Indonesian volcano spews more scorching ash; death toll reaches 156

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano continued to rumble and emit bursts of blisteringly hot gas and dust Sunday, as the death toll from recent eruptions pushed higher.

At least two large pyroclastic flows were spotted on the southern side of Mount Merapi during the afternoon Sunday.

A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving burst of extremely hot gas and rock fragments. One such flow from Mount Merapi killed two people in 2006 and another killed more than 60 people in 1994.

The large clouds of gas and dust in the sky forced flight cancellations into and out of Yogyakarta. Explosions from the volcano could be heard in the suburbs of the city, some 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away.

CNN

Drone attacks kill 9 in Pakistan, intelligence officials say

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Two suspected attacks by U.S. drones left nine people dead in Pakistan's tribal district of North Waziristan on Sunday, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Four people died when rockets struck a vehicle carrying a suspected Taliban militant leader in the village of Lolai Piran Killay, near the district capital of Miran Shah, according to the intelligence officials. A later strike killed another five people in Data Khel, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Miran Shah, the officials said.

The officials asked not to be named because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The first strike occurred about 7:35 p.m. (9:35 a.m. ET), with the second hitting about 25 minutes later, they said.

North Waziristan lies along the rugged border with Afghanistan. The district is a stronghold of Taliban factions battling U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, with insurgents targeting allied supply lines and mounting attacks across the border.

Sunday's attack in Data Khel was the third in that area since late October. A Wednesday airstrike by a suspected U.S. drone killed five suspected militants, while another three died in an October 27 attack, intelligence officials told CNN.

At least 88 drone strikes have hit Pakistani territory in 2010, well above the 2009 total of 52, according to a CNN count. U.S. officials normally do not comment on suspected drone strikes, but the United States is the only country in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from remote-controlled aircraft.

Speaking during a visit to Pakistan's neighbor and regional rival India on Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama said Pakistan was battling extremists. But he said progress was not "not as quick as we'd like," particularly in the difficult terrain of the border.

Obama said the Pakistani government understood the problem, which he called a "cancer" within its borders.

CNN

Iran offers new nuclear talks

(CNN) -- Iran has agreed to new talks about its controversial nuclear program with the United States and its allies, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Sunday, the country's official news agency reported.

Iran made the offer through Turkey, a potential host for the talks, he said.

The United States and other countries believe Iran is trying to develop the technology to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran consistently denies its program has a military aim.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top U.S. Senate Republican, said Saturday the United States should consider neutering Iran's navy and air force if Tehran does not halt its nuclear program.

Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, the South Carolina senator told reporters that there will come a point where Iran's nuclear program will reach the state that a conventional limited air strike "won't take them out.

"We're probably even past that point," he said.

"Instead of a surgical strike on their nuclear infrastructure, I think we're to the point now that you have to really neuter the regime's ability to wage war against us and our allies. And that's a different military scenario. It's not a ground invasion but it certainly destroys the ability of the regime to strike back," said Graham, one of his party's top voices on defense.

The talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group have been on hold for more than a year, but Iran has signalled recently it is ready to come back to the table.

CNN

Greek local elections may determine fate of ruling party

(CNN) -- The Greek prime minister may call for early general elections in December if his ruling party loses local elections Sunday, the nation's official news agency said.

In an interview published Saturday, Prime Minister George Papandreou said the election is a high-stakes test for his ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), according to ANA, the official news agency.

The ruling party will compete with the conservative opposition party New Democracy.

On Saturday, the prime minister criticized Antonis Samaras, the leader of the opposition party.

"All they care about is to be able to say on the night of the elections that PASOK was defeated and that, therefore, the effort we are making to extricate the country from the great impasse has been defeated. That the government has lost the legitimacy to continue its policies," Papandreou said.

New Democracy ruled Greece from 2005 to 2009. If it defeats the ruling party in the local elections, it may undermine the economic reforms spearheaded by Papandreou and his government.

The policies aimed at reducing rampant deficit in Greece are carried out under the aegis of the financial bailout package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Greece was allotted about $150 billion to help restore investors' confidence and prevent bankruptcy.

The economic crisis and the recently-unveiled austerity budget are expected to dominate the voters' agenda for the local elections.

CNN

Torres double sinks English Premier League leaders Chelsea

(CNN) -- Fernando Torres rediscovered his scoring touch as Liverpool continued their revival under new owners with a 2-0 win over English Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

The Spanish star scored two magnificent first half goals to seal three points for Roy Hodgson's men.

The first came after 11 minutes as he instantly controlled a Dirk Kuyt through ball before beating Petr Cech with a low shot.

He doubled the advantage just before the interval as he cut inside before curling home a superb shot.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti introduced striker Didier Drogba, who had an overnight illness, after the break and it sparked an improvement by his side after a lifeless first half.

Home keeper Pepe Reina blocked a close range shot from Florent Malouda after a cross by Droga.

Cech prevented his team from going three down when he stretched out a leg to deny Dirk Kuyt before Chelsea nearly cut the deficit only for Nicolas Anelka's strike to hit the crossbar.

CNN

Running legend Gebrselassie quits after New York disappointment

(CNN) -- Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie has shocked the world of athletics by announcing his retirement.

The 37-year-old dropped out of Sunday's New York City marathon with a knee injury then told reporters he had run his last race.

"I never think about to retire. But for the first time, this is the day," he said. "Let me stop and do other work after this".

Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic 10,000 meters champion, is the world marathon record holder after setting a time of two hours three minutes 59 seconds in Berlin in 2008.

He was the star attraction in New York, but pulled out in obvious pain on the Queensboro Bridge while in the leading group at 16 miles.

"I don't want to complain anymore after this, which means it's better to stop here," he said.

CNN

Sweden arrests man aged 38 over Malmo race shootings

A man has been arrested in the Swedish city of Malmo over a series of gun attacks which targeted mainly immigrants in the south of the country.

The unnamed suspect was accused of committing one murder and seven attempted murders over the past 12 months.

People were fired on at bus stops, in their cars and through a gym window.

The suspect, arrested in his flat on Saturday, denies any crime. He has a gun licence and two weapons were found.

A tip-off from a member of the public led to the arrest, police spokesman Borje Sjoholm told reporters in Malmo on Sunday.

The suspect is accused of attempted murders between October 2009 and October of this year, as well as one actual murder.

On 10 October 2009, Trez West Persson, a 20-year-old woman, was shot and killed while sitting in a car near a mosque. A dark-skinned friend sitting beside her was seriously injured.

BBC News

Move to airlift Malaysians as Merapi volcano rumbles on

Malaysia has moved to airlift hundreds of its nationals from Indonesia as Mount Merapi volcano continues its massive eruption.

It sent three C-130 transport aircraft to Solo airport to collect 664 stranded Malaysians, many of them students.

Some airlines have stopped flying to Jakarta over fears of ash damage.

On a visit to refugees from the eruption, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said there was no sign of the eruption abating.

Speaking at a stadium in Yogyakarta province, he said 283,000 people had now been forced to flee.

More than 130 people have died since Merapi began erupting two weeks ago, its greatest activity in a century.

Victims were being given a mass burial in Yogyakarta on Sunday.

As relatives wept and men recited traditional Islamic prayers, villagers and policemen unloaded the corpses - some in plain wooden coffins, others still in the morgue's yellow body bags - from ambulances, an Associated Press correspondent reports.

They were placed in a massive trench, dug into a large green field in the shadow of the volcano.

The infamously volatile mountain unleashed its most powerful eruption on Friday, sending hot clouds of gas, rocks and debris down its slopes at frightening speeds, smothering entire villages and leaving a trail of charred corpses.

BBC News

Cuba urged to free more prisoners

Opposition activists in Cuba have accused the government of failing to keep its promise to free another 13 jailed dissidents.

President Raul Castro agreed in July to free 52 political prisoners within four months.

Most have been released into exile in Spain, but 13 are still in prison because they refuse to leave Cuba.

Relatives of prominent dissidents, known as the Ladies in White, protested in Havana to demand their release.

The activists said Sunday was the deadline by which all 52 prisoners should have been freed, in accordance with a deal struck between President Castro and the Catholic Church.

"They are deceiving and have played with the Church, the government of Spain, the European Union and with all the international community", said the Ladies in White leader, Laura Pollan.

"This is proof that their word has no value, and that they cannot be trusted", she said.

BBC News

Sebastian Vettel wins to keep title race alive

Sebastian Vettel led Mark Webber to a Red Bull one-two in the Brazilian Grand Prix to take the world title fight to the final race of the season.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took third place to retain the championship lead from Webber and Vettel.

Red Bull's formation finish ensured they clinched the constructors' championship for the first time.

Lewis Hamilton was fourth and retains a slim title chance while Jenson Button's fifth means he cannot retain his crown.

Alonso can afford to finish second in Abu Dhabi and still take the title if Webber wins, or fourth if Vettel does.

Germany's Vettel said: "It was an incredible day, not easy to start with. I was on the dirty side but got a good start and I saw Nico [Hulkenberg] had wheelspin.

"He didn't give me a lot of room but then it was OK. I could cruise into the distance and control the pace. It's an incredible effort from the team. It has not been an easy season, but this was the perfect answer after what happened in Korea".

Looking ahead to next weekend, he added: "I don't wish anything bad to happen to [Alonso], but it would be nice if we see some nice Ferrari smoke. No, joking apart, we try to win the race and we see where he is".

Alonso admitted: "We lost too much ground in the first laps of the race trying to overtake Hamilton and Hulkenberg. Those 10-12 seconds were impossible to catch. We were very close on race pace.

"We had a little chance when the safety car came out but we found ourselves in the wrong position again with six or seven cars between Mark and us. In terms of points we are extremely happy".

BBC Sport

African runners win NYC marathon; Chilean miner takes limelight

New York (CNN) -- Two African runners won the 2010 New York City Marathon Sunday, marathon officials announced.

Runners Edna Kiplagat, from Kenya, and Gebre Gebremarian, of Ethiopia were the first female and male finishers to cover the 26.2-mile course that cuts through New York City's five boroughs.

Having just won first prize in the 2010 Los Angeles marathon, Kiplagat was the first woman to finish the race coming first in 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Gebremarian, the fastest man in the race, crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 8 minutes.

Much of the celebrity limelight in the usually star-studded race was focused on a man whose fame derived from his sprints inside the gloomy pit of a Chilean mine.

Chilean miner Edison Pena -- one of 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months before they were rescued -- completed the New York Marathon Sunday, taking five hours and 40 minutes to cover the 26.2-mile course.

Pena, otherwise known as "the runner" by fellow miners who spent 69 days trapped with him in a gold and copper mine, set out to cover the course along with thousands of other runners.

During a press conference after the race, Pena said running the marathon was a way to cope with the trauma of being trapped and fearing for his life.

"What I did today was also a symbol of bravery and a struggle against myself against the pain that I have been feeling. This I want to make very clear," he said.

With appearances on David Letterman, where he showed his devotion for Elvis Presley amid applause, Pena attracted attention from nearly every press outlet and every street fan who held signs while he ran the marathon.

"The experience was wonderful," said Pena. "I am not from this country but I kept seeing signs that said 'Go Edison'...and people would say 'Let's go Pena'...the warmth of the north American people is amazing," said Pena.

Pena -- a triathlete -- was invited by the NYC Marathon after stories spread about his daily runs in the mine to keep himself fit.

CNN

U.S. drones operating in Yemen, foreign minister says

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- In a rare public admission, Yemen's Foreign Minister told CNN that U.S. drones are aiding his country in its campaign against al Qaeda.

"The [drone] attacks are undertaken by the Yemeni Air Force but there is intelligence information that is exchanged about the location of the terrorists by the Americans," said Abu Bakr Abdullah Al Qirbi.

Although Americans aren't known to let other nations operate their drones, Al Qirbi declined to confirm that Americans were operating the drones in his country. If the Yemeni Air Force is operating the drones as he says, it would be a rare concession by the Americans.

Al Qirbi said that the Yemeni government halted air strikes last December because of the possibility of "collateral damage," but said he could not confirm there had been no strikes in the last month.

A report in Sunday's Washington Post quotes a senior U.S. official as saying the United States has deployed Predator drones in Yemen, but has not yet fired on suspected targets because of unreliable intelligence on "insurgents' whereabouts".

CNN

Man arrested in shootings targeting immigrants in Sweden

(CNN) -- Swedish police have arrested a 38-year-old man suspected in a series of shootings targeting immigrants, they said Sunday.

"The man was arrested late Saturday night on suspicion of murder and attempted murder," lead prosecutor Solveig Wollstad said.

Eight people have been injured and a woman, 20, killed in the shootings which police believe are connected to the gunman, according to CNN's Swedish affiliate TV4.

The fatal shooting took place in October 2009, and the seven attempted murders have been between October last year and October this year, according to police.

"What connects all these crimes is that the victims have an immigrant background," said Borje Sjoholm, a spokesman for the regional criminal division.

Investigators have been interested in the suspect "for some time," Sjoholm said.

"What led to his arrest was good old traditional police work and information from the public," he added.

"There was new information that came to light, which is what made me take the decision to arrest the man," prosecutor Wollstad said.

He denies the allegations, the police spokesman said.

Police said the arrest was made in Malmo, the southern city where the shootings occurred.

The suspect is of a Swedish background and was arrested at his home, police said.

CNN

Federer beats Djokovic to win back Swiss Indoors title

(CNN) -- Roger Federer regained the title at his hometown tournament in Basle as he beat defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 in Sunday's final.

Serbian star Djokovic ended a run of three straight titles for Federer when he beat the Swiss maestro in last year's final, but there was to be no repeat.

It was his third win over the second seed in four meetings this year with his only loss in the U.S. Open semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

Federer now has 65 career titles to go fourth in the all-time list, one ahead of American great Pete Sampras.

The St. Jakobshalle arena is certainly a happy hunting ground for the 16-time grand slam champion, winning four of the last five finals at the Swiss Indoors tournament and seven from 11.

He swept through the deciding set for the loss of a single game to wrap up victory in just under two hours.

Federer now heads to the Paris Masters bidding for a hat-trick of tournament titles after winning the Stockholm Open last week. He will be top seed at Bercy in the absence of world number one Rafael Nadal.

CNN