NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Globe
Pakistan protests: Police in Islamabad arrested government protesters in what activists said was an effort to crack down on sit-ins in the capital, while the government said police only apprehended suspects in a recent attack on staterun TV. The party of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, who is leading one of two major protests demanding the government’s resignation, said a large number of party activists were detained in overnight raids beginning late Friday. He did not provide an exact number. Antigovernment cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who has been leading parallel demonstrations, said police had also detained his supporters. Severe storm: Hurricane Odile strengthened Saturday night and appeared headed for a possible close brush with the southern end of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Odile’s maximum sustained winds had increased to 110 mph, just below a Category 3 hurricane. Forecasters said Odile’s core could pass near or over the southern end of Baja California on Sunday night and Monday. A hurricane warning was issued for the region. 3 Serbia attack: A German man who took part in a gay rights conference suffered lifethreatening brain injuries when he was severely beaten in Belgrade on Saturday, police and gay activists said. The identity of the 27-year-old was not released. Serbia, which has a long history of attacks by far-right groups against gay activists, has repeatedly pledged to protect human rights as it seeks European Union membership. Police said later Saturday that they have arrested three suspects. 4 Syria fighting: Syrian warplanes and helicopter gunships struck targets in a central village of Kfar Zeita on Saturday in what appears to be preparations for a ground offensive on the rebel stronghold, activists said. The air raids came amid a major government offensive in the religiously mixed central province of Hama. There was no word on casualties. 5 Ferry rescue: Rescuers saved about 100 people overnight and recovered two bodies from a ferry that sank in rough seas after encountering steering trouble in the central Philippines, officials said Sunday. Coast Guard Capt. Joseph Coyme said rescue efforts would continue because it was uncertain how many passengers and crewmembers were on the ferry, which sank late Saturday after listing and being lashed by strong waves whipped up by a storm north of the ferry’s path. The Coast Guard had cleared the ferry to leave Surigao city for a regular domestic run. The skipper sent the distress call a few hours later.