News for Thursday, February 22, 2007
• UN Nuclear Agency Likely to Confirm Iran has Expanded Nuclear Work The United Nations nuclear agency is expected Thursday to issue a report likely to confirm that Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment activities rather than suspend them.
• Rice: World Powers Unanimous on Halting Iran Nuclear Activity U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says world powers have a common goal of getting Iran to resume talks about its controversial nuclear program and to halt its uranium enrichment activity.
• UN, Philippine Investigations Blame Military For Political Killings Two investigations into the rising political violence in the Philippines link elements of the Philippine military to the deaths of hundreds of activists and journalists in the past six years. As VOA's Heda Bayron reports from our Asia News Center in Hong Kong, political analysts and activists say the findings will test Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's ability to discipline the military.
• Indonesia Grounds Airplanes After Latest Air Mishap Indonesia has grounded several airplanes of the low-cost carrier Adam Air after one of the company's Boeing 737-300s broke apart on landing. As Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta, the incident is the latest in a string of transportation accidents in the country over the last two months.
• Guatemalan Nobel Laureate Launches Presidential Race Human rights activist and Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu says she is running for the presidency of Guatemala.
• Rights Group Says Eritrea Has Freed 3 Journalists A media rights group says Eritrea has released three journalists detained last November, but a fourth remains in custory.
• DRC Army Officials: At Least 23 Killed in Skirmishes With Rebel Militias Army officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say several days of skirmishes with rebel militias have killed at least 23 fighters, mostly among the militias.
• Britain's Prince Harry Will Deploy to Iraq British military authorities say Prince Harry, the third in line to Britain's throne, will be deployed to Iraq with his military unit.
• New Zealand Fishermen Land Massive Squid A New Zealand official says fishermen have caught what is believed to be a world record-sized squid, weighing about 450 kilograms.
• South Korean President Leaves Party He Founded South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun says he is leaving the Uri Party that he launched just four years ago. The move is part of a major political realignment taking place in South Korea as the country prepares to elect a new president later this year. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.
• Indian Police Detain Couple for Questioning in Bombing Probe Indian police Thursday are questioning a married couple in connection with Sunday's train bombing that killed 68 people.
• Political Clashes Reported in Senegal Ahead of Presidential Vote Reports from Senegal say at least three people have been injured in clashes between supporters of rival presidential candidates ahead of Sunday's elections.
• Guineans Suffer Under Military Rule While Strike Lingers Union leaders in Guinea are pursuing a strike that began in early January, demanding that long-time President Lansane Conte name a consensus prime minister. Meanwhile, the government is maintaining a state of emergency the president says is needed to prevent a civil war. Meanwhile, Guineans in the capital, Conakry, say they are suffering under military rule. VOA's Nico Colombant has more from Dakar, with on the scene reporting by Tatiana Mossot in Conakry.
• Cyclone Favio Strikes Central Mozambican Coast A tropical cyclone with winds of more than 200 kilometers per hour has struck central Mozambique. The storm is hindering efforts by relief workers to care for thousands of people displaced by weeks of floods and has raised fears of new flooding. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.
• Jury Begins Second Day of Deliberations in CIA Leak Trial U.S. jurors in Washington have begun a second day of deliberations Thursday in the case of a former White House aide accused of lying about his role in the disclosure of a CIA agent's identity.
• Left-Wing Activists Protest Planned Entry of Wal-Mart Into Indian Market A group of Indian left wing activists has protested the planned entry of U.S. retailer Wal-Mart into India's retail market.
• IAEA: Iran Failed to Suspend Sensitive Nuclear Work by UN Deadline The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency says Iran failed to suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the U.N. Security Council.
• NBA: Hornets, Spurs Score Victories in Tuesday Night Action Manu Ginobili had a season high 40 points, inlcluding 24 straight in the first half, as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Atlanta Hawks 103-96 Wednesday in National Basketball Association action.
• Insurgents Attack Mogadishu Airport, Shoot 2 Local Officials Mortar bombs have hit Mogadishu's international airport, as violence continues to escalate in the Somali capital.
• Finally in Wimbledon: Equal Pay for Equal Work Wimbledon will pay its men and women players equal prize money across the board for the first time in its history this year.
• Rare Protest in Burma Targets Quality of Life Issues A small group of Burmese held a protest Thursday in the capital of Rangoon, a rare show of defiance to the country's military-ruled leaders.
• NATO Secretary-General Visits Afghanistan NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is in Afghanistan for talks with President Hamid Karzai.
• Anti-War Protesters Clash With Police Prior to Cheney Australia Visit Anti-war protesters clashed with police Thursday in Sydney near the U.S. consulate, several hours before U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Australia.
• Nigerian Militants Say Lebanese Worker Escaped, Not Freed (File photo)" hspace=2 src="/english/images/afp_Niger_Delta_militants_eng_195_24feb06.jpg" width=210 vspace=2 border=0> Nigerian militants say a Lebanese worker they had been holding was not released but escaped with outside help.
• US Disappointed by Iranian Non-Compliance With UN Resolution The United States Thursday expressed disappointment over Iran's failure to comply with the U.N. resolution on its nuclear program, calling it a missed opportunity for the Iranian government and people. The State Department says consultations on follow-up action are already under way. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• Egyptian Court: Blogger Guilty of Insulting Islam, President Mubarak A court in Egypt has found a 22-year-old blogger guilty of insulting both Islam and the country's president, Hosni Mubarak.
• Hamas Leader to Visit Moscow Russia says Khaled Mashaal, the political chief of the Islamic militant group Hamas, will visit Moscow beginning on Sunday.
• Guatemalan Police Arrested in Murder of Salvadoran Legislators Four Guatemalan police officers have been arrested in connection with the killing of three Salvadoran members of the Central American Parliament and their driver.
• Sierra Leone War Crimes Suspect Dies in Custody A Sierra Leone war crimes suspect has died while awaiting a verdict in his trial.
• Somali President to Hold National Reconciliation Conference Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Amhed says he will hold a national reconciliation conference in the coming weeks to help the country return to peace.
• Thai Defense Chief Warns of Attacks in Bangkok Thailand's defense minister warned Thursday of insurgent attacks in Bangkok and urged caution during an upcoming Buddhist holiday.
• Congo PM Pledges Good Governance, Justice The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo has told parliament good governance and justice will be his government's guiding principles. Franz Wild attended his speech and files this report for VOA from Kinshasa.
• Study: Treating Genital Herpes May Slow AIDS Progression An international team of researchers has discovered a way that may make it possible to slow the progression of HIV virus in women who also suffer from genital herpes. The investigators found that treating such women with an inexpensive drug for genital herpes reduced the amount of AIDS virus in their blood. VOA's Jessica Berman reports.
• US Assures Russia on Missile Defense American and Russian generals, diplomats and politicians are continuing an exchange of words over a U.S. proposal to deploy a new missile defense system in Europe. The Russians are concerned that the system would target them. The Americans fear without it, the United States would be open to an emerging missile threat from Iran. VOA's Peter Fedynsky has details.
• South Africa Commits 1,100 Peacekeepers to Burundi The South African government has approved the deployment of 1,100 soldiers to an African Union special task force in Burundi.
• Finance Experts Criticize China's Currency Policy Washington-based Asia and financial experts Thursday expressed frustration with the slow pace of China's commitment to allow market forces to play a bigger role in setting the exchange rate of its currency, the renminbi. VOA's Barry Wood reports.
• Legal Immigrants Decry Proposed Fee Hike A proposal by the Department of Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Services would increase filing fees for more than two dozen forms that are part of the US naturalized citizenship process. Legal immigrants seeking citizenship and many immigration attorneys say the fee hike is an unfair burden on people who are following the rules. VOA's Greg Flakus has more from Houston.
• Woods Reaches 3rd Round of World Matchplay Golf Championships World No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods has reached the third round of the World Matchplay Championship near Tucson, Arizona with a win over South African Tim Clark.
• IAEA: Iran Fails to Suspend Sensitive Nuclear Work by UN Deadline The United Nations nuclear agency says Iran has failed to suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the U.N. Security Council, as diplomats consider plans for new sanctions against Tehran.