| Syria talks in Lausanne end without breakthrough Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:07 PM PDT  By Lesley Wroughton and Alexander Winning LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Syria talks convened by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Saturday evening failed to agree on a common strategy with Russia to end the conflict in Syria, now in its sixth year. Kerry was seeking a new path to peace after failing to secure a ceasefire in direct talks with Moscow, one of Syria's key backers, amid mounting international outrage over the Russian and Syrian bombardment of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. Kerry hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and seven foreign ministers from the region - from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt - weeks after the collapse of a painstakingly crafted U.S.-Russian ceasefire plan that many saw as the last hope for peace this year.
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| U.S. detects failed North Korean missile test: Pentagon Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:39 PM PDT  By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military detected a failed North Korean test launch of an intermediate ballistic missile, the Pentagon said on Saturday. The test-firing was the latest in a series conducted by North Korea in violation of United Nations resolutions, drawing a fresh U.S. vow to take its concerns to the world body and seek to hold North Korea "accountable for these actions." The U.S. Strategic Command's systems detected that the Musudan missile failed in a launch conducted near North Korea's northwestern city of Kusong, the Pentagon said in a statement. It provided no details on what went wrong but said the launch never posed a threat to North America.
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| Saudi coalition attacked Yemen funeral based on wrong information: investigation Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:52 PM PDT  The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen attacked a funeral there after receiving incorrect information from Yemeni military figures that armed Houthi leaders were in the area, an investigative body set up by the coalition said on Saturday. The Saudi-led campaign in Yemen has come under severe criticism since last Saturday's air strike on the funeral gathering in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, killing 140 people according to one U.N. estimate, and 82 according to the Houthis. Mourners who died in the attack included some of Yemen's top political and security officials, potentially galvanizing powerful tribes to join the Houthis in opposing a Saudi-backed exiled government.
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| Turkey's Erdogan says Iraq cannot handle Mosul assault alone Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:02 PM PDT  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Iraq could not deal alone with driving Islamic State from the city of Mosul and that the presence of Turkish forces in a nearby military camp was an insurance against attacks on Turkey. Turkey has been locked in a row with Iraq's central government about the presence of Turkish troops at the Bashiqa camp in northern Iraq, and over who should take part in the planned U.S.-backed assault on Mosul.
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| Syrian bombing suspect in Germany spoke to IS contact about attack plans: newspaper Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:00 PM PDT  By Michelle Martin BERLIN (Reuters) - A Syrian refugee arrested on suspicion of planning a major attack in Berlin spoke to a member of Islamic State in Syria by telephone about a possible target a day before German police discovered explosives in his apartment, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Jaber Albakr was detained on Monday, two days after police discovered about 1.5 kg of explosives in his apartment. Germany's Welt am Sonntag (WamS) cited investigation sources as saying U.S. intelligence had provided a tip-off about Albakr after tapping several phone calls between him and an Islamic State member in Syria.
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| Two Americans held in Yemen released and flown to Oman Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:01 PM PDT Two American prisoners held captive by Yemen Houthi rebels have been released and taken to neighboring Oman after Omani officials mediated their release, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday. Kerry, speaking to reporters in the Swiss city of Lausanne, also said that the United States was discussing a ceasefire in Yemen with Saudi officials. A Saudi-led campaign in Yemen has come under severe criticism since an air strike a week ago on a funeral gathering in the Yemeni capital Sanaa that killed 140 people according to a U.N. estimate and 82 according to the Houthis. |
| UN chief's visit to highlight dire need in hurricane-hit Haiti Posted: 15 Oct 2016 04:34 PM PDT  Port-au-Prince (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday voiced distress at the devastation caused by a deadly hurricane in Haiti, making an urgent plea for emergency aid as he visited the worst-hit parts of the Caribbean nation. The malady was brought to Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal, who were helping in the aftermath of the earthquake.
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| Bellew calls out Haye after retaining cruiserweight title Posted: 15 Oct 2016 04:26 PM PDT  Britain's Tony Bellew retained his World Boxing Council cruiserweight title with a third-round stoppage of BJ Flores on Saturday and then promptly charged out of the ring at Liverpool's Echo Arena to confront David Haye. Liverpool boxer Bellew floored Flores three times in the second round before seeing off his American challenger in the next. After the fight was stopped, an emotional Bellew had to be restrained by security staff from confronting British rival Haye, a friend of Flores's, who was watching at ringside.
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| Bellew keeps title after stopping Flores in 3rd round Posted: 15 Oct 2016 04:18 PM PDT LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — British boxer Tony Bellew easily retained his WBC world cruiserweight title on Saturday night with a third-round stoppage of BJ Flores. |
| Britain's PM May heads to India with eye on post-Brexit trade Posted: 15 Oct 2016 04:09 PM PDT  British Prime Minister Theresa May will lead a delegation of small and medium-size businesses to India in November as part of efforts to bolster trade with countries outside the European Union as Britain prepares to leave the bloc. The Nov. 6-8 trip, May's first bilateral visit to a country outside Europe since she took office in July, will be in pursuit of her ambition of forging a new global role for Britain after it leaves the European Union, May's Downing Street office said in a statement. The European Commission is responsible for trade negotiations for the EU and some countries have said they will not negotiate a new deal for Britain until it has actually left the bloc.
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| US horse Resolve wins Yonkers Trot Posted: 15 Oct 2016 04:05 PM PDT YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — Even-money favorite Resolve, representing the United States, set a world record as he led from start to finish to win the $1 million Yonkers International Trot on Saturday. |
| UN chief in Haiti gets glimpse of Matthew's destruction Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:41 PM PDT  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived Saturday in Haiti to see firsthand a sliver of the extensive destruction left by Hurricane Matthew as storm victims continued to express frustration at delays in aid more than a week-and-a-half since the Category 4 storm hit.
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| US military detects failed N. Korean missile launch Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:40 PM PDT  The US military said Saturday it had detected an unsuccessful launch by North Korea of a powerful medium-range missile capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from using ballistic missile technology, and this latest test came as the UN Security Council is debating fresh sanctions on Pyongyang following its fifth nuclear test in September. The US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) said the launch, detected just after midday Saturday Korea time, was believed to be of a much-hyped Musudan missile which North Korea has now test-fired seven times -- with one partial success.
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| Cavani gifted a goal as PSG beats struggling Nancy 2-1 Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:27 PM PDT  PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is in prolific scoring form these days and hardly needs any help from his opponents.
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| Bernhard Langer takes PGA Tour Champions lead Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:23 PM PDT CARY, N.C. (AP) — Bernhard Langer birdied the final four holes for his second straight 5-under 67 and a two-stroke lead Saturday in the PGA Tour Champions' SAS Championship. |
| 'Certain Women' named best picture at London Film Festival Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:11 PM PDT  LONDON (AP) — Writer-director Kelly Reichardt's spare and subtle Montana drama "Certain Women" won the best-picture prize Saturday at the London Film Festival, while "12 Years a Slave" director Steve McQueen received a major career award.
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| Montenegrins asked to choose between Russia, West in Sunday vote Posted: 15 Oct 2016 03:03 PM PDT  By Aleksandar Vasovic PODGORICA (Reuters) - Montenegro's ruling party faces its toughest test in 27 years in power on Sunday, when it hopes its election promise to bring the country into NATO and closer to the European Union will outweigh opposition allegations of cronyism and corruption. The Western alliance invited the tiny Balkan country of 620,000 to join last year, partly out of concern at Russian influence in Montenegro, which has strong cultural and commercial links to its traditional Orthodox Christian ally. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, 54, presents the election as a choice between continuing Western integration under his Democratic Party of Socialists or being reduced to a "Russian colony" under the opposition.
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| Quake rattles northwestern Greece, road damaged Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:54 PM PDT  A quake of magnitude 5.2 struck northwestern Greece, close to the country's border with Albania, late on Saturday, Athens' Geodynamic Institute reported, causing damage but no casualties. The tremor was also felt on the Corfu island in the Ionian Sea, a popular tourist destination, according to the semi-state Athens News Agency. Greece and the surrounding region is often rattled by earthquakes, mostly at sea which cause no serious damage.
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| Man City pays the penalty in 1-1 draw with Everton Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:49 PM PDT  MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It might be time for Manchester City to start practicing penalties.
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| Botia strikes early as Olympiakos beats Panionios 2-0 Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:41 PM PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Defending champion Olympiakos scored a goal in each half at Panionios to win 2-0 and go top of the Greek league on Saturday. |
| India, Russia agree to missile sales, joint venture for helicopters Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:33 PM PDT  By Douglas Busvine and Denis Pinchuk GOA, India (Reuters) - India and Russia on Saturday announced plans to set up a joint venture to build helicopters in India, which will also buy surface-to-air missile systems from its former Cold War ally, as the two tighten their military relationship. The pacts were signed after summit talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India's western resort state of Goa, where leaders from the BRICS group of emerging nations are meeting.
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| Merkel says Germany to give big boost to defense spending Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:32 PM PDT  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that Europe's largest economy would significantly boost defense spending in the coming years to move towards the NATO target for member states to spend 2 percent of their economic output on defense. Merkel said U.S. President Barack Obama had told her it could no longer be the case that the U.S. spends 3.4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on security while Germany - its close NATO ally - only spends 1.2 percent of GDP on that. In 2016 Germany's budget for defense spending stands at 34.3 billion euros so it would need to be increased by more than 20 billion euros to reach the 2 percent target.
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| Dzeko scores again as Roma wins 3-1 at Napoli Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:24 PM PDT  MILAN (AP) — Roma forward Edin Dzeko has a point to prove.
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| ANC youth wing 'call to arms' to defend graft-tainted Zuma Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:18 PM PDT  The youth wing of the ruling African National Congress issued a call to arms Saturday in defence of South African President Jacob Zuma as his finance minister fought back in a fraud case involving an Indian business family linked to the scandal-tainted leader. Zuma has been under pressure over persistent allegations the powerful Gupta family held undue political sway over him to the extent it could even nominate a cabinet minister. South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog upped the ante on Friday in urging the prompt release of a potentially explosive report into the allegations after Zuma launched a court action as a delaying tactic.
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| Messi scores with 3rd touch on successful return from injury Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:17 PM PDT  BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Three touches of the ball were all Lionel Messi needed to score for Barcelona on Saturday, showing that he is ready to take on his former coach Pep Guardiola in the Champions League.
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| Britain sends new military training mission to Tunisia to counter IS Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:13 PM PDT  Britain has sent 40 military personnel to Tunisia to provide training aimed at helping the North African country prevent the spread of Islamic State fighters from neighboring Libya, the British defense minister said on Saturday. The training will focus on operational planning, intelligence, surveillance and mobile patrolling and is the third mission of its kind by British troops in Tunisia since 30 British holidaymakers were killed in a beach attack there. "We are determined to support our Tunisian allies to defend against Daesh (Islamic State) terrorists who slaughtered innocent Britons on a beach there last year," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement.
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| 5.2-magnitude tremor rattles northwestern Greece Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:12 PM PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Athens-based Institute of Geodynamics reports that a 5.2-magnitude earthquake has occurred near the northwestern Greek city of Ioannina, about 205 miles (330 kilometers) northwest of the capital Athens. |
| Bolivia police arrest US man with some $1.5 million in gold Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:10 PM PDT LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivian police say they've detained a 76-year-old U.S. citizen with more than 121 pounds (55 kilograms) of gold. |
| Saracens scale Toulon fortress with 31-23 thriller Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:03 PM PDT  Saracens, led brilliantly by the returning Owen Farrell, got the defence of their European title off to a dream start by beating three-time former champions Toulon 31-23 in a thriller on Saturday. In a re-run of the 2013 final won by Toulon, Saracens scored three first-half tries through Sean Maitland, Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Wyles, allied with Farrell's trusty boot, to set up the win -- the first defeat Toulon had ever conceded at home in 18 European matches.
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| Imprisoned terror suspect beaten to death in Brazil Posted: 15 Oct 2016 02:02 PM PDT SAO PAULO (AP) — Authorities say that one of the 12 suspects arrested for allegedly pledging allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and discussing possible attacks during the summer Olympics has been killed in a penitentiary in central-western Brazil. |
| Blow to Libya unity government as rival seizes offices Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:58 PM PDT  Libya's UN-backed unity government has suffered a new setback after a political rival seized key offices in the capital and proclaimed the reinstatement of the former administration. The United Nations' Libya envoy condemned the latest challenge to the authority of the Government of National Accord (GNA), warning it would sow "further disorder and insecurity".
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| Fresh Syria talks end with no breakthroughs Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:53 PM PDT  US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Lausanne meeting produced some new ideas on reviving a ceasefire in Syria, where the regime continues to pound rebel-held areas in Aleppo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joined Kerry in welcoming the idea of bringing other powers into the mix saying, "we must prolong our contacts over the coming days".
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| More Britons prioritize EU trade than immigration controls: poll Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:52 PM PDT  Britons who want the government to prioritize favorable trade deals with the European Union when negotiating Britain's exit from the bloc outnumber those who think it should prioritize reducing immigration, a poll has found. Britons voted by 52 to 48 percent in a June referendum to quit the 28-member bloc after a campaign in which those advocating a "leave" vote focused heavily on immigration and promised that 'Brexit' would make it easier to reduce it. The government is expected to formally start two years of negotiations on the terms of Britain's departure by the end of March.
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| Global deal reached to phase out super greenhouse gases Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:45 PM PDT  In a major step toward curbing global warming, the world community agreed on Saturday to phase out a category of dangerous greenhouse gases widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Nearly 200 countries agreed to end production and consumption of so-called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer. HFCs stoke climate change because they are super-efficient at trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere.
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| FIFA leaves berths unchanged for 2019 Women's World Cup Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:43 PM PDT  FIFA has left the allocation of berths for the Women's World Cup unchanged, meaning Europe will get one extra berth when the tournament shifts to France in 2019 from Canada last year.
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| Cahill marks debut with stunning goal in A-League derby Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:42 PM PDT SYDNEY (AP) — Tim Cahill marked his A-League debut with a spectacular long-range goal as Melbourne City beat the Melbourne Victory 4-1 Saturday to continue its winning start. |
