The story
Some days, death tolls in Iraq appear to be educated guesses. Yesterday, 65 people died in a series of bombings and shootings across the country. Or was it 82? Or was it 92? The numbers float around the internet, decorated with sickening atrocities: car bombings at a police station, a funeral, an outdoor market and a bus station. Every day, people in Iraq are dying because they decided to be police officers, or mourn a loved one, or buy food at a local market.

The targets of choice yesterday were largely Shiite pilgrims, who hoped to reach the holy city of Karbala in advance of next week’s Arbaeen, a religious commemoration of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Pilgrims are often caught in cross hairs, and religious holidays mean spikes in death tolls. All roads to Karbala will pose perilous threats. Today, 37 more pilgrims confronted the danger of their pilgrimage, caught up in attacks. Ten didn’t survive.

The stat
92: The projected death toll in Iraq on Dec. 16, according to Al Jazeera

The quote
“We believe the attack was aimed at freeing detainees who are being held in the building next door.” —Major Salih al-Qaisi, a police officer in Baiji, where bombers died before reaching apparent detainees at the town’s police station

 

What’s above the fold

The Globe and Mail	Ontario might move to create its own mandatory pension regime.
National Post	Boston Bruins star Milan Lucic, a Vancouver native, resents his hometown.
Toronto Star	Ontario won’t wait for other provinces before increasing pension benefits.
Ottawa Citizen	Provinces are frustrated with federal inaction on CPP expansion.
CBC News	Edward Snowden could move to Brazil to help investigate spying.
CTV News	Doctors are discouraging consumers from buying vitamin supplements.
National Newswatch	The Conservatives’ front benches are becoming unhinged.

 

What you might have missed

THE NATIONAL	Charity. Tom Crist, a recently retired Calgary man, won the $40-million Lotto Max jackpot in May. Only this week did he claim the prize, which he’s pledged will go entirely to a series of charities. Among those who will benefit are cancer charities, since Crist lost his wife to the disease two years ago.
THE GLOBAL	Detroit. America’s largest bankrupt city, which owes billions in pension obligations, may have to give up many of the most valuable art pieces at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Christie’s, the New York-based auction house, is delivering a report that estimates the total value of the art—up to $860 million.

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