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Nation+Worldnewsfeed Protest:AmassiveAlbanianflagiscarriedontopoftensofthousandsofKosovo opposition supporters Wednesday during an anti-government rally in Kosovo's capital of Pristina. Kosovo opposition supporters called for the government to resign on the eighth anniversary of the country's declaration of independence, accusing it of violat- ing the country's constitution in reaching deals with Serbia and Montenegro. KOSOVO TENSIONS VISAR KRYEZIU — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AcarbombwentoffintheTurk- ish capital Wednesday near vehicles carrying military personnel, killing at least 28 people and wounding 61 others, officials said. The explosion occurred during evening rush hour in the heart of Ankara, in an area close to parlia- ment and armed forces headquarters and lodgings. Buses carrying mili- tary personnel were targeted while waiting at traffic lights at an inter- section, the Turkish military said while condemning the "contemptible and dastardly" attack. "We believe that those who lost their lives included our military brothers as well as civilians," Dep- uty Prime Minister Numan Kurtul- mus said. At least two military vehicles caught fire and dozens of ambu- lances were sent to the scene. Dark smoke could be seen billowing from a distance. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. —TheAssociatedPress TURKEY ExplosioninAnkarakillsat least 28, wounds 61 others Pope Francis was wrapping up his trip to Mexico on Wednesday with a politically charged visit to the U.S. border for a huge open-air Mass as he focused on problems of violence, exploitation and migration, a hot is- sue for the U.S. presidential cam- paign. He also visited a major prison — just days after a riot in another lockup killed 49 inmates — and he urged decent treatment for workers in a city famed for low-wage assem- bly jobs. The altar for Wednesday's Mass is snug against the U.S.-Mexico border, with just a highway between its edge and the Rio Grande. Clearly visible is the skyline of El Paso, Texas, where at least 30,000 people were expected at the Sun Bowl for a simulcast of the cere- mony. Francis was expected to stop at the border fence and give a bless- ing in honor of migrants on the other side, as well as those who died trying to get there. — The Associated Press MEXICO Pope concludes trip with visits to prison, US border The United States warned Wednesday of rising tensions in the South China Sea after China ap- peared to have placed a surface-to- air missile system on a disputed is- land. Taiwan's defense ministry said that China had positioned anti-air- craft missiles on Woody Island in the Paracel chain, which is occupied by China but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said commercial satel- lite imagery appeared to indicate China has deployed a surface-to- air missile system. Another U.S. offi- cial gave a more direct confirmation of the deployment on Woody Island. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the information publicly, said it is unclear whether the deploy- ment is intended for the long-term. The deployment follows China's building of new islands by piling sand atop reefs and then adding air- strips and military installations. — The Associated Press SOUTH CHINA SEA US accuses China amid signs of missiles on disputed island Federal regulators and the auto industry are taking a more lenient approach than safety advocates like when it comes to phasing in auto- matic braking systems for passenger cars, according to records of their private negotiations. The technology automatically ap- plies brakes to prevent or mitigate collisions, rather than waiting for the driver to act. It's the most impor- tant safety technology available to- day that's not already required in cars. Such systems should be standard in all new cars, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administra- tion. But instead of mandating it, the government is trying to work out a voluntary agreement with auto- makers in hopes of getting it in cars more quickly. But safety advocates say voluntary agreements aren't enforceable and are likely to contain weaker stan- dards and longer timelines than if the government had issued rules. — The Associated Press NHTSA Automatic braking for cars: Private talks on tech pace Online: For continuous coverage of national and international news, go to our website at REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM. Iran appeared Wednesday to back a plan laid out by four influential oil producers to cap their crude output if others do the same, though it of- fered no indication that it has any plans to follow suit itself. The agreement reached in Doha the day before by Qatar, Saudi Ara- bia, Russia and Venezuela is aimed at stabilizing global oil prices, which recently plunged to less than $30 a barrel, a 13-year low. But Iran is keen to ramp up exports to regain market share now that sanctions related to its nuclear program have been lifted under a landmark agreement. "Iran supports any measure to boost oil prices," Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said after talks with his counterparts from Iraq, Venezuela and Qatar. "The decision taken to freeze the production ceiling of OPEC and non- OPEC members to stabilize and boost prices is also supported by us," he added, in comments posted on the ministry's website stated. — The Associated Press ENERGY Iran snubs Doha proposal, won't freeze oil output German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday renewed her proposal for a no-fly zone in Syria where civil- ians would be protected, a sugges- tion that was promptly rebuffed by Moscow that said it can only be done with the Syrian government's con- sent. In Damascus, over 100 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid that were expected to be delivered to five besieged areas in the country ar- rived as part of an effort described by a Russian official as a first step toward implementation of an agree- ment reached among world powers in Munich last week. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura has been trying to secure aid deliveries to improve the chances of restarting peace talks before the end of Feb- ruary. But those efforts have been clouded by the intense fighting north of Aleppo, where various forces backed by regional and international rivals are clashing over a crucial strip of land near the border. — The Associated Press CIVIL WAR German leader renews call for a Syria no-fly zone it'snot 'sfault byTheShelterPetProject.org 6 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE! Vote for your favorite Tehama County Businesses! OnlineBallotsOnlyat www.redbluffdailynews.com Five Lucky Voters will be selected at random from all eligible ballots on March 4. 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