News for Sunday, February 25, 2007
• Charred Indonesian Ferry Sinks with Investigators on Board Indonesian officials say a ferry that caught fire last week suddenly tilted and sank off the coast of Jakarta with police, investigators and reporters on board.
• NBA: Mavericks Win 19th Straight Home Game No summary available.
• US Vice President's Plane Departs Singapore After Repairs U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has left Singapore after his plane underwent repairs for a minor mechanical problem.
• Jose Ramos-Horta to Run for East Timor Presidency Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has announced he will run in East Timor's April presidential election. As Chad Bouchard reports for VOA from Jakarta, the Noble Peace Prize laureate is expected to have to contend with intense political opposition during the race.
• Pakistan Hosts Conference to End Middle East Turmoil Foreign ministers from seven Muslim countries meet in Pakistan Sunday to discuss the Palestinian crisis, as well as the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Israeli Forces Place Nablus Under Curfew, Palestinians Voice Condemnation Israeli forces have placed the West Bank city of Nablus under curfew as troops carry out house-to-house searches for Palestinian militants.
• Suicide Bomber Kills 40 at Baghdad College No summary available.
• European Space Probe Gets Gravitational Boost From Mars Fly-By The European Space Agency probe Rosetta has made a fly-by of Mars in a crucial navigational maneuver needed to complete its 10-year voyage to a distant comet.
• Former Aviation Minister Arrested in Bangladesh Corruption Probe A former aviation minister for Bangladesh, Mosharraf Hossain, has been detained by police as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption probe.
• Ahmadinejad: No Reverse to Iran's Nuclear Program Iranian state media quote President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Iran will not reverse its controversial nuclear program despite international pressure.
• High Turnout as Senegal Votes for a President Turnout was high and waits were long as Senegalese took to the polls for its presidential election, in which incumbent Abdoulaye Wade is trying to get a first round win with over 50 percent of the vote, while 14 challengers are trying to force a run-off. Naomi Schwarz reports from Dakar.
• Hollywood Prepares for 79th Academy Awards The film industry's biggest stars are gathering in Hollywood, California for the much-anticipated 79th annual Academy Awards ceremony, which recognizes the film industry's choices for the year's best movies.
• US Trade Rep Urges Greater Chinese Copyright Protection The top U.S. trade official calls the issue of Chinese counterfeiting U.S. goods "one of the thorniest issues" in U.S.-China relations. She added that Washington has put on hold its plans to file suit against China in the World Trade Organization over intellectual property rights violations, in the hope that the two sides can resolve the issue on their own. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington.
• Union Leaders in Guinea Lift Strike Over PM Promise Union leaders in Guinea say they will lift a crippling strike, after a promise by long-time President Lansana Conte to name a new prime minister with expanded powers. The strike started in early January, and left more than 100 people dead, following several rounds of protests, looting and military repression. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Dakar.
• Lavrov Says Putin's Remarks About US Influence Misinterpreted Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the West is wrong to interpret President Vladimir Putin's recent remarks as trying to ignite a blast of anti-U.S. rhetoric or spark another Cold War.
• Iraqi Officials: Ailing Iraqi President in Jordan for Medical Treatment Iraqi officials say President Jalal Talabani has arrived in Jordan for medical treatment after falling ill from hard work in recent days.
• 8 Killed in US Winter Storm A massive winter storm has dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow on the U.S. Midwest and East Coast and caused massive transit delays Sunday.
• Indian Authorities Look for Killers of 16 Policemen in Manipur Ambush Indian police are searching for suspected rebels who ambushed a security patrol in the northeastern state of Manipur, killing 16.
• Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Visits South Africa Iran's top nuclear negotiator has arrived in South Africa for talks on nuclear issues with President Thabo Mbeki.