Global Reviews

Twin suicide blasts hit Church in Peshwar

Nearly 56 people were killed and 120 others injured when a twin suicide bomb attack hit a Christian church in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Sunday, hospital sources said.

Chief executive of Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, which admitted all the blast victims, told local media that they have received 56 dead bodies including two policemen, 10 women and 15 children, and over 120 injured.

He said that the death toll may further rise as over 20 among the injured were in critical condition.

Briefing about the attack, Zaheer-ul-Islam, deputy commissioner of Peshawar, said that the incident happened at about 11:45 a.m. local time when two suicide bombers blew up their explosive-laden vests inside the church when around 500 to 600 people of Christian community were coming out of the church after offering Sunday prayers.

He confirmed that the blast hit the Christian church called " Pakistan Church" in Kohati Gate area of Peshawar, killing about 60 people and wounding over 100 others wounded.

Shafqat Malik, inspector general of Bomb Disposal Squad, said that the blasts took place one after another and the two suicide bombers were carrying an estimated seven kg of explosives each in their explosive vests.

He said that they found a head of one of the suicide bombers from the roof of the church, which is being examined by the medical team.

Priest Ijaz, administrator of the church, said that the blasts occurred when some people were going back to their homes after prayers and some were having lunch outside the prayer hall.

Super typhoon Usagi lands in China's Guangdong

Super typhoon Usagi, one of the strongest storms of the year, made landfall in south China's Guangdong Province Sunday evening, local meteorological authorities said.

The typhoon, packing winds up to 162 km per hour in the eye, landed at 7:40 p.m. in the coastal areas of east Guangdong's Shanwei City, according to the provincial meteorological station.

Mortar shell hits Russian embassy compound in Damascus

A mortar shell has hit the Russian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus. Earlier reports suggested that there were two shells and several people were wounded, but these reports weren't confirmed."Russia's embassy is working normally," the embassy's guard on duty stressed as cited by Itar-Tass.

North Korea has incorporated its rail system with Russia

North Korea’s railway system has been connected with Russia’s Trans-Siberian railway, creating a direct transport corridor from the Korean Peninsula to Europe. The agreement to link the two countries by rail was signed during a visit by N. Korean leader Kim Jong-il to Moscow in 2001. The reconstruction of a 54 kilometer stretch of railway track between N. Korea and Russia involved the renovation of 18 bridges, 12 culverts and three tunnels over a 4.5 kilometer distance.

West has to recognize Iran’s right to enrich uranium 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that western governments must recognize Iran's right to enrich uranium “within the framework of international rules," according to AFP. The comments were made at an annual military parade held ahead of Rouhani’s departure for the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Iranian leader is scheduled to meet French President Francois Hollande. The media has speculated Rouhani’s meeting with Obama could also take place on the summit’s sidelines.

Polls open in German general elections

Germans are making their way to the polls to begin voting in the country’s elections. Current Chancellor Angela Merkel is slated to win the elections for a third term in power, according to polls. However, the Free Democrats party, that form part of Merkel’s coalition government, may not gain the 5 percent vote required to win seats in parliament. This would force Merkel into forming an alliance with her political rival, Peer Steinbrueck's Social Democrats

Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison

A Chinese court has sentenced ousted politician Bo Xilai to life in prison after finding him guilty on all charges against him, Reuters reported. Formerly one of the top leaders of the Communist Party, Bo was charged with corruption, taking bribes, and abuse of power. The court in Jinan, eastern China - where former party chief of the megacity of Chongqing was tried - also ordered that all Bo’s personal assets be seized, according to a transcript posted on the court's official microblog.

25 killed in Baghdad bombing

A suicide car bomber has killed at least 25 people in the Sadr City suburb of Baghdad, according to police and medics, Reuter’s reports. The bomber struck next to a tent full of mourners in the Shiite neighborhood and wounded more than 60, medics said. According to the United Nations, Iraq is the grip of the worst sectarian violence since US troops left the country in 2008. Almost 5,000 have been killed in the bloodshed in Iraq in 2012, according to the UN.

Gunman in Afghan uniform kills three NATO soldiers

A man dressed in Afghan security forces uniform has shot dead three International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) soldiers in the East of the country, the NATO-led coalition said, as cited by Reuters. The nationality of the victims has not been revealed. “We can confirm that three ISAF service members were killed and one wounded by an individual wearing an ANSF uniform in Gardez,” said Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi, adding that an investigation into the incident had been launched. The attacker was gunned down by Afghan soldiers immediately after the assault. This has become the seventh reported insider attack since the beginning of the year, with 12 coalition personnel killed so far. Media agencies