World News

Spurt Of Bombings In Baghdad

Vicky Hunter - Apr 29, 2005 / 9:32 am | Story: 8935

A three-hour spurt of car and roadside bombings targeting Iraqi security forces and civilians killed at least 24 people and wounded 98 others Friday, Iraqi police said. Many of the bombs went off after 8:15 a.m. (12:15 a.m. EDT) and focused on Iraqi police and army patrols. Two of the car bombs exploded within 50 yards and several minutes of each other in Baghdad. Full story
Taiwan's opposition leader and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised on Friday to work together to end hostilities between Taipei and Beijing, during the highest-level meeting between the two sides since they split amid civil war nearly six decades ago. The Taiwanese government criticized the talks, saying they would do nothing to improve frosty relations. Full story
An Iranian diplomat suggested Friday that an agreement over Tehran's nuclear program was within reach, as he prepared to meet with European negotiators in London. France, Britain and Germany, acting on behalf of the European Union, are seeking guarantees that Iran won't use its nuclear program to make weapons, as the United States suspects. Full story
In a rare prime time news conference, President Bush urged Congress on Thursday to act on Social Security and energy, which he called "two vital priorities for the American people." Bush for the first time backed a Social Security reform proposal in which benefits for low income workers would increase over time faster than for wealthier Americans. Full story
Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Conservative opponent Michael Howard tried to move the UK election battleground back onto the domestic agenda Friday after a week of wrangling over Iraq. Blair campaigned with Chancellor Gordon Brown trying to convince voters that only they could be trusted to run the economy. Howard said people now wanted to focus on the "wider issues" in the campaign. Full story
A military jury sentenced a soldier to death Thursday for a grenade and rifle attack on his own comrades during the opening days of the Iraq invasion, a barrage that killed two officers and that prosecutors said was driven by religious extremism. Sgt. Hasan Akbar, who gave a brief, barely audible apology hours earlier, stood at attention between his lawyers as the verdict was delivered. He showed no emotion. Full story