International News Headlines - December 26

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

Nigeria
A pipeline punctured by thieves exploded, killing more than 200 people in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos.

Iraq
Iraq's Appeal Court upheld the death sentence against Saddam Hussein and confirmed that he will be executed by hanging. Starting from Wednesday, Dec. 27, Hussein's sentence will be carried out within 30 days.

Iraq
An attack near a Sunni mosque in northern Baghdad killed 15 people and left 35 people wounded. The incident followed a triple bombing that occurred on a busy market street southwest of the capital that left 15 dead and 60 wounded.

Taiwan
An undersea earthquake of a 7.1 magnitude hit Taiwan and was followed by a powerful aftershock. The quake struck on the second anniversary of the tsunami that killed almost 250,000 people.

Phillipines
A blaze, thought to have been caused by firecrackers, set a one-storey department building on fire in Ormoc city and killed both vendors and customers trapped inside. Police have reported at least 24 people died.

Nepal
Ram Bahadur Bomjan, a Nepalese teenager aged 17 who is known as "Buddha Boy" reappeared after nine months, eyewitnesses said. Believed to be an incarnation of Lord Buddha, Bomjan gained attention for his meditation and an apparent 10-month fasting.

Israel
The removal of more than two dozen checkpoints in the West Bank that severely restricted Palestinian movements was approved by Prime Minister Ehud. The move is part of a package of concessions Mr. Olmert presented to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, on Saturday night when the two leaders officially met for the first time since Olmert became the prime minister earlier this year.

Iran
Iranian officials vowed to continue uranium enrichment and warned that the resolution to impose sanctions as suggested by the United Nations Security Council, because of the country's nuclear program, would change Iran's relationship with the United Nations' nuclear monitoring agency.

Spain
José Luis García Sabrido, a renowned Spanish surgeon, traveled to Cuba on Thursday in hopes of stopping the steady deterioration of President Fidel Castro's health.