Yahoo! News: World News

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• Egypt at 'dangerous stalemate' in political crisis
• Fire guts Kenya's main airport, chokes regional gateway
• Putin will not 'cave' to Obama pressure: Snowden's father
• Zimbabwe's Mugabe rejects West's criticism of his re-election
• Mali court confirms ex-PM Keita's election lead, runoff needed
• Czech PM loses confidence vote, chances of early election grow
• Obama cancels Putin summit amid Snowden tensions
• Group: Apps not effective tool for teaching babies
• Amnesty: Satellite images show Aleppo devastation
• Syrian troops kill more than 60 in desert ambush
• What Obama's visit means to Sweden
• As al-Qaida grows, leaders remain a global threat
• Yemen's government says it uncovers al-Qaida plots
• Ghana court says to rule on election challenge by August 29
• Egypt rulers need to talk to Brotherhood: Dutch minister
• Czech president retains upper hand despite parliamentary defeat
• Dutch embassy in Yemen was potential terror target: Foreign Minister
• U.S. updates Myanmar sanctions to maintain gem import ban
• UN experts say al-Qaida affiliates remain a threat
• U.S. adds $195 million in food aid to Syria
• New Czech cabinet loses parliamentary confidence
• Egypt says diplomacy has failed to resolve crisis
• Czech PM says will resign after losing confidence vote
• Argentine workers held after gas blast kills 11
• Czech party calls parliament session to vote on early election
• Inferno roars through E. Africa's largest airport
• Togo arrests large-scale ivory trafficker
• Drone strike kills six suspected militants in Yemen
• Yemen turmoil could stall Obama's effort to close Guantanamo
• Yemeni former bin Laden aide pledged to fight for generations
• Benefit of mobile apps for toddlers questioned
• NKorea lifts ban on joint factory park operations
• U.S. says still time for dialogue in Egypt, urges compromise
• Obama calls off Putin summit amid Snowden tensions
• Kremlin disappointed over Obama canceling visit
• Mali election frontrunner's nationalist stance strikes popular chord
• US institute: NKorea expanding nuclear plant

Egypt at 'dangerous stalemate' in political crisis Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:35 PM PDT By Shadia Nasralla and Angus MacSwan CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's political crisis entered a tense phase on Wednesday after international mediation efforts collapsed and the army-installed government repeated its threat to take action against supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi. Both sides called their supporters on to the streets on Thursday, while Mursi supporters in two protest camps in Cairo strengthened sandbag-and-brick barricades in readiness for any action by security forces. ...

Fire guts Kenya's main airport, chokes regional gateway Posted: 07 Aug 2013 10:41 AM PDT By Drazen Jorgic NAIROBI (Reuters) - A fire engulfed Kenya's main airport on Wednesday, forcing the suspension of international passenger flights and choking a vital travel gateway to east Africa. The country's anti-terror police boss said he did not believe that there was a terror link to the fire even though it coincided with the 15th anniversary of a twin attack by Islamist militants on the United States embassy in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of neighboring Tanzania. ...

Putin will not 'cave' to Obama pressure: Snowden's father Posted: 07 Aug 2013 04:29 PM PDT By Tabassum Zakaria and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The father of Edward Snowden, the fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor, predicted on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will stand up to pressure from Washington as the two nations spar over Moscow's decision to grant his son asylum. Lon Snowden's comments came on the day that President Barack Obama canceled a summit meeting with Putin planned for next month in retaliation for Russia giving refuge to Edward Snowden. ...

Zimbabwe's Mugabe rejects West's criticism of his re-election Posted: 07 Aug 2013 10:05 AM PDT By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday defiantly rejected Western criticism of his disputed re-election and vowed to press ahead with nationalist economic policies transferring majority stakes in foreign-owned firms to blacks. In his first public comments since he was declared winner of a July 31 election that his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai rejects as fraudulent, Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader at 89, said his ZANU-PF party's victory had "dealt the enemy a blow". ...

Mali court confirms ex-PM Keita's election lead, runoff needed Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:11 AM PDT BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali's top court on Wednesday confirmed that former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won a July 28 presidential vote but fell short of an outright majority, meaning he will face ex-finance minister Soumaila Cisse in a runoff on Sunday. The election is meant to turn the page on a March 2012 coup that toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure and allowed Islamist fighters to seize the West African nation's desert north. French forces intervened in January to scatter the al Qaeda-linked rebels. ...

Czech PM loses confidence vote, chances of early election grow Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:46 PM PDT By Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller PRAGUE (Reuters) - The new Czech cabinet formed by allies of leftist President Milos Zeman lost a confidence vote on Wednesday in a split vote that made it likely the country will hold an early election before the end of the year, possibly as soon as October. Zeman appointed his long-term supporter, economist Jiri Rusnok, in June, bypassing political parties that had proposed other options and accused Zeman of usurping powers that belong to parliament. ...

Obama cancels Putin summit amid Snowden tensions Posted: 07 Aug 2013 04:53 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Already faltering, President Barack Obama's five-year effort to reboot U.S.-Russian relations finally crashed Wednesday, as the White House abruptly canceled his planned face-to-face summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Group: Apps not effective tool for teaching babies Posted: 07 Aug 2013 03:23 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Smartphones don't make smart babies, an advocacy group declared Wednesday in a complaint to the government about mobile apps that claim to help babies learn.

Amnesty: Satellite images show Aleppo devastation Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:48 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — Satellite images have laid bare the suffering inflicted on Syria's largest city, a London-based rights group said Wednesday, cataloguing hundreds of damaged or destroyed houses and more than 1,000 roadblocks.

Syrian troops kill more than 60 in desert ambush Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:45 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops ambushed a large group of rebels Wednesday trudging through what once was a secret route through a desert road northeast of Damascus, killing more than 60 fighters in a barrage of machine gun fire and leaving their bodies in the sand.

What Obama's visit means to Sweden Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:43 PM PDT STOCKHOLM (AP) — It took a very public falling out between Russia and the United States for Sweden to get its first visit from a U.S. president for a bilateral meeting. Here's a look at what Barack Obama's visit says to the country that wasn't snubbed.

As al-Qaida grows, leaders remain a global threat Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:39 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Far from being on the brink of collapse, al-Qaida's core leadership remains a potent threat — and one that experts say has encouraged the terror network's spread into more countries today than it was operating in immediately after 9/11.

Yemen's government says it uncovers al-Qaida plots Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:33 PM PDT SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Military and intelligence officials in Yemen said Wednesday they uncovered an al-Qaida plot to fire missiles at foreign embassies in the capital and to attack naval forces guarding international shipping in the Red Sea.

Ghana court says to rule on election challenge by August 29 Posted: 07 Aug 2013 02:29 PM PDT By Matthew Mpoke Bigg ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will rule by August 29 on an opposition challenge to the result of December's presidential election that was won by incumbent John Mahama. The outcome could have big implications for the West African state where investor excitement over its strong economy - GDP is expected to grow by 8 percent in 2013 for the second consecutive year - is tempered by concern over macroeconomic instability. ...

Egypt rulers need to talk to Brotherhood: Dutch minister Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:45 PM PDT CAIRO (Reuters) - Diplomatic mediation failed to break Egypt's political deadlock because the country's new rulers see no point in talking to the Muslim Brotherhood, but they will have to do so eventually, the visiting Dutch foreign minister said on Wednesday. Frans Timmermans was in Cairo for talks with the authorities and opposition parties on the day international efforts to facilitate a compromise collapsed, five weeks after the army ousted elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. ...

Czech president retains upper hand despite parliamentary defeat Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:43 PM PDT By Jan Lopatka PRAGUE (Reuters) - Ultimately Czech President Milos Zeman couldn't quite beat the parliamentary arithmetic, but he still emerged on Wednesday with the upper hand over old political rivals in his remarkable comeback from the wilderness. While his prime minister lost a confidence motion, Zeman blithely told parliament before it had even voted that he would stay for some time - "even if you put me on the rack". ...

Dutch embassy in Yemen was potential terror target: Foreign Minister Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:39 PM PDT AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands has extended the closure of its embassy in Sana'a and pulled all diplomatic staff out of Yemen because its mission was a potential target of a terror attack, Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said in a statement on Wednesday. The decision was based on information from various intelligence agencies that several Western countries, including the Netherlands, were potential targets of a planned terror attack, a foreign ministry spokesman added. ...

U.S. updates Myanmar sanctions to maintain gem import ban Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:34 PM PDT By Paul Eckert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States updated sanctions on Myanmar on Wednesday to maintain a ban on importing rubies and jade amid a relaxation of curbs on U.S. trade with the Southeast Asian nation, American officials said. President Barack Obama's executive order continues a gradual lifting sanctions aimed at encouraging political and economic reforms since the military government that had run the country also known as Burma for five decades stepped aside in 2011. ...

UN experts say al-Qaida affiliates remain a threat Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:19 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Al-Qaida's senior leadership has a diminished ability to direct global terror operations but the threat from loosely linked affiliates and individuals radicalized by its "infectious ideas" is becoming more sophisticated, U.N. experts said Wednesday.

U.S. adds $195 million in food aid to Syria Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:15 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is providing $195 million more in food and humanitarian aid to Syria to mark the end of Ramadan for Muslims, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday. Washington has been slow to provide weapons for Syrian rebels struggling to toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but has provided a sizeable amount of humanitarian aid. A statement from Obama marking Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of Ramadan, said the $195 million in additional aid would bring the U.S. humanitarian contribution to more than $1 billion since the Syrian crisis began. ...

New Czech cabinet loses parliamentary confidence Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:13 PM PDT PRAGUE (AP) — A new government of technocrats appointed by the left-leaning Czech president lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Wednesday, leaving the country stuck in a political crisis.

Egypt says diplomacy has failed to resolve crisis Posted: 07 Aug 2013 01:01 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military-backed interim leadership proclaimed Wednesday that a crackdown against two protest sites is inevitable, saying that nearly two weeks of foreign diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve its standoff with the Muslim Brotherhood have failed.

Czech PM says will resign after losing confidence vote Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:42 PM PDT PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok said he and his government would resign as required by the constitution after failing to win a vote of confidence in parliament on Wednesday. Rusnok will likely stay in power pending discussions among political parties on holding an early election before the end of the year. (Reporting by Robert Muller; Writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

Argentine workers held after gas blast kills 11 Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:40 PM PDT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine firefighters thought they heard signs of life Wednesday as they hunted through the ruins of a 10-story apartment building destroyed by a gas explosion. But by late afternoon, no more victims were found in the blast that killed at least 11 people, injured more than 60 injured and left 11 unaccounted for.

Czech party calls parliament session to vote on early election Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:36 PM PDT PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech conservative party TOP09 asked on Wednesday for a special parliamentary session to discuss holding an early election, raising the chances of fresh polls late this year before a regular vote due next May. The move follows a vote in parliament on Wednesday in which the new cabinet led by Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok failed to win a vote of confidence. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

Inferno roars through E. Africa's largest airport Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:19 PM PDT NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A small fire at Kenya's main airport swelled into a roaring inferno Wednesday that destroyed part of East Africa's largest aviation hub and hampered air travel across the continent.

Togo arrests large-scale ivory trafficker Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:06 PM PDT LOME, Togo (AP) — A high-profile ivory trafficker whose work activists say has fueled the slaughter of more than 10,000 elephants dating back to the 1970s has been arrested in Togo, the country's environment minister said Wednesday.

Drone strike kills six suspected militants in Yemen Posted: 07 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT ADEN (Reuters) - A U.S. drone killed at least six suspected al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen on Wednesday, officials said, a day after U.S. and British embassies evacuated some staff because of growing fears of attacks. It was the fifth strike in less than two weeks and follows warnings of potential attacks by militants that pushed Washington to shut missions across the Middle East, and the United States and Britain to evacuate staff from Yemen. ...

Yemen turmoil could stall Obama's effort to close Guantanamo Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:57 AM PDT By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turmoil in Yemen and the warnings of attacks that prompted the United States to shut diplomatic missions across the Middle East could hinder President Barack Obama's plans to close Guantanamo Bay prison. Obama's plan to restart the repatriation of Yemeni inmates, a large group at the prison, is coming under increasing scrutiny because of the recent focus on the country as a hotbed of al Qaeda activity. A U.S. ...

Yemeni former bin Laden aide pledged to fight for generations Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:46 AM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) whose alleged communications with al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri sparked a worldwide terrorism alert, is a veteran of global jihad who has promised the West a fight that will last for generations. According to Gregory Johnsen, author of a book on al Qaeda in Yemen, he was born in southern Yemen and left his country for the first time when he went to Afghanistan in 1998 to join al Qaeda. There he acted as Osama bin Laden's aide-de-camp until 2001, when the group was scattered after the U.S. ...

Benefit of mobile apps for toddlers questioned Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:37 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Smartphones don't make smart babies, an advocacy group declared Wednesday in a complaint to the government about mobile apps that claim to help babies learn.

NKorea lifts ban on joint factory park operations Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:33 AM PDT SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it is lifting a ban on operations at a jointly run factory park shuttered since Pyongyang pulled out its 53,000 workers in April amid tensions with South Korea, and the rivals agreed to meet next week for talks meant to restart the complex.

U.S. says still time for dialogue in Egypt, urges compromise Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:32 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ending Egypt's political crisis will require compromise and there is still time for dialogue, the State Department said on Wednesday, as international envoys returned home and Egypt's interim government said the talks had failed. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said talks in Cairo with envoys from the United States, European Union, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates provided a "strong basis to create an environment in which Egypt can move forward." "We believe that any solution will require both sides to make compromises," Psaki told a briefing. ...

Obama calls off Putin summit amid Snowden tensions Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:25 AM PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a rare diplomatic rebuke, President Barack Obama called off an upcoming Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, sending a stern message of disapproval over Russia's harboring of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

Kremlin disappointed over Obama canceling visit Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:10 AM PDT MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin voiced disappointment Wednesday with President Barack Obama's decision to cancel his Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said it remains ready to cooperate with the United States on bilateral and international issues.

Mali election frontrunner's nationalist stance strikes popular chord Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:10 AM PDT By David Lewis BAMAKO (Reuters) - A glance at billboards on the scruffy streets of Mali's capital Bamako says much about the difference between the rivals for the presidency in Sunday's runoff vote, and the prospects for peace in the West African country. Wearing a construction hat with his sleeves rolled up, Soumaila Cisse - a former finance minister portraying himself as an experienced technocrat - promises education reform, an overhaul of the army and a plan to create 500,000 jobs. Front-runner Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, known universally by his initials IBK, takes a more visceral approach. ...

US institute: NKorea expanding nuclear plant Posted: 07 Aug 2013 11:07 AM PDT VIENNA (AP) — A U.S. institute tracking North Korea's nuclear weapons program says recent satellite photos show Pyongyang is doubling the size of its uranium enrichment plant, jibing with the country's announced plans to expand technology that can be used both to create energy and the core of nuclear weapons.

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