Football: Top sponsors call for Blatter to quit
Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Visa on Friday called for the immediate resignation of Fifa president Sepp Blatter, a week after Swiss authorities said they were opening a criminal investigation into the head of the world soccer body.
In quick succession, the major sponsors of Fifa released statements demanding Blatter step down, in the strongest sign yet companies that have long linked their brand names to the global sport will push for change in the organisation.
But Blatter's US lawyer, Richard Cullen, said in response that Blatter would not resign, because he believed leaving office would not be in Fifa's best interest or advance needed reforms of the organisation.
At least nine dead, hundreds missing after mudslide in Guatemala
Hundreds of rescue workers dug through sludge and rock on Friday looking for survivors of a massive mudslide in Guatemala that killed at least nine people and left as many as 600 missing, burying homes in a town on the edge of the capital.
Heavy rains swept a torrent of boulders and mud over dozens of homes on Thursday night in Santa Catarina Pinula on the southeastern flank of Guatemala City, one of the worst mudslides to hit the poor Central American country in recent memory.
Alejandro Maldonado, head of Guatemalan disaster agency Conred, told a news conference at least nine lives had been lost and that as many as 600 people could still be missing after the disaster, which hit 125 homes in the town.
Oregon gunman may have killed more if not for hero student
The gunman who went on a deadly rampage at an Oregon college was well armed and equipped with extra ammunition, authorities said on Friday, and he may have killed more people if not for the heroism of a military veteran in an adjoining classroom.
The gunman, who was killed by police, had 13 weapons, body armour and ammunition, said Celinez Nunez, assistant special agent of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
As the gunman moved towards an adjoining classroom, Chris Mintz, 30, a US Army combat veteran who served in Iraq, tried to stop him, Jamie Skinner, the mother of Mintz's six-year-old son told Reuters.
Pope Francis met with gay couple on US visit
Pope Francis met with a gay couple at the Vatican Embassy in Washington during the pontiff's visit to the United States last week in a quiet gesture to the gay and lesbian community.
The meeting between Francis, an Argentine gay man and his long-term partner came to light as the Vatican tried to tamp down controversy about a separate meeting the Pope held with well-known American gay marriage opponent Kim Davis.
The pontiff met on Sept 23 with Yayo Grassi, a US-based Argentine caterer, Grassi's male partner of 19 years, Iwan Bagus and three other people for 15 minutes, Grassi told Reuters.
Rugby: Lacklustre All Blacks down Georgia to reach quarters
Reigning champions New Zealand were far from their brilliant best but overcame an inspired Georgia 43-10 on Friday to become the first team to qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
Despite the patchy display, the All Blacks scored four tries before halftime to secure the bonus point and another three after the break to seal their third win from three games in Pool C ahead of their final match against Tonga on Oct 9.
Waisake Naholo took just 73 seconds to notch the opening try on his return just 10 weeks after breaking his leg, his fellow winger Julian Savea grabbed a hat-trick and hooker Dane Coles, number eight Kieran Read and Malakai Fekitoa also crossed.
