In brief: Al-Qaida bomber killed at least 45

SANAA, Yemen – The death toll from a suspected al-Qaida suicide bombing in southern Yemen rose to 45 Sunday, officials said, in the latest attack against militias allied with the army.

The bomber struck a funeral late Saturday, attended by civilian militia fighters who aided the government’s push to recapture the town of Jaar from al-Qaida in June.

The U.S. considers the Yemen branch of al-Qaida as the most dangerous in the terror network. It is blamed for several unsuccessful attempts to carry out attacks in the U.S.

Tropical storm hits Jamaica

PORT ROYAL, Jamaica – Tropical Storm Ernesto brushed past the Caribbean country’s southern coast Sunday, causing heavy rains but few problems as it took a course expected to carry it by Honduras and across the Yucatan Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters at Jamaica’s Meteorological Service said rain had tapered off by Sunday evening although light to moderate showers from squalls were still reported across most of the island, especially eastern areas.

In Jamaica’s southern capital of Kingston, Ernesto dumped some rain but left no noticeable damage.

Forecasters said Ernesto could begin drenching the coast of Honduras today. It is then expected to strengthen, possibly becoming a weak hurricane, before moving ashore near the Belize-Mexico border Tuesday night and passing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Blast kills 13 in illegal workshop

BEIJING – An explosion at an illegal workshop in eastern China has killed 13 people.

The official Xinhua News Agency said today another 14 people were hurt in Sunday’s blast in Wenzhou city in Zhejiang province.

It said the family-run workshop, which made locks, was illegal. The blast happened when sparks from a polishing machine ignited dust in the workshop.

Industrial safety is a problem in China, with safety rules standards widely ignored and many small factories operating without proper safety equipment.