Bombings, attacks kill 30 in Iraq

Bombings, attacks kill 30 in Iraq

BAGHDAD

A series of attacks in Iraq, including a double suicide car bombing targeting a military base, killed 30 people across the country Thursday, officials said.

The deadliest attack took place when the two suicide bombers drove their explosive-laden cars into a military base in the town of Tarmiyah late Thursday, killing at least 19 soldiers and wounding 41, authorities said.

Soldiers guarding the base opened fire on the first car bomber as he approached, but he still was able to detonate his explosives against a gate at the facility, police said. Two minutes later, the second suicide bomber rammed his car through the gate and exploded when he reached a crowd of soldiers who gathered after the earlier blast, police said.

Obama apologizes for loss of coverage

WASHINGTON

Seeking to calm a growing furor, President Barack Obama said Thursday he’s sorry Americans are losing health insurance plans he repeatedly said they could keep under his signature health care law. But the president stopped short of apologizing for making those promises in the first place.

“I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me,” he said in an interview with NBC News.

Signaling possible tweaks to the law, Obama said his administration was working to close “some of the holes and gaps” that were causing millions of Americans to get cancellation letters. Officials said he was referring to fixes the administration can make on its own, not legislative options some congressional lawmakers have proposed.

Graham turns 95

ASHEVILLE, N.C

The Rev. Billy Graham celebrated his 95th birthday Thursday with well-wishers who serenaded him and praised him for his spiritual leadership.

A crowd of roughly 900 people attended the two-hour party for the North Carolina-born evangelist at an Asheville hotel. Graham’s son acknowledged beforehand that it wouldn’t be a long party.

“We’re going to have a short evening,” the Rev. Franklin Graham said. “Daddy’s 95.”

Malala plotter is new Taliban leader

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan

The ruthless commander behind the attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai as well as a series of bombings and beheadings was chosen Thursday as the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, nearly a week after a U.S. drone strike killed the previous chief.

The militant group ruled out peace talks with the government, accusing Pakistan of working with the U.S. in the Nov. 1 drone strike. Islamabad denied the allegation and accused Washington of sabotaging its attempt to strike a deal with the Taliban to end years of violence.

Teen charged in passenger attack

OAKLAND, Calif.

A 16-year-old Northern California boy is being charged as an adult with hate crimes after authorities say he set another teenage boy wearing a skirt on fire on a public bus because of homophobia, authorities said Thursday.

Alameda County prosecutors charged Richard Thomas, of Oakland, with felony assault and aggravated mayhem with hate crime enhancements in Monday’s attack on Luke “Sasha” Fleischman, who is hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns.

Associated Press