News for Saturday, February 10, 2007
• U.S. Envoy Says 'One Issue' Remains To Achieve North Korea Nuclear Deal The senior U.S. envoy to the North Korean nuclear talks says a single obstacle remains in the way of a preliminary deal. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Beijing.
• South Korea Confirms 6th Bird Flu Outbreak South Korea's Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the country's sixth outbreak of bird flu among poultry, despite government efforts to contain the virus.
• Merkel: International Community to Prevent Iranian Military Nuclear Program German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the international community is determined to prevent the threat posed by an Iranian military nuclear program.
• Putin Accuses US of Overstepping National Borders Russian President Vladimir Putin says the United States is increasing the danger to world security by overstepping its national borders.
• At Least Four Dead in Unrest in Guinea Violent protests in Guinea following President Lansana Conte's appointment of a new prime minister have left at least four people dead.
• Pakistan Concerned about Possible Arms Race with India A top Pakistani diplomat says rival India's spending spree on fighter jets and other state-of-the-art weaponry could start a regional arms race. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.
• Top US General Says Enemies Could Misunderstand Iraq Debate The top U.S. military officer says there is a danger the congressional debate about Iraq war policy could be misunderstood by America's enemies. VOA's Al Pessin reports on the comments General Peter Pace made in a meeting with U.S. troops in Honolulu on Friday.
• Obama to Officially Begin White House Campaign Illinois Senator Barack Obama will formally declare his candidacy for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination Saturday in the state capital, Springfield.
• Top US Military Officer Visits Australia The top U.S. military officer, General Peter Pace, arrived in Australia Saturday night for talks on the global war on terrorism and bilateral issues. VOA's Al Pessin is traveling with the general and filed this report from Sydney.
• Four Afghan Police Officers Killed in Taleban Ambush Authorities in Afghanistan say Taleban fighters ambushed a police patrol in the southern province of Kandahar late Friday, killing four police officers and wounding three.
• Iran: UN Surveillance Cameras Installed at Nuclear Plant No summary available.
• Israeli Police Clash with Palestinians Near Disputed Holy Place No summary available.
• UN Envoy Urges Ivorian Leaders 'Not to Blow' Chance at Peace The outgoing head of the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast is urging the country's leaders not to waste what he calls a historic chance for peace.
• At least Three Dead in Somalia Attacks Witnesses in Somalia say at least three people have died and several have been wounded in mortar and grenade attacks in the capital city of Mogadishu.
• President Bush Urges Congress to Approve his Energy Proposals President George Bush is urging Congress to work together with him and approve new proposals to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and diversify its energy supply.
• Senate Democrat Criticizes Bush, Republicans on Iraq Policy The Democratic Party used its weekly radio address to criticize President Bush's Iraq war strategy and to blame Senate Republicans for stifling debate on Iraq.
• Floods Wreak Havoc in Southern Africa The World Food Program says floods across Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are wreaking havoc for tens of thousands of people caught by rising water that has washed away crops, and homes and claimed the lives of dozens of people. The U.N. food agency says that of the four southern African countries, Mozambique is the most seriously affected by flooding. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
• China's Stock Markets Volatile After Warnings of Bubble After last year's feverish stock market boom in China, the markets have shown signs of volatility in recent weeks after officials warned investors to be more cautious. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.
• US Senators Reject Russian President's Remarks Two U.S. lawmakers have rejected Russian President Putin's assertion that the United States is trying to create a "unipolar world" in which it is the dominant power.
• Stranded Migrants Go Ashore in Mauritania Several hundred migrants stranded for a week off the coast of Mauritania in a crippled boat were allowed ashore Saturday, following an agreement between the west African country and Spain - the migrants' intended destination. Jordan Davis reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar.
• Serbia's New Parliament to Convene February 14 Serbia's new parliament is scheduled to convene for the first time on Wednesday to discuss Belgrade's position on the future of the breakaway province of Kosovo.
• Police Disperse Ethnic Albanian Protesters in Kosovo United Nations and Kosovo police used tear gas Saturday to disperse some 2,000 ethnic Albanian protesters in the Serbian province.
• Nasdaq Fails in Hostile Bid for London Stock Exchange The U.S.-based Nasdaq stock market has failed in its bid to acquire the London Stock Exchange.
• Taiwan Vows to Uphold Name Change of State-Run Companies Taiwan says it will stick to its decision to drop the word "China" from the names of state enterprises in favor of "Taiwan, " despite criticism from the United States.