Yahoo! News: World News

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• North Korean leader Kim orders more nuclear tests: KCNA
• Syria opposition to attend Geneva peace talks
• U.S. to raise Iran's 'dangerous' missile tests at U.N.
• Group that hounded Dalai Lama disbands after Reuters exposes Chinese backing
• Charges, threat of jail cast Brazil's Lula in familiar role: martyr
• Kerry stresses need to end Syria, Yemen conflicts in talks with Saudis
• Lin Dan into All-England semi-finals, Nehwal out
• Top Asian News 12:52 a.m. GMT
• South African teen finds possible MH370 plane debris
• Year-in-space astronaut hangs up his spacesuit, retires
• Flint families file lawsuits over children poisoned by water
• Stricker shares lead at Innisbrook as Spieth makes cut
• London conference puts spotlight on N. Korea rights abuses
• UN adopts 1st resolution tackling sexual abuse by UN troops
• Niger presidential candidate back in jail, opposition vows 'boycott'
• Honduras unleashes 'Avalanche' operation on gang leaders
• Petra Kvitova staves off upset bid in BNP Paribas Open
• Deputy warden of Honduras' main prison shot dead
• Japan tsunami: nation falls silent five years on
• Dead ex-Russian press minister may have been attacked outside hotel: source
• Lin Dan pumped to reach All England semifinals
• Rock keyboard pioneer Keith Emerson dead at 71
• Crystal Palace continues FA Cup run with 2-0 win vs Reading
• NASCAR's Daniel Suarez 'proud to be a Latin American driver'
• US men open vs China after Olympic basketball draw
• UN calls for Syria elections in 18 months
• UN chief meets with comfort woman
• Childhood pals Vunipola and Faletau go head-to-head in Six Nations clash at Twickenham
• U.S. warns Syria truce violations could 'tear asunder' peace effort
• European, US stocks rally on renewed ECB hopes
• CDC: Travel OK to high-elevation cities in Zika countries
• Mejia wants to challenge deal not to appeal 3rd pos. test
• UN adopts measure to tackle sex abuse by peacekeepers
• US ambassador calls Iran missile tests provocative
• With Cuba trip, Obama aims to make renewed ties irreversible
• Lebanese minister says garbage crisis '99 percent solved'
• How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Friday
• Kerry stresses need to end Syria, Yemen conflicts in Saudi talks
• Diplomat: 100-plus nations reject US sanctions on Venezuela

North Korean leader Kim orders more nuclear tests: KCNA Posted: 11 Mar 2016 11:09 AM PST By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched a ballistic missile launch test and ordered the country to improve its nuclear attack capability by conducting more tests, the official KCNA news agency reported on Friday. The report did not say when the missile test took place but it was probably referring to North Korea's launch of two short-range missiles on Thursday that flew 500 km (300 miles) and splashed into the sea. "Dear comrade Kim Jong Un said work ... must be strengthened to improve nuclear attack capability and issued combat tasks to continue nuclear explosion tests to assess the power of newly developed nuclear warheads and tests to improve nuclear attack capability," KCNA said.

Syria opposition to attend Geneva peace talks Posted: 11 Mar 2016 01:07 PM PST By John Davison BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's main opposition group said it would attend peace talks on Monday but accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of preparing to escalate the war to strengthen its negotiating position. The truce deal has reduced violence although not halted the fighting, with further hostilities reported in western Syria on Friday, and as battles against Islamic State raged further east. The High Negotiations Committee said on Friday it would attend the peace talks as part of its "commitment to international efforts to stop the spilling of Syrian blood and find a political solution".

U.S. to raise Iran's 'dangerous' missile tests at U.N. Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:29 PM PST By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States will raise during U.N. Security Council consultations next week the issue of Iran's recent ballistic missile launches and is urging countries to cooperate on undermining Tehran's missile program, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Friday. "We will raise these dangerous launches directly at Council consultations, which we have called for, on Monday," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said in a statement.

Group that hounded Dalai Lama disbands after Reuters exposes Chinese backing Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:53 PM PST By David Lague and Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The Buddhist group leading a global campaign of harassment against the Dalai Lama has called off its demonstrations and disbanded, according to a statement on its website. The announcement comes after a Reuters investigation revealed in December that China's ruling Communist Party backs the Buddhist religious sect behind the protests that have confronted the Dalai Lama in almost every country he visits. Reuters found that the sect had become a key instrument in China's campaign to discredit the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Charges, threat of jail cast Brazil's Lula in familiar role: martyr Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:10 PM PST By Paulo Prada RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Criminal charges and a request by prosecutors to jail Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are putting the former Brazilian president and leftist icon back in a role he has long relished: that of the martyr. Last week, after federal police took him into custody briefly for questions about a far-reaching graft probe around Brazil's state-run oil company, Lula said he "felt like a prisoner" and urged leftist organizations, from landless peasants to labor unions, to rally. "I am going to travel this country." For the beleaguered government of President Dilma Rousseff, Lula's successor and protégée, any traction Lula gets could provide relief at a time when it is crippled by impeachment proceedings, an economy that shrunk by 3.8 percent last year and a corruption scandal that is drawing ever closer to her inner circle.

Kerry stresses need to end Syria, Yemen conflicts in talks with Saudis Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:11 PM PST HAFR AL-BATIN, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stressed the need to move now to end the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in talks with top Saudi officials on Friday, a senior U.S. official said. Kerry also sought to reassure officials of the importance of U.S.-Saudi ties a day after President Barack Obama was quoted in a U.S. magazine as saying regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran need to "share the neighborhood" and establish a "cold peace." Meeting at a Saudi military base outside Hafr al-Batin near the Saudi border with Iraq, Kerry held talks with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

Lin Dan into All-England semi-finals, Nehwal out Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:56 PM PST Olympic champion Lin Dan scored a notable revenge over Jan Jorgensen, the third-seeded Dane, to reach the semi-finals of the All-England Open with a 10-21, 21-9, 21-15 win on Friday but Indian star Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the women's event. After turning the match round Lin got completely on top before Jorgensen injected a little late respectability into the score-line. Lin's subtle manoeuvrings and softly masked disguises offered an indication of how much his preparations for the Olympics may already have raised his standard.

Top Asian News 12:52 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:52 PM PST RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan (AP) — Japanese gathered in Tokyo and along the country's ravaged northeast coast to observe a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Friday, exactly five years after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck offshore, triggering a devastating tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and sent reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant into meltdown. Some teared up as they held hands or bowed their heads in prayer as sirens sounded on a chilly afternoon in northern Japan. Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, all in formal wear, led a ceremony in Tokyo attended by officials and survivors.

South African teen finds possible MH370 plane debris Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:52 PM PST JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African teenager vacationing in Mozambique may have found part of a wing from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which his family dismissed as "rubbish" and his mother nearly threw away, he said Friday.

Year-in-space astronaut hangs up his spacesuit, retires Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:39 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — After spending nearly a year in space, astronaut Scott Kelly is hanging up his spacesuit.

Flint families file lawsuits over children poisoned by water Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:33 PM PST By David Bailey (Reuters) - A group of Flint families with children has filed new lawsuits in the Michigan city's water crisis, accusing private companies of professional negligence and government employees of misconduct that led to the contamination of the water supply. The lawsuits filed on Thursday in Genesee County court, along with nine filed earlier in March, cover 50 children allegedly suffering from lead poisoning from drinking Flint water. The cases were all brought by Corey Stern, a New York attorney who specializes in child lead poisoning cases. ...

Stricker shares lead at Innisbrook as Spieth makes cut Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:29 PM PST PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Spieth holed three shots from off the green and made the cut with one shot to spare Friday in the Valspar Championship.

London conference puts spotlight on N. Korea rights abuses Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:29 PM PST The UN commissioner who investigated human rights in North Korea on Friday recommended establishing a panel of experts to study how crimes against humanity in the reclusive state can be punished. "What do you do if we bring home powerful evidence of crimes against humanity -- and a veto" from one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council "prevents you taking it further? How can you deal with that problem?" said Michael Kirby at a conference in London on human rights in North Korea.

UN adopts 1st resolution tackling sexual abuse by UN troops Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:27 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Friday approved its first-ever resolution tackling the escalating problem of sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers who act as predators when sent to protect vulnerable civilians in some of the world's most volatile areas.

Niger presidential candidate back in jail, opposition vows 'boycott' Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:17 PM PST Jailed Niger opposition leader Hama Amadou, due to stand in a presidential run-off next week, was back behind bars Friday after receiving medical treatment, his entourage said, as his coalition vowed to boycott the vote. Sources close to Amadou -- who has been in jail since November on baby-trafficking charges -- said the opposition leader had been treated locally, going back on an earlier statement that he had been taken to the capital. "Contrary to what we believed, Hama Amadou has not left his prison in Filingue for the hospital in Niamey," a source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Honduras unleashes 'Avalanche' operation on gang leaders Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:14 PM PST Honduran authorities looking for new ways to combat gangs terrorizing the country are waging an operation called "Avalanche" to seize bank accounts, properties and even a small hospital from wealthy crime bosses. Already 137 accounts, a dozen houses, 188 vehicles and the hospital in the northern city of San Pedro Sula have been confiscated from suspected chiefs of the feared Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as MS-13, according to the head of the police investigation division, Ricardo Castro. The total value of the assets seized so far is $9 million, with most or all of it believed to have come from the extortion of owners of shops and public transport companies, he said.

Petra Kvitova staves off upset bid in BNP Paribas Open Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:14 PM PST INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic beat 51st-ranked Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) on Friday in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Deputy warden of Honduras' main prison shot dead Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:13 PM PST Tegucigalpa (AFP) - The deputy warden of Honduras' main prison was shot dead Friday in an ambush on his car, police said.

Japan tsunami: nation falls silent five years on Posted: 11 Mar 2016 04:03 PM PST Japan paused on Friday to mark five years since an offshore earthquake spawned a monster tsunami that left about 18,500 people dead or missing along its northeastern coast and sparked the worst nuclear disaster in a quarter century. Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other participants at a national ceremony in Tokyo bowed their heads along with residents across the affected region at 2:46 pm (0546 GMT) -- the exact moment on March 11, 2011 the magnitude 9.0 quake struck under the Pacific Ocean. The waves also swamped power supplies at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing reactor meltdowns that released radiation in the most dangerous nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

Dead ex-Russian press minister may have been attacked outside hotel: source Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PST Police are investigating whether former Russian Press Minister Mikhail Lesin, who was found dead in a Washington hotel in November, was brutally assaulted before returning to the hotel, a U.S. law enforcement source said on Friday. U.S. authorities said on Thursday that Lesin died of blunt force injuries to the head. At the time of his death, Russia's RT television quoted family members as saying Lesin had died of a heart attack.

Lin Dan pumped to reach All England semifinals Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:52 PM PST BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Lin Dan gave a double fist pump and primal scream. Then he yelled again. That's how much beating Jan O Jorgensen in the All England Championships quarterfinals meant to the badminton superstar on Friday.

Rock keyboard pioneer Keith Emerson dead at 71 Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:51 PM PST Keith Emerson, the flamboyant yet accomplished keyboardist who pioneered the use of synthesizers in rock music, has died at age 71, his bandmates said Friday. The English keyboardist died late Thursday at his home in the Los Angeles area, his former band, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, announced on Facebook. "Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come," Carl Palmer, the group's percussionist, said in a statement.

Crystal Palace continues FA Cup run with 2-0 win vs Reading Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:50 PM PST READING, England (AP) — Crystal Palace continued its habit of winning in the FA Cup while struggling in the Premier League as Yohan Cabaye and Fraizer Campbell claimed late goals to beat second-tier Reading 2-0 Friday in the quarterfinals.

NASCAR's Daniel Suarez 'proud to be a Latin American driver' Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:50 PM PST AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NASCAR's first full-time Mexican driver sidestepped questions Friday about chairman Brian France's endorsement of Donald Trump while expressing pride in his heritage.

US men open vs China after Olympic basketball draw Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:46 PM PST The U.S. will open the Olympics against China and also will face Venezuela and Australia after being drawn into what appears to be the easier men's basketball group.

UN calls for Syria elections in 18 months Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:41 PM PST The UN envoy for Syria called Friday for elections in the war-ravaged country in 18 months, as the opposition announced it will attend fresh peace talks next week. World powers are counting on the ceasefire to hold for a new round of indirect negotiations between the opposition and the government due to start on March 14 in Geneva. The US State Department said Friday that the ceasefire is "largely holding," albeit with continued violations that include government attacks on civilians and opposition forces.

UN chief meets with comfort woman Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:38 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Secretary-General met Friday with one of the less than 50 surviving victims of Japan's wartime military-run brothel system known as "comfort women."

Childhood pals Vunipola and Faletau go head-to-head in Six Nations clash at Twickenham Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:15 PM PST Boyhood friends Billy Vunipola and Taulupe Faletau could well determine whether England or Wales emerge on top in front of a capacity crowd during Saturday's crunch Six Nations clash at Twickenham. The two No 8s, both with a Pacific Island heritage, were first introduced to rugby in the Welsh valley town of Pontypool, famed for producing such tough Wales forwards as Terry Cobner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price. Faletau's father Kuli had arrived from Tonga to play club rugby for Ebbw Vale in 1997, while Billy's father, Fe'ao, came to Wales a year later and joined Pontypool.

U.S. warns Syria truce violations could 'tear asunder' peace effort Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:10 PM PST The U.S. State Department for the first time on Friday accused Syria of violating a truce with rebels and urged Russia to use its influence to stop the attacks, warning they could "tear asunder" the fragile peace process aimed at ending the war. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the United States "strongly condemned" the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for air strikes reported to have struck civilian protesters in the cities of Aleppo and Deraa, including targeting a mosque as the congregation was leaving. Kirby said at a briefing that the United States also "strongly condemned the Assad regime's practice of removing badly needed medical supplies from the emergency humanitarian aid deliveries." He said the Syrian government's actions were a breach of the cessation of hostilities deal, which took effect on Feb. 27.

European, US stocks rally on renewed ECB hopes Posted: 11 Mar 2016 03:09 PM PST New York (AFP) - Europe and US stock markets rallied Friday as investor reassessed the European Central Bank's massive stimulus package in a positive light a day after a wild ride on markets.

CDC: Travel OK to high-elevation cities in Zika countries Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:39 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — The government Friday revised its Zika travel warnings, saying it's OK for pregnant women to travel to Mexico City and other places at high elevation in outbreak regions.

Mejia wants to challenge deal not to appeal 3rd pos. test Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:36 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Former Mets closer Jenrry Mejia wants to challenge the agreement he made not to appeal his third positive drug test, which led to a lifetime ban from baseball.

UN adopts measure to tackle sex abuse by peacekeepers Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:35 PM PST The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution that calls for the repatriation of entire peacekeeping units whose soldiers face allegations of sexual abuse while serving under the UN flag. It was the first time that the council has approved measures to address the rise in troubling allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers deployed worldwide to protect civilians in conflict. The US-drafted resolution was adopted by a vote of 14 in favour, with Egypt abstaining.

US ambassador calls Iran missile tests provocative Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:35 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says Iran's recent ballistic missile launches are "provocative and destabilizing."

With Cuba trip, Obama aims to make renewed ties irreversible Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:33 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will use his historic trip to Cuba to chip away at key remaining U.S. obstacles to travel and commerce with the communist island, working to push his diplomatic relaunch past the point of no return before he leaves office.

Lebanese minister says garbage crisis '99 percent solved' Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:15 PM PST Lebanon's Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said on Friday the country's rubbish crisis had been "99 percent solved" at a government committee meeting on the issue. The Lebanese National News Agency quoted Machnouk and reported there would be a cabinet meeting on Saturday to finalize the agreement. Politicians' failure to agree on a solution for garbage disposal has left mountains of trash piling up in and around Beirut for months and prompted warnings over the potential spread of diseases.

How the Dow Jones industrial average fared on Friday Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:14 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — A jump in crude oil and a rise in European markets set off a rally in U.S. stocks to cap a four-week winning streak for major indexes. Investors bought across industries from the start of trading on Friday. Drillers, refiners and other energy companies rose sharply as the price for U.S. crude hit a high for the year.

Kerry stresses need to end Syria, Yemen conflicts in Saudi talks Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:13 PM PST U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stressed the importance of moving now to end the conflicts in Syria and Yemen during talks with top Saudi Arabian officials on Friday, a senior U.S. State Department officials said. "Secretary Kerry emphasized that now is the time to keep moving forward toward ending the conflicts in Syria and Yemen," the official said after Kerry met Saudi King Salman as well as the kingdom's crown prince, deputy crown prince and foreign minister at a military base outside Hafr al-Batin, Saudi Arabia.

Diplomat: 100-plus nations reject US sanctions on Venezuela Posted: 11 Mar 2016 02:11 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Venezuela's U.N. ambassador on Friday accused the Obama administration of trying to "destabilize our country and our government" by renewing sanctions on several of his country's top officials over human rights violations, and he read out a statement from more than 100 developing countries backing him up.

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