southeast asia
Typhoon bears down on central Vietnam
Tens of thousands of people were being evacuated from high-risk areas Monday in central Vietnam, where Typhoon Wutip was expected to hit later Monday with sustained winds of up to 93 miles per hour and gusts up to 125 mph. Heavy rains were expected. Meanwhile, 75 fishermen were missing after three Chinese vessels encountered strong winds near the Paracel Islands, according to a statement from the Hainan government in south China. Two of the vessels sank Sunday and contact with the third has been lost, it said.
Washington, D.C.
Justice Dept. to sue N.C. over voting law
The Justice Department will sue North Carolina on Monday over the state's new voting law, according to a person briefed on the plans, the latest move by the Obama administration to counter a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that officials have said threatens the voting rights of minorities. The suit follows the department's decision last month to sue Texas over that state's new voter-ID measure. Under the new law, North Carolina residents are required to show a photo identification card at polling places.
U.S. plans to unveil new insurance options
The Obama administration plans to announce Monday scores of new health insurance options to be offered to consumers around the country by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The options are part of a multistate insurance program that Congress authorized in 2010 to increase options for consumers shopping in the online insurance markets scheduled to open on Tuesday.
Pakistan
Blast at market in Peshawar kills 41
A car bomb tore through a centuries-old market in Peshawar, killing at least 41 people in the third major attack on the Pakistani city in a week. The midday explosion at Qissa Khawani Bazaar, or the market of storytellers, damaged dozens of shops and injured more than 100 people. The carnage included 16 members of an extended family who burned to death in a van.
Iraq
Suicide bombing kills 25 at Iraq funeral
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a funeral in southern Iraq, killing at least 25 people and injuring 60, security officials said. The bomber attacked a mosque in the mostly Shiite city of Hilla, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. Two more civilians were killed and 22 wounded when two back-to-back car bombs exploded in Baquba. Several explosions struck the northern Kurdish region, killing six.
Italy
Resignations put government in crisis
Prime Minister Enrico Letta said he would call for a confidence vote in Parliament, most likely on Wednesday, to clear up the political uncertainty surrounding his fragile government after the sudden resignation of five ministers belonging to Silvio Berlusconi's center-right party. The unexpected move Saturday by Berlusconi's allies raised concerns that Italy's troubles may threaten the current political and financial stability in Europe.
Israel
Iranian spy is arrested, officials say
Israeli security officials said they have arrested a businessman of Iranian descent for spying on Israel and gathering intelligence on possible terrorism targets. The Shin Bet domestic intelligence service released photos it said were taken from the suspect's camera that included exterior shots of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.
news services
