Vatican chimney ready for papal vote
VATICAN CITY, March 9 (UPI) -- The historic chimney was installed at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel Saturday in preparation for the upcoming conclave where a new pope will be selected.
A work crew also brought in the two stoves that are used for the traditional smoke signal that alerts onlookers outside that a new pontiff has been chosen by the Roman Catholic cardinals meeting inside the chapel.
CNN said a spotlight was also in the plans to people can see the smoke puffs.
Dark smoke means the vote did not produce a winner and the discussions will continue. But white smoke indicates the conclave agreed to a successor to the outgoing Pope Benedict XVI.
The smoke is symbolic of the burning of the secret ballot submitted by the cardinals.
Another formality carried out before the conclave begins Tuesday was the destruction of the papal seal and Fisherman's Ring belonging to Benedict. The new pope will have a unique ring and seal created.
Kenyatta wins Kenyan presidential election
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 9 (UPI) -- Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta Saturday was named the winner of Kenya's presidential election, election officials said.
Kenyatta, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity, took 50.07 percent of the vote, narrowly avoiding a round of runoff elections, The Washington Post reported.
His main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, took 43.28 percent of the vote.
Before the results of the election were announced, officials from Odinga's Orange Democrat Movement party said that if Kenyatta is named the winner, they will file a legal challenge of the results, the BBC reported.
"The level of the failures in the system makes it very difficult to believe it was a credible result, and if Uhuru is declared president, Raila will go to court," Salim Lone, one of Odinga's aides, told the Daily Nation newspaper.
"We are going to court," said Millie Odhiambo, an ODM parliament member. "You concede only when there is a credible process. But this was not a credible process."
Kenyans voted on Monday in the country's first presidential since 2007, when accusations of vote-rigging led to violent ethnic clashes in which more than 1,100 people died. Kenyatta has been accused by the International Criminal Court of inciting some of the violence.
If Kenyatta's win is upheld, tensions could arise between Kenya and the United States and some European countries, The Washington Post said.
Officials in Washington and other countries have warned that there could be consequences if Kenya is led by someone indicted by the ICC.
Bomb kills at least 4 in Pakistan mosque
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 9 (UPI) -- An explosion inside a mosque in central Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday killed at least four people, including one of the mosque's top mullahs witnesses said.
Earlier reports had put the death toll at six. Hospital officials said the casualty count included 29 injuries.
A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban condemned the blast inside the Chishtia Hanafia Ganj Ali Khan mosque near a major bazaar, telling Dawn News the organization opposed attacks on public places.
Officials believe 13 pounds of explosives were planted in the front row of the congregation and detonated by remote control, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said.
The hills around Peshawar have been the scene of ongoing clashes between the military and Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. The conflict has spilled into the city in the form of frequent bombings.
Egyptian military on high alert in Sinai
CAIRO, March 9 (UPI) -- Egyptian soldiers have been put on high alert after military authorities received information terrorist attacks were being planned in Sinai, officials said.
"The Armed Forces received information about the intention of some elements to conduct terrorist attacks in Sinai against the army and the police," a military official whose name was not reported told al-Masry al-Youm
The official said the alert had nothing to do with a warning Israel issued recently, cautioning Israelis against traveling to Sinai before the Passover holiday and urging all Israelis in that area to return to Israel as soon as possible.
Military commanders have deployed soldiers to posts along some highways in Sinai and added border patrol forces on the border with Gaza and Israel, the official said.
Daylight saving time looms for U.S.
WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- Daylight saving time starts this weekend in the United States and healthcare experts urged folks not to do anything rash to make up for a lost hour of sleep.
Clocks will "spring forward" at 2 a.m. Sunday, meaning alarm clocks will feel like they are going off an hour early for folks who have to get to church or work.
Dr. Raghu Upender of the Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center told ABC News he recommends that people stick to their weekday sleep schedule to get used to the change more quickly.
"People tend to delay their sleep during the weekend and tend to go into Monday with less sleep," he said. "This can be exaggerated on the Monday following the change to daylight saving time."
Another suggested strategy is to resist the temptation of an extra cup of coffee to clear away the Sunday morning cobwebs.
Nutritionist Ashley Koff said a healthy breakfast will get people out of the starting gate faster than a caffeine kick start.
"Energy comes from food. It comes from nutrient balance of carbohydrate, protein and healthy fats," she told ABC News Radio. "Carbohydrates like waffles and some healthy fat and protein from peanut butter."
