Taiwan president takes blame for typhoon response

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday he accepts responsibility for the government’s slow response after Typhoon Morakot slammed into the island killing at more than 120 people and unleashing floods, mudslides and misery. Ma, who has faced heavy criticism from victims of the disaster, ruled out resignation, insisting his government did its best in the face of difficulties, however he pledged an investigation into any irregularities. “Certainly, I will take full responsibility whatever the blame is because, after all, I am the president of this country,” Ma told CNN, saying heavy rains grounded rescue helicopters in the first few days after the storm hit, delaying relief.

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Deputy leader killed as Nigerian military raids Islamic sect

Nigeria’s military has claimed it raided the compound of a fundamentalist Islamic sect and killed one of its top leaders, as the battle intensified between government troops and Islamist forces in the country’s north Thursday. At least 400 rebels, civilians and troops have died since the fighting began Sunday, triggered by the arrest of some members of the sect, known as Boko Haram.

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Serb cousins guilty of burning Muslims alive

A U.N. tribunal convicted two Serb cousins Monday of having burned alive more than 100 Muslims in what the presiding judge called a part of the "wretched history of man’s inhumanity to man." Milan Lukic and Sredoje Lukic were convicted of crimes dating back to the early 1990s, during the bitter ethnic conflict that ravaged the former Yugoslavia. The crimes include two incidents in which Muslim men, women and children were forced into homes that were then set on fire — some who tried to escape were shot.

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Five die in Italian Riviera train-gas blast

A gas explosion from a cargo train carrying fuel tanks killed at least five people and injured 35 others Monday night in a town in western Italy, a local government official said. The train, traveling from La Spezia to Pisa, was carrying gas tanks and derailed while passing through the station in the coastal town of Viareggio, the official, Antonio Garufi, told CNN

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