A suicide attack in southern Iraq has killed at least 53 people. Authorities say the attack Saturday on a group of Shi’ite pilgrims near the city of Basra has left at least 100 people wounded. The blast struck near a police checkpoint on the route to a Shi’ite shrine. The attack took place as many […]
Militants Attack Pakistan Police Station
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani police say militants have hurled grenades into a police station in northwest Pakistan. Officials say the gunmen and suicide bombers targeted the police chief’s office Saturday in Dera Ismail Khan, near the lawless South Waziristan tribal region. Authorities say at least two militants died in the assault. There was no immediate word about police […]
Incumbent Ma Takes Early Lead in Taiwan Presidential Election
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
Polls have closed in Taiwan’s presidential election and early results show incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou taking the lead. With around 20 percent of the votes counted, Mr. Ma was about seven percentage points ahead of his main challenger, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen, who wants to become the island’s first female leader. Ms. Tsai […]
30 Dead in Attack on Iraqi Shiites
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
At least 32 people have died in an apparent suicide bomb attack on a group of Shi’ite pilgrims near the city of Basra in southern Iraq. Police and medics say around 100 people were injured in the blast near a police checkpoint on the route to a Shi’ite shrine. The attacks took place as many […]
3 Dead After Ship Runs Aground in Italy
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
Italian officials say at least three people were killed and several injured when a luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany on Friday. That is fewer dead than first reported. Authorities say more than 4,000 passengers and crew members were aboard the Costa Concordia when it ran into trouble near the Tuscan […]
Polls Close in Tight Taiwan Presidential Election
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
Polls have closed in Taiwan, where residents voted Saturday in a closely contested presidential election that has attracted interest in the United States and China. President Ma Ying-jeou faced off against his main challenger, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen, who wants to become the island’s first female leader. Mr. Ma, whose Nationalist Party administration […]
20 Dead in Attack on Iraqi Shiites
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 4:00 am (UTC-5)
A bomb attack in southern Iraq has killed at least 20 people. The blast struck a group of Shi’ite pilgrim near the city of Basra. Police and medics say it is not clear whether the blast Saturday came from a suicide bomber or a roadside bomb. The attack took place as Shi’ites journeyed to a […]
6 Dead After Ship Runs Aground in Italy
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
A luxury cruise ship on a trip around the Mediterranean has run aground off the coast of Tuscany. Italian officials say at least six people have died. Several people were injured. Authorities say more than 4,000 passengers and crew members were aboard the Costa Concordia when it ran into trouble at dinner time late Friday […]
Credit Ratings Drop for Eurozone
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 1:30 am (UTC-5)
Credit-rating firm Standard and Poor’s downgraded nine European countries Friday, saying national leaders are moving too slowly to strengthen the troubled eurozone’s finances. France lost its top-tier AAA rating, while Italy and Spain were downgraded by two notches. Germany, which has Europe’s largest economy, kept its AAA rating. Lower credit ratings may raise the cost […]
UN Urges Fair Elections in Guinea Bissau
Posted January 14th, 2012 at 1:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council is urging Guinea-Bissau to hold free and fair elections in a timely manner, following the death of president Malam Bacai Sanha early this week. The 15-member body says the military should respect civilian rule, and the council urged authorities to increase security in an effort to discourage any civil disobedience. The […]
