News for Sunday, February 18, 2007
• China Rings in Lunar New Year with Festive Meals, Fireworks China has celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year holiday with festive family meals and massive fireworks displays.
• Car Bombs in Baghdad Kill Ten Two car bombs have exploded in an outdoor market in Baghdad, killing at least five people.
• AIDS Patients Get Best New Drugs For Treatment AIDS patients in developing countries, where effective treatments were late in coming, may be more likely to avoid drug resistance than patients who have been treated for years with other medicines. VOA's Art Chimes reports from the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in San Francisco
• Israeli PM Says No US-Israeli Recognition of New Palestinian Government U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met separately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert before a summit Monday between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem, Israel's prime minister says he and President Bush have agreed to boycott a new Palestinian government, if it does not recognize Israel.
• NATO Kills Second Afghan Civilian on Same Day NATO-led troops in Afghanistan have killed a second civilian originally suspected of being a suicide bomber.
• Israeli Archeologist Discloses Muslim Room Under Disputed Ramp No summary available.
• Senate Democrats Vow More Action On Iraq Leading Democrats in the U.S. Senate say they will continue to look for ways to pressure the Bush administration to change course in Iraq. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, Bush administration officials are urging lawmakers to think long and hard before taking action.
• New York Times: Iraqi Insurgents Targeting US Helicopters The New York Times is reporting that since late last year, Iraqi insurgents have had a strategic plan to specifically target coalition helicopters. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington.
• Enemy Fire Ruled Out as Cause of US Chopper Crash in Afghanistan Officials have ruled out enemy fire as the cause of a U.S. military helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed eight service members and injured 14 others.
• Iraqi Kurds Deny Supporting PKK Rebels in Turkey Kurdish officials in northern Iraq reject recent accusations from Turkey's army chief that political groups in Iraqi Kurdistan are providing support for separatist rebels in Turkey. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.
• Medical Study Indicates Benefit From Chocolate Ingredient A preliminary medical study has indicated that an ingredient in chocolate may improve the circulation of blood in the brain and heart.
• Blast at St. Petersburg McDonald's Wounds 6 Russian authorities and witnesses say a suspected bomb exploded Sunday in a McDonald's restaurant on St. Petersburg's main street, injuring six people.
• Rescuers Make Contact With Missing Oregon Mountain Climbers Rescuers have made contact with a missing mountain climbing team in the northwestern U.S. state of Oregon.
• Poultry Market Source of Bird Flu Outbreak Near Moscow A senior Russian veterinary official says a bird and animal market in southern Moscow is the source of last week's bird flu outbreak on nearby farms.
• Indian Media: At least 53 Feared Dead After Train Catches on Fire Indian media say at least 53 people are feared dead after a train traveling in northern India caught fire early Monday.