News for Monday, February 12, 2007
• Jerusalem Mayor Orders New Hearings on Plans for Disputed Construction Near Holy Compound Jerusalem's mayor has ordered local authorities to submit new plans for rebuilding a walkway near a disputed holy compound.
• NBA: Timberwolves Beat Celtics With Buzzer-Beater No summary available.
• US Defense Secretary in Pakistan to Discuss Afghanistan U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Pakistan to discuss counter-terrorism efforts and the Taleban insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan.
• Bomb Kills 40 in Baghdad Market; 2 Germans Missing in Iraq Iraqi police say a bomb blast at central Baghdad market has killed at least 40 people and wounded at least 77 others.
• Turkmenistan Vote Count Continues; Nation Awaits New President Election officials continue to count ballots from Sunday's presidential election in Turkmenistan. The contest was called to find a replacement for late President Saparmurat Niyazov, who died last December. VOA's Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports:
• 'More Sincere' Bargaining by N. Korea Saves Nuclear Talks An apparent last-minute softening of North Korea's position at the six-party nuclear talks has allowed the negotiations to continue into Tuesday. Earlier, delegates had said Monday was the deadline for North Korea to make a decision. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Beijing, where the talks are in their fifth day.
• Australia's Largest Mining Company Posts Record Profits Australia's largest miner continues to ride the commodities boom, posting a record half-year profit, and a Singaporean company will run Pakistan's new deep-sea port. Claudia Blume in Hong Kong has more on these and other stories in our weekly summary of business news from around Asia.
• Alcohol Continues to Ravage Australian Aboriginal Communities A report by one of Australia's most respected research bodies has shown that alcohol abuse claims the life of an Aborigine every day and a half - twice the rate of their non-indigenous counterparts. As Phil Mercer reports from Sydney, researchers describe the situation as "very bleak."
• Controversial Jerusalem Construction Project Postponed The mayor of Jerusalem has postponed construction work on a walkway leading to Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock Mosque. VOA's Jim Teeple reports work at the site during the past week has sparked controversy and riots among Jerusalem's Muslim population.
• Tehran Denies US Charge that it Supplies Bombs to Iraqi Insurgents Tehran has denied U.S. accusations that Iran's most senior leaders have ordered the delivery of sophisticated roadside bombs to insurgents in Iraq.
• Former Iraqi Vice President Sentenced to Death for Dujail Killings An Iraqi court has sentenced former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan to death for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ites from the town of Dujail in the 1980's.
• Aguilera, Braxton to Perform at NBA All Star Game; Reunited Police Open Grammy Ceremony Reunited British rock band the Police opened the Grammy ceremony. The group members have also announced they'll appear at a press conference and and give a "special announcement" on February 12 at the Whisky A Go Go nightclub in West Hollywood, California. The Police are expected to announce its plan for a 30th anniversary world tour.
• US House Democrats Introduce Resolution Opposing Troop Buildup in Iraq Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq.
• ICRC Steps Up Humanitarian Operations in Chad The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is stepping up aid operations in Eastern Chad to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. The Red Cross says the number of internally displaced people in Chad is rising due to increasing violence from various warring factions. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from ICRC headquarters in Geneva.
• UN: South African Children Make Progress in Health, Education The United Nations Children's Fund says since the end of apartheid South Africa has made progress in improving the quality of life for its children. But poverty, AIDS and violence continue to threaten the future of many of them. UNICEF made the assessment in its annual report on South Africa as we hear from Correspondent Scott Bobb in Johannesburg.
• Man at Center of Italian Rendition Case Freed in Egypt An imam who was kidnapped in Italy in 2003 in what is believed to have been an extraordinary rendition operation by the CIA and Italian secret services has been released from prison in Cairo. For VOA, Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome an Italian court has resumed hearing evidence in the case of the man's removal from Italy.
• Somalia Insurgents Hit Hard for Third Day In Somalia, insurgents opposed to the interim government and its Ethiopian allies launched rocket and mortar attacks for the third straight day in several areas of the capital, Mogadishu, further threatening the stability of the Horn of Africa country. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has details from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.
• VOA Launches New Somali-Language Radio Broadcast Voice of America has launched its new Somali-language radio program.
• Italian Police Arrest 15 Suspected of Ties to Terrorist Group Police have staged raids in cities across northern Italy and arrested 15 people suspected of ties to a far-left terrorist group associated with the Red Brigades.
• Chief US Africa Diplomat Urges Somali Reconciliation The top U.S. diplomat for Africa has made an unusual direct appeal to the people of Somalia to reconcile differences and work together after years of political strife. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer spoke in a VOA interview in connection with Monday's launch of VOA's new Somalia program. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• White House Stands By Iran Weapons Claim The White House says it stands by evidence showing a link between Iran and weapons found in Iraq. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Iran's president says his country is not instigating conflict.
• Tentative Agreement Reported on North Korean Nuclear Program The U.S. envoy to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program says negotiators have reached a tentative agreement.
• Liberia's President Looks for Help In Washington Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in the United States this week to lobby for international aid for her country for the coming year. Liberia is struggling to recover from 14 years of civil strife that ran up colossal debt and ravaged the country's infrastructure. VOA's Marissa Melton reports.
• Guinea's President Declares State of Emergency Guinea's President Lansana Conte has declared a state of emergency, as another day of violent protests in the country has claimed at least 10 lives.
• Bush Says Economy Likely to Remain in Good Health In his annual economic report, President Bush says the U.S. economy is likely to continue growing at about a three percent rate this year, while inflation remains under control and personal incomes rise. VOA's Barry Wood has more.
• Venezuela Buys US Company's Interest in CANTV No summary available.