News for Wednesday, March 14, 2007
• IAEA Chief Unable to Meet North Korea's Top Nuclear Negotiator A spokeswoman for the International Atomic Energy Agency says the agency's chief has not been able to meet with North Korea's top nuclear negotiator during a visit to Pyongyang.
• UN Mission to Investigate Weapons Claims by Nepal's Maoists Concerns are being raised over whether Nepal's Maoists are disarming in line with the terms of a landmark peace deal. VOA's South Asia correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.
• Diplomats in Beijing to Check on Progress of N. Korean Nuclear Disarmament Representatives of six nations taking part in the North Korean nuclear disarmament process are gathering in Beijing. The diplomats are checking on the progress of a preliminary agreement reached last month, in preparation for a resumption of the full six-party nuclear talks next week. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from the Chinese capital.
• 2 Arrested in India-Pakistan Train Bombing Police in India have arrested two men on suspicion of involvement in last month's bombing on an India-to-Pakistan train that killed 68 people.
• Former Liberian President Arrested on Corruption Charges, Freed on Bail Liberia's former transitional president has been freed on bail after police arrested him Tuesday on corruption charges.
• NBA: Spurs Beat Clippers, Extend Winning Streak The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to 13 games with a 93-84 win over the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday in the National Basketball Association.
• Iraq's President Heads Home After Medical Treatment in Jordan Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is heading home from Jordan, where he had been treated for exhaustion and dehydration since late February.
• China Media: Calm in Riot-Torn Hunan Town; Mob Violence in Henan The Beijing News newspaper says two traffic inspectors have been injured in central China after being attacked by a mob angered by a road check they say caused a fatal crash.
• NHL: Penguins Edge Sabres The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 in a shootout in Tuesday's slate of games in the National Hockey League.
• IMF Urges Congo to Cut Spending The International Monetary Fund has prompted the Democratic Republic of Congo's new government to curb spending to counteract slowing economic growth and worsening inflation. Franz Wild reports for VOA from Kinshasa.
• Indonesia Wants Guarantee on Fair Use of Bird Flu Samples Indonesia's health minister says the country wants a legal guarantee that bird flu samples it sends to the World Health Organization will not be used for commercial gain.
• Rights Group Says Rebels Abducting Refugees in Sri Lanka The human rights group Amnesty International says it has received reports that a breakaway rebel group in Sri Lanka is abducting refugees who are fleeing their homes to escape fighting in the region. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the government says the reports are not true.
• Stallone Faces Stiff Fines in Australia Rocky Balboao" hspace=2 src="/english/images/AFP_Australia_Sylvester_Stallone_210.jpg" width=161 vspace=2 border=0> Sylvester Stallone faces stiff fines in Australia, where he is accused of importing a muscle-building hormone.
• Rapper Snoop Dogg Released from Swedish Prison Snoop Dogg is off the leash. Swedish police released the rapper Monday 12 March, after holding him overnight on suspicion of possessing illegal narcotics.
• UN Food Agency Praises Burma's Response to Bird Flu The United Nation's agricultural organization has praised Burma for its quick response to its latest bird flu outbreaks.
• Fashion Designer Marc Jacobs Enters Rehab Fashion designer Marc Jacobs has entered rehab. The popular designer is receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
• Pakistan-India Peace Talks Make Slow But Steady Progress Pakistan and India have completed their latest round of peace talks in Islamabad on a decidedly upbeat note. There were no specific advances, but both sides say the summit was a positive step forward for the two rivals. VOA Correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from Islamabad.
• Massive Blast at Kabul Ammunition Shop Kills at Least 6 A massive blast at an ammunition shop in Afghanistan's capital leveled shops and homes, killing at least six people and wounding around nine others.
• Iran Criticizes Blockbuster Film '300' for Historical Inaccuracies 300" hspace=2 src="/english/images/300_dominic_West_scene_warner_bros_210.jpg" width=210 vspace=2 border=0> The blockbuster movie 300 may have conquered U.S. box offices, but it's no hit in Iran.
• Protests Increase Over Musharraf's Firing of Pakistani Chief Justice It was another day of political upheaval in Pakistan following President Pervez Musharraf's controversial decision to remove the country's top judge from office. Neither the president nor his critics are backing down, while protests continue to swell throughout the country. From Islamabad VOA's Benjamin Sand reports on the growing political standoff.
• Football: Valencia's Navarro Suspended for Part in Brawl The European Football Union, UEFA, has suspended Valencia defender David Navarro for seven months for his part in a brawl last week at the end of a Champions League match against Inter Milan.
• Heather Mills Gears Up for 'Dancing With The Stars' Heather Mills vows she's ready to hit the dance floor on U.S. television.
• Controversial OJ Simpson Book May Hit US Bookstores A controversial book by O.J. Simpson may soon hit U.S. bookstores. A judge Tuesday March 13 ordered that rights to "If I Did It" be auctioned to help pay for a civil judgement against the former football star.
• Ailing US Senator Makes First Statement Since Falling Ill A U.S. senator whose sudden brain hemorrhage endangered the Democrats' majority in the Senate has issued his first statement since falling ill in December.
• US Attorney General Says His Future Up to President Bush U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says whether he stays in office or resigns is up to President Bush.
• Missouri Town to Honor Actor Steve McQueen The Thomas Crown Affair" hspace=2 src="/english/images/Steve_McQueen_210.jpg" width=176 vspace=2 border=0> The small Midwestern town of Slater, Missouri is planning a three-day festival to honor its most illustrious inhabitant, Steve McQueen.
• UN Diplomats Hope to Finalize Iran Sanctions Resolution Diplomats from six world powers hope to present a new package of proposed sanctions against Iran to the U.N. Security Council Wednesday. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed the threat of more sanctions over his country's nuclear program, saying world powers are only "isolating themselves."
• Polish Parliament Honors Holocaust Hero Polish parliament has honored a 97-year-old Warsaw woman for saving the lives of 2,500 Jews during the Holocaust.
• US to Pursue Human Rights Changes in Zimbabwe The United States has welcomed the release for medical care of Zimbabwean opposition leaders injured Sunday when riot police broke up a protest event near Harare. U.S. officials are promising to pursue diplomacy aimed at improving human rights conditions in Zimbabwe. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• Scientists Say They Have Found Millions of New Genes, Proteins U.S. researchers say they have discovered millions of new genes and thousands of new protein families that could help scientists develop alternative fuels or cope with environmental issues.
• Hamas, Fatah to Present Unity Government Saturday Representatives of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah say they will present a unity government to Parliament Saturday for a vote of confidence.
• Police Detain Belarusian Opposition Leader in Minsk Police in Belarus have detained the leader of the opposition Belarusian Popular Front.
• Thai Mosque Bombing Wounds 11 Eleven people have been wounded in a bomb attack outside a mosque in southern Thailand in what police officials describe as an attempt to pit Muslims against Buddhists.
• Rwanda Says It May Pull Troops Out of Darfur Rwandan President Paul Kagame says his country may pull its troops from the African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
• Bush: 'Not Happy' About Mistakes in US Attorneys Firing President Bush says he has confidence in U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, but that he is "not happy" about mistakes made in the firing of eight federal prosecutors.
• War Crimes Prosecutor Criticizes EU Response to ICJ Serbia Ruling No summary available.
• Italian, Russian Leaders Stress Need for 'Strategic Partnership' Talks Russia and Italy say they want talks between Moscow and the European Union on a new strategic partnership agreement to begin as soon as possible.
• Italian Hostage Held in Afghanistan Appears in Video An Italian reporter held hostage by the Taleban in Afghanistan has appeared speaking in a video received by a non-governmental relief agency.
• Bush: Good US Migration Law Will Help US, Mexican Economies President Bush says a good U.S. migration law will help the economies of both the United States and Mexico.
• Pentagon Calls End of 2006 Most Violent Period in Iraq Since 2003 A quarterly report by the Pentagon says the last three months of last year were the most violent in Iraq since 2003, the year of the U.S.-led invasion. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
• US Move Likely to Free North Korean Assets Frozen in Macau Bank The U.S. Treasury Wednesday announced measures that could lead to the release of North Korean assets frozen in a Macau bank, Banco Delta Asia, which Washington in 2005 accused of laundering money for the North Korean government. The controversy over the bank has been a major sore spot in six-nation talks aimed at addressing international concerns about North Korea's nuclear program. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington.
• Canadian Philosopher Wins $1.5 Million Templeton Prize A Canadian philosopher is the recipient of the $1.5 million 2007 Templeton Prize. Fom VOA's New York bureau, correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports that Charles Taylor, 75, has long argued that spiritual dimensions are part of the solution to issues of violence and bigotry.
• US Weighs New Steps Against Sudan Over Darfur The United States said Wednesday it has begun contacts on a new U.N. Security Council resolution penalizing Sudan for non-cooperation on Darfur. The Bush administration is also planning its own sanctions after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in a letter to the U.N. this week, appeared to renege on a new Darfur peacekeeping force. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• US Considers Action Against Zimbabwe After Arrests The Bush administration says it is considering new sanctions against Zimbabwe following the arrests and beatings of opposition leaders. A senior State Department official will press for a stronger African response to the Harare government in talks in Addis Ababa Thursday. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• NY Stock Exchange Shakes Off Tuesday's Sell-Off The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed back above the 12,000 level Wednesday after earlier falling to its lowest level in four months. VOA's Barry Wood reports the volatile market is feeling the jitters over problems in mortgage lending.
• US Senate Panel Focuses on Murders of Activists in Philippines A senior U.S. State Department official says Philippines President Gloria Arroyo could do more to deal with security forces who have been implicated in the killings of political and human rights activists. The official testified before a Senate panel along with human rights advocates, who described a bleak human rights situation in the country under President Arroyo. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
• UN Powers Reach 'Agreement in Principle' on New Iran Sanctions Major world powers have agreed in principle on a package of new U.N. penalties against Iran for its suspect nuclear activities. VOA's correspondent at the United Nations Peter Heinlein reports backers of the deal hope to present it to the Security Council Thursday.
• Alleged Terror Plotter Confesses to Planning Attacks The U.S. Defense Department has released the transcript of a military hearing in which the alleged mastermind of the September 11th, 2001, attacks on the United States confesses to the attack.