World Briefs

ISRAEL An Arab citizen of Israel using a paraglider flew into neighboring Syria, the Israeli military said yesterday, in what appeared to be an intentional attempt to join a rebel group there. Military officials said a 23-year-old from an Arab town in Israel planned the maneuver with the intent of joining Syrian rebel fighters. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the still-under-investigation case with the media.

POLAND Citizens voted yesterday in a parliamentary election that is expected to shift power from a centrist and pro-market party to a socially conservative and somewhat Euroskeptic party that favors more welfare spending to help the poor. Opinion polls show the populist Law and Justice party holding a strong lead over Civic Platform, which has governed the country for eight years.

SLOVENIA  The flow of Syrians, Afghans and others through the Balkans toward Western Europe continued unabated Sunday as European leaders were gathering in Brussels to try and work out a plan to deal with the massive influx of asylum-seekers.

USA More than 200 landmarks in 60 countries from the Pyramids in Egypt to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York were lit up in blue — the official color of the United Nations— on Saturday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the world body.

USA A woman suspected of driving under the influence plowed into a crowd Saturday during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, killing four people — including a 2-year-old boy — and injuring dozens more in a collision that sent some spectators flying through the air.

VATICAN CITY  Declaring that “today is a time of mercy,” Pope Francis yesterday closed a historic meeting of bishops that approved an important new direction in welcoming divorced and civilly remarried Catholics into the church.