| Battle rages near Aleppo, air onslaught continues Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:32 PM PDT  By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government and rebel forces battled for control of high ground on the Aleppo outskirts on Saturday as warplanes bombed the city's opposition-held east relentlessly in a Russian-backed offensive that has left Washington's Syria policy in tatters. In their first major ground advance of the offensive, the army and its militia allies seized control of the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp, a few kilometres north of Aleppo, only for rebels to counterattack a few hours later. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the battle was ongoing.
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| Ecuador hopes hearing marks 'beginning of the end' of Assange saga Posted: 24 Sep 2016 11:06 AM PDT  By Hugh Bronstein UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Ecuador hopes that the October questioning of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, holed up in the country's London Embassy since 2012, will mark the "beginning of the end" of the legal deadlock over case, Ecuador's foreign minister said. Wikileaks burst onto the world scene in 2010 when it collaborated with media organizations to release U.S. State Department diplomatic cables. A Swedish appeals court last week upheld an arrest warrant for Assange, clearing the way for him to be questioned in Ecuador's London embassy on Oct. 17.
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| Netanyahu to meet Clinton and Trump during U.S. visit: sources Posted: 24 Sep 2016 01:11 PM PDT  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently visiting the United States, will separately meet U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday, campaign sources and Israeli officials said. The meetings will take place a day before Clinton and Trump face off in a first presidential debate but no details of where or when the meetings will take place were immediately available. Netanyahu traveled to the United States this week to address the U.N. General Assembly and met U.S. President Barack Obama and a number of other world leaders. ...
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| Balkan route nations say to focus on achievable ways to prevent new migrant influx Posted: 24 Sep 2016 09:58 AM PDT  European countries on the route used by more than a million migrants to reach the continent last year agreed on Saturday to focus on the more easily achievable ways to prevent another influx than the big issues the EU is divided over, Austria said. Vienna has convened a summit of nations along the Balkan route in the hope of pressuring European Union member states into taking faster action over a migration crisis that has caused deep divisions in the bloc and shaken up national politics. "We are focusing on where we can achieve something and implementing that more forcefully," Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern told a news conference after the meeting.
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| Finns protest against racism after man assaulted at neo-Nazi rally dies Posted: 24 Sep 2016 11:59 AM PDT  More than 15,000 people gathered in Helsinki on Saturday to protest against racism and violence, after the death of a man assaulted during a neo-Nazi rally in the city earlier this month. Following an influx of asylum seekers last year, anti-immigration sentiment has been on the rise in the small Nordic country, which has little experience of taking in large numbers of refugees. Holding placards showing peace signs and red lines crossing out swastikas, demonstrators said it was time to break a silence that they said had allowed racism and far-right violence to grow in the country.
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| Kids in tow, Prince William, Kate begin visit to Canada Posted: 24 Sep 2016 04:31 PM PDT  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought their children, Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 1, on the week-long trip. It was the first time the couple have brought their children on an official visit to Canada.
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| Guardiola wants Aguero to get even better Posted: 24 Sep 2016 05:54 PM PDT  Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to make Sergio Aguero an even better player. The Argentine striker scored two goals on his return to City colours as the visitors made it 10 straight wins in league and cup football this season with a 3-1 victory away to Swansea on Saturday. Having missed the previous three games due to suspension, Aguero took only eight minutes to give City the lead.
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| Tens of thousands march against same-sex marriage in Mexico Posted: 24 Sep 2016 05:21 PM PDT  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tens of thousands of people marched through Mexico City on Saturday in opposition to President Enrique Pena Nieto's push to legalize same-sex marriage.
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| Britain, France, US seek urgent Security Council meeting on Syria Posted: 24 Sep 2016 05:17 PM PDT  Britain, France and the United States have requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria's second city of Aleppo, diplomats said. Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was appalled by the "chilling" upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the battleground city could amount to war crimes.
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| Chinese premier arrives in Cuba for official visit Posted: 24 Sep 2016 05:15 PM PDT  HAVANA (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in Cuba's capital for an official visit designed to deepen commercial and political ties between the two countries.
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| William, Kate arrive in Canada with 2 young children Posted: 24 Sep 2016 05:03 PM PDT  VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) — Prince William and his wife, Kate, arrived in Canada Saturday along with their two young children for their first official trip overseas as a family of four.
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| Pavel Datsyuk's North American swan song at World Cup Posted: 24 Sep 2016 04:02 PM PDT TORONTO (AP) — Pavel Datsyuk's North American magic show had one final act. |
| Linares relieves Crolla of WBA lightweight belt Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:58 PM PDT MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Jorge Linares relieved Anthony Crolla of the WBA lightweight belt by unanimous decision in Manchester Arena on Saturday. |
| Attacks on civilians in Aleppo 'breach' humanitarian law: EU Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:37 PM PDT  The attacks on civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo amount to a "breach of international humanitarian law," top EU officials said Saturday, urging the international community to intensify peace efforts. "The indiscriminate suffering being caused among innocent civilians... is an unacceptable breach of international humanitarian law," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and humanitarian commissioner Christos Stylianides said in a statement.
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| Dragic says he was 'disappointed, sad' to hear Bosh news Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:34 PM PDT DORAL, Fla. (AP) — Goran Dragic got the word he was getting traded to Miami and didn't need long to start envisioning what it would be like to play alongside Chris Bosh. |
| Mexico battling blaze aboard fuel tanker off Gulf coast Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:26 PM PDT  MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's state-owned oil company says it is working to extinguish a blaze aboard a loaded tanker ship in the Gulf of Mexico.
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| Top Asian News 10:23 p.m. GMT Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:23 PM PDT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The fedora, the bomber jacket and the consuming quest invite comparisons to Indiana Jones. Blaine Gibson, though, hasn't matched the film hero's triumph in finding the legendary chest containing the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Not that he didn't try. "The Ark of the Covenant, I did not find it. However, I do believe that it's in Ethiopia somewhere," Gibson told AP recently. The amateur sleuth has had far greater success finding clues from a modern mystery: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. He is the first person searching for the plane who's actually found any trace of it and says he won't quit gathering clues until the mystery is solved. |
| Philippine FM says rights respected amid drug crackdown Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:23 PM PDT  UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Despite growing international criticism of his government's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, the Philippines top diplomat told world leaders Saturday that the rule of law governs the campaign to eradicate the illicit substances, which he said have stunted the country's development.
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| Zamalek survive brilliant Wydad comeback Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:22 PM PDT  Johannesburg (AFP) - Zamalek of Egypt suffered a 5-2 thrashing at Wydad Casablanca of Morocco Saturday, but still qualified to meet Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the CAF Champions League final.
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| 2 injured in explosion at shop in downtown Budapest Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:21 PM PDT BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's disaster management agency says that two people have been injured in an explosion at a ground-floor shop in downtown Budapest and have been taken to a hospital. |
| Guyana moves to implement witness protection program Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:17 PM PDT GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana's government is moving to implement a witness protection program it hopes will protect whistle blowers in graft and corruption cases involving top officials from the previous administration. |
| Lundqvist, Sweden's elders at World Cup know time is short Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:17 PM PDT  When Henrik Lundqvist carried a Swedish flag around the ice at the 2006 Turin Olympics with a gold medal dangling from his neck, he was a fresh-faced kid days shy of his 24th birthday.
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| Mandzukic again off form as Juve struggles to 1-0 win Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:04 PM PDT  MILAN (AP) — It was meant to be the match where Mario Mandzukic showed he could be more than an understudy to Gonzalo Higuain this season.
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| Gabon opposition leader rejects ruling upholding Bongo poll win Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:03 PM PDT  By Edward McAllister and Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday rejected what he said was an "unjust" ruling by the Constitutional Court which upheld the victory of President Ali Bongo in the Aug. 27 poll that he says was tarnished by fraud. The refusal by Ping, who says he won the presidential poll, to accept the court ruling raises the prospect of a potentially violent political crisis in the central African oil producer. The court had agreed to Ping's petition to re-examine results in Haut-Ogooue province, where Bongo was declared to have won 95 percent on a turnout of 99.9 percent.
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| Mexico says 7,800 Haitians crossed through country this year Posted: 24 Sep 2016 03:03 PM PDT MEXICO CITY (AP) — A total of 7,800 Haitian migrants have entered Mexico through Guatemala so far this year in a bid to reach the United States, officials said Saturday. |
| Wenger celebrates 20 years at Arsenal by beating Chelsea 3-0 Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:59 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — For once, a landmark game for Arsene Wenger wasn't spoiled by Chelsea, and this time it was Arsenal humiliating its London rival.
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| Rooney-less United wins; Wenger joy as Arsenal beats Chelsea Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:58 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — By reeling off a sixth successive English Premier League victory on Saturday, Manchester City underlined just how formidable it is under Pep Guardiola.
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| Amateur boxer dies during charity event in NZ Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:48 PM PDT WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An amateur boxer has died after collapsing during a charity bout on Saturday according to police, who have not yet released the cause of death. |
| Syria believes it's on way to military victory Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:46 PM PDT  UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Syria's top diplomat told the world's nations Saturday that his country's belief in military victory is greater now because the army "is making great strides in its war against terrorism" with support from Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters.
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| Johnson, Chappell tied for Tour Championship lead Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:42 PM PDT  ATLANTA (AP) — Dustin Johnson had a reasonable lie in the rough and only a few pine tree branches blocking his path to the 17th green. Neither seemed like a problem until he played the wrong shot, clipped the tree and wound up with a double bogey Saturday in the Tour Championship.
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| Team Europe relishes unexpected spot in World Cup semifinals Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:33 PM PDT  TORONTO (AP) — When the World Cup of Hockey started, Team Europe was not picked as a team to beat.
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| Barcelona routs Sporting 5-0 in 1st game without Messi Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:28 PM PDT  MADRID (AP) — Barcelona didn't show any signs of missing Lionel Messi on Saturday, cruising past Sporting Gijon 5-0 in its first Spanish league game without the injured playmaker.
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| Philippines tells world not to interfere in Duterte drugs war Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:24 PM PDT  By David Brunnstrom UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Philippines Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay told the United Nations on Saturday his country's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, had an "unprecedented" mandate and the world should not interfere in his crackdown on crime. Addressing the annual U.N. General Assembly, Yasay said the Duterte government was "determined to free the Philippines from corrupt and other stagnating practices, including the manufacture, distribution and use of illicit drugs. "We urge everyone to allow us to deal with our domestic challenges in order to achieve our national goals without undue interference." Duterte won a landslide election victory on May 9 after vowing to wipe out drugs and crime.
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| UK police arrest man in Pippa royal photo 'hack' Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:17 PM PDT  British police said Saturday they had arrested a suspect following reports that 3,000 photographs had been hacked from Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Prince William, and were being touted for sale. The pictures were reported by The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers to have been stolen from Middleton's iCloud account and included shots of her sister Kate, plus her and William's children Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, one. The Sun said it had been asked for £50,000 (58,000 euros, $65,000) for the shots.
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| Syrian troops advance in Aleppo amid war's heaviest bombing Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:15 PM PDT  BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city after what residents described as the heaviest air bombardment of the 5 ½-year civil war.
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| UK doctors call off strike action Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:13 PM PDT  The British Medical Association (BMA) had planned a full withdrawal of labor by junior doctors on Oct. 5-7 and 10-11, Nov. 14-18 and Dec. 5-9, which would have been the longest stoppages in the nearly 70-year history of the National Health Service. Junior doctors - a term covering recent medical school graduates right through to doctors who have been working for well over a decade - have staged a series of walkouts over a new work contract the government plans to impose next month. The BMA said its decision to suspend the action follows feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and discussions with NHS England about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service if industrial action were to go ahead.
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| 'No camps in France,' vows Hollande, under rightwing pressure Posted: 24 Sep 2016 02:04 PM PDT  President Francois Hollande, under pressure from the right wing, on Saturday stepped up his pledge to combat illegal migration, vowing to dismantle a squalid settlement near Calais and prevent similar camps from becoming established in France. "There will be no camps in France," said Hollande, two days ahead of a maiden visit to the notorious "Jungle" settlement near Calais, where between 7,000 and 10,000 desperate migrants live. Hollande's government has vowed to scrap the Jungle "before winter" and a flurry of preparations underway there suggest the operation may begin shortly.
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| Gabon opposition chief slams election court ruling Posted: 24 Sep 2016 01:45 PM PDT  Opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday lashed a decision by Gabon's top court to validate President Ali Bongo's re-election, as police and troops patrolled the deserted streets of Libreville to prevent a new flareup of violence. Ping accused the Constitutional Court of "bias (and) miscarriage of justice" following a ruling early Saturday that upheld Bongo's disputed victory in the August 27 presidential election. Concern has been growing that a ruling in favour of Bongo, in power since the death of his long-ruling father Omar Bongo in 2009, could spark more of the deadly unrest Gabon saw after the president's re-election was announced.
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| Lecomte's brilliant saves help Lorient down Lyon 1-0 Posted: 24 Sep 2016 01:45 PM PDT PARIS (AP) — Lorient president Loic Fery offered a contract extension to Benjamin Lecomte this week. His goalkeeper did not betray his faith, making eight saves to help beat Lyon 1-0 in the French league on Saturday. |
| Five dead in US mall shooting, gunman on the run Posted: 24 Sep 2016 01:40 PM PDT  Police searched Saturday for a shooter who killed five people at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington in the latest chapter of America's epidemic of gun violence. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store, killing four women and a man, police said. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terrorism-related.
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