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BAGHDAD — Car bombings shook the streets leading to Baghdad’s most revered Shiite Muslim shrine Wednesday, and police reported at least seven people were killed and 27 others wounded.

The simultaneous blasts at two key intersections in the Kazimiyah district were the latest blows in an unending series of apparent attacks by Sunni extremists bent on terrorizing Iraq’s Shiite majority and inflaming hostilities between the two sects.

Northeast of Baghdad, in several sections of the violence-wracked city of Baqouba, Iraqi troops and U.S. helicopter gunships were reported attacking Sunni militants of the group al-Qaida in Iraq. A medical official said the bodies of eight gunmen were brought to the hospital. The U.S. military said it was looking into the report.

Costa Rica breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan, establishes ties with China

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — President Oscar Arias announced Wednesday that Costa Rica has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan after nearly 60 years and established relations with China.

Arias said Costa Rica needed to strengthen ties with China to attract foreign investment.

Since splitting amid civil war in 1949, Taiwan and China have fought to win the diplomatic allegiance of countries around the world. China refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognize Taiwan.

"Taiwan has been very generous and I thank it for the solidarity and co-operation it has shown for nearly 60 years, but I have taken this decision thinking of all the Costa Ricans,” Arias said at a news conference.

"We are looking to strengthen the commercial ties and attract investment,” he said "China is the most successful emerging economy in the world and soon it will be the second strongest economy in the world after the United States.”

Cyclone Gonu hammers Oman

MUSCAT, Oman — Cyclone Gonu battered Oman’s coast Wednesday with fierce winds and torrential rains, forcing thousands from their homes and shutting down oil installations before heading toward the world’s most important crude oil tanker route.

The storm — a rarity in the Middle East — weakened slightly and dropped below hurricane strength late Wednesday, according to the U.S. military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center.