I've always enjoyed the World Cup, one of the reasons being that it's like a world war without the gunfire. I may have spoken too soon, though, as Egypt and Algeria are coming to blows -- Egypt has even recalled its ambassador -- over the three-match qualifier earlier this month in which Algeria took the last spot for an African team. Reuters explains:

"Soccer's governing body FIFA began an investigation after Egyptian fans stoned Algeria's national team on arrival for the Cairo leg, hurting three players. Scuffles after that match injured 20 Algerians.

In response Algerians stoned some buses full of Egyptian fans in Khartoum, causing about 20 minor injuries, Egypt's health ministry said. However, Sudan's hospitals reported no injuries or deaths after the match.

Press from both nations have reported stories of murder and attacks. These led to violence in both capitals with 32 demonstrators injured in clashes with police outside Algeria's Cairo embassy, and millions of dollars' of damage inflicted on ransacked Egyptian businesses in Algiers.

The Egyptian media reports of violence in Sudan also angered close ally Khartoum which summoned Cairo's ambassador to protest."

However, Sudan is offering to mediate the dispute. But wait -- Moammar Gadhafi is stepping in, as if the row could get any nuttier. "As chairman of the African Union, the Guide of the Revolution (Gathafi) is going to work to bridge the gulf that has opened up between Egypt and Algeria," Libya's official JANA news agency reported.

(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

No. There's my opinion. To prove it, I've posted a photo that clearly illustrates the fashion chasm between these two first ladies. Does France's first lady have an edge because she used to be a model? Yeah. But it's Elle magazine giving this award, not Harvard. More:

"The French fashion world has dealt a new blow to Nicolas Sarkozy's desire to upstage President Obama: Elle magazine, the Parisiennes' style bible, has proclaimed that Michelle Obama is more chic than Carla Bruni.

The magazine's annual best-dressed list, unveiled yesterday, awarded first place in the category of 'political chic' to America's First Lady, and second to France's Première Dame. It is the second year in a row that Ms Bruni, 42, has come second on the list; last year Elle put her behind Asma Assad, the British-born wife of the Syrian President.

For Mr Sarkozy -- who has treated Mr Obama as an unfriendly rival ever since the US President gave the cold shoulder to his attempts to forge a special Franco-American relationship -- this is unwelcome news indeed. Yesterday the Frenchman took another swipe at his US counterpart, criticising him for deciding to attend next month's climate summit in Copenhagen a week before other national leaders and hinting that it was discourteous to the Danish hosts."

As Carla Bruni is a trending topic today -- probably for this and her Woody Allen movie -- sound off your opinion on this political style firestorm below.

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the temblor struck 85 miles northeast of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, followed by aftershocks registering 5.1 and 5.6 on the Richter scale. There was no tsunami alert afterward. More:

"There were no immediate reports of damage from the quake which was felt with a moderate intensity in Tongatapu and Ha'apai.

The quake was felt at at 01.47:16 am local time [Wednesday] in Tonga.

The quake woke residents in Nuku'alofa and in Pangai, some of whom ran outside. There were no immediate reports of damage. Dogs barked while houses and shelves rattled for a few seconds."

The initial alarm upon hearing the news is understandable, though: That side of the world, of course, is notorious for its seismic activity, as the geographic pattern of the world's worst earthquakes in history tells us.

(Location map: U.S. Geological Survey)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is banking on a Mideast solution from the White House, and not a fresh wave of violence against the Jewish state, to get the peace process on the road again. More:

"The Palestinian people will not launch a new intifada against Israel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday night, referring to concerns that long-stalled negotiations and rising tensions would pave the way to a new popular uprising in the Palestinian population.

'We've suffered enough,' he said of the path of armed struggle. 'The Palestinian people are focused only on the path of peace, through negotiations.'

Speaking in Argentina after a meeting with President Cristina Fernandez, Abbas repeated his demand that Israel freeze all construction beyond the green line, including that which is intended for 'natural growth.'

'What we demand is in the road map,' he said, referring to a US plan for peace in the Middle East. 'This is what [US President] Barack Obama said when he visited Cairo.'"

Considering that one of the barriers to a Mideast peace process is the Palestinian Authority divide between West Bank rulers Fatah and Gaza rulers Hamas, though, there are few guarantees that new violence against Israel won't erupt, if indeed Abbas is being candid about his intentions.

(Photo by Omar Rashidi/PPO via Getty Images)