Yahoo! News: World News

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• Pro-Russia separatists take armor, humiliating Ukraine forces
• Survivors still alive on South Korean ferry: father
• China's Xi purging corrupt officials to put own men in place: sources
• Syrian opposition accuses Assad's forces of new poison gas attack
• Obama looks to salvage Asia 'pivot' as allies fret about China
• Iranian negotiators reject hardline criticism of nuclear talks
• West slams Russia 'fantasy narrative' on Ukraine
• Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT
• uFly fires flight simulator who appeared on CNN
• NATO ups military presence amid Russian threat
• Belgium coach Wilmots extends contract by 4 years
• Schoolchild on sinking South Korean ferry sends text message to father
• Bale leads Madrid 2-1 past Barca for Copa del Rey
• Anti-corruption judges to rule on Senegal ex-president's son
• Pro-Russian gunmen make inroads in eastern Ukraine
• Nigerian military says most of abducted schoolgirls freed, eight still missing
• Nicaragua arrests man in Wyoming woman's killing
• Brazil's leader holds wide lead six months from election: survey
• Famine threatens people of South Sudan, UN chief warns
• Guinea-Bissau run-off vote pits ex-finance minister Vaz against Nabiam
• Lawyers in 9/11 at Gitmo case seek to question FBI
• 20 killed as Islamic extremists rampage in Nigeria
• US readies sanctions on Russia, aid for Ukraine
• El Salvador to use terror charges against gangs
• Man City slips further out of title contention
• Crystal Palace beat Everton 3-2 to dent UCL hopes
• New U.S. sanctions against Russia likely after Geneva meeting
• City's title hopes hit with 2-2 draw vs Sunderland
• Syria most dangerous country for journalists
• Brazil unveils $11 billion in 'legacy' budget
• Spain evicts 7 illegal migrants from tiny island to Morocco
• Cuba publishes text of foreign investment law
• 2 House Dems pressing inquiry into VW vote
• Guinea-Bissau presidential vote goes to run-off
• Pro-Russian separatists attack interior ministry base in Ukraine

Pro-Russia separatists take armor, humiliating Ukraine forces Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:54 PM PDT By Stephanie Nebehay and Christian Lowe GENEVA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from East and West will try to defuse the Ukraine crisis on Thursday in Geneva, once frequently the scene of Cold War negotiations, but will risk being upstaged by Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Russian troops massed on the border with Ukraine, prospects of significant progress at the four-way talks appear slim. By contrast, what Putin says during his annual "hotline" session with the Russian people may have far greater influence on events in Ukraine's rebellious east. Thursday's talks will bring the ministers of Russia, Ukraine and the United States together with the European Union's foreign policy chief to discuss a crisis in which Kiev is struggling to reassert its authority in eastern towns largely controlled by armed pro-Russian separatists.

Survivors still alive on South Korean ferry: father Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:59 PM PDT By Narae Kim JINDO, South Korea (Reuters) - Several people appear to have survived in an air pocket of a capsized South Korean ferry, the father of one of the school children aboard the boat told a Reuters reporter accompanying families out to the scene of the disaster on Thursday. About 290 people are still missing out of 450 passengers on the Sewol ferry, which capsized in still-mysterious circumstances off the Korean peninsula on Wednesday in what could be the country's worst maritime accident in 20 years. Coastguard and navy divers resumed searching on Thursday after the ferry capsized in sight of land on a trip from the port city of Incheon to the holiday island of Jeju, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the peninsula. One parent, Park Yung-suk, told Reuters she had seen the body of her teenage daughter's teacher brought ashore earlier in the morning.

China's Xi purging corrupt officials to put own men in place: sources Posted: 16 Apr 2014 02:06 PM PDT By Benjamin Kang Lim and Megha Rajagopalan BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to use a purge of senior officials suspected of corruption to put his own men and reform-minded bureaucrats into key positions across the Communist Party, the government and the military, sources said. Xi hopes that removing corrupt officials and those resisting change will allow him to consolidate his grip on power and implement difficult economic, judicial and military reforms that he believes are vital to perpetuate one-party rule, said the sources, who have ties to the leadership. In the most far-reaching example of his intentions, Xi plans to promote about 200 progressive officials from the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, where he served as party boss from 2002 to 2007, to senior positions across the spectrum in the years ahead, two of them said. The biggest investigation Xi has ordered so far revolves around retired domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is under virtual house arrest.

Syrian opposition accuses Assad's forces of new poison gas attack Posted: 16 Apr 2014 12:07 PM PDT Opposition activists accused President Bashar al-Assad's forces of a new poison gas attack in the Syrian capital on Wednesday, posting footage of four men being treated by medics. They said the chemical attack, the fourth the opposition has reported this month, was in the Harasta neighborhood. A voice off-screen gave the date and said Assad's forces used "poison gas in Harasta." It did not say if there were fatalities. The voice off-screen said chemical weapons were also used in Harasta on Friday.

Obama looks to salvage Asia 'pivot' as allies fret about China Posted: 16 Apr 2014 10:51 AM PDT By Matt Spetalnick and Manuel Mogato WASHINGTON/MANILA (Reuters) - When a Philippine government ship evaded a Chinese blockade in disputed waters of the South China Sea last month, a U.S. Navy plane swooped in to witness the dramatic encounter. The flyover was a vivid illustration of the expanding significance of one of Asia's most strategic regions and underscored a message that senior U.S. officials say President Barack Obama will make in Asia next week: The "pivot" of U.S. military and diplomatic assets toward the Asia-Pacific region is real. Washington's Asian allies, however, appear unconvinced. During Obama's four-nation tour of Asia that begins on April 23, his toughest challenge will be to reassure skeptical leaders that the United States intends to be more than just a casual observer and instead is genuinely committed to countering an increasingly assertive China in the region.

Iranian negotiators reject hardline criticism of nuclear talks Posted: 16 Apr 2014 11:41 AM PDT By Michelle Moghtader ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Iranian hardliners stepped up criticism of Tehran's negotiations with world powers over its nuclear program on Wednesday, but negotiators defended the planned deal that could lead to an end to economic sanctions. The hardliners, unsettled by the shift to a more moderate foreign policy since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August, have repeatedly criticized the talks in recent months but Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs them. Iran and six world powers - the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China - struck an interim deal in November under which Tehran agreed to limit some of its nuclear work in return for the easing some sanctions imposed on Iran for its disputed atomic program.

West slams Russia 'fantasy narrative' on Ukraine Posted: 16 Apr 2014 05:07 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Western countries on the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday slammed what they called Russia's "fantasy narrative" on the crisis in Ukraine after a new report on the human rights situation there.

Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 16 Apr 2014 05:02 PM PDT MOKPO, South Korea (AP) — Koo Bon-hee could see the exit. For half an hour, as the doomed ferry filled with water and listed severely on its side, the crew told passengers to wait for rescuers. With their breathing room disappearing, the 36-year-old businessman and some of the other passengers floated to an exit and swam to a nearby fishing boat. But 290 of the 475 people aboard — many of them high school students on a class trip — were still missing after the ferry sank Wednesday off the southern coast of South Korea. Six were confirmed dead and 55 were injured.

uFly fires flight simulator who appeared on CNN Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:59 PM PDT TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian flight simulator business fired an instructor who figured prominently in CNN's coverage of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, saying he showed up late to his regular job and "shamed Canadians" by dressing like a teenager.

NATO ups military presence amid Russian threat Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:48 PM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO is strengthening its military footprint along its eastern border immediately in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the alliance's chief said Wednesday.

Belgium coach Wilmots extends contract by 4 years Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:47 PM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium's soccer federation has extended the contract of coach Marc Wilmots through the 2018 World Cup after he led the Red Devils to soccer's top tournament for the first time in a dozen years.

Schoolchild on sinking South Korean ferry sends text message to father Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:43 PM PDT People are still alive in a capsized South Korean ferry, the father of one of the schoolchildren trapped inside the upturned ship told Reuters on Thursday as families headed out to the disaster scene. Writing by David Chance;

Bale leads Madrid 2-1 past Barca for Copa del Rey Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:42 PM PDT VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Gareth Bale filled the void left by the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, sealing Real Madrid's 19th Copa del Rey title with a late goal in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Barcelona.

Anti-corruption judges to rule on Senegal ex-president's son Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:40 PM PDT Judges in Senegal are set to pronounce Thursday on the fate of ex-president Abdoulaye Wade's son Karim, detained for a year on corruption charges after accumulating a fortune worth more than $1 billion. The anti-corruption court in Dakar is expected to announce whether it intends to dismiss the case, order that the younger Wade be tried or extend his detention for a further six months. "Within 48 hours the court we will know if the trial will take place or not," Justice Minister Sidiki Kaba told lawmakers on Tuesday. He is alleged to have acquired companies and real estate valued at $1.4 billion (1 billion euros) by corrupt means, including land across Dakar, a fleet of luxury cars and a number of companies operating in west and central Africa, including media and finance firms.

Pro-Russian gunmen make inroads in eastern Ukraine Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:35 PM PDT SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — The well-armed, Moscow-backed insurgency sowing chaos in eastern Ukraine scored a new victory Wednesday, seizing armored vehicles and weapons from underequipped government forces, then rolling through two cities to a hero's welcome.

Nigerian military says most of abducted schoolgirls freed, eight still missing Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:33 PM PDT By Lanre Ola and Isaac Abrak MAIDUGURI/ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's military said on Wednesday its forces had freed most of the more than 100 teenage schoolgirls abducted by Islamist Boko Haram militants and were continuing the search for eight students still missing. In a brief statement sent to media, spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade said one of the "terrorists" involved in Monday's abduction of female students from the Chibok government secondary school in northeast Borno state had been captured. He did not specify exactly how many of the girls snatched from their school by the anti-government Islamist movement had been rescued or give details of how or where they were freed. A spokesman for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Aabati, told Reuters he had been informed some of the kidnapped girls had been freed but could not specify how many.

Nicaragua arrests man in Wyoming woman's killing Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:32 PM PDT MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — A man who confessed to robbing and killing a Wyoming woman found dead this week near a beach in northern Nicaragua has been arrested, authorities said Wednesday.

Brazil's leader holds wide lead six months from election: survey Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:30 PM PDT Despite a mushrooming scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras and bad news on the economic front, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is still the hands-down favorite to win the elections in October, according to a new poll on Wednesday. The survey last week by local polling firm Vox Populi indicated that rising inflation in a stagnant economy, coupled with bribery, money laundering and overpricing investigations at Petrobras have not undermined Rousseff's popularity as yet. The number of voters intending to back the left-leaning president for a second four-year term has fallen off just one percentage point since the previous Vox Populi poll in February. But the expected candidate of the main opposition party, centrist Senator Aécio Neves also slipped one percentage point to 16 percent, according to the poll published on the website of the news magazine Carta Capital.

Famine threatens people of South Sudan, UN chief warns Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:29 PM PDT United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Wednesday that more than one million people in South Sudan were at risk of famine.

Guinea-Bissau run-off vote pits ex-finance minister Vaz against Nabiam Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:28 PM PDT By Bate Felix and Alberto Dabo BISSAU (Reuters) - Jose Mario Vaz, Guinea-Bissau's former finance minister, will face Nuno Gomes Nabiam, a candidate seen closest to the army, in a May 18 presidential run-off due to complete the country's return to civilian rule. "Guinea-Bissau citizens have given a strong signal to the political class in coming out in huge numbers to exercise their civic rights," Augusto Mendes head of the election commission said on Wednesday, referring to a turnout of over 80 percent. Vaz, candidate of the dominant party African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), secured 40.99 percent of the votes in the first round, according to election commission figures. Nabiam, the former chair of Bissau's civil aviation agency, came second with 25.14 percent, the figures showed.

Lawyers in 9/11 at Gitmo case seek to question FBI Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:25 PM PDT GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — Lawyers for five men charged in the Sept. 11 attack are seeking to question the FBI about an apparent investigation of defense team personnel in the case.

20 killed as Islamic extremists rampage in Nigeria Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:19 PM PDT ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Suspected Islamic militants have struck for a fourth time in three days in Nigeria, killing 20 people including a traditional ruler in attacks in the northeast, local government and security officials said Wednesday.

US readies sanctions on Russia, aid for Ukraine Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:04 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is preparing to ratchet up sanctions on Russia and boost assistance for the Ukrainian military in the coming days, U.S. officials said Wednesday, as Ukraine struggles to contain a pro-Russian uprising in its eastern cities.

El Salvador to use terror charges against gangs Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:48 PM PDT El Salvador's government on Wednesday said it would charge gang members who attack police and military personnel under anti-terrorism laws, which impose longer prison sentences, to crack down on rising homicides in the poor Central American nation. Justice Minister Ricardo Perdomo blamed a faction of the country's Barrio 18 gang for ordering attacks against government troops, saying there had been 60 so far this year. A truce between the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang and rival Barrio 18 had cut the murder rate in El Salvador down to a 10-year low in mid-2013, but homicides started climbing again.

Man City slips further out of title contention Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:41 PM PDT MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Premier League trophy could be out of reach for Manchester City after a 2-2 home draw with last-placed Sunderland on Wednesday that capped a demoralizing four days for title chasers.

Crystal Palace beat Everton 3-2 to dent UCL hopes Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:37 PM PDT LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Crystal Palace dented Everton's hopes of Champions League football next season following a 3-2 away win in the English Premier League on Wednesday.

New U.S. sanctions against Russia likely after Geneva meeting Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:36 PM PDT By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. sanctions punishing Russia for its actions in Ukraine are likely to be announced as early as Friday if, as expected, a meeting between top foreign ministers in Geneva fails to produce significant progress. U.S. officials said they did not foresee a big breakthrough at the talks on Thursday between Russian, Ukrainian, U.S. and EU foreign ministers about the crisis, which was triggered by the February overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovich, after weeks of protests. The officials, speaking to reporters on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said it was reasonable to assume more sanctions would follow that meeting. The United States and the European Union so far have imposed only targeted sanctions against a list of Russian and Ukrainian individuals and firms in retaliation for Moscow's seizure and quick annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, completed last month.

City's title hopes hit with 2-2 draw vs Sunderland Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:31 PM PDT MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City's hopes of winning the Premier League took a big hit with a 2-2 draw at home to last-place Sunderland on Wednesday, with the title chasers needing an 88th-minute goal from Samir Nasri to earn a point.

Syria most dangerous country for journalists Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:21 PM PDT Syria is the world's most dangerous country for journalists a US-based watchdog said Wednesday as it published its annual impunity index tracking unsolved killings of reporters. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported a "rising number of targeted killings" of reporters in Syria as a recent threat to journalists operating in the war-torn country. "With unprecedented numbers of abductions and high rates of fatalities in combat and crossfire, Syria was already the world's most dangerous country for journalists," CPJ said.

Brazil unveils $11 billion in 'legacy' budget Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:15 PM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian government officials announced Wednesday that almost $11 billion (24.1 billion Brazilian reals) will be spent on major transportation and environmental projects, which they argue are not related to holding the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Spain evicts 7 illegal migrants from tiny island to Morocco Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:13 PM PDT Spain on Wednesday sent back to Morocco seven sub-Saharan African migrants who arrived at an uninhabited Spanish island near the Moroccan coast on an inflatable boat, officials said. The migrants were spotted by Spanish soldiers on Tuesday shortly after they landed on Congress Island about four kilometres (2.5 miles) off Morocco. The soldiers gave the migrants food and water and they were returned to Morocco after medical checks determined they were in good health, the Spanish government's representative in Melilla, which is close to the island, said in a statement. Spain has two exclaves on Africa's northern Mediterranean coast, Melilla and Ceuta, and several tiny islands off it.

Cuba publishes text of foreign investment law Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:08 PM PDT HAVANA (AP) — Cuba on Wednesday published the full language of a new law that seeks to make it more attractive for foreign investors to bring badly needed capital to the island, but provides less advantage for projects that are 100 percent foreign-financed.

2 House Dems pressing inquiry into VW vote Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:08 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The fight over whether workers at a Volkswagen plant in the state of Tennessee can unionize is moving to Washington.

Guinea-Bissau presidential vote goes to run-off Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:08 PM PDT Guinea-Bissau's presidential election will go to a second round between the main party's candidate and the army-backed hopeful, the election commission said Wednesday, after no one secured a majority in the crunch poll. Jose Mario Vaz of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) came first in Sunday's ballot with 40.9 percent of the vote while runner-up Nuno Gomes Nabiam garnered 25.1 percent. Almost three-quarters of Guinea-Bissau's eligible voters turned out for the watershed elections, called to turn the page on years of political instability and military violence. Guinea-Bissau has seen four decades of chaos marked by a series of mutinies since it won independence from Portugal, and commentators have called for the new regime to finally bring the military into line.

Pro-Russian separatists attack interior ministry base in Ukraine Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:07 PM PDT Ukrainian national guard soldiers fired shots in the air when a crowd of pro-Russian separatists attacked their base in the east of the country on Wednesday, the interior ministry said in a statement. A crowd of armed protesters arrived at the base and demanded that the national guard troops back their revolt against the country's new pro-Western government, the statement said. When the crowd refused to disperse and tried to enter the base, the national guard troops shot into the air, the statement said. Pro-Russian separatists have taken over buildings in at least 10 cities in Eastern Ukraine, attacks the Ukrainian government has said are orchestrated by Russian agents.

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