News for Tuesday, January 30, 2007
• Israeli Aircraft Bomb Tunnel on Gaza Border The Israeli military says its aircraft bombed a tunnel on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip early Tuesday.
• Explosions Target Shi'ite Religious Observances in Iraq Iraqi security officials say at least 23 people were killed in two separate bombings that targeted Shi'ite Muslims performing rituals for Ashura observances Tuesday.
• Glaciers Melting at Accelerated Rate Scientists report that the world's mountain glaciers continue to melt at an accelerating rate. As we hear from VOA's David McAlary in Washington, global warming could cause most to disappear in a few decades.
• Shaky Ceasefire Takes Hold in Gaza A ceasefire between the Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah is holding, after five days of fighting that left more than 30 Palestinians dead. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem Bureau.
• New Talks on US Financial Sanctions Against North Korea to Begin in Beijing A second round of talks between U.S. and North Korean financial officials has begun in Beijing, to discuss U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea. China has announced that parallel talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs will resume on February 8, but Pyongyang says there will be no progress there until the financial sanctions are lifted. Daniel Schearf reports from the Chinese capital.
• UN Security Council Considers Extension of Haiti Peacekeeping Force The United Nations Security Council is considering a 12-month extension of the peacekeeping force in Haiti.
• Chinese Official Says Unrest Declined in 2006, Rural Spending to Rise in 2007 China's top advisor on rural issues says protests and riots fell last year, but he warns discontent in the countryside is still a serious problem. As Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing, much of the problem is caused by local officials taking farmland for development.
• Liberia's President Outlines Programs, Decries Divisions Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf delivered her State of the Nation address Monday before a legislature deeply divided by the controversial firing and rehiring of its speaker. Ms. Sirleaf set out the government's agenda for the next year, meanwhile calling for the branches of government to settle the power struggle that has hampered the work of the parliament. Kari Barber reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar.
• Thailand to Move Some Flights to Old Airport The Thai government is moving some domestic flights back to Bangkok's old Don Muang Airport, to allow cracks in the taxiways at the four-month-old, $4 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport to be repaired. Ron Corben reports from Bangkok.
• Medical Practitioner Says Postpartum Hot Water Massage can be Harmful A traditional practice in parts of Cameroon for helping women recover from delivering a child may be giving more pain than relief.
• Anti-Whaling Campaigners Search For Japanese Fleet in Antarctic Waters Activists intent on disrupting Japan's annual whale hunt in Antarctic waters have offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads them to the whaling fleet. The New Zealand military has filmed the Japanese harpooning whales, but is refusing to give details to the activists for fear of a violent clash at sea. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.
• Chinese Leader Begins 12-Day African Tour Chinese President Hu Jintao is beginning a 12-day eight-nation tour of Africa in an effort to expand trade and foreign aid, while securing access to natural resources. Jordan Davis reports from VOA's West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar that Mr. Hu is beginning the trip in Cameroon.
• Mexican President in Spain to Strength Diplomatic, Economic Ties Mexican President Felipe Calderon is in Spain for talks aimed at increasing economic cooperation.
• International Rescue Committee Reports Humanitarian Disaster in CAR The International Rescue Committee says violence, disease and malnutrition are threatening the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people in northwestern Central African Republic. It describes the situation there as a humanitarian disaster.
• Blasts Kill 36 at Shi'ite Religious Observances in Iraq Iraqi officials say at least 36 people were killed in bomb attacks against Shi'ite Muslims performing rituals for Ashura Tuesday.
• Nigerian Voters Rush to Register Nigerians are rushing to join millions of others who have registered to vote before Tuesday's deadline. Gilbert da Costa reports for VOA from Abuja that voter registration is seen as a key element in efforts to deliver credible elections in Nigeria.
• Hezbollah Leader Blames Bush for Chaos in Lebanon The leader of the Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah is blaming President Bush for last week's sectarian violence in Lebanon.
• Spain Waiting for Formal Extradition Request for Former Argentine President Isabel Peron Spanish authorities say they will not decide whether to extradite former Argentine President Isabel Peron until Buenos Aires has lodged a formal request for her return.
• Former UN Secretary-General, Sudanese Human Rights Lawyer to Share Sweden's Olof Palme Prize A Swedish foundation has selected former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sudanese human rights lawyer Mossaad Mohamed Ali as recipients of the 2006 Olof Palme Prize.
• 15 Killed in Algeria Violence Algerian newspapers report 15 people were killed this week after Islamic militants opened fire on a military checkpoint east of the capital Algiers.
• Top US Official Says Importance of Opium Production in Afghan Economy Declining A top U.S. official says the importance of opium cultivation to Afghanistan's economy is declining.
• UN Chief to Discuss Emergency Climate Conference The U.N. environmental agency is pressuring Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to call an emergency summit on new measures to fight global warming.
• NHL: Rangers Trounce Bruins In the National Hockey League on Monday, the New York Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 6-1. Petr Prucha scored two goals and had an assist, and linemates Matt Cullen and Jed Ortmeyer also had three points each.
• Yankees, China Agree on Exchange Program to Promote Baseball The New York Yankees baseball team and China's government-backed Chinese Baseball Association have agreed to an exchange program to help promote the game in China.
• Women's Football: US Clinches four nations tournament The defending champion United States has clinched the Four Nations women's soccer tournament title for a record fifth time with a 2-0 victory over host-China.
• US Military Nominee Calls for Change in Iraq Military Strategy A Navy admiral set to lead American armed forces in the Middle East says stabilizing Iraq requires "new and different actions."
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Resigns Ukraine's reformist Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk has resigned.
• 2 Russian Figures in Poisoning Probe of Former Russian Spy to Consider Cooperating with London Two key Russian figures in the investigation into the London poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko say they are considering going to Britain, if requested, to help police.
• Top US Trade Official Optimistic About Global Trade Talks U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab says she believes the meeting of trade ministers in the Swiss Alpine village of Davos last week has given momentum to the restarting of the stalled Doha Round of Trade Negotiations. About 30 trade ministers met on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
• Pakistan's PM Appeals for Help in Repatriating Afghan Refugees The prime minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, has called for European help in repatriating three million Afghan refugees in his country.
• Egypt Renews Detention of Muslim Brotherhood Members Despite Court-Ordered Release Egyptian authorities have renewed the detention of 16 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, defying a court order to release the men.
• US Official Says Democratic Iraq Is Still Possible The outgoing U.S. director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, believes it is still possible for a democratic Iraq to emerge from sectarian violence. Negroponte, whom President Bush nominated to be deputy secretary of state, made his comments at a Senate confirmation hearing, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
• Red Cross Puts Climate Change, AIDS Atop 2007 Appeal The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it is expanding its humanitarian operations in 2007 to meet the problems and challenges posed by climate change and HIV/AIDS. The agency is launching an appeal for $285 million to finance its expanded programs, particularly in Africa. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Red Cross headquarters in Geneva.
• Ancient Civilization Discovered at Stonehenge Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient settlement that they believe is connected to Stonehenge, the legendary monument on England's Salisbury Plain. Archeologists say the village, known as Durrington Walls, once housed a vibrant community of ancient people. VOA's Jessica Berman reports from Washington.
• Germany, Poland Advance to Semifinals of Men's Handball World Championships Torsten Jansen has scored six goals to lead host Germany to a 27-25 win over defending champion Spain and into the semifinals of the men's Handball World Championships in Cologne.
• Climate Change Scientists, Officials Testify on Allegations of Administration Interference Current and former government scientists and officials have testified to a congressional committee about what they call Bush administration efforts to downplay scientific evidence of global warming. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill.
• Benjamin Raich Wins Men's World Cup Slalom Olympic ski champion Benjamin Raich of Austria has won the men's World Cup slalom in Schladming, Austria, to end the winning streak of Jens Byggmark of Sweden.
• Court Reinstates Charge in US Terrorism Case A U.S. appeals court in Atlanta has reinstated murder-conspiracy charges in the case against alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla. The decision overturns a lower court's ruling that sought to limit the charges in the case. From Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports.
• Bush Says No Plans To Invade Iran President Bush says no one in his administration is talking about invading Iran, although all options remain on the table. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, Mr. Bush was asked about tensions with Tehran during a nationally broadcast interview.
• US Lawmakers Paint Grim Picture of Iraq, Afghanistan US House lawmakers who have just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan have delivered sobering assessments of the situations there. VOA's Dan Robinson reports on remarks by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others who met with U.S. troops and commanders, and government leaders.
• Violence and Threat Force More Iraqis To Leave Their Homes The International Organization for Migration reports Tuesday that increasing violence in Iraq is forcing more and more people to leave their homes while funding to help them is growing short. VOA's Marissa Melton reports.
• Blackout at Russian Resort of Sochi High winds and heavy snow have knocked out power to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, stranding people on ski lifts and in the subway for hours.