Alphiniqia News Agency

Child abuse taints Catholic institutions in Germany
Norbert Denef says for years he couldn't speak about the crimes committed against him during his childhood in Germany. ... more...

U.S. condemns new Israel housing units
Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States condemns Israel's decision to build 1,600 housing units in a Jerusalem neighborhood, calling it "a step that undermines the trust we need r... more...

Bahrain hot for racing
Champagne won't be sprayed this weekend in Bahrain at the country's Formula One Grand Prix, a hotly anticipated race that kicks off the season. ... more...

Nigerian security chief replaced after massacre
Nigeria's acting president replaced his national security adviser Tuesday, two days after mobs massacred hundreds in villages in central Nigeria. ... more...

China may ban eating dogs, cats
As part of a revamping of animal welfare laws, China is considering banning consumption of meat from cats and dogs. Such a ban would show "China has reached a new level of civilization," one proponent... more...

Aid effort for Turkish quake victims
Disaster officials rushed food and shelter to southeastern Turkey on Tuesday after a strong earthquake rattled the area a day earlier, killing at least 51 people and injuring dozens more. ... more...

2 pot plants land grandma in court
A federal appeals court in Argentina has ruled that a grandmother must stand trial for growing two marijuana plants in her backyard. ... more...

Haiti frees missionary; leader still held
Charisa Coulter, one of two American missionaries detained for more than a month in Haiti on suspicion of kidnapping 33 children after January 12's devastating earthquake, was released Monday. ... more...

U.S.: Iraqis 'deserve congratulations'
Iraq's elections "really went very, very well" and the "Iraqi people deserve a lot of congratulations from us," the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad said. ... more...

Scientists affirm asteroid killed dinosaurs
A team of scientists has agreed that a giant asteroid killed off dinosaurs and a majority of other species on Earth more than 65 million years ago. ... more...

Envoy: Iraqis 'deserve congratulations'
Iraq's elections "really went very, very well" and the "Iraqi people deserve a lot of congratulations from us," the United States' ambassador to Baghdad said Monday. ... more...

Opinion: Will Iraq's democracy vindicate Bush?
Israel may have to retire its title as the only democracy in the Middle East. With Sunday's free and fair national election, Iraq joins the honor roll as one of the very few Islamic democracies. ... more...

Suicide bombing kills eight in Pakistan
A suicide bombing killed eight people and injured more than 40 others Monday in eastern Pakistan, according to hospital and government officials. ... more...

Despite risks, Iraqis head to polls
Violent attacks on election day didn't stop large numbers of Iraqis from successfully casting their votes in key parliamentary elections. ... more...

Conflicting reports over al Qaeda American spokesman arrest
Adam Gadahn, an American spokesman for al Qaeda, has been arrested in Pakistan, a senior Pakistani government official source told CNN. ... more...

Official: U.S. al Qaeda spokesman seized
Adam Gadahn, an American spokesman for al Qaeda, has been arrested in Pakistan, a senior Pakistani government official source told CNN. ... more...

Attack in Nigeria kills more than 100
More than 100 people were dead after an attack on a predominantly Christian group in central Nigeria, officials told CNN on Sunday. ... more...

Pirates release Thai ship
Pirates released a Thai-flagged fishing vessel Sunday after a ransom was paid, a European Union anti-piracy force said. It did not say how much money was handed over. ... more...

Icelanders reject repaying debt
Iceland's voters overwhelmingly rejected a deal to pay billions of dollars it owes to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. ... more...

N. Korea to abandon disarmament
North Korea said Sunday it would no longer move forward with nuclear disarmament in response to a planned U.S.-South Korean joint military exercise. ... more...