Yahoo! News: World News

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• From jail, Venezuela protest leader urges resistance
• Syria submits new 100-day plan for removal of chemical weapons
• Iran's rising executions dim U.N. hopes for reforms
• U.N. Security Council considering targeted sanctions in Yemen
• Junior coalition partner poised to quit Cyprus government
• Russia reaffirms command of Olympic figure skating
• Libyan official, patients killed as military plane crashes in Tunisia
• 265 Anne Frank books vandalized in Tokyo libraries
• Maduro issues Obama challenge amid mounting protests
• Mexico to trump Japan as No. 2 car exporter to US
• Friday's Highlights at the Sochi Olympics
• U.S. says assures Ukraine of its support in IMF talks
• White House bars media from Dalai Lama meeting
• Wayne Rooney signs new Man United deal
• Ukraine takes gold, US hockey falls to Canada
• 3 Mexicans, 6 Guatemalans guilty in drug massacre
• Ferrer, Dolgopolov into semifinals in Rio Open
• UN cites evidence of rebel abuses in S. Sudan
• Zubkov, Holcomb among gold favorites in 4-man
• Ukraine agreement reached, but the street resists
• US praises Ukraine deal, calls for concrete action
• Friends Wild, Reiter take divergent paths to Sochi
• Puerto Rico diocese fights request for information
• Bjoergen looks for 3rd gold at Sochi Olympics
• Dutch go for last 2 golds medals in speedskating
• Venezuela's Maduro calls for dialogue with Obama
• Slain beauty queen mourned in Venezuela
• Condenan a 9 por masacre en Guatemala
• ATP president says body owed $3 million by Rio
• Centroamérica con baja calidad de mano de obra
• Renzi will be Italy's youngest premier
• Men's relay concludes biathlon at Sochi Olympics
• Baucus sworn in as new US ambassador to China
• Cyprus junior coalition partner poised to quit government

From jail, Venezuela protest leader urges resistance Posted: 21 Feb 2014 05:01 PM PST By Andrew Cawthorne and Diego Ore CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's jailed protest leader urged supporters on Friday to keep demonstrating peacefully against President Nicolas Maduro despite violence that has killed at least six people and rocked the OPEC member nation. "I'm fine, I ask you not to give up, I won't," Leopoldo Lopez told his followers in a handwritten note passed to his wife at Caracas' Ramo Verde prison and then posted on the Internet. The 42-year-old Lopez, a Harvard-educated economist and one of the few surviving relatives of Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar, spearheaded protests against the socialist government that began at the start of February. At least six people have died, five from gunshots, and one run over by a vehicle, as the protests have degenerated into violence in Caracas and other cities around Venezuela, especially in the western Andean region.

Syria submits new 100-day plan for removal of chemical weapons Posted: 21 Feb 2014 12:54 PM PST By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria has submitted a new 100-day plan for the removal of its chemical weapons after failing to meet a February 5 deadline, but the international mission overseeing the operation believes it can be done in a shorter time frame, diplomats said on Friday. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons executive committee met on Friday in The Hague to discuss the joint OPCW and U.N. mission amid growing international frustration at Syria falling behind on its commitments. The Syrian government, locked in a three-year-old war with rebels seeking President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow, failed to meet the February 5 OPCW deadline to move all of its declared chemical substances and precursors out of the country. The final deadline under the OPCW plan is for all of Syria's declared chemical materials to be destroyed by June 30.

Iran's rising executions dim U.N. hopes for reforms Posted: 21 Feb 2014 08:54 AM PST By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - At least 80 people and perhaps as many as 95 have been executed in Iran already this year, a surge in the use of the death penalty that has dampened hopes for human rights reforms under President Hassan Rouhani, the United Nations said on Friday. Rouhani, who won a surprise election last year on a platform of more openness with the West, clinched an interim deal in November with world powers over Iran's nuclear program. In September, dozens of political prisoners were released, raising hopes that he would also improve human rights in a country that ranks second after China on Amnesty International's list of states with the highest use of capital punishment.

U.N. Security Council considering targeted sanctions in Yemen Posted: 21 Feb 2014 01:45 PM PST The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution to impose travel bans and asset freezes on people in Yemen who obstruct or undermine the country's political transition and those who commit human rights violations. Yemen, a U.S. ally, with a population of 25 million, is trying to end nearly three years of political unrest, which began with mass protests against Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president for 33 years who stepped down in 2012. Britain circulated a draft resolution among the 15 council members on Friday that would establish a sanctions committee for one year to blacklist individuals and entities in Yemen.

Junior coalition partner poised to quit Cyprus government Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:05 PM PST A junior partner in Cyprus's center-right government said on Saturday it was poised to quit the coalition in disagreement over a decision to restart peace talks on the ethnically split island. A spokeswoman for the Democratic Party said members of its executive committee decided to recommend to its key decision-making body withdrawal from the government, which it has been a member of for a year. The central committee of the Democratic Party was scheduled to meet on February 26 to discuss the recommendation. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu relaunched stalled peace talks on the island on February 11 in an attempt to end one of Europe's longest-running conflicts.

Russia reaffirms command of Olympic figure skating Posted: 21 Feb 2014 05:10 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Russia's figure skaters meekly left the Vancouver Olympics four years ago with just one silver medal.

Libyan official, patients killed as military plane crashes in Tunisia Posted: 21 Feb 2014 05:08 PM PST An Islamist official in Libya's government and 10 other passengers and crew were killed when a military plane carrying medical patients crashed near Tunisia's capital early on Friday, officials said. The Libyan Antonov aircraft went down after the pilot tried to land in farmland near Grombalia town south of Tunis, Tunisia's TAP state news agency reported. Sheikh Meftah Daouadi, undersecretary at the Libyan Ministry of Martyrs which looks after families of fighters killed in Libya's 2011 revolution, was among the dead, said a spokesman for his organization, the Operations Room for Libyan Revolutionaries. The veteran Islamist fighter took part in the revolt against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

265 Anne Frank books vandalized in Tokyo libraries Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:59 PM PST TOKYO (AP) — Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl" and scores of books about the young Holocaust victim have been vandalized in Tokyo public libraries since earlier this year.

Maduro issues Obama challenge amid mounting protests Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:58 PM PST Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on Barack Obama to "accept the challenge" and hold direct talks, as the death toll from escalating anti-government protests jumped to eight Friday. The announcement was particularly surprising because relations with the US, long strained under late president Hugo Chavez, have worsened under Maduro, who has hewed closely to his predecessor's socialist policies and has never spoken to his counterpart in Washington. Maduro, facing the biggest crisis of his rule since he was narrowly elected last year, said: "I call a dialogue with you, President Obama... between the patriotic and revolutionary Venezuela and the United States and its government." The Venezuelan president, whose government claims opposition leaders are in Washington's pay, accuses the United States of plotting his overthrow.

Mexico to trump Japan as No. 2 car exporter to US Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:58 PM PST CELAYA, Mexico (AP) — Mexico is on track to become the United States' No. 1 source of imported cars by the end of next year, overtaking Japan and Canada in a manufacturing boom that's turning the auto industry into a bigger source of dollars than money sent home by migrants.

Friday's Highlights at the Sochi Olympics Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:56 PM PST FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT THE SOCHI OLYMPICS:

U.S. says assures Ukraine of its support in IMF talks Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:54 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has assured Ukraine it will have "strong support" from Washington in seeking an IMF-backed economic program to stabilize the country's economy after months of crippling street violence, a State Department official said on Friday. A fragile peace deal between Ukraine's government and opposition was struck late on Thursday, ending months of violence in which 77 people were killed. The agreement was also an opportunity to stabilize Ukraine's economy and resume talks with the International Monetary Fund, the senior State Department official said, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity. Ukraine has failed to fully implement previous economic programs, which have required politically difficult reforms.

White House bars media from Dalai Lama meeting Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:53 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House defended its decision Friday to bar reporters and photojournalists from a meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, while acknowledging the news media's legitimate interest in covering the two leaders' encounter.

Wayne Rooney signs new Man United deal Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:48 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Less than a year after pushing to leave Manchester United, Wayne Rooney committed his long-term future to the struggling Premier League champion on Friday by signing a lucrative new contract through June 2019.

Ukraine takes gold, US hockey falls to Canada Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:47 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Four Ukrainian women gave their politically torn country some good news at the Sochi Games on Friday, and Canada delivered more bad news to the United States — yet another Olympic hockey defeat.

3 Mexicans, 6 Guatemalans guilty in drug massacre Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:43 PM PST GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A Guatemalan court has convicted three Mexican men and six Guatemalans on murder and kidnapping charges for the 2011 massacre of 27 farm workers. It sentenced each of them to 106 years in prison.

Ferrer, Dolgopolov into semifinals in Rio Open Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:39 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Second-seeded David Ferrer will meet unseeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in the semifinals of the Rio Open after defeating Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Friday.

UN cites evidence of rebel abuses in S. Sudan Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:28 PM PST United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Mission in South Sudan said Friday it had evidence that rebel forces had murdered civilians, including children, in the key oil hub of Malakal. South Sudan's army and rebels have traded accusations over new atrocities reported to have been committed during heavy fighting in Malakal, in defiance of a ceasefire signed in neighboring Ethiopia on January 23. A UNMISS patrol that visited Malakal on Thursday spoke with eyewitnesses who indicated that "armed opposition forces targeted and killed 10 unarmed civilians at the Malakal Teaching Hospital on the basis of their ethnic background" Wednesday, a UN statement said.

Zubkov, Holcomb among gold favorites in 4-man Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:17 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — At Vancouver in 2010, the four-man Olympic bobsled race served as a breakthrough for Steven Holcomb and the United States.

Ukraine agreement reached, but the street resists Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:08 PM PST KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Under heavy pressure from the West following a deadly day of clashes and sniper fire in the capital, President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders struck a deal Friday aimed at bringing Ukraine's three-month political crisis to an end. But radical protesters and some pro-Russian factions rejected it, leaving lingering doubts over whether peace could be restored.

US praises Ukraine deal, calls for concrete action Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:06 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Friday called for quick implementation of an agreement between Ukraine's president and the opposition to end violence, yet warned the deal was fragile and that it could prove difficult to persuade hard-line protesters to lay down their weapons.

Friends Wild, Reiter take divergent paths to Sochi Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:05 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Vic Wild saw the path good friend Justin Reiter was forced to take to keep his alpine snowboarding career and decided it wasn't for him.

Puerto Rico diocese fights request for information Posted: 21 Feb 2014 04:04 PM PST SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Attorneys for a Puerto Rico diocese that defrocked six priests facing sex abuse allegations said Friday in court that they oppose a criminal investigation into the cases because the majority involved consensual sex.

Bjoergen looks for 3rd gold at Sochi Olympics Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:56 PM PST KRASNAYA GOLYANA, Russia (AP) — Marit Bjoergen hopes to end the Sochi Olympics the same way she started them — with a gold medal.

Dutch go for last 2 golds medals in speedskating Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:51 PM PST SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The Dutch have turned the individual speedskating races at the Sochi Olympics into a huge orange victory parade, winning 21 long-track medals. On Saturday, they are hot favorites to add two more golds in the closing team pursuits.

Venezuela's Maduro calls for dialogue with Obama Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:48 PM PST CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday called on U.S. President Barack Obama to hold dialogue with Venezuelan authorities, only days after expelling three U.S. diplomats on charges they were stirring up violent protests. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Chris Reese)

Slain beauty queen mourned in Venezuela Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:46 PM PST VALENCIA, Venezuela (AP) — A university student beauty queen was mourned Friday in the provincial Venezuelan city where she was slain this week during a political protest, a victim of what government opponents say is indiscriminate violence used by President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters to stifle dissent across the country.

Condenan a 9 por masacre en Guatemala Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST GUATEMALA (AP) — Tres mexicanos y seis guatemaltecos fueron condenados el viernes a más de 100 años de prisión por un tribunal guatemalteco, por la masacre de 27 jornaleros en 2011.

ATP president says body owed $3 million by Rio Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:37 PM PST RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — President Chris Kermode says the ATP is owed $3 million by Rio de Janeiro's state government— and doesn't expect to get paid.

Centroamérica con baja calidad de mano de obra Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:34 PM PST SANTO DOMINGO, República Dominicana (AP) — Representantes de los gobiernos de Centroamérica y República Dominicana reconocieron el viernes que los rezagos en la capacitación de la mano de obra de sus países impide el acceso a empleos de calidad.

Renzi will be Italy's youngest premier Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:31 PM PST ROME (AP) — Matteo Renzi will be sworn in as Italy's youngest prime minister ever Saturday after he cobbled together a government he says will change the face of the country's politics and economy.

Men's relay concludes biathlon at Sochi Olympics Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:29 PM PST KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Ole Einar Bjoerndalen can give his Olympic career a fitting farewell by setting yet another record in the final men's biathlon race at the Sochi Games on Saturday.

Baucus sworn in as new US ambassador to China Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:25 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Sen. Max Baucus has been sworn in as the new U.S. ambassador to China.

Cyprus junior coalition partner poised to quit government Posted: 21 Feb 2014 03:23 PM PST A junior partner in Cyprus's center-right government said it was poised to quit the coalition in disagreement over a decision to restart peace talks on the ethnically-split island. A spokeswoman for the Democratic Party said members of its executive committee decided to recommend to its key decision-making body withdrawal from the government which it has been a member of for a year. The central committee of the Democratic Party was scheduled to meet on February 26 to discuss the recommendation.

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