It is 00:30 universal time with the news in VOA Special English. I'm Christopher Cruise reporting live from the VOA World Headquarters in Washington.
Pakistani officials say a suicide bombing has killed at least 53 people in the southwestern city of Quetta. More than 160 others are reported wounded. This is the second attack on the country's Shi'ite religious minority this week. The explosion took place at a Shi'ite gathering to express unity with the Palestinian people. Officials say some victims who were angry about the attack fired shots into the air and set fire to vehicles and stores nearby. The Pakistani Taliban said it was responsible for the attack. It also said it was responsible for Wednesday's attacks in the eastern city of Lahore. 35 people were killed in those attacks.
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