News for Saturday, February 24, 2007
• Cheney: All Options Open to Prevent Iranian Nuclear Weapons U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney says Washington wants to deal with Iran through diplomacy, but he says "all options are still on the table" to prevent Tehran from getting nuclear weapons.
• NBA: Lakers Defeat Celtics The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 105-90 win over the lowly Boston Celtics in a National Basketball Association contest.
• South Korean Report: North Korea Nuclear Envoy to Visit US A South Korean news agency says North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will visit the United States next week for follow-up talks on a recent disarmament deal.
• Bombings in Baghdad Kill 5, Wound 20 Officials in Iraq say bombings in Baghdad have killed at least five people and wounded about 20 others.
• Japanese Expert: Tokyo May Have Been Unprepared for North Korea Nuclear Deal A Japanese expert on North Korea says Tokyo may have been unprepared for the speed with which Washington and Pyongyang narrowed their differences over the North's nuclear weapons. As a result, he says, despite a breakthrough in efforts to end Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, Japan is staying its hard-line course in dealing with the North. Yuriko Nagano reports from Tokyo.
• Palestinian and French Presidents Meet in Paris Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued his push Saturday to get an international economic embargo on his Palestinian Authority lifted.
• Italian President Asks PM Prodi to Stay in Office The president of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, has asked Romano Prodi to stay on as prime minister and face a vote of confidence in parliament. The decision came three days after Prodi announced that he was stepping down. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.
• Britain, US Discuss Missile Defense System A British official says the government has been talking with the United States about placing part of an American anti-missile system in Britain.
• Blast Kills Two Suspected Militants in Central Pakistan Police in central Pakistan's Punjab province say three suspected militants were killed Saturday when a bomb they were carrying on a bicycle accidentally exploded.
• Voice of America Marks 65th Anniversary The Voice of America is marking its 65th anniversary Saturday, amid plans to expand news coverage to the Middle East, North Korea and Latin America.
• Reclusive North Korea Takes Steps to Resolve Nuclear Dispute North Korea is taking steps to carry out promises it made earlier this month in a landmark nuclear agreement.
• Sri Lankan Troops Capture Three Tamil Rebel Bases Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry says government troops have captured three Tamil rebel bases.
• Colombian President Authorizes Direct Hostage Negotiations with Rebels Colombian President Alvaro Uribe says his government is ready for direct contact with the country's largest rebel group, without intermediaries.
• Zimbabwe President Mugabe Holds Lavish Birthday Celebration Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has marked his 83rd birthday with a celebration in a sports stadium attended by thousands of his supporters.
• Four Palestinians Killed in Clan Clash Four Palestinians were killed and at least 18 wounded in a violent feud between rival clans in the Gaza Strip.
• Bush Focuses Attention on Rising Health Care Costs President Bush has renewed his call to overhaul the tax code for those who buy health insurance.
• ICRC Says Hundreds of Civilians Wounded in Somali Fighting The International Committee of the Red Cross says hundreds of civilians have been wounded in continuing fighting in the Somali capital. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi, thousands of terrified residents fled the capital Saturday after heavy clashes.