| World Cup police cooperation nabs Argentine 'dirty war' torturer Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:36 PM PDT Enhanced international police cooperation during the World Cup has led to the arrest of a fugitive wanted for torture and murder during Argentina's "dirty war" against leftists four decades ago, Brazilian authorities said on Thursday. Salvador Siciliano was a leading member of the notorious Triple A anti-communist death squad and is wanted in Argentina for the abduction, torture and murder of three people between 1973 and 1975, Brazilian and Argentine police officers said. Procedures were pending for his extradition to Argentina. "He entered Brazil illegally and was hiding here," said Luiz Eduardo Navajas, a Brazilian Federal Police officer. |
| Israel boosts forces near Gaza as border heats up Posted: 03 Jul 2014 12:15 PM PDT By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel beefed up its forces along its frontier with the Gaza Strip and launched air strikes against militant Hamas targets there on Thursday in response to Palestinian cross-border rocket attacks. Israel also faced a second day of violent Palestinian protests in Jerusalem after the discovery of the body of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy on Wednesday in a forest near the city. Israeli police are investigating the possibility that he was the victim of a revenge killing over the deaths of three Jewish teenagers, whose abduction on June 12 Israel has blamed on Islamist Hamas militants in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said if Gaza rocket fire stopped then Israel would also halt its actions. |
| Overpass collapses in World Cup city, crushes vehicles Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:14 PM PDT  By Andrew Cawthorne BELO HORIZONTE Brazil (Reuters) - An unfinished overpass collapsed in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte on Thursday, leaving at least one person dead and casting a shadow over a tournament that has suffered repeated construction accidents and delays. The bridge, located about two miles (3 km) from the Mineirao Stadium where World Cup games are being played, collapsed as vehicles were passing on a busy road underneath. It was part of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that officials had promised would be ready for the World Cup.Groups of people gathered around the scene of the accident, some shouting furiously. "This is the incompetence of our authorities and our businesses," said Leandro Brito, 23, a bank worker.
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| Iraqi Kurdish president asks parliament to prepare for independence vote Posted: 03 Jul 2014 01:16 PM PDT  By Isabel Coles ARBIL Iraq (Reuters) - The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region asked its parliament on Thursday to plan a referendum on Kurdish independence, signaling his impatience with Baghdad, which is fighting to repel Sunni insurgents and struggling to form a new government. The move came despite U.S. pressure for Kurds to stand with Baghdad as Iraq faces an onslaught by Sunni Muslim militants, led by an al Qaeda offshoot, which has seized large parts of the north and west and is threatening to march on the capital. Iraq's 5 million Kurds, who have governed themselves in relative peace since the 1990s, have expanded their territory by as much as 40 percent in recent weeks as the sectarian insurgency has threatened to split the country. Kurdish President Massoud Barzani asked lawmakers to form a committee to organize a referendum on independence and pick a date for the vote.
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| With one eye on Washington, China plots its own Asia 'pivot' Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:12 PM PDT  By Ben Blanchard BEIJING (Reuters) - The Silk Road, an obscure Kazakh-inspired security forum and a $50 billion Asian infrastructure bank are just some of the disparate elements in an evolving Chinese strategy to try to counter Washington's "pivot" to the region. While Chinese leaders have not given the government's growing list of initiatives a label or said they had an overall purpose, Chinese experts and diplomats said Beijing appeared set on shaping Asia's security and financial architecture more to its liking. "China is trying to work out its own counterbalance strategy," said Sun Zhe, director of the Centre for U.S.-China Relations at Beijing's Tsinghua University and who has advised China's government on its foreign policy. Added one Beijing-based Western diplomat who follows China's international relations: "This is all clearly aimed at the United States." President Barack Obama's pivot - as the White House initially dubbed it - represented a strategy to refocus on Asia's dynamic economies as the United States disentangled itself from costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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| Exclusive: Iran eases demands in Vienna nuclear talks - Western diplomats Posted: 03 Jul 2014 01:07 PM PDT  By Louis Charbonneau and Parisa Hafezi VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has reduced demands for the size of its future nuclear enrichment program in talks with world powers although Western governments are urging Tehran to compromise further, Western diplomats said on Thursday. The diplomats, who spoke to Reuters at the start of a two- week round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, said it would still be hard to clinch a deal by the self-imposed July 20 deadline. Tehran's shift relates to the main sticking point in the talks - the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges Iran can maintain in a deal in exchange for a gradual end of sanctions. Ending the decade-long dispute with Iran is seen as central to defusing tension and averting a new Middle East war.
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| Colombia fun at World Cup comes with duty Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:49 PM PDT  FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — Colombia has been playing the exciting brand of football that Brazilians believe their team should be playing at this World Cup.
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| 8 rescued from small Honduran gold mine, 3 remain Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:44 PM PDT  TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Eight miners were rescued from a small, wildcat gold mine in southern Honduras on Thursday while three remained trapped following a cave-in the previous day, an official said.
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| Ukraine's president shakes up military leadership Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:37 PM PDT  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko shook up his faltering military Thursday, appointing a new defense minister and top general while speaking angrily about the years of decay and corruption that left the forces unable to deal effectively with the well-armed eastern insurgency.
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| 10 Things to See in Sports: AP's top sports photos Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:37 PM PDT  Here's a look at some of the defining moments, exciting scenes, triumphs and defeats from the world of sports.
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| Headbanging caused brain bleed in Motorhead fan Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:36 PM PDT LONDON (AP) — It may not destroy your soul, but it turns out heavy metal music can be hazardous to your brain. At least in some rare cases. |
| Rodriguez has ace, leads Nova Scotia Open Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:33 PM PDT HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Mexico's Jose de Jesus Rodriguez had a hole-in-one and another eagle Thursday in the Web.com Tour's Nova Scotia Open en route to an 8-under 63 and a two-stroke lead. |
| Obama and Merkel urge new Ukraine peace talks Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:31 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has consulted with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about how to get peace talks in Ukraine back on track. |
| Queen to smash whiskey on Britain's biggest warship Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:31 PM PDT  Queen Elizabeth II is to smash a bottle of whiskey over the British navy's biggest ever ship at its naming ceremony in Scotland on Friday. The queen's namesake aircraft carrier will be called HMS Queen Elizabeth - and because the ceremony is taking place in Scotland, whiskey will be used in the traditional naming ceremony rather than the usual champagne. Edinburgh Castle was lit up with blue light in celebration of the event, which is of symbolic importance as Scotland prepares to vote on whether to become independent from Britain in a September referendum.
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| Peru's Humala backs minister despite murder probe Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:30 PM PDT LIMA, Peru (AP) — President Ollanta Humala on Thursday backed his newly named interior minister after revelations the former army general has been formally accused in the 1988 murder of a journalist while a young intelligence officer. |
| California city is latest immigration flashpoint Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:29 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (AP) — When American flag-waving protesters forced busloads of migrants to leave Murrieta earlier this week, the Southern California city became the latest flashpoint in an intensifying immigration debate that could heat up even more as patriotism surges on the Fourth of July.
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| IMF urges Israel to lift restrictions on Palestinian economy Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:17 PM PDT  The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said the economy in the West Bank and Gaza is weakening and urged Israel to lift restrictions on the Palestinians. After briefing the international donor community and the Palestinian Authority, IMF mission chief Christoph Duenwald said in a statement that the authority is "doing a commendable job" managing the economy in difficult circumstances.
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| Vatican taps Jesuit to be pope's advisor to Legion Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:14 PM PDT VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has named a Jesuit canon lawyer as special papal adviser to the Legion of Christ to help guide it for the next few years following revelations that its founder was a pedophile and a fraud and that the order needed reform. |
| Blast in Egypt train as police crush pro-Morsi protests Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:12 PM PDT  Two people were killed in clashes, and a bomb blast in a train wounded nine, security officials said, as police quashed protests marking the anniversary Thursday of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi's ouster. The violence came as the pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood-led Anti-Coup Alliance issued an aggressive rallying cry demanding a "day of anger" to mark the occasion. Nine people were wounded when a bomb hidden in a briefcase near a passenger seat exploded inside a train compartment in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria late Thursday, security officials and state media said. One person was killed by gunshot during clashes in a Cairo district as pro-Morsi supporters clashed with police, while a policeman was killed also by gunshot when his checkpoint was torched by protesters late Thursday in the capital, security officials said.
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| Defending champ Blixt leads Greenbrier Classic Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:10 PM PDT  WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (AP) — Defending champion Jonas Blixt of Sweden shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Greenbrier Classic on Thursday.
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| Phones, shoes to face scrutiny as airport security tightened: U.S. Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:05 PM PDT  By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Airlines with direct flights to the United States have been told to tighten screening of mobile phones and shoes in response to intelligence reports of increased threats from al Qaeda-affiliated militant groups, U.S. officials said on Thursday. The officials singled out smartphones including iPhones made by Apple Inc and Galaxy phones made by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd for extra security checks on U.S.-bound direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. U.S. security officials said they fear bombmakers from the Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have figured out how to turn the phones into explosive devices that can avoid detection. Airlines or airport operators that fail to strengthen security could face bans on flights entering the United States, the officials said.
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| 8 of Honduran miners rescued from small gold mine Posted: 03 Jul 2014 04:02 PM PDT  TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — A Honduran official says eight miners have been rescued from a small gold mine while three remain trapped.
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| Ronaldo predicting changes for Brazil at World Cup Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:59 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Dual World Cup winner Ronaldo is certain coach Luiz Felipe Scolari "will change something" to reawaken Brazil's attack in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal match against Colombia.
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| Unfinished overpass in World Cup project collapses Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:49 PM PDT  BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — An overpass under construction collapsed Thursday in this World Cup host city, killing at least two people and trapping a commuter bus, two construction trucks and a car in an embarrassment for a country that has been basking in praise for what has mostly been a smoothly running soccer tournament.
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| Gay beaten by Gatlin in return from doping ban Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:49 PM PDT  LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — In his return from a one-year doping ban, Tyson Gay finished second to Justin Gatlin, who ran a year-best 9.80 seconds in the 100 meters at the Athletissima on Thursday.
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| Mundial: Cae viaducto en construcción, 2 muertos Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:44 PM PDT  BELO HORIZONTE, Brasil (AP) — Un viaducto se derrumbó el jueves en una de las sedes de la Copa Mundial y dejó por lo menos dos muertos al aplastar un autobús, dos camiones de la construcción y un automóvil, informaron las autoridades brasileñas.
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| Brazil expects fewer difficulties against Colombia Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:37 PM PDT  FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — Luiz Felipe Scolari thinks Brazil may be at an advantage by playing in the World Cup quarterfinals against a Colombia team that likes to attack often.
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| Egypt: violence marks anniversary of Morsi ouster Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:35 PM PDT  CAIRO (AP) — A series of demonstrations and small bombings marked the anniversary on Thursday of the ouster of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi, and authorities responded by arresting nearly 200 people as part of their crackdown against Islamists.
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| Overpass collapse kills two in Brazil World Cup city Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:20 PM PDT  An unfinished overpass being built for the World Cup crashed down on several vehicles in Brazil's southeastern city of Belo Horizonte on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 19. Globo television images showed the front of a yellow bus crushed under a large stretch of the fallen highway, which is about five kilometers (three miles) from the city's World Cup stadium and was being built as part of delayed infrastructure improvements for the tournament. A car was also crushed but it was not immediately known how many people were inside and what their condition was, firefighter spokesman Edgard Estevo da Silva told reporters. Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium has hosted five World Cup matches and is due to stage a semi-final next Tuesday.
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| A 1982 clash revived as France-Germany meet in Cup Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:02 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer embarked on a series of hair-raising dashes out of his area in the second-round win over Algeria, it would have struck a chord with French football fans of a certain vintage.
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| Ivory Coast opposition claims 'up to 1,000' supporters in jail Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:02 PM PDT  Up to 1,000 supporters of Ivorian ex-president Laurent Gbagbo are in prison where several are subjected to torture, the head of the country's former ruling party said on Thursday. "After our investigations in jails and with family members, we count 700 prisoners," Affi N'Guessan, the president of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front told journalists, calling this "an approximate figure". Fifty prisoners detained during Ivory Coast's post-election crisis between 2010 and 2011 were released in May, a gesture interpreted as a sign of appeasement for followers of Gbagbo. A list of 719 prisoners presented by the Ivorian Popular Front includes more than 200 military personnel and individuals whose cases are yet to reach court, the party said.
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| Equatorial Guinea thrown out of African Cup Posted: 03 Jul 2014 03:00 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Equatorial Guinea has been thrown out of the African Cup qualifying competition for fielding an ineligible player. Last year, the team forfeited two games in World Cup qualifying for the same offense. |
| North Carolina's outer banks to take full force of hurricane Arthur Posted: 03 Jul 2014 02:57 PM PDT  By Chris Keane HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C, (Reuters) - The first hurricane of the Atlantic season gained strength on Thursday as it spun toward the North Carolina coast on the verge of Category 2 status, forcing thousands of vacationers to scrap their July Fourth holiday plans amid evacuation orders. Hurricane Arthur was about 35 miles (55 km) south of Cape Fear, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour (145 km per hour), U.S. forecasters said. The shift in the track would bring the strongest winds inland over eastern North Carolina, affecting coastal towns such as Morehead City, as well as the U.S. Marine corps base at Camp Lejeune. Arthur would be the first hurricane to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy devastated New York and New Jersey in October 2012 and caused $70 billion estimated damage.
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| James Rodriguez, most feared man for Brazil at Cup Posted: 03 Jul 2014 02:57 PM PDT  FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — With his five goals, his bright yellow jersey and his boyish looks, James Rodriguez has attracted the attention of Brazil.
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