| Intense fighting as Syrian rebels break through Aleppo siege Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:36 PM PDT  By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels broke through to besieged opposition-held areas in eastern Aleppo on Saturday in an assault on a major government military complex meant to end a month-long siege, insurgents and a monitoring group said. Pro-government media outlets denied the siege had been broken and a U.S. State Department official said the situation was "too fluid" to comment. The heavy fighting and air strikes reported from the area seemed to indicate any passage that may have been opened would be far from secure enough for civilians to travel through.
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| China conducts 'combat patrols' over contested islands Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:26 AM PDT  China's air force sent bombers and fighter jets on "combat patrols" near contested islands in the South China Sea, in a move a senior colonel said was part of an effort to normalize such drills and respond to security threats. The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in the disputed waters after an arbitration court in The Hague ruled last month that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea. The air force sent several H-6 bombers and Su-30 fighter jets to inspect the airspace around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, Senior Colonel Shen Jinke of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
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| Man yelling in Arabic wounds two Belgian police with machete, then shot dead Posted: 06 Aug 2016 11:15 AM PDT  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A machete-wielding man yelling "Allahu Akbar!" (God is greatest) injured two female police officers before being shot outside the main police station in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi on Saturday, police in the city said.
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| Fire kills 13 after birthday cake falls to floor in French bar Posted: 06 Aug 2016 02:10 AM PDT  A fire swept through a bar in the northern French city of Rouen overnight, killing 13 people and injuring six, after a birthday cake with candles and sparklers fell to the floor and set the carpet ablaze, police said. France's interior ministry said a judicial investigation was under way into the fire, which Rouen Mayor Yvon Robert described as "totally accidental".
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| Air strike on Syrian hospital kills 10 - Observatory Posted: 06 Aug 2016 11:59 AM PDT  An airstrike on a hospital in northwestern Syria on Saturday killed 10 people, including children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The hospital, in the town of Meles, is about 15 km from Idlib city in rebel-held Idlib province. Syrian government and allied Russian military planes operate in Syria but it is not known which aircraft carried out the strike, the Observatory said.
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| Yemen's Hadi launches military operation east of Sanaa, peace talks end Posted: 06 Aug 2016 12:23 PM PDT  Forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi launched a new offensive east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday, the military command said, after United Nations-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait ended without an agreement. The offensive, which is backed by air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition, came as the Iran-allied Houthis and the party of ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced a 10-member governing council, against the wishes of the U.N. The Houthis and Saleh's General People's Congress (GPC), hold most of Yemen's northern half, while forces loyal to Hadi share control of the rest of the country with local tribes. The pro-Hadi sabanew.net news agency said that the Yemeni army and allied local tribesmen, backed by Arab coalition air strikes, began a major operation to "liberate the district of Nehem east of Sanaa".
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| Syrian refugee swimmer wins heat, won't advance in butterfly Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:38 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Swimmer Yusra Mardini, who survived a harrowing sea crossing a year ago and is now among 10 refugees competing under the Olympic flag in Rio, won her preliminary heat in the 100-meter butterfly Saturday. But the result wasn't enough to advance her to the semifinals.
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| Thailand's Sopita Tanasan wins 48kg gold in Olympic debut Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:38 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — In her Olympic debut, Sopita Tanasan came away with gold.
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| The Latest: Thailand's Tanasan wins weightlifting gold Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:36 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Latest on the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (all times local):
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| Durant sparks USA rout of China Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:33 PM PDT  Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Kevin Durant scored 25 points as the US NBA stars routed China 119-62 Saturday to launch its bid for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.
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| Games begin in full, with US teen on target for 1st gold Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:26 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Olympics began in full with the first gold medal going to an American teenager by the fearsome name of Thrasher. And there was fear and plenty of rough riding on a punishing cycling course that showed the beauty and blight of the host city.
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| Landslide caused by Earl leaves 6 dead in Mexico Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:16 PM PDT XALAPA, Mexico (AP) — Six people died in landslides in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz as what had been Tropical Storm Earl dumped heavy rains on the region, authorities said Saturday. |
| Pitanguy, Brazil's icon of plastic surgery, dead at 90 Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:14 PM PDT Ivo Pitanguy, a plastic surgeon whose skill with the scalpel drew celebrities to his operating table from around the world and made him a cultural icon in beauty-obsessed Brazil, died on Saturday. Pitanguy died of a heart attack in his Rio home on Saturday afternoon, a spokeswoman said. In his last public appearance, seated in a wheelchair, Pitanguy held the Olympic torch in the Rio neighborhood of Gavea where his clinic is located on the final leg of the relay to Friday's opening of the Games. |
| Substitute Rio lighter had hour's notice after Pele withdrew Posted: 06 Aug 2016 05:01 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — How's this for last-minute notice?
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| French gymnast's horrific leg break chills gymnastics arena Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:59 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — French gymnast Samir Ait Said landed awkwardly on a vault, and a sickening snap echoed throughout the arena. A split second later, he was clutching his contorted left leg, his tibia fractured and his Olympics over.
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| LA Mayor: Trump victory could turn off IOC voters to '24 bid Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:49 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acknowledged Saturday that the results of November's U.S. presidential election could weigh heavily on his city's chances of hosting the 2024 Olympics, saying that a victory by Donald Trump could turn off IOC voters.
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| Bouchard has 'out of body experience' at Rio Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:37 PM PDT  Canadian tennis poster girl Eugenie Bouchard said the spectacular opening ceremony at the Rio Olympics had caused her to have "an out of body experience" which helped her into the second round on Saturday. The 22-year-old, playing at her first Games, brushed aside America's Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-3 on a packed Court Three. Bouchard said Friday's ceremony at the city's famed Maracana was something she'll remember for the rest of her life.
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| Pro trip: Hassan N'Dam loses opening fight at Rio Olympics Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:33 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — After a 12-year professional boxing career, Hassan N'Dam dreamed of returning to the Olympics and winning the gold medal that eluded him in Athens.
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| In Rio's Olympic water, it's all about avoiding the splash Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:24 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — There's a contradictory mission for rowers competing in this year's Summer Olympics. Get into your boat, work your hardest — but try to avoid the water.
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| Fiji women cause only upset on Day 1 of rugby sevens Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:21 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Ever since rugby was approved for the Olympic sports program in Rio, Fijians have believed their sevens team will win their first ever medal at the Summer Games.
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| United States beats No. 2 Argentina in women's field hockey Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:20 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A three-minute momentum shift triggered one of the biggest Olympic wins in United States women's field hockey.
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| On 1st day of judo at Rio Games, Argentina and Russia win Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:20 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It was a day of surprises on the first day of the judo competition at the Rio Games.
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| After 55 hours of travel, No. 4 Radwanska loses 1st match Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:07 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Agnieszka Radwanska, a player not known for outbursts on court, had plenty of good reasons to take out her frustrations on her racket in her first-round Olympic match.
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| Thais to vote for first time since 2014 coup in charter referendum Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:04 PM PDT  By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Pairat Temphairojana BANGKOK/KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand votes on Sunday in a referendum on a new junta-backed constitution that would pave the way for a general election in 2017 but require future governments to rule on the military's terms. The referendum is the first major popularity test for the junta led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has suppressed political activity during the two years since he seized power in a coup in 2014. Polls suggest a small lead in favor of accepting the new constitution, but most voters remain undecided.
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| South Korea nearly flawless in team archery, beats US Posted: 06 Aug 2016 04:03 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — One of the South Korean archers had a perfect response for a nearly flawless show.
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| Brazil's Temer asked corrupt tycoon for financial aid: report Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:53 PM PDT  Brasília (AFP) - Brazil's interim president Michel Temer asked Latin America's biggest construction tycoon, now in jail for his role in a massive corruption scheme, for millions of dollars in political donations, a report said Saturday. The report in Veja magazine quoted the former executive, Marcelo Odebrecht, saying that Temer asked him for "financial support" during a 2014 dinner with members of his center-right PMDB party. Odebrecht said he donated 10 million reais (about $3.156 million at current exchange rates) to the party, Veja reported.
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| Andrew Bogut dominant in unexpected return for Rio Games Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:48 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Andrew Bogut wanted one more shot to represent Australia at the Olympics and wasn't going to let an injury take that away again.
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| Australia, Kiwis shine as rugby sevens makes Olympic bow Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:47 PM PDT  Favourites Australia and arch-rivals New Zealand were in ruthless form as rugby sevens made its Olympic debut on Saturday, Frenchwoman Camille Grassineau grabbing a piece of history by scoring the first try of the tournament. The Wallabies ran unfancied Colombia ragged in their opening match, Charlotte Caslick scoring a hat-trick in the 53-0 rout. New Zealand look the closest rivals to Australia, with Kayla McAlister -- sister of Toulouse-based former All Black Luke -- and Portia Woodman both outstanding in lop-sided wins over Kenya (52-0) and Spain (31-5).
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| Miguel Angel Jimenez tops 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:39 PM PDT BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Miguel Angel Jimenez made a 17-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole Saturday for a 9-under 63 and the second-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions' 3M Championship. |
| Tackling any challenge, women's rugby makes Olympic debut Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:37 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It's promoted as a party, the loud music and dancing in the crowd as synonymous with rugby sevens as the free-running attacking movements and copious tries.
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| ANC suffers major poll defeat in S. African capital Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:36 PM PDT  South Africa's ruling African National Congress suffered a historic defeat in the country's capital, where it lost to the opposition Democratic Alliance in local polls, the electoral commission said Saturday. Reacting to the worst election result for the party since the end of white-minority rule 22 years ago, President Jacob Zuma said voters had been heard. "These elections were hotly contested, that is how it should be in a democracy," said Zuma, who is facing questions about his position after the poll.
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| Olympics spat as Lebanese stop Israelis joining them on bus Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:29 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Israeli and Lebanese Olympics teams became involved in a heated argument about access to a bus to the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Games.
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| Australia rallies, beats host Brazil 84-66 in Olympic opener Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:29 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Liz Cambage scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Australia rallied from a 12-point deficit in the first half and beat host Brazil 84-66 Saturday in women's Olympic basketball group play.
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| Six dead in Mexico as remnants of Earl trigger landslides Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:20 PM PDT  Six people died in eastern Mexico on Saturday after they were buried in landslides caused by intense rainfall from the remnants of now-downgraded Tropical Storm Earl, an emergency services official said. The six deaths involved two separate families in eastern Veracruz state, emergency services spokesman Manuel Escalera said. Earl's maximum wind speed dropped to 30 mph (48 kmh) by Saturday afternoon, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
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| Tropical Storm Earl leaves six dead in Mexico Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:18 PM PDT  A landslide triggered by Tropical Storm Earl left six dead Saturday in eastern Mexico as heavy rains began to ease up, but officials warned residents to remain prepared for more floods or mudslides. A couple and their toddler died in Veracruz state when their house was buried, the state's secretary of civil protection Yolanda Gutierrez Carlin told AFP. Heavy rains and fierce wind gusts hit Mexico Thursday after Earl weakened from hurricane status over Central America.
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| Fencing: Hungary takes first gold as French wait goes on Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:16 PM PDT  By Brad Haynes RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Hungary took its third women's gold in Olympic fencing since 2000 as Emese Szasz bounced back from a first-match loss in London to beat Italy's twice world champion Rossella Fiamingo on Saturday. France came close to ending a long medal drought in Olympic fencing, but a breakout performance by 43rd-ranked Lauren Rembi came up short in the bronze medal bout.
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| Namibian who beat up friends becomes unlikely Rio hero Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:13 PM PDT  Brazilian boxing fans have an unlikely new Olympic hero -- an all-action Namibian by the name of Mathias Tulyoongeleni Hamunyela. The 23-year-old light flyweight bustled his way to a unanimous points decision over Rufat Huseynov of Azerbaijan on Saturday, the first day of the boxing in Rio, to the raucous delight of the mostly Brazilian crowd. Hamunyela milked the ovation from the 9,000-seat arena and blew kisses to the crowd, who chanted "Namibia! Namibia!" after endearing himself to the home fans with a mixture of guts and aggression.
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| Brazil police says stray bullet was not targeting media Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:08 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The bullet which flew through the roof of a media tent at the Olympic Equestrian Center on Saturday was just "an unfortunate incident," Brazilian military and police said.
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| Hungary's Szasz wins gold in women's epee Posted: 06 Aug 2016 03:08 PM PDT  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — In a day of fencing upsets, Hungary's Emese Szasz rallied to win the gold medal in women's epee Saturday at the Carioca Arena 3.
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