News for Friday, February 2, 2007
• Palestinian Factions Continue to Clash in Gaza Palestinian officials say at least two more people have been killed amid continuing gunbattles between Fatah and Hamas factions across the Gaza Strip.
• UN Report says Man is Causing Earth to Warm A new United Nations report by some of the world's top scientists says global warming is "very likely" man-made and that the world can expect higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and erratic weather.
• Vehicle Ban Imposed in Iraqi City of Najaf Authorities in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf have imposed a daytime ban on vehicle traffic, following fierce fighting this week between an Islamic cult and U.S. and Iraqi forces.
• Australia Sees Sharp Rise in HIV Infections Australia's HIV infection rate has surged by 41 percent between 2000 and 2005, and the increase is being seen predominantly among gay men. The government, reacting to claims that it has been negligent in the area of disease prevention, is planning a multi-million dollar education campaign. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.
• Africa Panel Calls for Increased Pressure for Peace in Darfur Experts at a research organization in Washington held a conference Thursday to suggest aggressive changes in international policy are needed to end the violent conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, where African rebels fight with Sudanese troops and government-backed Arab militias known as janjaweed. The conflict in Darfur has spread over the country's western borders into neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. President Bush has said he is appalled by what he has called genocide in the region. VOA's Marissa Melton reports.
• EU Ambassador Expresses Disappointment in China's Lack of Energy Savings, Vows Cooperation The European Union's ambassador to Beijing says he is disappointed at China's failure to reach its own energy reduction goals. The EU has vowed to reduce its emissions of climate-changing gases, but says China, the world's second largest producer of such gases, must follow suit, or the Europeans' efforts will come to nothing. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• US Military Kills 7 Insurgents in Southern Afghanistan The U.S. military in Afghanistan says coalition forces have killed up to seven militants preparing to launch a rocket attack in Paktika province, near the Pakistani border.
• Darfur Issue Looms Over China Leader's Visit to Sudan Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Khartoum on Friday, as part of an eight-nation tour aimed at strengthening China's ties with its African economic partners. Darfur is also expected to be on the agenda during Hu's visit. Western nations are pushing China to use its leverage to press Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to allow a U.N. peacekeeping mission into Darfur.
• Ethiopia Says Attack by Eritreans Foiled Ethiopia's government claims it has prevented a bombing attack in the capital, Addis Ababa, orchestrated by the Eritrean government just before a heads of state summit kicked off on Monday, which was attended by more than 35 African heads of state and new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The summit ended Tuesday, but Ethiopian officals first announced the foiled plot late on Thursday on state media, which showed images of confiscated explosives materials allegedly planted by an Eritrean agent.
• UN Report: Humans Cause Global Warming A new U.N. report by some of the world's top scientists says people "most likely" are to blame for global warming, and the world can expect effects of the climate phenomena to continue for centuries to come.
• Senator Clinton: US Could Use Force Against Iran New York Senator Hillary Clinton says the United States should keep open the option of military action against Iran.
• US Report Shows Moderate Job and Wage Growth, Easing Inflation Worries A new government report shows U.S. businesses added a moderate 111,000 new jobs in January.
• Palestinian Factional Fighting in Gaza Escalates, At Least 15 Killed Escalating violence between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah has killed at least 15 people in the Gaza Strip Friday.
• New US Intelligence Report Says Iraq Situation Could Worsen The U.S. intelligence community warns the situation in Iraq will get even worse if measurable action is not taken to stop the violence.
• US Gives Eight Attack Helicopters to Pakistan The United States has given Pakistan eight attack helicopters, bolstering the key U.S. ally's ability to combat Taleban and al-Qaida militants.
• Taleban Fighters Take Control of Southern Afghan District Authorities have lost control of a southern Afghanistan district after Taleban fighters attacked and disarmed police late Thursday.
• Frustrations Mount in Guinea as President Delays Naming PM Frustration is growing in Guinea as President Lansana Conté delays naming a national unity prime minister, the key concession that ended a deadly strike one week ago. Naomi Schwarz reports from our regional bureau in Dakar.
• Senegalese Opposition Cancels Protest, Citing Religious Leaders' Objections Senegalese opposition parties cancelled a protest march Friday, three weeks ahead of a presidential election. Organizers cited a call by local Catholic leaders' not to march, following the violent outcome of a similar protest last week. For VOA, Jordan Davis reports from Dakar.
• Vietnam Issues White Paper on Religious Policy Vietnam has released its first government white paper on religious policy. The paper underscores Vietnam's growing religious freedom, and the resurgence of spiritual belief in the country since the 1990s. But some believers say communist hostility toward religion has not entirely disappeared. From Hanoi, Matt Steinglass has more in this VOA report.
• Somalia's Election of Speaker Raises Islamists' Suspicions In Somalia, this week's election in parliament of a new interim speaker, who is a pro-Ethiopian former factional leader closely allied to President Abdullahi Yusuf, has deepened suspicion among supporters of the country's Islamist movement that Somali leaders are not serious about creating an inclusive government. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has that story and more from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.
• Deadly Storms Hit Central Florida Deadly storms hit the central part of the southern U.S. state of Florida early Friday.
• Groundhog Predicts Short Winter An unofficial predictor of U.S. weather has made his forecast, Americans will get an early spring.
• Mideast Quartet Discusses Ways to Revive Peace Process Members of the international Mideast Quartet are meeting in Washington to discuss ways of reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
• Zimbabwean Musicians, Writers Honored at National Arts Merit Awards In Zimbabwe, several musicians who've been nominated for 2007 Zimbabwe National Arts Merit (or NAMA) Awards expressed their delight about being recognized. The 6th edition of the awards ceremony is set to take place on the February 3rd 2007, at Harare's 7 Arts Theatre.
• UN Envoy Presents Kosovo Plan, Serbia Says It Won't Accept The United Nations envoy on Kosovo has presented his proposal on the future of Serbia's breakaway province to leaders in both Belgrade and Pristina, prompting an almost immediate Serbian rejection.
• UN Voices Concern Over Proposed Amnesty Plan in Afghanistan The United Nations has voiced concern over a proposal by Afghan lawmakers to grant amnesty to those accused of human-rights abuses.
• Deadly Storms Hit Southern US State of Florida U.S. officials say 14 people have been killed by a powerful storm in the southeastern state of Florida. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports, the storm generated at least one tornado that destroyed homes and vehicles in several communities.
• Report: Bush To Request $100 Billion More for Iraq, Afghanistan President Bush is set to ask Congress for an additional $100 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year -- and a greater sum for 2008.
• UN: CAR on Verge of Humanitarian Disaster The United Nations says years of violence in the northern part of the Central African Republic (CAR) is having a disastrous effect on the people there, especially its children. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
• UN Prepares For Takeover Of Somalia Peacekeeping Mission The United Nations is sending a mission to Somalia to prepare for the eventual takeover of a planned African Union peacekeeping force. VOA's correspondent at the U.N., Peter Heinlein reports.
• America's NFL To Play Regular Season Contest in London America's professional football league, the NFL, has announced that, for the first time ever, it will play a regular season game in London next season. For VOA News, Tom Rivers reports from the British capital.
• Al-Qaida Claims Responsibility for US Helicopter Crash in Iraq A group affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the crash of a U.S. Army helicopter that killed its two crewmembers.