In Brief

* BOMB BLAST – A homemade bomb blast killed three boys on their way to school Wednesday in Baghdad, police said.

At least four other people died in violence across the Iraqi capital. The bombing took place in central Baghdad’s bustling Fadel area.* SHOT DEAD – Two protesters were shot dead in Pakistan in one of the worst incidents since Muslim anger over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed erupted, as European leaders sought to defuse the crisis.* HARIRI MURDER – The Lebanese capital turned into a sea of red- and-white flags as the country marked one year since former premier Rafiq Hariri’s murder, amid mounting calls for the ouster of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.* TRADE RULES – The US administration announced the creation of a task force to ensure Chinese compliance with global trading rules, saying US trade with China “lacks equity, durability and balance.- Nampa-AP-AFPThe bombing took place in central Baghdad’s bustling Fadel area.* SHOT DEAD – Two protesters were shot dead in Pakistan in one of the worst incidents since Muslim anger over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed erupted, as European leaders sought to defuse the crisis.* HARIRI MURDER – The Lebanese capital turned into a sea of red- and-white flags as the country marked one year since former premier Rafiq Hariri’s murder, amid mounting calls for the ouster of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.* TRADE RULES – The US administration announced the creation of a task force to ensure Chinese compliance with global trading rules, saying US trade with China “lacks equity, durability and balance.- Nampa-AP-AFP