News for Sunday, March 4, 2007
• Eight Civilians, Two NATO Soldiers, Killed in Afghanistan No summary available.
• China's Defense Budget to Increase 17.8% in 2007 China's military spending will grow by 17 point eight percent to nearly $45 billion this year. China has steadily increased its defense budget by double digits over the past few years, raising concerns about its military intentions. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• Iraqi PM to Reshuffle Cabinet, Crack Down on Politicians Tied to Militants Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Sunday he plans to reshuffle his Cabinet within the next two weeks.
• African Film Festival Gives Top Award to Child Soldier Film Africa's largest film festival, the Pan African Film and Television Festival, FESPACO, finished on Saturday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Nigerian filmmaker Newton Aduaka took the top prize for his film about a child soldier in West Africa. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa Bureau in Dakar with reporting by Zoumana Wonogo in Ouagadougou who spoke with festival winners.
• US Urges China Transparency on Military Buildup The United States is calling on China to be more transparent on its military buildup. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte made the call in Beijing Sunday after Chinese officials announced they plan to boost their military spending by nearly 18 percent to $45 billion this year. VOA's Luis Ramirez has more from Beijing.
• China Tells US Not to Promote Taiwan Independence China has urged the United States to refrain from sending the wrong signals to supporters of Taiwan independence.
• Indonesian Rescuers Search for Landslide Victims Indonesian rescue teams are searching for at least 44 people reported missing after landslides buried their villages in the country's east.
• Lao Woman With Bird Flu Symptoms Dies Health officials in Laos say a woman who fell ill near the Lao capital last month with symptoms of bird flu has died.
• Iran Arrests Several Journalists on Charges of Fueling Ethnic Division Iran says it has arrested several Iranian journalists, charging that their work was aimed at fueling ethnic divisions within the country.
• Treasury Secretary: US Economy is Healthy Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says he is confident about the health of the U.S. economy, following a week of stock market volatility that has prompted American politicians to question U.S. government borrowing from countries like China. He made the comments Sunday just before departing on an Asian trip that includes Japan, South Korea and China. VOA's Stephanie Ho has more from Washington.
• Khalilzad Says Washington May Talk With Iran on Arms Smuggled to Iraq The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, says the United States might hold direct talks with Iran at an upcoming meeting in Baghdad.
• Gevaert Defends 60-Meter Title at European Indoor Athletics Championships Kim Gevaert of Belgium has successfully defended her 60-meter title, while Britain's Jason Gardener won the men's event for the fourth straight time at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England.
• Israel, US Discuss Tightening Iran Sanctions Senior Israeli and American officials are seeking ways to increase the economic pressure on Iran. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, it is the latest in a series of consultations between the two countries aimed at getting Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
• Expert on Russian Intelligence Shot, Wounded in Maryland Suburb U.S. authorities say an expert on Russian intelligence has been shot and critically wounded in front of his home in Maryland, outside Washington.
• Conservatives Claim Win in Estonian Parliamentary Election Estonia's center-right Reform Party is claiming victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections - Estonia's first since joining the European Union in 2004.
• US, North Korea To Begin Normalization Talks Monday Landmark talks between the United States and North Korea aimed at resolving bilateral issues and moving toward normalizing relations are to begin Monday in New York.
• Storm Damaged Space Shuttle Returns to Hangar The U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis has been moved from its launchpad to assess damage done to it by an intense storm last week.