Some International news, as of 18apr13

• Some updates on the massive 7.8 earthquake Monday in Iran near the Pakistan border where hundreds are probably dead.
• the same day a bomb in Peshawar, Pakistan killed at least seventeen at a ANP campaign rally for elections in May. The Pakistan Taliban claimed credit for this attack, citing the secular ANP as 'legitimate targets'.
• a wave of bombings across Iraq come before elections there this Saturday, killing forty and wounding 250. On Tuesday, the government said it hung 21 convicted al-qaeda affiliated terrorists.
• Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu was in London this morning for Margaret Thatcher's funeral. He spoke to the bbc saying Israel would do what it needed to whether in Syria or Iran. He said they weren't there yet but are well on their way to having enough enriched uranium for a bomb. Meanwhile the southern Israeli town of Eliat was hit by rockets from a militant Salafi group on Tuesday. No one was hurt but it's airport is closed and tighter security measures put in place.
• Drone attack destroys 'Taliban base' in South Waziristan Pakistan, with at least five killed, yesterday.
• Bomb in Bengaluru, India aimed at opposition party center, wounds 16, eight of whom are policemen.
• US sends 200 troops to Jordan to help with refugees or to deal with clearing chemical weapons in Syria.
• more predictions of depression for Europe ; but is all this international austerity based on a math error in projection? Could this be the biggest 'Doh!' of all? This paper lays out the case.
• The election in Venezuela is contested. Amidst claims that Henrique Capriles was presenting false evidence that he says points out the irregularities of several vote tallies, the Supreme Tribunal Chief in Venezuela has issued warrants for Cabriles' arrest. He's the leading opposition candidate and the one the US would rather see win.
• Oh yeah, new bird flu has killed 83 people and nobody knows how this will play itself out.
• didn't mention North Korea