| Catalan separatists eye election boost to defy Spain over independence Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:06 PM PDT  By Julien Toyer BARCELONA (Reuters) - Separatist parties are expected to win control of Catalonia's parliament in an election on Sunday, setting the region on course for a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain, which the central government says is impossible. Opinion polls indicate the main secessionist platform "Junts Pel Si" (Together for Yes) and leftist party CUP are likely to fall short of 50 percent of the vote, but they would still secure a majority of seats in the 135-strong regional assembly. Both have said that such a result would allow them to unilaterally declare independence within 18 months.
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| In America's birthplace, pope gives pep talk to immigrants Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:26 PM PDT  By Philip Pullella and Scott Malone PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Pope Francis, speaking in America's birthplace on Saturday, offered stout words of support to Hispanic and other immigrants in the United States, telling them not to be discouraged at a time when some prominent politicians are directing hostility toward them. The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff toured Independence Hall in Philadelphia before addressing a crowd estimated at more than 40,000 outside the 18th century red brick building where basic American liberties were proclaimed and where independence from Britain was declared. "Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you face," the pope told the many Hispanics and other recent immigrants to the United States in the crowd, adding that he felt "particular affection" toward them.
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| Kerry says sees opportunity for progress on Syria as he meets Zarif Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:42 PM PDT  By Arshad Mohammed and Parisa Hafezi UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he saw an opportunity for progress this week towards ending Syria's four-year civil war as he met Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday. Western officials said Kerry wants to launch a new effort at the U.N. General Assembly to try to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict, which has taken on new urgency in light of Russia's military build-up in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a refugee crisis that has spilled into Europe. The new U.S. approach, which officials stressed was in its infancy, could bring Russia, a major ally of Assad, together with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and that support Syrian opposition groups against Assad.
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| Mexico pressured for answers on missing students, one year on Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:51 PM PDT  By Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Tens of thousands marched in Mexico City on Saturday to demand answers on last year's disappearances of 43 students, piling new pressure on President Enrique Pena Nieto to clear up a case that has battered his image. A year to the day since 43 trainee teachers went missing in the southwestern city of Iguala after clashes with local police, protesters held up banners ridiculing Pena Nieto's response to the crisis and accusing him of trying to draw a line under it. Simmering anger over the disappearances, which exposed deep flaws in Mexico's justice system, has dashed any hopes the president harbored of turning the spotlight away from violence and lawlessness that have plagued the country for years.
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| Ceasefire broken in northwestern Syria, monitor says, rebels blame government Posted: 26 Sep 2015 05:10 PM PDT BEIRUT (Reuters) - A ceasefire in northwest Syria, part of a wider deal that included cessation of hostilities in the area as well as in a town near the Lebanese border, was broken late on Saturday, a monitoring group said. Shells apparently fired by insurgents hit the village of al-Foua in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after rebels blamed government forces for violating the ceasefire by dropping barrel bombs on an area nearby. (Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Sandra Maler) |
| Haj death toll rises to 769, Iran denounces 'crime' Posted: 26 Sep 2015 09:45 AM PDT  By Noah Browning DUBAI (Reuters) - The death toll in a crush at the annual haj pilgrimage outside Mecca rose to 769, Saudi Arabia said on Saturday, as arch-rival Iran said Saudi officials should be tried in an international court for what it called a crime. Shi'ite Muslim Iran, which is locked in a series of proxy wars in Arab countries around the Sunni Muslim kingdom, says that at least 136 Iranians are among the dead, sparking protests and outrage in the Islamic Republic on Friday. Over 300 other Iranians remain unaccounted for, including former ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi, Fars news agency reported.
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| The Latest: Pope Francis hears from families, musical acts Posted: 26 Sep 2015 05:08 PM PDT  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to the United States. All times local:
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| Austria urges debate on refugee spending and EU deficit rules Posted: 26 Sep 2015 05:05 PM PDT The rising cost of looking after refugees may scupper the budget plans of some European governments, and Brussels should consider exemptions for such spending under its EU deficit rules, Austria's Finance Minister was quoted as saying. More critical is the question of the longer-term effects (on the budgets)," Hans Joerg Schelling told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in an interview published on Sunday. "But you have to keep in mind that this growth push is financed with more spending and more debt," Schelling said. |
| Top Asian News at 12:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 26 Sep 2015 05:02 PM PDT SABANG, Indonesia (AP) — The Thai captain of a seized cargo ship carrying an estimated $2 million worth of seafood has been arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of illegal fishing, in the latest development linked to an Associated Press investigation that uncovered a slave island earlier this year. At least one other crew member is still under scrutiny. The massive Thai-owned Silver Sea 2 was first identified by AP in July through a high-resolution photo taken from space, showing slave-caught fish being loaded onto the refrigerated vessel in Papua New Guinea's waters. The AP then tracked the ship through its satellite beacon and informed Indonesian authorities when it crossed into their waters on its way home to Thailand. |
| American tourist killed in botched robbery in Colombia Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:59 PM PDT BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — An American tourist has been shot to death in Colombia during an apparent robbery attempt after leaving his hotel in a wealthy enclave of Medellin. |
| Venezuela, Guyana set to meet on UN sidelines on dispute Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:43 PM PDT  NEW YORK (AP) — Guyana's president said Saturday he's willing to meet with Venezuela's leader on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly — and the U.N. chief has arranged just that. Ban Ki-moon's Sunday schedule now shows a joint meeting with the two leaders embroiled in a border dispute.
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| Pilgrims throng Philadelphia to see Pope Francis Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:41 PM PDT  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics are making the pilgrimage to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis on the last leg of his first-ever visit to the United States, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the popular pontiff at some point during his packed schedule — or even receive a blessing or healing touch. Some of their stories:
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| Taking greater role, China leader pledges $2 bln to poor Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:37 PM PDT  Xi's announcement, made in his first address to the United Nations, follows longstanding criticism from the United States and other developed countries that China has not taken responsibilities in line with its aspirations for a greater global role. Addressing a UN summit on development, Xi said China would act "by putting justice before interests and joining other countries in a concerted effort to realize the post-2015 agenda." Xi said that China would launch an assistance fund for developing countries with an initial investment of $2 billion.
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| Patched-up backline comes up trumps for Wales Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:34 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — No Jonathan Davies. No Leigh Halfpenny. No Rhys Webb. No Cory Allen. Wales came to Twickenham patching a decent backline together to front up to England for one of the great Rugby World Cup showdowns in the pools.
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| Robshaw takes blame as gutsy lineout call backfires Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:29 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — With the seconds counting down in the white-hot cauldron of a Rugby World Cup thriller, England captain Chris Robshaw was faced with the biggest call of his career.
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| Iraq says Russia, Iran, Syria cooperating on security issues in Baghdad Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:28 PM PDT By Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq said on Saturday that its military officials were engaged in intelligence and security cooperation in Baghdad with Russia, Iran and Syria to counter the threat from the Islamic State militant group, a pact that could raise concerns in Washington. A statement from the Iraqi military's joint operations command said the cooperation had come "with increased Russian concern about the presence of thousands of terrorists from Russia undertaking criminal acts with Daesh (Islamic State)." The move could give Moscow more sway in the Middle East. |
| Another step to give Bolivia's Morales chance for 4th term Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:25 PM PDT  LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia's congress has approved a constitutional amendment that would allow President Evo Morales to seek a fourth term in 2020.
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| Egypt leader defends 'security measures' along Gaza border Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:18 PM PDT  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday said the security measures taken by his country along the border with Gaza were not aimed at "harming" Palestinians. "The measures seek to protect the Egyptian borders and maintain Egyptian and Palestinian national security," it added. The Egyptian leader reportedly made the comments during a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in New York, where they are attending the United Nations General Assembly.
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| Philadelphia crowd basks in pope's love Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:17 PM PDT  It is Pope Francis's love for disabled children that persuaded Mary Beth Eberhard to drive 10 hours across America with her husband, eight children, two seminarians and a priest. Two of her children suffer from a neuro-muscular disease, and the family from Columbus, Ohio have often been in Philadelphia over the last nine years so that they can undergo specialist treatment. "It's always been a very big place of sorrow for my family, lots of surgeries," she told AFP, sitting on the grass alongside Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway waiting for the pope to attend a Festival of Families.
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| At Philadelphia airport, pope kisses head of disabled boy Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:12 PM PDT  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pope Francis kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy after landing in Philadelphia on Saturday morning, coaxing a small smile from the severely disabled 10-year-old.
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| At least 21 killed in attacks in Central African Republic capital Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:08 PM PDT By Crispin Dembassa-Kette BANGUI (Reuters) - At least 21 people were killed in the capital of Central African Republic on Saturday and around 100 others were wounded as Muslims attacked a mainly Christian neighborhood, senior hospital officials and a government spokesman said. The reprisal attack in Bangui came after a Muslim man was killed and his body found dumped in a street close to the airport, witnesses said. It is the worst violence this year in a city secured by French and United Nations peacekeepers. |
| Mexico marks one year since 43 students vanished Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:08 PM PDT  Thousands marched in Mexico City Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students in a murky case involving corrupt police that has haunted President Enrique Pena Nieto. Behind the 43 are thousands of disappeared," Sofia Rojas, a student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, told AFP. Signs that read "Crime of the State" and "Get Out Pena" peppered the crowd as they streamed down the Paseo de la Reforma, the grand boulevard that runs through the center of the Mexican capital.
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| Colombia's Santos faced 'difficult moment' in peace deal: NYT Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:06 PM PDT  (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said a partial agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia almost didn't happen when the FARC rebel group's leader balked at the last minute to a six-month deadline to end talks, according to the New York Times. In an interview with the newspaper published on Saturday, Santos said the rebel leader, Rodrigo Londoño, appeared to reject such a deadline when the two met in Havana this week amid moves to end the Latin American country's five-decade war. Santos also said that thousands of FARC fighters could get amnesty but that the rebel group's leaders, possibly even Londoño, will be punished somehow.
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| Cameron to tell UN Syria peace impossible with Assad Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:02 PM PDT  British Prime Minister David Cameron is to tell the UN that peace in Syria is impossible while President Bashar al-Assad remains in power, officials said. Cameron was to fly out to the United Nations in New York on Sunday as Western diplomats scramble to cobble together a diplomatic strategy to end the civil war in Syria. British officials say attempts to resolve the four-year conflict have been made more difficult by Russia's recent military support for the Assad regime.
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| Bolivia passes law to allow Morales to run for fourth term Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:00 PM PDT  Bolivia's parliament passed a law on Saturday that would allow President Evo Morales to run for another term if ratified in a national referendum next year. The law, approved in a marathon overnight session by more than two-thirds of lawmakers, would amend the constitution in order to eliminate presidential term limits. "It's not about being forever," Morales told reporters in New York, where he is attending the annual U.N. General Assembly.
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| NYC mayor meets with Cuban President Castro Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:40 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has met with Cuban President Raul Castro. |
| Mexicans march on anniversary of 43 students' disappearance Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:40 PM PDT  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Thousands of people marked the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students by marching down Mexico City's premier avenue in an atmosphere of defiant hope Saturday.
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| US criticizes China ahead of UN women's equality session Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:38 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and human rights organizations sharply criticized China's repression and imprisonment of women's rights activists ahead of a high-level U.N. meeting Sunday to promote women's equality. The session will be co-chaired by China's President Xi Jinping. |
| Wales fights back to beat England 28-25 in World Cup classic Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:33 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Wales defied an early battering up front and a slew of second-half injuries to rally to a remarkable 28-25 win over England at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, leaving the tournament host in real danger of early elimination.
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| Canada revokes citizenship of convicted terror plotter: report Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:18 PM PDT  The Canadian government has revoked the citizenship of the convicted mastermind of a 2006 Al-Qaeda inspired plot to detonate bombs in Toronto, a newspaper reported Saturday. Zakaria Amara received a life sentence in January 2010 and is serving his time in a penitentiary in Quebec. The National Post reported that Amara was notified by letter that he is no longer a Canadian citizen and that the move is a first for the Canadian government following the taking effect of a new law.
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| Support for Merkel falls over handling of refugee crisis Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:12 PM PDT  German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has dropped sharply over her handling of the refugee crisis, two polls showed on Saturday, indicating a shift in the mood in Europe's most populous country towards the record influx of new arrivals. Merkel has been accused by her allies in Bavaria - the entry point to Germany for most migrants - and some eastern EU neighbors of fuelling the influx of people by effectively giving refugees from Syria a green light to come to Germany.
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| German minister denies plagiarism allegations: report Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:10 PM PDT  Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen fiercely rejected allegations revealed Saturday in media reports that she plagiarised portions of her doctoral thesis, a charge that has already brought down other high-level German leaders. "The frequency and the ease with which these errors could have been avoided indicate a grossly botched piece of work," Dannemann told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
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| U.N. says world waited too long to act on refugee crisis Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:09 PM PDT  By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations high commissioner for refugees said on Saturday the world waited far too long to respond to the refugee crisis sparked by the wars in Syria and elsewhere, though rich countries now appear to understand the scale of the problem. "Unfortunately only when the poor enter the halls of the rich, do the rich notice that the poor exist," U.N. refugee chief Antonio Guterres told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. "Until we had this massive movement into Europe, there was no recognition in the developed world of how serious this crisis was," he said.
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| In Philadelphia, pope calls for defense of religious freedom Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:08 PM PDT  Pope Francis on Saturday called for a vigorous defense of religious freedom and urged ordinary Catholics, especially women, to help fortify the Church, as hundreds of thousands celebrated his visit to Philadelphia. The head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics also made another impassioned plea for new immigrants from Latin America to be accepted in the United States, and encouraged them not to be discouraged as they build a new life. The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff landed in the City of Brotherly Love after a short flight from New York, where he spent a whirlwind 36 hours that included an emotional visit to Ground Zero and mass at Madison Square Garden.
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| Messi tears knee ligament during Barcelona win Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:07 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Lionel Messi tore a ligament in his left knee near the start of Barcelona's costly 2-1 win over Las Palmas on Saturday that provisionally lifted the defending champions to the top of the Spanish league.
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| Spieth takes the lead at East Lake, 1 round from $10 million Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:05 PM PDT  ATLANTA (AP) — Jordan Spieth was so consumed with trying to make birdies and save pars on a rugged, rainy afternoon at the Tour Championship that he didn't realize until after he signed for a 2-under 68 that he had a one-shot lead.
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| Messi injured in Barcelona's win, Madrid draws in Spain Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:05 PM PDT  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi tore a ligament in his left knee near the start of Barcelona's costly 2-1 win over Las Palmas that lifted the defending Spanish league champions above Real Madrid after the title hopeful drew on Saturday.
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| I.Coast police 'block opposition rally' Posted: 26 Sep 2015 03:03 PM PDT  Riot police prevented an opposition demo from taking place in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan on Saturday by blocking off the rally site and threatening would-be demonstrators with tear gas, opposition supporters said. One of the protest organisers was arrested, the opposition National Coalition for Change (CNC) told AFP. With a month to go until a presidential election in which President Alassane Ouattara is seeking a controversial second term, the CNC had called on supporters to gather in Abidjan's Yopougon neighbourhood.
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| Lancaster blames 'dumb' penalties for England defeat Posted: 26 Sep 2015 02:58 PM PDT  England coach Stuart Lancaster blamed "dumb" penalties given away by his players for the stunning defeat by old rivals Wales in their key World Cup clash on Saturday. Lancaster said he was "gutted" after the 28-25 loss in front of 81,000 people at Twickenham. England were "19-9 up and we were going well but ill-discipline from us and Dan Biggar's great goal kicking kept them in the game," Lancaster told ITV television.
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