| Ukraine warns of 'abyss' as rebel east approaches self-rule vote Posted: 10 May 2014 02:12 PM PDT  By Matt Robinson and Alessandra Prentice MARIUPOL/SLAVIANSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian leader Oleksander Turchinov warned pro-Russian eastern regions they would be stepping into the abyss if they voted for self-rule on Sunday in a referendum that has raised Western fears of a slide to full civil war. Barricades of tires and scrap metal blocked streets in the port city of Mariupol and in Slaviansk, centers of an uprising that has unleashed the worst crisis between the West and Russia since the Cold War. There was a clash between army and rebels near Slaviansk late on Saturday, but fighting had largely abated. For a vote on which so much hangs, the referendum in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which has declared itself a \"People's Republic\", seems a decidedly ad hoc affair.
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| North Korea renews threat of nuclear test Posted: 10 May 2014 02:26 PM PDT  North Korea renewed a threat on Saturday to conduct a nuclear test amid heightened concern that the reclusive state with a stockpile of missiles may set off an atomic device for the fourth time on the path to building a nuclear arsenal. North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was justified in using all available means at its disposal to counter aggressive challenges by the United States and South Korea aimed at stifling its sovereignty. North Korea clarifies \"its resolute stand that it would take counter-measures including nuclear test to protect the sovereignty and dignity,\" the newspaper said in a commentary carried by the official KCNA news agency. The threat comes days after statements by South Korea's defense minister that preparations for a new test appear to be near completion although analysis by an American think tank last week suggested a test may not be imminent.
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| Venezuela's Maduro rails at 'stupid' U.S. sanctions calls Posted: 10 May 2014 01:50 PM PDT  By Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reacted furiously to calls in the United States for punitive measures against his government for alleged rights abuses in response to three months of street protests. Some U.S. lawmakers are urging sanctions on Venezuelan officials, or even wider measures against the economy, but President Barack Obama's government has said that may harm prospects for political reconciliation here.
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| Egypt charges 200 Islamist militants with bombings, other violence Posted: 10 May 2014 12:58 PM PDT Egypt's public prosecutor charged 200 suspected Islamist militants on Saturday with \"founding, leading and joining a terrorist organization\" and launching bomb and rocket attacks across the country. The accused belong to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, or Supporters of Jerusalem, a group that has claimed some of the deadliest attacks of the last nine months and is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States. Militant violence has spiraled in the Sinai Peninsula, Cairo and other cities since the army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi last July after mass protests against his rule. The army-backed government accuses Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood of perpetrating violence. |
| Central African Republic's Seleka rebels pick new commander, say to regroup Posted: 10 May 2014 12:26 PM PDT  Central African Republic's former Seleka rebel coalition has appointed a new army commander and plans to regroup its scattered fighters, a spokesman said on Saturday, a move that could further deepen divisions in the war-torn country. Seleka leaders were forced to resign under international pressure in January but Christian militias known as \"anti-balaka\" have intensified attacks against Muslims.
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| Brazil deploys troops to secure borders for World Cup Posted: 10 May 2014 01:35 PM PDT  Brazil began deploying 30,000 troops on Saturday to patrol its borders and beef up security for the World Cup soccer tournament that will kick off in 12 Brazilian cities next month, the Defense Ministry said. The army, navy and air force troops will use river patrol boats, helicopters and planes to crack down on drug trafficking and other smuggling activities on Brazil´s 16,900-km (10,500-mile) frontier with 10 South American nations. Host Brazil has invited the leaders of the 31 other nations that will compete in the World Cup to watch their teams play, which will add to security concerns. Brazilian authorities say the risk of a terrorist attack is low because Brazil has no enemies.
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| Kidnappers in Nigeria's Delta release three Dutch nationals: police Posted: 10 May 2014 04:45 PM PDT Kidnappers in Nigeria's Niger Delta region released three Dutch nationals held since May 4, Anka Mustapha, a spokesman for Bayelsa state's Joint Task Force, which includes the military and police, told Reuters on Saturday. The kidnapping of expatriates by armed gangs seeking ransom money has been rife in the oil-producing Delta region, although it has tailed off since a 2009 amnesty was signed with militant groups there. Nigeria has Africa's largest population and it has become the biggest economy on the continent, overtaking South Africa. |
| British PM Cameron woos eurosceptics ahead of EU vote Posted: 10 May 2014 04:43 PM PDT  British Prime Minister David Cameron made a fresh attempt Sunday to woo eurosceptic voters, ahead of this month's European elections set to push his ruling party into a humiliating third place. Cameron has tried hard to burnish his eurosceptic credentials to placate his rebellious Conservative Party and counter the resurgent UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has pledged to yank Britain out of the European Union and do more to limit immigration. The prime minister has promised to hold a referendum on EU membership in 2017, after renegotiating Britain's ties with the 28-member bloc. Growing numbers of voters in Britain and elsewhere in Europe accuse the EU of bureaucratic meddling and of being distant and unrepresentative.
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| Mexico to transform anti-cartel vigilante forces Posted: 10 May 2014 04:29 PM PDT  TEPALCATEPEC, Mexico (AP) — Mexico's government on Saturday began demobilizing a vigilante movement of assault-rifle-wielding ranchers and farmers that had succeeded in largely expelling the Knights Templar cartel from the western state of Michoacan when authorities couldn't.
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| Austrian drag queen wins Eurovision song contest Posted: 10 May 2014 04:28 PM PDT  COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won the 59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest Saturday with a James Bond-inspired power ballad.
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| Sharks lose to Brumbies but stay atop Super Rugby Posted: 10 May 2014 04:08 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Sharks held their place atop an increasingly compact Super Rugby table after the weekend's 13th round but again displayed an Achilles' heel in losing away from home, taking a consolation bonus point from a 16-9 loss to the ACT Brumbies. |
| Argentine scientist who challenged Monsanto dies Posted: 10 May 2014 03:55 PM PDT  BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Dr. Andres Carrasco, an Argentine neuroscientist who challenged pesticide regulators to re-examine one of the world's most widely used weed killers, has died. He was 67.
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| London tops super-rich city list, survey shows Posted: 10 May 2014 03:50 PM PDT  London has more billionaires than any other city in the world, and Britain has more billionaires per head of population than any other country, new data showed on Saturday. The survey of Britain's super-rich compiled for the Sunday Times newspaper is likely to prompt debate in a country where many still struggle financially and where food banks are a fact of life, despite economic growth recently returning to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crash. London is home to 72 of Britain's 104 sterling billionaires, well ahead of Moscow in second place with 48 people worth the equivalent of 1 billion pounds or more. Indian-born brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja top the British list with a fortune of 11.9 billion pounds (14.6 billion euros, $20.1 billion), amassed through the family-owned Hinduja Group, which has interests in oil, banking, the automotive industry, property and the media.
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| 'Head lawmaker of S.Africa opposition quits' Posted: 10 May 2014 03:43 PM PDT  The parliamentary head of South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance, Lindiwe Mazibuko, has unexpectedly resigned after a general election that saw her party's support grow, according to comments published Sunday. Mazibuko, 34, a rising star in the party, said in South Africa's Sunday Times that she would leave to study at Harvard University in the United States for a year. \"I took the decision in September when, during a visit to Yale University with others pursuing high-profile careers, the value of such a break became clear to me,\" she was quoted as saying. The ruling African National Congress took 62.15 percent in the vote.
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| French champion PSG beats Lille 3-1 Posted: 10 May 2014 03:41 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — French league champion Paris Saint-Germain broke the record for most points in a season by defeating Lille 3-1 on Saturday.
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| Pfizer argues for AstraZeneca deal in web videos Posted: 10 May 2014 03:25 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Pfizer posted videos online Saturday in its latest effort to win over critics of its proposed purchase of British drugmaker AstraZeneca. |
| Wheat beer and lederhosen: Bayern celebrates title Posted: 10 May 2014 03:04 PM PDT  MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich finally celebrated winning its 24th German championship on Saturday after the last Bundesliga game of the season.
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| Inter beats Lazio 4-1 in final Zanetti home match Posted: 10 May 2014 02:59 PM PDT  MILAN (AP) — Javier Zanetti's last home match at the San Siro was celebrated with a win as Inter Milan beat Lazio 4-1 to all but guarantee a Europa League berth from the Serie A on Saturday.
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| Nigeria gunmen free Dutch hostages: activist Posted: 10 May 2014 02:47 PM PDT  Niger Delta gunmen have released three Dutch nationals who were abducted earlier this week, a Nigerian activist who had accompanied the trio but was earlier released said Saturday. Amsterdam-based environmental activist Sunny Ofehe and the three Dutch nationals, two men and a woman, were seized Sunday after armed men in a dinghy stormed their boat. Scores of foreigners have been abducted in the southern Niger Delta region, home to Africa's largest oil industry, with many released on payment of a ransom.
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| Puerto Rico shares details of 100 school closings Posted: 10 May 2014 02:45 PM PDT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico's education secretary announced Saturday that he will close some 100 schools across the U.S. territory starting in August amid a drop in student population. |
| Turkish PM Erdogan heckles lawyer's speech, storms out Posted: 10 May 2014 02:43 PM PDT  By Ayla Jean Yackley ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan heckled the head of the country's bar association on Saturday, accusing him of rudeness for speaking critically of the government at a judicial ceremony before storming out of the hall. Tensions between Erdogan and his political foes remain high after bitterly contested local elections in March that Erdogan's ruling AK Party won and amid expectations he will seek the presidency in an election in August. Erdogan has had a difficult year that included the biggest anti-government protests in decades against his perceived authoritarianism and a corruption scandal that implicated family members and cabinet ministers. Erdogan interrupted a speech in Ankara by Metin Feyzioglu, chairman of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, saying his remarks were political and full of untruths.
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| Nigerian army posts two divisions to hunt for missing girls Posted: 10 May 2014 02:42 PM PDT  By Matthew Mpoke Bigg ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's Army has posted two divisions to hunt for 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by Islamist rebels in an attack condemned globally including by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday. The soldiers are stationed in the border region close to Chad, Cameroon and Niger to work with other security agencies, said General Chris Olukolade, spokesman for the Defence Headquarters. The government of President Goodluck Jonathan has faced criticism for its slow response since Boko Haram militants stormed a secondary school in the village of Chibok, near the Cameroon border, on April 14, and kidnapped the girls, who were taking exams. \"The facilities of the Nigerian Army signals as well as all the communication facilities of the Nigerian Police and all the services have been devoted into coordinating this search,\" Olukolade said in a statement.
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| Nadal to play Nishikori in Madrid final Posted: 10 May 2014 02:25 PM PDT  MADRID (AP) — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal is back in a clay court final at the Madrid Open, where Japan's Kei Nishikori denied an all-Spanish meeting by converting his 10th match point in a grueling victory over David Ferrer on Saturday.
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| Sea row dominates as ASEAN leaders meet Posted: 10 May 2014 02:24 PM PDT  Naypyidaw (Myanmar) (AFP) - Leaders of Southeast Asia's regional bloc meet Sunday in a historic summit overshadowed by soaring tensions in the South China Sea and growing fears over Beijing's assertiveness in the disputed waters. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is convening just days after both Vietnam and the Philippines locked horns with China in contested territory, stoking international alarm. The summit, hosted for the first time by Myanmar in its sprawling capital Naypyidaw, is set to be dominated by discussion of the South China Sea, which is crisscrossed by key shipping lanes and thought to contain vast energy reserves.
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| Villarreal routs Rayo 4-0 in last Liga home game Posted: 10 May 2014 02:23 PM PDT MADRID (AP) — With a Europa league berth already secured, Villarreal rolled to a 4-0 win over 10-man Rayo Vallecano in its last home game of the Spanish league on Saturday. |
| Morocco building wall at Spain's Melilla border: NGO Posted: 10 May 2014 02:11 PM PDT  Morocco has begun construction of a blade-topped wall near Spain's north African territory of Melilla in an effort to dissuade would-be migrants from crossing into Europe, local activists said on Saturday. \"Construction work for a barrier began about twenty days ago,\" said Chekib el-Khayari, head of the Rif Association for Human Rights, an activist organisation, confirming press reports. \"According to elements gathered by our association, these barriers will be five metres high and will be topped with blades,\" said the activist, who is based in the coastal city of Nador, near Melilla. Adil Akid, an activist from the Moroccan Human Rights Association, said ditch-digging work had begun on the Moroccan side of the border with the intention of building a wall.
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| Hamilton takes pole in Spain, Vettel's car stalls Posted: 10 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT  MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were in a class of their own again in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday, while struggling four-time champion Sebastian Vettel stalled and was demoted on the grid.
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| Canada, defending champ Sweden win at worlds Posted: 10 May 2014 01:54 PM PDT  MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Canada rebounded from a stunning loss to France to edge Slovakia 4-1 at the world ice hockey championship on Saturday.
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| Insurgents blow up 2nd bridge, abduct wife, 2 kids Posted: 10 May 2014 01:44 PM PDT  YOLA, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic extremists blew up a bridge, killed an unknown number of people and abducted the wife and two children of a retired police officer in northeast Nigeria, residents said Saturday amid mounting condemnation by Muslims of the Nigerian terrorist network that abducted more than 300 schoolgirls nearly a month ago.
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| S.Africa's Zuma dedicates election win to Mandela Posted: 10 May 2014 01:36 PM PDT  South African President Jacob Zuma Saturday dedicated his ANC's landslide victory in this week's elections to Nelson Mandela, 20 years to the day of the late liberation leader's inauguration. \"We dedicate our victory to Madiba's memory, and pledge to continue taking forward his legacy and that of his peers and forebears,\" Zuma said, using Mandela's clan name The party's 62.15 percent share of the vote meant an \"overwhelming mandate\" for a fifth term in government since the end of white-minority rule, said Zuma, speaking publicly for the first time on the vote results. Marking two decades to the day Mandela became South Africa's first black president, Zuma said: \"The victory also reaffirms that the ANC remains the only true hope for the majority of our people, particularly the poor and the working class.\"
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| Top Asian News at 8:30 p.m. GMT Posted: 10 May 2014 01:33 PM PDT BANGKOK (AP) — Supporters of Thailand's embattled government on Saturday warned the country's judiciary and Senate against any attempt to install an unelected prime minister, saying it would be a disaster for the nation that could spark civil war. Jatuporn Prompan, who heads the pro-government Red Shirt movement, made the comment to reporters during a rally on the western edge of Bangkok that was held three days after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted in a controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court. |
