Kosovo declared itself a nation on Sunday, mounting a historic bid to become an “independent and democratic state” backed by the U.S. and key European allies, but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia. “Kosovo is a republic – an independent, democratic and sovereign state,” parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi said as the chamber burst into applause. Serbian President Boris Tadic reacted by saying his country will never accept Kosovo’s “unilateral and illegal” declaration.
A suicide bombing at an outdoor dog fighting competition in Afghanistan killed 80 people and wounded dozens more Sunday, a governor said. It appeared to be the deadliest attack in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. More than 300 people had gathered to watch the event on the western edge of the southern city of Kandahar, including several Afghan militia leaders.
Churchgoers remembered the victims of the Northern Illinois University shooting rampage Sunday with prayers and support for the school and family members. At First Baptist Church of DeKalb, members passed out red ribbons to several dozen people who attended a morning service. The Rev. Joe Sanders offered prayers for the families of victims and relatives of the gunman who killed five students and wounded 16 other people in a lecture hall Thursday before taking his own life.
Kansas authorities say a small plane crashed near Wichita Saturday, killing one person. The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said it’s not yet clear how many people were aboard the twin-engine plane, but one person is confirmed dead. Officials have not yet identified the victim. Authorities said the plane took off from the Benton Airport around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, then immediately crashed.
Israeli troops backed by aircraft and tanks clashed with Palestinian militants firing mortars and machine guns near Gaza’s former international airport Sunday, killing three gunmen and a civilian, health officials said. More than 20 people were wounded, including several gunmen and a 45-year-old civilian who lives near the airport and was shot in the head, said Health Ministry official Moaiya Hassanain. The fighting erupted when Israeli undercover troops took over several homes near the airport in southern Gaza.
