Gordon becomes hurricane No. 3

Hurricane Gordon formed over the open Atlantic on Tuesday, and a new tropical depression formed off the coast of Africa, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Florence sped toward its demise into the cooler waters off Canada’s maritime provinces after battering Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center said.

Gordon, with top sustained winds of 75 mph, was destined to remain over open waters and will not threaten land, forecasters said. Its winds strengthened from 65 mph earlier in the day to become the third hurricane of the Atlantic season; hurricanes have sustained winds of at least 74 mph.

The eighth tropical depression of the season had top sustained winds at 35 mph and could become a tropical storm today, forecasters said. Helene is the next name on the list; sustained winds in a tropical storm are at least 39 mph. The depression was centered 215 miles south-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde islands.

Istanbul, Turkey

Mostly Kurdish city hit by bomb blast

A bomb struck a predominantly Kurdish city in southeastern Turkey on Tuesday, killing seven people and wounding 17, the local governor’s office said.

Authorities said the bomb in the city of Diyarbakir was made from powerful explosives and was set off by a cell phone timer. Although nobody claimed responsibility, the blast occurred in a region where Kurdish separatist rebels are known to be active.

Vienna, Austria

Nations abandon joint Iran critique

Six world powers abandoned attempts Tuesday to issue a joint statement criticizing Iran’s nuclear defiance after China and Russia refused to endorse U.S.-backed tough language, diplomats said.

The split, at a 35-nation meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board, reflected indecision on how to react to Tehran’s weekend suggestion that it might temporarily suspend uranium enrichment – but only on its own terms.

The White House dismissed the suggestion on Tuesday, saying “there’s been no change in the Iranian position.”

Russia and China have both signed off on U.N. sanctions as a way to punish Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.

Both, however, have resisted U.S.-led efforts to move to sanctions quickly, despite the expiration of an Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to freeze work on developing the technology.

Tokyo

New heir named Prince Hisahito

The newborn son of Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko was named Prince Hisahito in an ancient ceremonial rite Tuesday. His name means “virtuous, calm and everlasting,” according to the Imperial Household Agency.

Hisahito, the youngest heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, was also bestowed a personal symbol – the native Japanese umbrella pine – in the hope that he will grow tall and sturdy. The symbol will be used to mark his personal belongings.

San’a, Yemen

Scores dead, injured in stampede at rally

A stampede broke out Tuesday in a stadium packed with thousands of people for an election campaign rally for Yemen’s president, killing at least 51 people and injuring more than 200, including youths bused in for the event.

The tragedy came as President Ali Abdullah Saleh – in power for nearly 30 years – is campaigning in the oil-rich nation’s first competitive presidential elections, set for Sept. 20.

Saleh, who has allied himself with the U.S. in the war on terror, offered condolences to the families of the victims of the stampede.