A partial solar eclipse is seen at sunrise over the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) Yar Hussain camp in Swabi district, located about 120 km (75 miles) north west of Pakistan's capital Islamabad July 22, 2009. A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood (PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)Solar Eclipse Shrouds Asia In Daytime Darkness -- Yahoo News/AP
TOKYO, Japan – Millions of Asians turned their eyes skyward Wednesday as dawn suddenly turned to darkness across the continent in the longest total solar eclipse this century will see. Millions of others, fearing a bad omen, shuttered themselves indoors.
Chinese launched fireworks and danced in Shanghai. On a remote Japanese island, bewildered cattle went to their feeding troughs thinking night had fallen. And in India, a woman was crushed as thousands of viewers crowded the banks of the Ganges for a glimpse.
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MIDDLE EAST
Israel cuts 1948 'catastrophe' from Arabic texts.
Religious cleansing in Iran.
U.S. Embassy in Baghdad overstaffed, watchdog reports.
Bahrain's allure for Saudis extends beyond alcohol.
ASIA
Japan ruling party warns voters against change.
Brawl breaks out in South Korean parliament.
Clinton says U.S. is ready to apply pressure in Southeast Asia.
Clinton offers North Korea the carrot or the stick.
A 'range of options' if NKorea's Kim goes: US military.
Kyrgyzstan to hold presidential election.
AFRICA
UNs partitioning of Sudan: The backstory on today's Sudan ruling.
Kidnappings on the rise in Nigeria, over 500 so far.
Insecurity hampering aid efforts in Somalia.
South Africa discontent spreads.
EUROPE
Spain won't surrender Gibraltar claim.
Biden calls on Ukrainians to strengthen ties to West.
Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi admits: 'I am not a saint'.
EU backs Gdansk shipyard rescue.
AMERICAS
Mexican drug cartels expand abroad.
US offers $50m reward for capture of ten Mexican drug barons.
U.S. executions hit 1,000.
Honduras rivals 'resuming talks'.
Chavez objects to Colombia's base deal with US.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Amnesty says Saudi terror fight plagued with abuse.
Inside Java's production line of terror.
Indian court adjourns trial of Mumbai terror suspect. More news here.
Feds: US man gave al-Qaida NYC subway information.
American charged with aiding al Qaeda.
ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS
Fiscal ruin of the Western world beckons.
GM global sales fall 22 pct in first half of 2009.