News for Tuesday, February 6, 2007
• Gunmen in Iraqi Army Uniforms Kidnap Iranian Diplomat in Baghdad A senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad has been abducted by gunmen appearing to be Iraqi army troops.
• International PEN Concerned About Writers' Freedom of Expression in China The International PEN organization says Beijing barred 20 Chinese writers from participating in a regional writers' forum in Hong Kong, underscoring China's tough restraints on freedom of expression. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.
• Former Seoul Mayor Says Change Needed on N. Korean Policy The politician who is, for now, way out in front in the race to become South Korea's next president says it is time for a change in policy toward North Korea. Former Mayor Lee Myung-bak says Seoul must demand real reform from the North, while patching up the alliance with the United States. Lee's comments coincide with a new and severe blow to the party of South Korea's current president. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports.
• British Group The Police to Open Grammy Awards Show; Estefan to Host Miami Gala The Recording Academy has announced that the Police will open the 49th annual Grammy Awards on February 11. The five-time Grammy-winning band is also rumored to be planning a U.S. and European reunion tour. Many reports claim the three members, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, have been rehearsing in Vancouver. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Police's breakthrough single "Roxanne."
• Turkey Removes Istanbul Intelligence Chief Over Dink Murder News reports from Turkey say authorities have suspended the head of Istanbul's police intelligence as part of their investigation into last month's killing of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
• Committee to Protect Journalists Says Press Freedom in Asia Regressed in 2006 A U.S. media rights group says in Asia, censorship, restrictions on information and threats to journalists remain worrisome. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.
• Cuba Criticizes US Efforts to Sell TV Marti Programming to Commercial Miami Station Cuba is criticizing recent efforts by U.S.-funded TV Marti to bring its anti-Castro programming to Cuban viewers.
• Serb President to Ask for Delay in Kosovo Talks Serbia's president says he will ask for a short delay in renewal of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo.
• Uganda's LRA Rebels Threaten War if Peace Talks Venue is Not Changed A Ugandan rebel group is threatening to resume military action against the government if it refuses to move peace talks to a new venue outside of southern Sudan.
• Rights Experts Doubt US Official's Confidence that Vietnam's Montagnards Not Harassed A top U.S. official on refugees recently visited Vietnam's central highlands and concluded that ethnic minority Montagnards who were repatriated to Vietnam last year have not been harassed by authorities. But groups such as Human Rights Watch are skeptical about the claims, as Matt Steinglass reports from Hanoi.
• Congo Names Sixty-Member Government Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila has announced his new cabinet, two months after being inaugurated as head of state. For VOA, Franz Wild has the details from Kinshasa.
• Bird Flu Expert Warns of More Outbreaks in Nigeria In the wake of last week's announcement confirming Nigeria's first human case of bird flu, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja examines the incidence of bird flu in Nigeria and growing concerns about its spread.
• US Senate Begins Scrutiny of Bush's Budget Proposal Congress begins scrutiny of President Bush's 2008 budget proposal Tuesday, a day after the White House released details of the $2.9-trillion spending plan.
• China Says Industrialized Nations Should Take Responsibility for Global Warming China has responded to a United Nations report on climate change by saying developed countries are responsible for creating global warming and should take the lead in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Chinese officials defend China's own gas emissions, the second highest in the world, and say the country lacks resources to cut emissions. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• Ivory Coast Direct Dialogue Takes Slow Approach Warring sides in divided Ivory Coast are working on proposals at talks in Burkina Faso to end a stalemate in the implementation of successive peace deals. But as VOA's Nico Colombant reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar, mediators are taking a slow approach to what is being called direct dialogue.
• Cause of Capsized Boat in Cameroon Still Unknown Nigerian officials say they are still seeking information about reports that more than 60 people drowned when an overcrowded boat capsized in Southwestern Cameroon on Saturday. Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports for VOA that most of the victims were believed to be Nigerians.
• Leading AIDS Researcher Killed in Kenyan Carjacking Friends and colleagues of a Kenya-based AIDS researcher, who was gunned down Sunday during a carjacking in the outskirts of Nairobi, say Africa has lost one of its most distinguished and accomplished scientists. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu in Nairobi reports.
• US Astronaut to Be Charged With Attempted Murder Authorities plan to charge a U.S. space shuttle astronaut with attempted murder of a woman she allegedly considered a rival for the attention of a fellow astronaut.
• Gates Faces Questions on US Troop Increase for Iraq, Military Budget U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he is considering what steps to take if President Bush's troop increase for Iraq does not work.
• Oil Worker Kidnapped in Nigeria's Delta Region Another oil worker has been kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's troubled Delta region. Sarah Simpson reports for VOA from Lagos.
• Maliki Orders Iraqi Military to Speed Up Security Crackdown Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered Iraqi military commanders to speed up preparations for a U.S.-backed security crackdown in Baghdad.
• European Leaders Try to Ease Tensions With Iran German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a Middle East tour, has urged Iranian leaders to return to negotiations on the country's nuclear program.
• World Bank Satisfied With Vietnamese Anti-Corruption Efforts The World Bank says it has uncovered no misuse of its funds by Vietnam's Transportation Ministry and the Asian Development Bank says it is satisfied with Vietnam's efforts to fight corruption. Matt Steinglass reports for VOA from Hanoi.
• India, Pakistan to Hold Anti-Terror Talks The Indian foreign ministry says India and Pakistan will hold the first meeting of a joint anti-terrorism panel in March.
• WFP: Burundi Flood Victims at Crisis Point The World Food Program and seven international non-governmental organizations are issuing a joint appeal for more than $130 million to assist two million flood victims in Burundi until the end of June. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA in Geneva.
• US Denies Involvement in Kidnapping of Iranian Diplomat Iranian officials are blaming the U.S. military for playing a role in the kidnapping of a top Iranian diplomat in Baghdad. But American officials in Iraq insist U.S. forces were not involved. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from northern Iraq.
• Egypt Orders Military Trial for Muslim Brotherhood Members Egyptian officials say members of the Muslim Brotherhood - including a deputy leader of the group, Mohammed Khayrat al-Shater, are to stand trial before a military court.
• Defense Chief Says US Could Begin Iraq Withdrawal This Year U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday the United States could begin withdrawing troops from Iraq later this year, if several security and political factors are right. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
• Suicide Bomber Targets Islamabad International Airport A suicide bomber has detonated explosives outside Islamabad's busy international airport. At least one person was killed and several others wounded. VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from Pakistan.
• Italy Pushes for More Security at Stadiums Italy's government vowed on Tuesday to push ahead with tough security measures including closed-door matches for all stadiums deemed unsafe, but clubs said they hoped for a compromise. The interior minister told parliament he would resist pressure to resume matches until he is certain safety standards are met. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.
• Indonesia Floods Spark Fear of Disease Indonesian authorities say huge areas of the capital remain submerged Tuesday, and warn of the rising risk of waterborne diseases.
• WHO Confirms Another Bird Flu Death in Egypt The World Health Organization confirmed today an Egyptian teenager died from the avian flu, the country's 12th fatality from the H5N1 strain. Leslie Boctor has more for VOA from Cairo.
• Researchers Say Human Skin Is Populated by a Bacterial Zoo Researchers have conducted a study of human skin and discovered at least 250 species of bacteria dwell on its surface, including some that no one knew about. But as VOA's Jessica Berman reports scientists say there's no need for alarm.
• Belarus Announces Increased Transit Fees for Russian Oil Belarus says it plans to raise transit fees later this month by more than 30 percent on Russian oil pumped through Belarusian territory to western Europe.
• General: US Must Check Capability After Chinese Anti-Satellite Test The top U.S. military officer says the United States needs to look at its own capabilities in the wake of China's anti-satellite weapon test last month, with a view toward closing any capability gap that now exists. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
• Obasanjo Skips Meeting With Nigeria Oil Workers Unions Nigeria's president did not show up Tuesday for a planned meeting with oil workers' unions that have threatened to go on strike.
• Palestinian Rivals Meet With Saudi King in Mecca Leaders of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have met separately with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, ahead of formal reconciliation talks on Wednesday.
• British Newspaper Leaks Video of Iraq 'Friendly Fire' Incident A British tabloid newspaper has released what it says is a cockpit video recording from a U.S. warplane at the center of a "friendly fire" incident that killed a British soldier in Iraq nearly four years ago.
• Former Tanzanian Leader Sworn In as Deputy UN Secretary-General Tanzania's former foreign minister has been sworn in as the deputy to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
• Analysts: Concerns About Iran Could Create Opportunities for US, Allies Some Middle East analysts say rising concerns about Iran, including its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorist organizations, may have created the potential for new opportunities for strategic cooperation between the United States and its Sunni Arab allies in the Persian Gulf region. Those analysts argue that regional anxieties about Iran could help promote American goals in the Middle East, as we hear in this background report from Meredith Buel in Washington.
• US Pension, Healthcare Liabilities Alarm Some Experts A former cabinet official has warned lawmakers there are huge unfunded government liabilities for old age pensions and healthcare that could destabilize the economy in coming years. VOA's Barry Wood reports that Peter Peterson, a former U.S. commerce secretary, says politicians pretend the problem does not exist.
• Rice Sets February 19 for Three-Way Mideast Talks Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas February 19 for what U.S. officials say will be an informal discussion of what a final-status Middle East peace agreement would entail. No venue for the meeting has been announced. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• Bush Somalia Policy Questioned in Congress The U.S. State Department's top official on Africa went to Capitol Hill Tuesday to defend U.S. policy in Somalia. In December, Somali forces, backed by Ethiopian troops, drove out the Islamist government that had gained control of much of the country last year. In the weeks since then, U.S. has offered support to the transitional government that is now in control in Mogadishu. VOA's Marissa Melton reports from Washington.
• Eight Trapped Underground by Another Colombia Mine Blast; 1 Killed Another explosion at a Colombian coal mine killed one person Tuesday and left eight other workers trapped underground.
• 200 Runners Compete in 30th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Thomas Dold of Germany and Australian Suzy Walsham have climbed their way to a unique running title in New York City. They were the first to run up the stairs of the Empire State Building on Tuesday.
• UN, Lebanon Sign Hariri Tribunal Deal The United Nations has signed an agreement with Lebanon to create an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But as VOA's correspondent at the U.N. Peter Heinlein reports, the accord faces a difficult hurdle before it takes effect.
• US Senate Divided on Approach to Iraq War Debate A day after Senate Republicans blocked a nonbinding resolution expressing disagreement over President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq, the Democratic-led Senate Tuesday remained deadlocked over the best way to move the bipartisan measure to the Senate floor for a vote. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.