International News for Dec. 19 - Jan. 7

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The New York Times International News. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Afghanistan

Jan. 4 – A suicide bomber attacked a group of Indian engineers traveling by convoy. Six policemen and one of the engineers were killed. The attack was tied to "terrorists," the term used by Afghan officials to describe Taliban insurgents.

India

Dec. 21 – India overturned a law that banned women from bartending. The 1914 law made it illegal for women to bartend in the capital city, New Delhi.

Dec. 23 – Narendra Modi was re-elected in India as the chief minister of Gujarat. Modi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is a radical Hindu.

Iran

Dec. 27 – Emadedin Baghi, a reformist journalist, was moved to a hospital from the jail he has been detained in since October. According to his wife, he sounded barely conscious on the phone and said he would have died if he had not been found by a prison official.

Iraq

Jan. 3 – A suicide bomber in the Diyala Province wore an explosive vest to a checkpoint operated by Sunni Arab tribesman. At least six were killed and 22 more were wounded. Among the killed was Abu Sadjat, a local tribal chief.

Jan. 7 – At least four soldiers were killed on Iraqi Army Day when a suicide bomber attempted to enter an office building. At least six more people were wounded.

Japan

Jan. 5 – To deal with the steep rise of prisoners aged 60 and older, Japan announced that the country will begin building prison wards exclusively for the elderly at three different prisons.

Pakistan

Dec. 27 – Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during a campaign rally suicide bombing. Twenty more were also killed.