Beirut: Syrian rebel infighting kills 5 near Iraqi border
Al-Qaida-affiliated rebels battled more moderate Syrian opposition fighters in a town along the Iraqi border on Saturday, killing at least five people in the latest outbreak of infighting among the forces opposed to President Bashar Assad's regime.
Clashes between rebel groups, particularly pitting al-Qaida-linked extremist factions against more moderate units, have grown increasingly common in recent months, undermining the opposition's primary goal of overthrowing Assad.
Madrid: Spain rejects referendum sought by separatists
Spain's prime minister has rejected a request by the leader of Catalonia to approve a referendum that would allow the northeastern region to decide whether to secede from the country.
In a written reply, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told Artur Mas, leader of the economically powerful region, "the ties that bind us together cannot be undone without enormous cost" and that the two politicians should hold talks instead.
Rajoy's answer Saturday officially rebuffs the pro-separatist request Mas made in July. Spain's constitution says only the central government can call a referendum.
More than 1 million people showed support for Catalan independence on Wednesday by joining hands to form a 250-mile human chain across the region.
Polls indicate about half of Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabi tants favor independence.
Baghdad: Funeral bombing, other attacks kill 25 in Iraq
A suicide bomber attacked a funeral Saturday in northern Iraq attended by members of an ethnic Shiite minority, part of a series of assaults that killed at least 25 across the country, officials said.
In the suicide attack, the bomber detonated his explosive belt inside a tent during the afternoon ceremony held by members of the Shabak minority near the city of Mosul. Authorities said the blast killed at least 20 people and wounded 35.
In other violence Saturday, police said a roadside bomb hit a car in the town of Dujail, just north of the capital, killing the driver and his wife. Police also said an 11-year-old boy was killed when a bomb struck a minibus near the town of Suleiman Beg. Gunmen stormed a tile factory in eastern Baghdad, killing the owner and a worker, police said.
Tokyo: Japan PM's Fukushima remark backfires at home
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's reassurance to the International Olympic Committee that contaminated water leaks from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant are "under control" has backfired at home.
Just hours before Tokyo was chosen Sept. 7 to host the 2020 Olympics, Abe said radioactive contaminants from the leakage had no impact to waters outside the bay near the plant and "will never do any damage to Tokyo."
The Japanese media and opposition lawmakers have suggested that Abe's comments were overkill.
"Contaminated water 'control' running astray," the nationwide Asahi newspaper said in its front-page story Saturday. "Credibility of prime minister's message to overseas is shaking."
In a meeting with opposition Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers Friday, senior TEPCO official Kazuhiko Yamashita said the water situation was "not under control," appearing to contradict Abe. DPJ leaders said they will demand Abe clarify his IOC speech.
Warsaw, Poland: Protest of labor, wage policies draws 100,000
Tens of thousands of Polish labor union members threw smoke grenades and blew whistles during a march through Warsaw on Saturday to protest the government's labor and wage policies.
The organizers expected more than 100,000 participants. They said the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government hurt the interests of workers and of their families.
The marchers complained of large-scale layoffs after economic growth slowed down to 1.9 percent of gross domestic product last year from 4.5 percent in 2011. They demanded job security, health-care guarantees and retirement benefits at a time when unemployment is at 13 percent. They also want the reversal of a recent raise in the retirement age to 67 years from the previous 60 years for women and 65 years for men.
US & World
Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis complained to police in Rhode Island last month that people were talking to him through the walls and ceilings of his hotel rooms and sending microwave vibrations into his body.
The gunman in the mass shootings at the Washington Navy Yard, Aaron Alexis, had a history of violent outbursts, and was at least twice accused of firing guns in anger.
