News for Wednesday, March 21, 2007
• Heavy Fighting in Sri Lanka Kills 3 Soldiers, 8 Tamil Rebels Sri Lankan military officials say troops and Tamil rebels have clashed in the country's volatile east, killing at least three soldiers and eight Tamil rebels.
• 7 Killed in Fighting Between Militants, Ethiopian Forces in Somalia Witnesses in Somalia say insurgents have burned and dragged the bodies of at least two soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu, after a clash between militants and Ethiopian forces killed seven people.
• Delegates Express Frustration With Delays in North Korean Nuclear Talks South Korean and U.S. negotiators at talks to end North Korea's nuclear programs are indicating rising frustration with delays. North Korea has refused to hold discussions until millions of dollars are transferred to its account in China from a Macau bank. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• US Military Says 8 Insurgents Killed, Scores Detained in Iraq Raids The U.S. military says American and Iraqi forces carried out dozens of raids across Iraq Wednesday, killing at least eight insurgents and detaining scores of suspects.
• Russia Observes Day of Mourning After Deadly Disasters Russia is observing a national day of mourning in memory of at least 177 people killed in the past few days in three separate disasters - a mine explosion, a nursing home fire and a plane crash. Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports.
• At Least 70 Dead in Clashes in Pakistan Tribal Region Pakistani military officials say at least 70 people have been killed in three days of fighting in a tribal region in the northwestern part of the country.
• At Least 11 Killed in Fighting Between Militants, Ethiopian Forces in Somalia Witnesses in Somalia say insurgents have burned and dragged the bodies of at least two soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu, after fierce fighting between militants and Ethiopian forces killed at least 11 people.
• European Commission Takes Poland to Court Over Highway The European Commission has taken Poland to Europe's top court in an effort to head off the construction of a highway through an environmentally sensitive area.
• Burma Reports Bird Flu North of Rangoon, 20,000 Poultry Culled Burma is reporting new cases of bird flu among poultry at a farm north of Rangoon, the fifth such outbreak in the country in recent weeks.
• Zambian President Calls Zimbabwe 'Sinking Titanic' Zambia's president is urging African countries to take a new approach to Zimbabwe, which he likened to a "sinking Titanic."
• Pakistan Protests Over Judge Suspension Continue to Spread Thousands of lawyers clashed with police in demonstrations throughout Pakistan against the government's controversial effort to dismiss the country's top judge. Security forces made mass arrests as the country enters its second week of political crisis. From Islamabad, VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports.
• Britney Spears Checks Out of Rehab Britney Spears is out of rehab.
• Angelina Jolie Leaves Vietnam with Newly-Adopted Son U.S. Actress Angelina Jolie left Vietnam March 21 on a private jet. Accompanying her was her newly-adopted three-year-old son, whom she has named Pax Thien Jolie. A fusion of Latin and Vietnamese, the name translates to "peaceful sky."
• Jakarta Governor Defends Record on Environmental Problems Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has defended his environmental record from harsh criticism for problems that include floods and notoriously dirty air. Chad Bouchard reports from the Indonesian capital.
• US Comedian Bernie Mac to Retire Bernie Mac says he intends to retire from standup comedy after 30 years.
• T'was a Time When Men Were Wild About Hats Have you ever seen one of those old, black-and-white American movies or television programs from the 1940s or '50s? And did you notice something peculiar about most of the men in those shows?
• Rights Groups Condemn Detention of CAR Editor In the Central African Republic, a newspaper association president has been jailed without trial for two weeks. His trial was to be held Monday, but has been delayed. Kari Barber reports from VOA's bureau in Dakar that media rights groups are condemning the detention and the trial delay.
• Former US Vice President to Advise Congress on Climate Change Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is testifying in front of congressional panels Wednesday about the challenges of global climate change.
• US Lawmakers Approve Subpoenas to Investigate Attorney Firings President Bush appears to be headed towards a constitutional showdown with the Democratic-controlled Congress over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.
• Chirac Announces Backing for French Presidential Candidate Sarkozy French President Jacques Chirac has announced his support for Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy in the upcoming presidential elections.
• Two Koreas Resume Construction of Family Reunion Center The South Korean Red Cross says dozens of construction workers entered North Korea Wednesday to resume construction of a family reunion center after eight months of delays.
• Hundreds of Egyptian Students Demonstrate Against Constitutional Reforms No summary available.
• Pay Deal Ends Israel's Paralyzing General Strike A one-day general strike that paralyzed Israel for one day ended when the government agreed to pay municipal workers. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the pay dispute pitted an influential trade union against the government, which is demanding reforms in public spending.
• South American Nations Suffer Outbreak of Dengue Fever The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to Americans against travel to parts of Paraguay because of an outbreak of dengue fever.
• Supreme Leader Says Iran Will Use All Capabilities to Defend Itself Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that his country will use all its capabilities to defend itself against an attack.
• Rice: US Aid Embargo On Palestinian Government Will Continue U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. embargo on aid to the Palestinian Authority will continue until the new unity government accepts international demands.
• Colombian Foreign Minister Addresses OAS Colombia's foreign minister has addressed the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., saying his nation is one of heroes and victims.
• US Official: Russia Pressing Iran on Nuclear Issue A U.S. State Department official says Russia has begun to exert pressure on Iran to comply with United Nations resolutions to end its nuclear program. He made his comments before a Senate panel Wednesday, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
• Colombian Official Backs Possible Extraditions in Chiquita Funding of Paramilitaries Colombia's foreign minister says the government of President Alvaro Uribe will support any attempt by prosecutors to secure the extradition of current or former associates of a U.S. company that has admitted to making payments to a right-wing paramilitary group in the country. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, where the minister addressed the Organization of American States Wednesday.
• Experts Warn Terrorists Could Launch Nuclear Attack on US A group of nuclear weapons specialists has issued ominous warnings before members of the U.S. Congress that terrorist groups like al-Qaida could launch a massive attack on the United States and currently there is little to deter or defend against such a strike. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Capitol Hill.
• Two UK Sailors Killed, One Injured in Arctic Submarine Explosion Two British sailors died Wednesday in an explosion aboard a British submarine under the Arctic ice cap. A third sailor was injured, and he was transported from a break in the ice north of Alaska to a U.S. military hospital for treatment. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
• General Says US Missile Defense Much Improved Since North Korean Test in July The commander of U.S. strategic forces says the United States has significantly improved its missile defense and deterrent capability since North Korea's series of missile tests last July. General James Cartwright spoke at a House of Representatives committee hearing and VOA's Al Pessin reports.
• Shuttle Atlantis Grounded by Fuel Tank Damage The U.S. space agency NASA says storm damage repairs are likely to keep the space shuttle Atlantis grounded at least until May, two months after it was originally set to visit the International Space Station. But as we hear from VOA's David McAlary, NASA officials say the delay will not postpone completion of the research outpost in three years.
• US House of Representatives Begins Debate on Iraq Measure The U.S House of Representatives takes up legislation Thursday to fund ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq no later than September 2008. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, majority Democrats have fought hard to ensure they have the votes to pass the bill, which President Bush has threatened to veto in its current form
• Experts Urge Shift in US Policy Toward Pakistan Experts testifying before the U.S. Congressl have urged a shift in the U.S. approach toward Pakistan, where they and congressional critics assert President Pervez Musharraf has failed to act strongly enough against Taliban and al-Qaida elements in his country. VOA's Dan Robinson has more from Capitol Hill.
• US Hosts Spain in Davis Cup Tennis The United States hosts Spain next month in a quarterfinal match that is a rematch of the 2004 Davis Cup finals won by Spain. VOA's Jim Stevenson reports the clash will feature a big crowd and several of the world's top players.