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No one hurt after blast in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - A bomb exploded outside a house used by United Nations staff in the capital Thursday, demolishing part of a wall around the property and shattering nearby windows but causing no injuries, police said.

The blast occurred about a half-mile from the presidential palace and the U.S. Embassy, and at least 5 miles from the Kabul university where a historic constitutional council is taking place.

The attack was at least the third in the capital since the start of the constitutional council on Dec. 14. No one was hurt in the earlier attacks.

At the convention, Afghanistan's finance minister on Thursday offered millions in aid to impoverished regions, calling for unity in the face of threats by warlords.

Ashraf Ghani, in a speech laying out the government's economic plans at the grand council, or loya jirga, said he planned to pass $1-million to each of Afghanistan's 32 provinces.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - A strong earthquake shook the border of Costa Rica and Panama early Thursday, killing an infant and leaving dozens of others with mainly minor injuries, authorities said.

The magnitude 6.3 temblor struck at 2:11 a.m., disrupting some late-night Christmas parties in Puerto Armuelles and cutting electricity there. Panamanian officials said it was centered about 7 miles northeast of Puerto Armuelles on the country's Pacific coast.

A 2-week-old girl died when part of her home collapsed in Puerto Armuelles, said Omar Smith, director of operations for Panama's National Civil Protection System.

He said at least five people were injured and three homes were destroyed in the town, which is a few miles east of the border with Costa Rica.