News for Friday, January 19, 2007

• Iraqi Forces Arrest Leader of Armed Group The U.S. military says Iraqi forces backed by coalition advisors have captured a top leader of an armed group responsible for murder, torture and the kidnapping of civilians.
• Millions Expected to Gather for Hindu Festival in Northern India Millions of Hindus are expected to gather in the northern Indian city of Allahabad for dip in the Ganges River Friday, considered the most auspicious day in the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" religious festival.
• U.S. Envoy Says North Korea Nuclear Talks Expected to Resume Soon The chief U.S. envoy charged with negotiating an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs says multinational talks to that end will probably resume next month. He denied reports, however, that he had reached "an agreement" in bilateral talks with North Korean officials this week. VOA's Kurt Achin spoke to Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill as he arrived in South Korea from Berlin, where he held several days of meetings with his North Korean counterpart.
• Violence Rises in Thailand's South Insurgent attacks are escalating in the south of Thailand, despite efforts by the military-installed government to end the violence. As Ron Corben in Bangkok reports, Thai intelligence reports warn of increasing attacks.
• US Envoy: N. Korea Nuclear, Financial Talks Expected to Resume Soon The chief U.S. envoy charged with negotiating an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs says multinational talks to that end will probably resume next month. He denied reports, however, that he had reached "an agreement" in bilateral talks with North Korean officials this week. VOA's Kurt Achin spoke to Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill as he arrived in South Korea from Berlin, where he held several days of meetings with his North Korean counterpart.
• NHL: Predators Shut Out Blue Jackets in Thursday Action The Nashville Predators shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 Thursday to lead the National Hockey League.
• US Senate Overcomes Dispute to Approve Major Ethics Bill The Democratic-led U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping ethics and lobbying reform bill.
• US Negotiator Confirms Seventh Round Of Free-Trade Talks with South Korea A senior U.S. trade negotiator says "important progress" was made this week towards a free-trade deal with South Korea, and a seventh round of talks is scheduled. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.
• Israel Transfers Some Frozen Tax Funds to Palestinians Israel has transferred $100 million in frozen Palestinian tax funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Gates in Basra on Second Iraq Trip U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on an unannounced visit to meet with U.S. and coalition military commanders.
• Beijing Mum as World Expresses Concern Over Anti-Satellite Weapon Test Governments worldwide have voiced concern to China after U.S. officials confirmed that Beijing successfully tested a new anti-satellite weapon last week. China has not publicly acknowledged the test, but Japan's Foreign Ministry says it received a message from Beijing that its intentions in space are peaceful. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• Sri Lankan Soldiers Kill  9 Tamil Rebels, Civilians Flee Fighting The Sri Lankan military says its troops killed at least nine Tamil Tiger rebels Friday, as fighting between the two sides intensified in the country's east.
• Civilians in Sri Lanka Flee Fighting between Military and Rebels Sri Lanka's military says it has captured the eastern town of Vakarai from Tamil Tiger rebels. VOA's Suzanne Presto reports from New Delhi that the intensified fighting in the rebel-held east is forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
• Spanish Doctor Says Cuban Leader Castro Making Slow Recovery Granma web site Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006" hspace=2 src="/english/images/Granma_Fidel_Castro_210.jpg" width=163 vspace=2 border=0> A Spanish doctor says ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro is making a "slow but progressive" recovery from intestinal surgery.
• US, S. Korean Negotiators View Trade Talks Progress Differently Senior U.S. and South Korean negotiators have wrapped up a week of trade talks with different assessments of their progress toward a trade liberalization deal. While Washington's envoy says the talks have taken on a new intensity, the South Korean negotiator says significant problems remain. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.
• Russian Anti-Terrorism Alert Lowered to Normal Russian authorities have canceled the state of alert announced earlier this week in response to an unspecified terrorist threat.
• Rice Ends Overseas Tour Focused on Mideast U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ended an overseas tour focused on the Middle East.
• Documentary Raises Profile of Darfur Crisis In an effort to turn the world's attention to the crisis in Darfur, actor George Clooney and his father, veteran reporter Nick Clooney, made a documentary about the plight of the Darfuri people. The film titled Journey to Darfur premiered recently on American cable TV.
• S. Africa Electric Company Works to Reduce Widespread Power Outages In South Africa, electrical power officials say they are working to reduce power outages one day after widespread blackouts disrupted traffic and businesses across the country. VOA Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Johannesburg.
• Bush Names This Sunday 'Sanctity of Life' Day President Bush has declared this Sunday to be "National Sanctity of Human Life Day."
• Pope Greets Turkish Ambassador, Expresses Respect for Islam Pope Benedict has expressed respect for Islam and urged believers of all religions to denounce violence.
• Prominent Journalist Shot Dead in Turkey A prominent Armenian Turkish journalist was shot dead as he left his office in central Istanbul on Friday.  Hrant Dink, 53, was one of the most influential voices in Turkey's small Armenian community and a passionate proponent of the country's membership of the European Union. From Istanbul Amberin Zaman has details for VOA.
• Chinese Spokesman Says No Knowledge of Anti-Satellite Test China's Foreign Ministry says it can not confirm reports that the nation successfully tested a new anti-satellite weapon last week.
• King Abdullah: Jordan Seeking Nuclear Energy Program Jordan's King Abdullah says his country is seeking its own nuclear energy program.
• Afghan NATO Convoy Hit by Suicide Bomb Attack A suicide bomber in a car blew himself up next to a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan on Friday, but no troops were hurt.
• Mortars, Gunfire Reported at President's Residence in Mogadishu Government troops in Somalia have exchanged fire with unidentified gunmen who had launched mortar attacks against the president's residence in the capital, Mogadishu.
• UNHCR Concerned About Safety of Sri Lankans Fleeing Fighting The U.N. refugee agency reports thousands of people are fleeing rebel-held land on Sri Lanka's east coast toward government-controlled areas of Batticaloa District. The UNHCR says it is very concerned about the safety of civilians remaining in Vaharai, the region from which people are fleeing. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
• Onetime Afghan Resistance Leader Resurfaces as Terrorist Ally In recent months the Taleban has ratcheted up its attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.  According the outgoing U.S. director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, al-Qaida has also been active in the area as it forges new alliances with like-minded extremist groups from their home base in Pakistan.  But, as VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, another Afghan extremist leader who was once a recipient of U.S. aid has now joined the fray.
• Defending Champion Knocked Out of Dakar Motorcycle Rally Defending champion Marc Coma of Spain has been knocked out of the Dakar Rally's motorcycle section after losing his way, hitting a tree and being knocked unconscious.
• Australian Open: Serena Williams Upsets 5th Seed Petrova in Third Round Action  Former world  No. 1 women's tennis player Serena Williams of the United States has upset Russian fifth-seed Nadia Petrova in third round action at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
• US Democratic Party Leaders Challenge Bush on Iraq, Domestic Issues Ahead of President Bush's State of the Union Address next week, Democrats are challenging the president on his policies in Iraq, while claiming victory on the domestic front after the first two weeks of the new Congress. VOA's Dan Robinson has a report from Capitol Hill.
• US Charges North Korea Misused UN Aid Funds The United States is accusing the U.N. development agency of allowing North Korea to illegally divert tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid funds for its own use. VOA's  correspondent at the United Nations, Peter Heinlein, reports Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is asking an external audit of all U.N. aid agencies.
• Kabila Rival Wins DRC Senate Seat The losing candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo's historic October presidential runoff election has won a seat in the country's new senate. Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former rebel leader who became vice president during a three-year transitional period, has vowed to use his seat in the senate to lead the political opposition.  Joe Bavier has more for VOA from Kinshasa.
• Guinea President Sacks Powerful Top Minister The president of Guinea, Lansana Conte, fired his second-in-command late Friday.