Nyet: President Obama cancelled his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Russia’s decision to harbor NSA leaker Edward Snowden. US-Russia relations are at a low point with lack of progress over human rights, trade and defense issues. The Administration is also unhappy with Russia’s military support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The President told Jay Leno last night, “There have been times where they slip back into cold-war thinking and a cold war mentality.”

Threat: Yemen says it foiled an Al Qaeda plot to take over strategic ports and attack oil pipelines. Drone strikes in Yemen yesterday and today killed a reported 11 suspected terrorists.

World: The Syrian Army today wiped out a unit of about 60 anti-government rebels, according to the government and independent monitors. Some of the dead were reported to be foreigners. It’s one of the largest losses for the rebels in Syria’s two-year civil war.

• Air travel through Nairobi is restricted after a raging fire destroyed the airport’s main terminal. The terminal serves about 16,000 people a day.
• US prosecutors have charged a Libyan militant with murder in the fatal attacks on the Benghazi consulate last fall. The US looks powerless in the situation because the suspect, Abu Khattalah, is living openly in Benghazi.

National: In the opening day of his court martial, Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan admitted he killed 13 soldiers and wounded 32 at Ft. Hood in 2009. “I am the shooter,” Hasan said, adding that he had been converted to Holy War. “I was on the wrong side, but I switched sides.” Hasan, who is acting as his own lawyer, was paralyzed by a gunshot and is in a wheelchair.

• The obesity rate among children from poor families is falling, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Obesity among pre-school children dropped in 19 States and US territories between 2008 and 2011. The reason for improvement was not part of the study, but some attribute it to educational efforts targeted at reduced sugar consumption and better diets.
• Former President George W. Bush had a heart stent installed yesterday in Texas to clear an arterial blockage. The problem was discovered during his annual physical Monday.

Haunted House: The Cleveland house where Ariel Castro held three women captive was demolished this morning. It took about an hour and twenty minutes. Castro agreed to the destruction of his home as part of his guilty plea. Bystanders cheered as the house came down.

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