World News

Japan Crash Kills Fifty-Seven

Vicky Hunter - Apr 25, 2005 / 10:05 am | Story: 8805

Emergency crews in Japan are continuing to search for people trapped in the wreckage of a commuter train that left the tracks and slammed into an apartment building. At least 57 people were killed Monday and 440 others were injured in the country's worst train crash in four decades. Full story
Pope Benedict XVI has revealed he prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected pope but that "evidently this time He didn't listen to me." Benedict made the comments at an audience Monday with German pilgrims, who enthusiastically greeted the first German pope in centuries. Full story
President Vladimir Putin says Russia must develop a free and democratic political system and restore business confidence to ensure the country's "place in the modern world." In his state of the nation address, he stressed individual freedoms would not be compromised by the state's own strengthening. Full story
Iraq dominated Britain's election debate at the start of the last full week of campaigning as Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to defend himself against new attacks that he misled the country in the run-up to the war. Blair on Monday faced intense questioning from reporters about a newspaper report that the government's chief legal officer had serious doubts the war might be illegal before it began in March 2003. Full story
The number of casualties in Sunday's two double bombings in Iraq rose to 24 dead and 58 wounded, Iraqi authorities said Monday. The death toll was higher than initially reported, suggesting some people died later from wounds. Full story
President Bush intends to ask Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to boost his country's oil production in hopes of driving down soaring oil and U.S. gas prices, senior administration officials said. The two leaders will meet Monday at Bush's Texas ranch, where Abdullah has been once before. Full story
Lebanon's powerful security chief, a close ally of Syria, resigned Monday, a day before Syria was to formally end its 29-year military deployment in Lebanon. Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, who had stepped aside on Friday, announced his resignation in a statement. His earlier move had placed Sayyed "at the disposal" of the prime minister, a formula that had allowed him to step aside without resigning. Full story
Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross has resigned, ending weeks of political crisis sparked by a scandal over the financing of his luxury apartment. Full story
A retired Roman Catholic priest extradited to the United States from Canada to face sex abuse charges pleaded not guilty on Monday to molesting altar boys at a parish in Massachusetts. The Rev. Paul Desilets returned to Massachusetts last week after he dropped a three-year fight against his extradition before the Supreme Court of Canada. Full story