| Malaysia military source says missing jet veered to west Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:40 PM PDT  By Niluksi Koswanage and Eveline Danubrata KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's military believes a jetliner missing for almost four days turned and flew hundreds of kilometers to the west after it last made contact with civilian air traffic control off the country's east coast, a senior officer told Reuters on Tuesday. In one of the most baffling mysteries in recent aviation history, a massive search operation for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER has so far found no trace of the aircraft or the 239 passengers and crew. Malaysian authorities have said previously that Flight MH370 disappeared about an hour after it took off early Saturday from Kuala Lumpur bound for the Chinese capital, Beijing. But a senior military officer who has been briefed on investigations told Reuters the aircraft had made a detour to the west after communications with civilian authorities ended.
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| Ukraine appeals to West as Crimea turns to Russia Posted: 11 Mar 2014 01:42 PM PDT By Andrew Osborn and Alastair Macdonald SEVASTOPOL/KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's government appealed for Western help on Tuesday to stop Moscow annexing Crimea but the Black Sea peninsula, overrun by Russian troops, seemed fixed on a course that could formalize rule from Moscow within days. With their own troops in Crimea effectively prisoners in their bases, the new authorities in Kiev painted a sorry picture of the military bequeathed them by the pro-Moscow president overthrown two weeks ago. They announced the raising of a new National Guard to be drawn from volunteers among veterans. The prime minister, heading for talks at the White House and United Nations, told parliament in Kiev he wanted the United States and Britain, as guarantors of a 1994 treaty that saw Ukraine give up its Soviet nuclear weapons, to intervene both diplomatically and militarily to fend off Russian "aggression". |
| Libyan parliament sacks PM after tanker escapes rebel-held port Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:47 PM PDT  By Ulf Laessing and Feras Bosalum TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's parliament voted Prime Minister Ali Zeidan out of office on Tuesday after rebels humiliated the government by loading crude on a tanker that fled from naval forces, officials said, in a sign of the worsening chaos in the OPEC member state. Libyan gunboats later chased the tanker along Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast and opened fire, damaging it, a military spokesman said. Western powers fear the vast North African state could even break apart with the government struggling to rein in armed militias and tribesmen who helped oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but want to grab power and oil revenues. Zeidan, who came to power in 2012 after Libya's first free parliamentary vote following four decades of quirky one-man rule by Gaddafi, had been facing opposition from Islamists and the public blaming him for Libya's anarchic transition since 2011.
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| Bachelet takes power in Chile, vows to fight inequality Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT  By Alexandra Ulmer and Anthony Esposito VALPARAISO/SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Michelle Bachelet took over the presidency of Chile in a ceremony loaded with symbolism on Tuesday, promising to stick to her tax-and-spend campaign pledges to fight social inequality despite a sharp economic slowdown. Bachelet accepted the presidential sash from Senate head Isabel Allende, the daughter of late socialist President Salvador Allende, whose overthrow in 1973 ushered in the 17-year dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. ...
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| Death of Turkish boy hurt in protests rekindles unrest across country Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:24 PM PDT  By Daren Butler and Parisa Hafezi ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - Protesters clashed with police in cities across Turkey on Tuesday after the death of a 15-year-old boy who was hit in the head by a tear-gas canister during anti-government demonstrations last summer. Police unleashed water cannon and tear gas on thousands of demonstrators, another pre-election headache for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as he battles a corruption scandal that has become one of the biggest challenges of his decade in power. Istanbul and Ankara have both seen protests in recent weeks against what demonstrators regard as Erdogan's authoritarian reaction to the graft affair, which has included new laws tightening Internet controls and handing government greater influence over the appointment of judges and prosecutors. Berkin Elvan, then 14, got caught up in street battles in Istanbul between police and protesters on June 16 while going to buy bread for his family.
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| Italian parliament inches towards approving electoral reform Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:43 PM PDT  By Roberto Landucci ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers edged closer on Tuesday to approving a new electoral law seen as a test of new Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's ability to enact broad structural reforms needed to end government instability in Italy. Overhauling the complicated voting system blamed for leaving Italy with a deadlocked parliament has been a top priority for Renzi since he became leader of the main center-left Democratic Party (PD) last year. The new law, designed after an agreement between Renzi and center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, is intended to produce a clear winner able to govern without the kind of unwieldy cross-party coalition left by last year's inconclusive election. Renzi had been pushing hard to get the bill through the Chamber of Deputies lower house before he unveils a package of tax and job measures on Wednesday.
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| Soldiers clear barricades in western Venezuela Posted: 11 Mar 2014 05:01 PM PDT  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — At least three people were injured Tuesday in the central Venezuela city of Barquisimeto when student protesters blocking streets were attacked by unknown gunmen, a university official in the city said.
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| Atletico beats Milan 4-1 to reach Champs quarters Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:57 PM PDT  MADRID (AP) — Diego Costa's breakout season continued to be the catalyst to Atletico Madrid's success as it beat AC Milan 4-1 to reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday for the first time since 1997.
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| Iranian people-smuggling link as Malaysia jet search widens Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:44 PM PDT  Two suspect men who flew on a missing Malaysian airliner appear to have been Iranian illegal immigrants, officials said Tuesday, lessening fears of terrorism but shedding no light on the fate of the plane's 239 passengers and crew. On the fourth day of a multinational search at sea and on land, relatives desperate for news of loved ones aboard Malaysia Airlines MH370 said their hopes for a miracle were ebbing away. Authorities have doubled the search radius to 100 nautical miles (equivalent to 185 kilometres) around the point where the Boeing 777 disappeared from radar over the South China Sea early Saturday, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The 34-year-old son of Malaysian security guard Subramaniam Gurusamy was on the flight to do business in Beijing for an oil company.
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| In Bermuda, officials vow to conserve Sargasso Sea Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:36 PM PDT HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — The U.S., Britain, Monaco and the Azores have joined Bermuda in signing a non-binding declaration to collaborate on conservation of the Sargasso Sea, the ecologically rich waters in the mid-Atlantic. |
| Al-Qaeda convict flew into Britain wearing shoe-bomb Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:36 PM PDT  New York (AFP) - A British terror convict flew from Pakistan to London wearing a shoe-bomb that he was supposed to detonate on a US passenger jet, a New York trial heard Tuesday.
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| Wenger slams Robben as Arsenal exit Europe Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:31 PM PDT  Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed Wojciech Szczesny's first-leg red card for the Gunners' Champions League last 16 exit and slammed Arjen Robben for provoking the red card as the Gunners bowed out at Bayern Munich.
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| Ricciardo's move to Red Bull may be too soon Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:22 PM PDT With new regulations and preseason testing already difficult, Red Bull has added stress about whether Daniel Ricciardo has what it takes to drive alongside Sebastian Vettel. |
| California drought means 30 million salmon may be trucked to sea Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:21 PM PDT By Laila Kearney SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's record drought has left the Sacramento River so low that wildlife officials say they may have to carry all 30 million young salmon from the state's largest man-made hatcheries to the Pacific Ocean in trucks to avoid depleting the stock. That is roughly three times the amount of salmon that are trucked out of the biggest hatcheries in a typical year, reflecting the severity of a drought that has prompted the governor to declare an emergency and warn of possible water shortages. ... |
| Ferrari's revival tested by intriguing partnership Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:21 PM PDT  The biggest rivalry of the Formula One season might be found on the same team, with former world champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen racing with and against each other for Ferrari.
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| 2014 Formula One Teams and Drivers Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:20 PM PDT Teams and drivers for the 2014 Formula One championship: |
| New era promises shake-up in Formula One Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:20 PM PDT  For jaded Formula One fans weary of Sebastian Vettel's dominance, an overdue shake-up is coming.
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| British shoe-bomb plotter says he flew with bomb Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — A British man testifying in the terror trial of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law said Tuesday he flew on planes over the Middle East and Europe with explosives in a shoe after the Sept. 11 attacks but didn't detonate them because he was saving the bomb for an attack over America.
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| British opposition leader outlines EU referendum plans Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PDT  London (AFP) - The leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Tuesday pledged to hold a vote on the country's membership of the European Union only if the bloc legislated to transfer more powers from London.
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| Pope's Franciscans kick-start fundraising effort Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:10 PM PDT  ROME (AP) — Pope Francis' namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, founded his order of mendicant friars in the 13th century after receiving a calling from God to "rebuild my church." Some 800 years later, St. Francis' followers are rebuilding his church in the ancient tradition of door-to-door begging that St. Francis championed — but with a very modern twist.
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| Chile's Bachelet sworn in again as president Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:08 PM PDT  VALPARAISO, Chile (AP) — Michelle Bachelet may be older and wiser than she was eight years ago when she first assumed Chile's presidency, but chances are that leading her restive nation won't be any easier this time around.
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| Bayern draws with Arsenal to reach CL quarters Posted: 11 Mar 2014 04:03 PM PDT  MUNICH (AP) — Club president Uli Hoeness' trial overshadowed a subdued performance as Bayern Munich drew 1-1 with Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 aggregate win from the round-of-16 on Tuesday.
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| West Indies beat England to take series Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:56 PM PDT  Bridgetown (Barbados) (AFP) - West Indies rallied from a middle-order wobble to romp to a series-clinching five-wicket victory over England in the second Twenty20 International of the three-match series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Tuesday.
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| Ways eyed to make planes easier to find in ocean Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:56 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly five years, government and industry officials have been exploring ways to make it easier to find airliners and their critical "black boxes" that end up in the ocean. But their efforts are too late to help in the case of a Malaysia Airlines jet that disappeared over the weekend.
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| Bayern advance, but Arsenal earn draw in Munich Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:54 PM PDT  Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Holders Bayern Munich booked their place in the Champions League's quarter-finals, despite Arsenal earning a 1-1 draw in Bavaria in Tuesday's last 16, second-leg clash. A second-half Bastian Schweinsteiger goal gave Bayern a brief lead before Arsenal's Lukas Podolski equalised with a thunderbolt of a shot as the tie finished 3-1 on aggregate. "We put in a very, very good first-half and controlled the game by giving away no goal chances," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.
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| Conservatives march to demand recount in Salvador Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:51 PM PDT  SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Police blocked hundreds of supporters of the conservative candidate in El Salvador's presidential election from reaching a hotel where electoral authorities were doing a final count Monday for the razor-thin runoff contest.
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| Caribbean nations agree to seek slavery reparations from Europe Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:34 PM PDT By Aileen Torres-Bennett KINGSTON (Reuters) - Caribbean leaders are moving forward with a plan to seek reparations from the former slave-owning states of Europe, according to a lawyer for the island nations. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) approved a 10-point plan for reparations at a two-day meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that was due to wrap up on Tuesday, said Martyn Day, a U.K.-based lawyer at Leigh Day, who is working on the case. ... |
| CIA accused: Senator sees torture probe meddling Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:28 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary public accusation, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee declared on Tuesday that the CIA interfered with and then tried to intimidate a congressional investigation into the agency's possible use of torture in terror probes during the Bush administration.
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| Windies tops England by 5 wickets, wins T20 series Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:28 PM PDT  BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Medium-pacer Krishmar Santokie claimed 4-21 to limit England and captain Darren Sammy slammed an unbeaten 30 off nine balls to power West Indies home by five wickets in the second Twenty20 on Tuesday.
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| Libya PM ousted after tanker escapes to sea with rebel oil Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:16 PM PDT  Libya's premier was ousted by parliament Tuesday after a tanker laden with crude oil from a rebel-held terminal broke through a naval blockade and escaped to sea, underscoring the weakness of the central government. A no-confidence motion was approved by 124 of the 194 members of the General National Congress, four more than the majority required, MPs said. The ousted prime minister, Ali Zeidan, was temporarily replaced by Defence Minister Abdullah al-Thani, who was sworn in as caretaker premier until a permanent replacement can be chosen within two weeks, a GNC statement said. Libya's top prosecutor late Tuesday slapped a travel ban on Zeidan because of his suspected involvement in the embezzlement of public funds, according to a document published on his office's Facebook page.
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| West must act to stop Crimea annexation: Klitschko aide Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:15 PM PDT  Western nations -- especially the EU -- must act to stop Russia annexing Crimea, which would deal a serious blow to Europe's security, a top advisor to Ukrainian presidential hopeful Vitali Klitschko said Tuesday. "The West should act now without any procrastination," said Oleh Shamshur, a former deputy foreign minister and ex-ambassador to the US. "If Crimea is annexed by Russia, the post Cold War-system architecture for the European security is gone in flames," he told the German Marshall Fund think tank in Washington.
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| Europe wants its Parmesan back, seeks name change Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:05 PM PDT  WASHINGTON (AP) — Would Parmesan by any other name be as tasty atop your pasta? A ripening trade battle might put that to the test.
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| IMF funding issue delays U.S. Congress Ukraine bill Posted: 11 Mar 2014 03:05 PM PDT By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers debated on Tuesday whether to include a shift in funding for the International Monetary Fund in a bill to address the crisis in Ukraine, raising concerns that the measure could be delayed for weeks. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had hoped to vote on Tuesday on a package that aides said would include aid for Ukraine and sanctions, as well as $1 billion in loan guarantees. Members have been unable to agree on the IMF funding, which was requested by the Obama administration but is opposed by many Republican lawmakers. ... |
| Offensive in Somalia sees militants flee 5 towns Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:54 PM PDT MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Columns of African Union and Somali troops are moving deeper into land controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants, forcing fighters to flee from five towns in quick succession in a further squeezing of al-Shabab's strongholds. |
| Bomb explodes near Israeli embassy in Cairo, no one hurt Posted: 11 Mar 2014 02:52 PM PDT  CAIRO (Reuters) - A home-made bomb exploded in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo on Tuesday, but no one was hurt, security sources and the website of state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said. The office has not been used by Israeli diplomats for at least two years, following a September 2011 attack on the embassy. Security sources said the explosion targeted a police car parked nearby, rather than the embassy itself and did not cause any injuries. Egypt became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. ...
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