World datelines

Vatican City: Pius defense

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has condemned as "unjustified and inopportune" a claim by a church official that pressure from Jewish organizations is delaying the beatification of Pope Pius XII, the wartime pontiff who critics say didn't do enough to stop the Holocaust.

Some historians and Jewish groups say Pius didn't do enough to prevent or limit the scope of the Holocaust —the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators. The Vatican insists Pius used quiet diplomacy to try to help Jews.

Brazil: Apology to farmers

BRASILIA — The Brazilian government has apologized for the torture and abuse of 44 poor farmers under the military regime that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985 and announced reparations for the victims.

In the early 1970s, the farmers were physically tortured and many had their homes and crops destroyed by soldiers seeking information on guerrillas operating in Araguaia. The Justice Ministry announced Friday that the 44 farmers will receive up to 142,000 reals (close to US$71,000) each and a lifelong pension.

Myanmar: Prison birthday

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi shared rice and chocolate cake with her prison guards to celebrate her 64th birthday Friday, as global condemnation of her trial galvanized rallies in capitals around the world.

Suu Kyi, who is being held in a "guest house" at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison, faces up to five years in jail on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest after an uninvited American man swam to her tightly guarded lakeside home and stayed two days.

New Zealand: Conviction

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A New Zealander was found guilty Saturday of his wife's murder in a case that sparked an international manhunt after he abandoned his toddler at a train station and fled to the United States.

Nai Yin Xue shouted, "I'm innocent, I'm innocent!" as the judge sent him into police custody for sentencing July 31 for the death of his 28-year-old wife, An An Liu, in September 2007.

Puerto Rico: Crown taken

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Miss Puerto Rico Petite competition stripped the reigning queen of her crown Friday, accusing the young woman of "intolerable conduct" that included threatening and assaulting pageant staff.

Keishla Villafane Rivera, 19, also used "coarse language" and violated the terms of her contract by agreeing to use her image in an advertisement without the consent of the pageant, the organizers said in a statement.

S. Korea: Nuclear warning

SEOUL — North Korea's quest for nuclear weapons could spawn a destabilizing arms race in Asia that would threaten world security, South Korea's president warned Friday.