| France's Hollande defends freedom of speech after anti-Hebdo clashes abroad Posted: 17 Jan 2015 10:16 AM PST  By Leigh Thomas PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday that anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters in other countries do not understand France's attachment to freedom of speech. He was speaking a day after the satirical weekly's publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad sparked violent clashes, including deaths, in some Muslim countries. Demand has surged for Charlie Hebdo's first issue since two militant gunmen burst into its weekly editorial conference and shot dead 12 people at the start of three days of violence that shocked France. A cartoon image of Mohammad on its front page outraged many in the Muslim world, triggering demonstrations that turned violent in Algeria, Niger and Pakistan on Friday.
|
| Fighting rages anew at Ukraine airport, three soldiers killed Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:49 AM PST  Fighting raged on Saturday at the main airport of Ukraine's city of Donetsk as separatists resumed attempts to break the tenuous grip of government forces on the complex and Kiev's military said three more Ukrainian soldiers had been killed. Though its runways are cratered and it has long ceased to function, the airport has symbolic value for both sides and has become the main flashpoint in the fighting as prospects for fresh peace talks have dimmed. A planned meeting of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and separatist leaders on the Ukraine crisis failed to materialize in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Friday. Yesterday evening we succeeded in evacuating the wounded from the airport," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said.
|
| Suspect in shooting of two Canadian police found dead Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:46 PM PST  By Jeffrey Hodgson TORONTO (Reuters) - The suspect in the shootings of two Canadian police officers in an Alberta casino on Saturday was found dead after being tracked to an unoccupied home, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. The RCMP said the suspect's body was found when they entered the residence in a rural area east of St. Albert, Alberta. The RCMP said Constable David Matthew Wynn, 42, is in grave condition while Auxiliary Constable Derek Walter Bond, 49, remains in serious but stable condition.
|
| Hamas welcomes ICC inquiry into Israeli-Palestinian conflict Posted: 17 Jan 2015 10:00 AM PST  The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said on Saturday it welcomed a decision by the International Criminal Court to launch an inquiry into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories. ICC prosecutors said on Friday the preliminary examination would scrutinize "in full independence and impartiality" crimes that may have occurred since June 13 last year, opening a path to possible charges against Israelis or Palestinians. The court's decision came after Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a rival to Hamas, requested ICC membership, against strong opposition from Israel and the United States. Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip, said on Saturday the Islamist group appreciated the move.
|
| Afghan cabinet nominee wanted by Interpol for tax evasion Posted: 17 Jan 2015 10:40 AM PST By Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's nominee for agriculture minister in the new cabinet is on an Interpol wanted list for tax evasion in Estonia, a fact Ghani's spokesman said was unknown to his office at the time of his nomination. A spokesman for Ghani, Nazifullah Salarzai, said Saturday that the presidential office was unaware Haidari had any legal troubles but was investigating. Although Haidari has been on the wanted list for years, it was not widely known or reported in Afghanistan. |
| Pope to conclude Asian trip with huge outdoor Mass in Manila Posted: 17 Jan 2015 01:39 PM PST  By Philip Pullella and Rosemarie Francisco MANILA (Reuters) - Pope Francis wraps up his Asian trip on Sunday with an outdoor Mass expected to draw one of the largest crowds in Philippine history. Organizers say as many as six million people may attend the afternoon service at Manila's Rizal Park, more than the some five million who flocked to a Mass by Pope John Paul 20 years ago in Asia's largest Catholic country. The Vatican said Francis will dedicate the Mass in part to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed at least 6,300 people, left a million others homeless and displaced four million when it ravaged parts of the country in 2013. On Saturday, Francis donned a plastic poncho against gusting winds and driving rain in order to keep a promise to comfort survivors in Tacloban, ground zero of Haiyan, but a new storm forced him to leave four hours earlier than planned.
|
| Chelsea overwhelms Swansea 5-0 as Man United edges QPR 2-0 Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:41 PM PST  With their biggest win of the Premier League season, Chelsea's players provided further evidence of their title credentials on Saturday.
|
| Charlie Hebdo defends religious freedom: editor Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:41 PM PST  The chief editor of Charlie Hebdo has defended the satirical magazine's controversial depictions of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, saying the cartoons safeguard freedom of religion. His comments were broadcast as five people were killed and churches set on fire in Niger on Saturday in fresh protests against the French weekly's Mohammed cover -- Charlie Hebdo's defiant riposte after two Islamist gunmen shot dead 12 people at the magazine in Paris. Anger has mounted in several Muslim countries over Charlie Hebdo's caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, as jittery European countries step up security to thwart a repeat of the attacks in France last week that killed 17 in all.
|
| Rocky road no problem, says Aussie coach Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:38 PM PST  Australia coach Ange Postecoglou insisted the hosts can still win their first Asian Cup despite suffering a setback against South Korea in their final group game. After slamming four goals past Kuwait and Oman, the Socceroos faltered on Saturday, losing 1-0 after Postecoglou's decision to bench Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse backfired. Australia, runners-up to Japan in 2011, finished behind South Korea in Group A and now face China in the quarter-finals -- again on Brisbane's pudding of a pitch -- before a likely semi with defending champions Japan.
|
| Crippen friend angry about open water race in Abu Dhabi Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:35 PM PST  Alex Meyer knew this day would come. More than four years after his teammate and good friend died during an open water swimming race — a senseless, avoidable tragedy, in the view of Meyer and so many others — the sport is going back to the desert country where it occurred.
|
| A look at biggest gatherings ahead of pope's Manila Mass Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:33 PM PST  Philippine officials estimate that as many as 6 million people will attend the Mass that Pope Francis celebrates Sunday in Manila's Rizal Park. That would be a record for any pope, but not for any event. A look at some of the biggest gatherings of humanity:
|
| Top Asian News at 12:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:33 PM PST TACLOBAN, Philippines (AP) — Pope Francis braved an approaching tropical storm Saturday to travel to the far eastern Philippines to comfort survivors of the deadly Typhoon Haiyan. He was so emotionally undone by their loss that he barely found the words to offer solace, and then had to cut the trip short because of the dangerous weather. Before he left the typhoon-wracked city of Tacloban, though, a soaking wet Francis brought many in the crowd to tears as he ached at their suffering and recounted how in the days after the Nov. 3, 2013, storm he decided that he simply had to come in person to offer his comfort. |
| Lawyer: Mexico city allows same-sex wedding after long fight Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:30 PM PST MEXICALI, Mexico (AP) — The first same-sex marriage was held Saturday in this city on the border with California, after officials ended an 18-month fight that led to a Mexican Supreme Court order to permit the wedding, a lawyer for the couple said. |
| Peacekeeper killed in fresh attack on UN camp in Mali Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:19 PM PST  A peacekeeper with the UN force in Mali was killed early on Saturday when gunmen launched a fresh attack on the camp housing UN troops in the country's north, UN officials said. The attack was swiftly slammed by the UN Security Council and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack on a camp of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) that took place today in Kidal," his spokesman said. The attack marked the latest raid by suspected jihadists in Mali's restive north and came a day after two Malian soldiers were killed in the central town of Tenenkou.
|
| Indonesia executes 6 drug convicts, including 5 foreigners Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:18 PM PST  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities say they have executed by firing squad five foreigners and an Indonesian woman convicted on drug charges despite appeals to spare them.
|
| Wenger in search of City boost Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:12 PM PST  Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said victory away to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday could be a catalyst for a successful second half of the season. Since the 2012/13 season, Arsenal have managed just one win in 12 league matches with teams that finished in the top four and last year was especially painful for the north London club, who were overwhelmed 6-3 at City, 6-0 at Chelsea and 5-1 at Liverpool. They will kick off 11 points behind second-placed City at Eastlands on Sunday but Wenger believes Arsenal's European experience ought to bolster their confidence when confronted with the Premier League's leading clubs. We did not perform last year in the top games away from home," added the Frenchman, in charge of Arsenal since September 1996.
|
| Indonesia says it has executed 6 drug convicts, including 5 foreigners, despite clemency pleas Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:10 PM PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia says it has executed 6 drug convicts, including 5 foreigners, despite clemency pleas. |
| Suspects held in Greece as European terror crackdown widens Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:04 PM PST  BRUSSELS (AP) — With Europe on edge, soldiers fanned out to guard possible terror targets in Belgium Saturday while police in Greece detained at least two suspects as part of a widening counterterrorism dragnet across the continent.
|
| Faten Hamama, Arab film icon, dies aged 83 Posted: 17 Jan 2015 04:02 PM PST  Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, an Arab film icon and Omar Sharif's former wife, died Saturday at the age of 83, their son Tarek Sharif told AFP. Hamama, who was less than 10 when she made her screen debut, appeared in almost 100 films and worked with masters of Egypt's massive film industry, including Youssef Chahine. She often starred with Omar Sharif. "The Lady of the Arabic screen," as she was known, suffered "a sudden health problem which led to her death," Egypt's official news agency MENA reported.
|
| Man United beats struggling QPR 2-0 in Premier League Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:44 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson came off the bench to end Manchester United's three-game winless run in the Premier League on Saturday, scoring second-half goals in a 2-0 victory against a struggling but spirited Queens Park Rangers.
|
| Chelsea routs Swansea 5-0, Man United beats QPR 2-0 in EPL Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:43 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — Chelsea routed Swansea 5-0 for the leader's biggest win of the English Premier League season on Saturday, while Manchester United produced only its third away success of the campaign at Queens Park Rangers.
|
| Aubameyang determined to become an African great Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:31 PM PST  Gabon skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted he wants to be Africa's next superstar after helping his country to victory in their opening game at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. The lightning-quick 25-year-old scored the opening goal in Gabon's 2-0 win against Burkina Faso in Bata and later said that he wants to be mentioned in the same bracket as the likes of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. "I try to do the maximum to become one of the greats like Drogba and Eto'o," said the Borussia Dortmund star moments after he inspired his country to victory over the 2013 Cup of Nations runners-up. Aubameyang set Azingo National on the path to victory when he scored after 18 minutes and he was also involved in the second goal, which was netted by Malick Evouna in the second half.
|
| UN Security Council threatens sanctions over Libya turmoil Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:22 PM PST  The UN Security Council on Saturday welcomed a ceasefire announced by an Islamist-backed militia in Libya and threatened to impose sanctions on those who obstruct peace efforts. A first round of talks yielded an agreement on a roadmap to forming a unity government in Libya. The Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) militia, which did not take part in the first round of Geneva talks, announced a ceasefire on Friday. "There can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya," the council said in a unanimous statement.
|
| Valencia wins as late goals abound in Spanish league Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:15 PM PST  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Alvaro Negredo struck with a header seven minutes from time to secure a 3-2 victory over Almeria to start an exciting Saturday of late winners in the Spanish league.
|
| Mary J. Blige fetes DSquared2 on label's 20th anniversary Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:13 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — Mary J. Blige feted designing twins Dean and Dan Caten on their DSquared2 label's 20th anniversary and Snoop Dogg brought down German designer Philipp Plein's house as Milan Fashion Week opened four days of menswear previews Saturday with a musical bang.
|
| Deadly anti-Charlie Hebdo riots as France defends free speech Posted: 17 Jan 2015 03:02 PM PST  Five people were killed and churches set on fire in Niger on Saturday in fresh protests against the French weekly Charlie Hebdo's Mohammed cover, as France condemned the violence and defended freedom of expression. With France still reeling from last week's attacks that claimed 17 lives, jittery European countries stepped up security, with soldiers patrolling the streets of Belgium for the first time in 35 years. Around 1,000 youths wielding iron bars, clubs and axes rampaged through the Niger capital, hurling rocks at police who responded with tear gas. "In Niamey, the tally is five dead, all civilians," Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said in a speech broadcast on state television, as he appealed for calm.
|
| UK, US to host talks on Islamic State in London Thursday Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:53 PM PST  British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and US Secretary of State John Kerry will host a meeting in London on Thursday of members of the coalition against the Islamic State group, officials said. A British official confirmed the meeting will take place at Lancaster House in central London, a fortnight after deadly attacks in Paris by three gunmen claiming to act on behalf of Al-Qaeda and the IS group. "The key active partners in the coalition, including our Arab partners, will gather in London to decide what more we need to do to degrade and defeat ISIL. The meeting comes after US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron met in Washington this week.
|
| Put laments chances missed by Burkina Faso Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:45 PM PST  Burkina Faso coach Paul Put was left to lament his side's inability to find the net as they started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Gabon on Saturday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Malick Evouna struck to win the Group A game for the Panthers, although they were also indebted to goalkeeper Didier Ovono for making several vital saves. "We dominated the first half and created clear chances, but unfortunately Didier Ovono was very strong today and he won the points for Gabon," said Put, who led the Stallions to the final of the 2013 Cup of Nations in South Africa. Gabon, meanwhile, could qualify for the last eight with a win against Congo on Wednesday, when their coach Jorge Costa will be hoping his men once again have luck on their side.
|
| American Samoa gov seeks government-owned charter bank Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:40 PM PST PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — American Samoa's governor is trying to open a government-owned bank for the territory. |
| Latest Charlie Hebdo cover continues to roil Muslim world Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:34 PM PST  CAIRO (AP) — The famed French weekly Charlie Hebdo has continued to draw a somewhat contradictory reaction across the Muslim world. Many Muslims have expressed disgust at the deadly assault on the magazine's Paris office by Islamic extremists who killed 12 people. However many also remain deeply offended by the magazine's record of publishing cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad. Those passions were further inflamed this week when the magazine's first issue following the attack carried a cover cartoon depicting Muhammad holding a "Je Suis Charlie" sign.
|
| Roma held to 1-1 at Palermo in Serie A Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:28 PM PST  MILAN (AP) — Roma was held to 1-1 at Palermo on Saturday in another slip-up in its quest for the Serie A title.
|
| Robertson routs O'Sullivan to make Masters final Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:24 PM PST  Neil Robertson raced into the Masters final as the Australian crushed defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-1 at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday. Robertson delivered one of the best performances of his career in the last eight when he demolished Ali Carter 6-1 and the world number one was equally dominant as he handed O'Sullivan his first ever Masters semi-final defeat in his 11th appearance at that stage. The 32-year-old's superb display clinched his third appearance in the Masters final. He will face Shaun Murphy on Sunday as he looks to secure a second Masters title in what will be a repeat of the tournament's 2012 final, which Robertson won 10-6.
|
| Niger president: 10 dead after anti-Charlie Hebdo protests Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:23 PM PST NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The president of Niger says at least 10 people have been killed after violent protests over a French publication's cartoon depicting Islam's prophet. |
| Panathinaikos draws 1-1 at Panionios Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:21 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Panathinaikos goalkeeper Luke Steele saved a penalty in the 87th minute, preserving a 1-1 away draw at Panionios in the Greek league on Saturday. |
| Porto wins 3-1 at Penafiel to close on Benfica in Portugal Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:19 PM PST LISBON, Portugal (AP) — FC Porto won 3-1 at Penafiel to cut Benfica's overnight lead of the Portuguese league to three points on Saturday. |
| Five killed in second day of Charlie Hebdo protests in Niger Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:06 PM PST  By Abdoulaye Massalaki NIAMEY (Reuters) - At least five people were killed on Saturday in protests in Niger against Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, authorities said, bringing the death toll from two days of violence in the country to 10. Police fired tear gas at crowds of stone-throwing Muslim youths who set fire to churches and looted shops in the capital Niamey after authorities banned a meeting called by local Islamic leaders. "They offended our Prophet Mohammad, that's what we didn't like," said Amadou Abdoul Ouahab, who took part in the demonstrations. President Mahamadou Issoufou said all five of the dead were civilians, with four of them killed inside burned churches or bars.
|
| Qatari held in US since 2001 returns home Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:01 PM PST  A Qatari who was held in the United States since 2001, part of the time as an "enemy combatant," has been released and returned to Doha on Saturday, a family member told AFP. A nephew of Ali bin Kahlah al-Marri said he was in good health and had been welcomed at Hamad International Airport by family and friends. Prior to that he had been held by the authorities for eight years, initially on credit card fraud charges, but then in solitary confinement for six years after being declared an "enemy combatant" and put in military custody. Enemy combatant is the term used by the George W Bush administration to refer to alleged members of Al-Qaeda.
|
| Early Maher goal gives PSV 1-0 win as Dutch league resumes Posted: 17 Jan 2015 02:00 PM PST AMSTERDAM (AP) — Adam Maher's 10th-minute goal gave PSV Eindhoven a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Vitesse Arnhem that restored their four-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie on Saturday in the first round after the winter break. |
| Rousseff 'outraged' at Indonesian execution of Brazilian Posted: 17 Jan 2015 01:59 PM PST  Brazil's president was "distressed and outraged" after Indonesia defied her repeated pleas and executed one of her countrymen convicted of drug trafficking, a spokesman said Saturday. "President Dilma Rousseff took note -- distressed and outraged -- at the execution of Brazilian Marco Archer in Indonesia today," a statement from the spokesman said of the execution, the first of a Brazilian overseas. Indonesia put to death six people convicted of drugs offenses, including five foreigners, in the first executions carried out under new President Joko Widodo. Rousseff had appealed personally to the Indonesian president to stop the execution.
|
| Five killed in anti-Charlie Hebdo riots in Niger Posted: 17 Jan 2015 01:55 PM PST  Five people were killed in violent riots in Niger's capital Saturday over the depiction of the Prophet Mohammed on the cover of France's Charlie Hebdo weekly, with angry crowds setting fire to churches. Bars, hotels and various businesses under non-Muslim ownership or bearing signs of French companies were also targeted, an AFP correspondent reported. It was the second day of violence in the west African country over the Mohammed cartoon, after five people were killed and 45 injured in protests in Niger's second city of Zinder on Friday. By Saturday evening calm had returned to Niamey, where police were stationed outside the city's cathedral and other religious buildings, the AFP correspondent said.
|
