Portal:Current events/2013 August 2

August 2, 2013 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War:
- An ammunition depot explodes in Homs, Syria, killing at least 40 people and critically injuring many more. (Sentinel Source)

Disasters and accidents

The United States Food and Drug Administration names Taylor Farms as the source of cyclospora parasite tainted salads that sickened 223 diners in the US states of Nebraska and Iowa. (NBC News)

International relations

The United States Department of State announces a worldwide travel alert for U.S. citizens and some embassies throughout Southwest Asia and North Africa will be closed following an al-Qaeda threat. (CNN) (AP via Washington Post)
The UK Foreign Office has warned its embassy staff in Southwest Asia to be vigilant as Eid al-Fitr approaches. British embassies remained open. (WSJ)
In his Ramadan message to Muslims, Pope Francis calls for mutual respect. The message is timed for the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, Since 1967, the Vatican has issued an annual greeting to the world’s Muslims on that date. (CNN)

Politics and elections

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says that Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has won 142 seats of 210 seats in the general election. (BBC)
Samantha Power is sworn in as the new United States Ambassador to the United Nations by Vice President Joe Biden. (Wall Street Journal)
There will be a run-off election on August 11 in the Malian presidential election between Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Soumaïla Cissé as no candidate could achieve a majority in the election held earlier this week. (Reuters)

Science and technology