Yahoo! News: World News

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• Search for missing Malaysia plane set to move to sea floor
• Pro-Moscow protesters seize arms, declare republic; Kiev fears invasion
• Iran hopes nuclear deal drafting can start by mid-May
• U.S. presses on with Middle East talks rescue attempt
• Two foreign U.N. workers killed in Somalia
• Valls seeks reform boost with French confidence vote
• UN rights expert urges debt relief for Philippines
• Samsung's 1Q profit falls 4 percent
• Smooth Afghan election raises questions about Taliban's strength
• Venezuelan TV journalist kidnapped by armed men
• Study: US travelers to Cuba continues to rise
• French prosecutor wants British ski instructor in prison
• Defense rests case in Texas shoe stabbing trial
• Mamma Mia: ABBA mark 40 years since breakthrough
• Angered by Iran pick, Senate OKs denying visas
• Angered by Iran pick, Senate OKs denying visa
• In blind test, soloists like new violins over old
• Canadian charged in webcam attack found guilty
• Florida pastor on trial in NYC fake Hirst art case
• Peaches Geldof dies unexpectedly at age 25
• Roadside bomb kills 15 people in Afghanistan
• Mexican prosecutors detain top state official
• Britain's Osborne unveils Brazil investment push
• Egypt court upholds prison terms for protest leaders  
• Fight recreated in Texas stiletto stabbing case
• Some Haitian quake displaced camps growing again
• Two foreign UN consultants shot dead in central Somalia
• Cuba slashes more than 100,000 health care jobs
• Canadian solo yachtsman rescued from Pacific
• Vietnam dissident released, arrives in US
• Pro-Russians call east Ukraine region independent
• US institute: Water woes endanger NKorea reactor
• US pastor on trial in NYC fake Hirst art case
• Institute: Water woes endanger NKorea reactor
• Bilbao wins 2-1 at Levante to stay 4th in Spain
• Honeymoon slaying suspect extradited to S Africa

Search for missing Malaysia plane set to move to sea floor Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:48 PM PDT Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, said the month-long hunt was at a critical stage given the black box recorder batteries were dying - or had died. An Australian ship that picked up signals consistent with the beacons from aircraft black box recorders over the weekend had not registered any further pulses, Houston said. "The locator beacon has a shelf life of 30 days and we are now passed that time and as a consequence there is a chance that the locator beacon is about to cease transmission, or has ceased transmission," Houston told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

Pro-Moscow protesters seize arms, declare republic; Kiev fears invasion Posted: 07 Apr 2014 02:09 PM PDT By Richard Balmforth and Lina Kushch KIEV/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Moscow protesters in eastern Ukraine seized arms in one city and declared a separatist republic in another, in moves Kiev described on Monday as part of a Russian-orchestrated plan to justify an invasion to dismember the country. Kiev said the overnight seizure of public buildings in three cities in eastern Ukraine's mainly Russian-speaking industrial heartland were a replay of events in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow seized and annexed last month. "An anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation ... under which foreign troops will cross the border and seize the territory of the country," Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said in public remarks to his cabinet. "We will not allow this." Pro-Russian protesters seized official buildings in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk on Sunday night, demanding that referendums be held on whether to join Russia like the one that preceded Moscow's takeover of Crimea.

Iran hopes nuclear deal drafting can start by mid-May Posted: 07 Apr 2014 09:37 AM PDT By Parisa Hafezi and Fredrik Dahl VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran said it hopes enough progress will be made with major powers this week to enable negotiators to start drafting by mid-May a final accord to settle a long-running dispute over its nuclear program. The Islamic Republic and six world powers will hold a new round of talks in Vienna on Tuesday and Wednesday intended to reach a comprehensive agreement by July 20 on how to resolve a decade-old standoff that has stirred fears of a Middle East war. "We will finish all discussions and issues this time to pave the ground for starting to draft the final draft in Ordibehesht (an Iranian month that begins in two weeks)," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said upon arrival in Vienna. A U.S. official gave a similar timetable last week, voicing hope that the drafting of an agreement could begin in May. Iran says its enrichment program is a peaceful bid to generate electricity and has ruled out shutting any of its nuclear facilities.

U.S. presses on with Middle East talks rescue attempt Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:18 PM PDT By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. efforts to save Middle East peace talks from collapse showed little sign of progress on Monday amid threats from Israel to retaliate for what it saw as unilateral Palestinian moves towards statehood. The U.S.-brokered negotiations plunged into crisis last week after Israel, demanding a Palestinian commitment to continue talking after the end of the month, failed to carry out a promised release of about two dozen Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded by signing 15 global treaties, including the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war and occupations, on behalf of the State of Palestine, a defiant move that surprised Washington and angered Israel. Secretary of State John Kerry signaled on Friday he may scale back his intense mediating efforts due to "unhelpful actions" by Israel and the Palestinians, saying it was time for a "reality check" and Washington would re-evaluate its role.

Two foreign U.N. workers killed in Somalia Posted: 07 Apr 2014 02:55 PM PDT By Abdiqani Hassan BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - A Briton and a Frenchman working for the United Nations were shot dead on Monday at an airport in north-central Somalia, officials said. A U.N. mission spokesman said it was not clear who was behind the killings. Abdi Idris, an official in the semi-autonomous Puntland region which administers the airport, gave the nationalities of the two men and said they worked as consultants for the U.N. anti-drugs agency. The United Nations, which has spent billions of dollars in Somalia since the outbreak of civil war in 1991, has often been targeted by warring clan factions, most recently by al Qaeda-aligned Islamist group al Shabaab.

Valls seeks reform boost with French confidence vote Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:07 PM PDT New Prime Minister Manuel Valls will test France's political will to reform on Tuesday in a confidence vote that will determine whether the government can push ahead with a competitiveness drive. Valls, appointed by President Francois Hollande last week after the ruling Socialists suffered an election rout, is to launch plans to phase out 30 billion euros ($41 billion) in payroll tax on companies in exchange for hiring. Valls, one of France's most popular politicians, is to outline his priorities in his first major policy speech at 15:00 (1300 GMT), before the confidence vote.

UN rights expert urges debt relief for Philippines Posted: 07 Apr 2014 05:02 PM PDT A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged international creditors to cancel the Philippines' debt and give it unconditional grant aid instead of new loans to fund massive post-typhoon reconstruction. The Southeast Asian country, hit hard five months ago by Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest storms to make landfall anywhere -- estimated the total cost of a four-year reconstruction effort could surpass the current estimate of 361 billion pesos ($8 billion). The Philippines' outstanding external debt was $58.5 billion at the end of 2013, according to the central bank. "I welcome the international support provided to the Philippines in the aftermath of the cyclone, but am concerned that more than $22 million leaves the country every day, paying off overseas debts," Cephas Lumina said.

Samsung's 1Q profit falls 4 percent Posted: 07 Apr 2014 05:01 PM PDT SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. says its January-March operating income has declined 4 percent over a year earlier.

Smooth Afghan election raises questions about Taliban's strength Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:59 PM PDT By John Chalmers and Maria Golovnina KABUL (Reuters) - A bigger-than-expected turnout in Afghanistan's presidential election and the Taliban's failure to significantly disrupt the vote have raised questions about the capacity of the insurgents to tip the country back into chaos as foreign troops head home. The Taliban claimed that they staged more than 1,000 attacks and killed dozens during Saturday's election, which they have branded a U.S.-backed deception of the Afghan people, though security officials said it was a gross exaggeration. There were dozens of minor roadside bombs, and attacks on polling stations, police and voters during the day. But the overall level of violence was much lower than the Taliban had threatened to unleash on the country.

Venezuelan TV journalist kidnapped by armed men Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:59 PM PDT CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The father of a Venezuelan TV journalist says his daughter has been kidnapped by armed, masked men in the western section of the capital of Caracas.

Study: US travelers to Cuba continues to rise Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:57 PM PDT MIAMI (AP) — The number of U.S. visitors to Cuba continues to rise, even as the more than five-decade long embargo remains firmly in place, according to study released Monday.

French prosecutor wants British ski instructor in prison Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:48 PM PDT Bonneville (France) (AFP) - A French prosecutor called Monday for a one-year sentence and a 10,000-euro ($14,000) fine for a British ski instructor charged with teaching without proper qualifications in one of France's poshest ski resorts. The case against Simon Butler, who has been teaching clients how to ski in the French Alps for more than 30 years, goes to the heart of Europe's labour laws and has sparked outrage in his native country. Despite having the highest-rated British ski instructor's licence, Butler has stubbornly refused to obtain qualifications needed to teach in France, in the face of repeated convictions and fines.

Defense rests case in Texas shoe stabbing trial Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:46 PM PDT HOUSTON (AP) — Attorneys for a U.S. woman accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend with her stiletto heel used a martial arts expert Monday to demonstrate for jurors how they believe she was attacked on the night of the killing.

Mamma Mia: ABBA mark 40 years since breakthrough Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:35 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Four decades on from the flares, fame and fabulousness, the members of ABBA say they have no regrets — not even about the clothes.

Angered by Iran pick, Senate OKs denying visas Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:29 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a bill Monday to bar a former hostage-taker tapped to be Iran's ambassador to the United Nations from entering the United States.

Angered by Iran pick, Senate OKs denying visa Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:19 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate approved a bill Monday to block a former hostage-taker chosen to be Iran's ambassador to the United Nations from entering the United States.

In blind test, soloists like new violins over old Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:17 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten world-class soloists put costly Stradivarius violins and new, cheaper ones to a blind scientific test. The results may seem off-key to musicians and collectors, but the new instruments won handily.

Canadian charged in webcam attack found guilty Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:09 PM PDT TORONTO (AP) — A man accused of attacking a Chinese student in her Toronto apartment as her ex-boyfriend watched via webcam from China was convicted of first-degree murder Monday after jurors deliberated for four hours.

Florida pastor on trial in NYC fake Hirst art case Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:08 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A Miami pastor knowingly peddled phony examples of some of British art star Damien Hirst's signature themes, prosecutors said in summing up his trial Monday, but the defense claims he was just an art-market novice who couldn't read red flags about the pieces' authenticity.

Peaches Geldof dies unexpectedly at age 25 Posted: 07 Apr 2014 04:03 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Model and media personality Peaches Geldof, the second daughter of Irish singer Bob Geldof and member of a talented, troubled family who grew up in the glare of Britain's tabloid press, was found dead Monday at age 25.

Roadside bomb kills 15 people in Afghanistan Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:56 PM PDT KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — A roadside bomb killed at least 15 people traveling in vehicles that had been diverted from a main road Monday after an earlier attack in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Mexican prosecutors detain top state official Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:56 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's top federal prosecutor says that the interior secretary of Michoacan state apparently met with the leaders of the Knights Templar drug cartel.

Britain's Osborne unveils Brazil investment push Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:53 PM PDT British finance minister George Osborne unveiled plans Monday to ramp up exports to Latin America, as he embarked on a visit to World Cup and Olympic hosts Brazil. Despite the Latin American giant of some 200 million being the world's seventh-largest economy, Brazil was the destination of just one percent of British exports last year -- leaving Britain trailing behind EU neighbors Germany, France and Italy. "For decades, we have not been exporting enough -- not just to Brazil, but to all the fastest growing markets in the world, so I am confronting that historic weakness head-on," Osborne told business leaders. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said Britain aims to ensure a lasting infrastructure investment legacy from the partnership Britain struck with Brazil when it handed on the Olympic torch from London to Rio in 2012.

Egypt court upholds prison terms for protest leaders   Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:42 PM PDT An Egyptian appeals court on Monday upheld three-year prison sentences for three prominent activists charged with violating a controversial law restricting protests. The three, including the founder of the April 6 movement Ahmed Maher, rose to prominence in the 2011 uprising that toppled veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak. The interim government installed after the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July jailed the activists for violating a law it had passed banning all but police-sanctioned protests. Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma were charged with organising an unauthorised and violent protest in November, days after the passage of the law.

Fight recreated in Texas stiletto stabbing case Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:40 PM PDT HOUSTON (AP) — Attorneys for a Texas woman accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend with her stiletto heel brought in a martial arts expert to demonstrate for jurors at her trial how they believe she was attacked on the night of the killing.

Some Haitian quake displaced camps growing again Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:40 PM PDT PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Many of the camps for Haitians displaced by the 2010 earthquake are growing again, even as the overall population of people displaced by the disaster is falling, according to a study released Monday.

Two foreign UN consultants shot dead in central Somalia Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:35 PM PDT A Briton and a Frenchman working for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime were shot dead Monday as they disembarked from a plane in central Somalia, officials and witnesses said. The pair were shot inside the airport in Galkayo, a city straddling the border between Somalia proper and the northern self-proclaimed state of Puntland. The head of counter-piracy in Puntland told reporters that the two victims, whose names were not immediately released, were on a visit to discuss Somalia's controversial money transfer system. France's President Francois Hollande confirmed that one fatality had been French, as he condemned the "cowardly assassination" of people "working, in the name of the international community, for peace".

Cuba slashes more than 100,000 health care jobs Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:34 PM PDT HAVANA (AP) — Cuban authorities say they have eliminated more than 100,000 jobs in health care, considered one of the pillars of the 1959 revolution.

Canadian solo yachtsman rescued from Pacific Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:34 PM PDT A Canadian solo sailor was rescued from his sinking yacht after five days adrift in the Pacific battling rough weather, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said Tuesday. A Swedish-flagged car-carrier, the Fidelio, made a 370-kilometre (230-mile) mercy dash to pluck him from the ocean some 2,300 kilometres north-east of Auckland, MNZ said. The plane spotted the yacht and diverted the Auckland-bound Fidelio to pick up the sailor. Rescue coordinator Dave Wilson said the man, who has not been identified but is from British Columbia, hit trouble on Thursday, when his yacht sprang a leak in a storm.

Vietnam dissident released, arrives in US Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:28 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent Vietnamese dissident whose father was an associate of the nation's founding president Ho Chi Minh arrived in the U.S. Monday after being released from prison by Vietnam, the State Department said.

Pro-Russians call east Ukraine region independent Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:27 PM PDT DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Moscow activists barricaded inside government buildings in eastern Ukraine proclaimed their regions independent Monday and called for a referendum on seceding from Ukraine — an ominous echo of the events that led to Russia's annexation of Crimea.

US institute: Water woes endanger NKorea reactor Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:26 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea may have temporarily shut down a plutonium reactor earlier this year as it wrestled with water supply problems that could threaten the safety of its nuclear complex, a U.S. research institute said Monday.

US pastor on trial in NYC fake Hirst art case Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:19 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — A Miami pastor is on trial in New York on charges of knowingly offering faked works of British art star Damien Hirst to a buyer who was actually an undercover officer.

Institute: Water woes endanger NKorea reactor Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:17 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea may have temporarily shut down a plutonium reactor earlier this year as it grappled with water supply problems that could threaten the safety of its nuclear complex, a U.S. research institute said Monday.

Bilbao wins 2-1 at Levante to stay 4th in Spain Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:13 PM PDT VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Striker Aritz Aduriz scored two goals to help Athletic Bilbao win 2-1 at Levante on Monday, strengthening the Basque side's hold on fourth place in the Spanish league.

Honeymoon slaying suspect extradited to S Africa Posted: 07 Apr 2014 03:06 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — A British man accused of arranging the slaying of his wife on their honeymoon was extradited Monday to South Africa to face a murder charge.

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