:37 PM PST By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A former Guatemalan army commander convicted of covering up his role in a massacre during that country's bloody civil war in order to gain U.S. citizenship was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in federal prison. Prosecutors say Jorge Sosa lied to immigration officials about his involvement in the 1982 mass killings of nearly all of the men, women and children in the northern Guatemalan farming village of Dos Erres, considered one of the worst atrocities in that country's 36-year civil war. Because U.S. prosecutors have no jurisdiction in Guatemala, they could not charge Sosa, also known as Jorge Vinicio Sosa Orantes, in connection with the massacre. Sosa's U.S. citizenship was revoked at the sentencing and he was expected to face extradition to Guatemala following his release, where he will face trial for war crimes.

Guatemala begins process to replace top prosecutor Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:36 PM PST GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala's Congress has formed a commission to pick a replacement to take over from the country's crusading attorney general in May despite demands from human rights groups to keep her until December.

Leader of US Jewish group stepping down Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:35 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The longtime U.S. director of the Anti-Defamation League is stepping down after almost a half-century working for the Jewish civil rights group.

2 playoff spots on line in Olympic women's hockey Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:32 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Russia has a chance to ride the hometown advantage to another victory when it plays Japan on Tuesday in Olympic women's hockey.

Russia, China skip Security Council talks on Syria Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:29 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia is blocking Western efforts to push through a Security Council resolution that would raise the prospect of sanctions against Syria unless the government gives unrestricted access to deliver humanitarian aid.

State dinner menu: beef, caviar and Mary J. Blige Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:21 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — A slab of dry-aged rib eye beef, American caviar and salad representing the first lady's garden will be on the four-course menu for the elegant state dinner being given by President Barack Obama for French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday.

Pioneers inaugurating women's slopestyle skiing Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:19 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Keri Herman just laughs when asked if she feels like a mother hen out on the mountain in a sport littered with teenagers and 20-somethings.

AP: Fidel Castro handout photos digitally altered Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:13 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press is eliminating from its archive seven Cuban government handout photos of Fidel Castro after determining some were digitally altered to remove what appears to be a hearing aid from the retired leader's ear.

Fifth-seeded Granollers reaches second round Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:12 PM PST BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain reached the second round of the Copa Claro Monday, defeating Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

Puerto Rico gov seeks tax reform to boost economy Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:10 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico's governor said Monday that he plans to boost the U.S. territory's economy by overhauling the tax system and reducing government spending after two credit rating agencies slapped the island with downgrades last week.

Sprint events up next for cross-country skiers Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:10 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Enough talk about black armbands and protests. The Norwegian cross-country skiing team hopes to get back to what it does best on Tuesday: winning gold medals.

C. Africa militia is 'enemy of peace': French commander Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:06 PM PST Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - The commander of French troops in the Central African Republic on Monday accused a militia known as the anti-balaka of being the country's "main enemy of peace" to be treated as outlaws and thugs. The mainly Christian vigilantes have been accused of brutal attacks against Muslims after the ouster of president Francois Bozize in March 2013 by mainly Muslim rebels led by Michel Djotodia, who was himself forced out last month after failing to end the sectarian violence. "Those who call themselves 'anti-balaka' have become the main enemy of peace in the Central African Republic," General Francisco Soriano said in a meeting in Bangui with the impoverished country's religious leaders, accusing the militia of inciting violence by "stigmatising" certain areas as Muslim.

In women's luge, the Olympic race is for 2nd place Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:04 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — The race is for second.

A rush to evacuate as truce extended in Syria city Posted: 10 Feb 2014 04:04 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — Aid officials rushed to evacuate more women, children and elderly from rebel-held areas that have been blockaded by government troops for more than a year in Syria's third-largest city, Homs, after a U.N.-brokered cease-fire in the city was renewed for three more days Monday.

Berdych, Tsonga, Kohlschreiber win at ABN Amro Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:53 PM PST ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Andreas Seppi of Italy for the fifth time in a row 6-3, 6-3 to open his account at the ABN Amro tournament on Monday.

Family of American detained in North Korea reacts Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:52 PM PST SEATTLE (AP) — The family of a Washington state man imprisoned in North Korea for more than a year expressed alarm and sadness Monday after an invitation was cancelled for a U.S. envoy to visit Pyongyang and discuss Kenneth Bae's release.

Passenger arrested, flight to New York diverted Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The FBI says it has arrested a 38-year-old passenger on board a flight from Tokyo to New York that was diverted to Anchorage, and All Nippon Airways said it was because of "unruly behavior."

White says he's antsy; thanks his fans Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:44 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Shaun White says he's antsy about his upcoming chance to make history on the halfpipe and, in a shoutout to his fans, thanks them for supporting his decisions.

Obama, Hollande tour Jefferson's Monticello estate Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:43 PM PST CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (AP) — President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande celebrated the long-standing ties between their nations by touring the sweeping Virginia estate owned by Thomas Jefferson, the former American president and famed Francophile.

Obama, Hollande renew historic bonds at Jefferson shrine Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:39 PM PST Monticello (United States) (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande began a state visit to the United States Monday, flying with President Barack Obama to pay homage at the home of francophile US founding father Thomas Jefferson. The visit, designed to underscore historic ties and a burgeoning security relationship between America and its oldest ally, takes place as Hollande tries to shrug off embarrassment over his love life. Obama met Hollande at the steps of a Boeing-757 version of his Air Force One jet at Andrews Air Force base, for a short flight into Virginia to visit Jefferson's beloved mansion at Monticello.

Iraqi militants accidentally kill 21 of their own Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:38 PM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — An instructor teaching his militant recruits how to make car bombs accidentally set off explosives in his demonstration Monday, killing 21 of them in a huge blast that alerted authorities to the existence of the rural training camp in an orchard north of Baghdad. Nearly two dozen people were arrested, including wounded insurgents trying to hobble away from the scene.

Obama, France's Hollande make pilgrimage to Jefferson's Monticello Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:38 PM PST By Jeff Mason CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande toured Thomas Jefferson's plantation estate on Monday in a show of solidarity for Franco-American ties that have endured for more than two centuries despite the occasional tempest. The visit to Monticello, home to America's third president, served to showcase a relationship that stretches back to the founding of the United States in the late 18th century, an alliance still strong despite spats over U.S. eavesdropping and trade talks with the European Union. Hollande, 59, who split from his partner, Valerie Trierweiler, last month after an affair with an actress, arrived solo for the first state visit hosted by Obama since he won a second term in 2012. At Monticello, they toured the unique home designed by Jefferson, including its distinctive crowning portico and the Cabinet room Jefferson used for writing, architectural drafting and scientific observation.

Lee overwhelming favorite for women's 500 Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:27 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — You have favorites for Olympic gold — and then you have Lee Sang-hwa. The defending Olympic champion has been so overwhelming the past two years it is tough to see anyone beating the South Korean during Tuesday's 500-meter races.

Pacific storm eases California drought, but state has long way to go Posted: 10 Feb 2014 03:24 PM PST By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The most powerful winter storm to hit California in more than a year dumped several feet of snow in the high Sierras and soaked lower elevations with rain over the weekend, easing drought conditions but leaving the state thirsting for more, officials said on Monday. The Pacific storm doubled the moisture content of the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, a key gauge of the state's principal source of surface water, said Dave Rizzardo, the chief of snow surveys for the state Department of Water Resources. But the 3 inches of additional water content measured on Monday still leaves California at just 20 percent of where the state's snowpack should be by Apri1 1, the traditional end of the winter rainy season, Rizzardo said. Neither Rizzardo nor other experts would venture to say precisely how much more precipitation the state needs to substantially relieve the drought.

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