News for Monday, April 2, 2007
• US, South Korea Reach Free Trade Deal U.S. and South Korean officials say they have reached a free trade agreement after almost 10 months of negotiations.
• South Pacific Quake, Tsunami Kill Six in Solomon Islands Officials in the Solomon Islands say at least six people have been killed by a powerful earthquake and tsunami.
• Diplomat Turned Journalist Finds Meaning in Faith of All Most religious broadcasting in the United States is aimed either at believers or at those whom the broadcasters wish to convert. But since 2001, "Speaking of Faith," a nationally syndicated radio program, has been speaking about religion, ethics and meaning in an open-minded forum.
• Iran Says All 15 British Captives Confess to Entering Iranian Waters Iran says all 15 British sailors and marines in Iranian custody have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.
• Truck Bomb in Northern Iraq Kills 11 Police say a suicide bomber detonated a truck in northern Iraq Monday, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 90.
• Report: US Intelligence Says New Generation of Al Qaida Leadership Emerging A published report says the United States is aware that a new generation of al-Qaida leadership under Osama bin Laden is emerging in Pakistan's tribal areas.
• Japan Sees Deflation Return Japan saw consumer prices fall last month, raising concerns that the country is returning to deflation. In Hong Kong, the dominant telecommunications company performed below market expectations last year. Claudia Blume at VOA's Asia News Center has more on these and other business stories from the region.
• Terrorism on Agenda at South Asian Summit India is calling for action to be taken against terrorism by its fellow members in a South Asian regional group. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.
• Indian Stock Markets Plunge After Central Bank Hikes Lending Rate Indian stock markets have plunged sharply after the country's Central Bank tightened monetary policy. Mumbai's Sensex index fell 617 points, to reach 12,455 points. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the market slid on fears that the Indian economy could slow down.
• Guatemalan Refugees Return Home 24 Years After Fleeing Civil War A group of about 150 Guatemalan refugees has returned home, more than two decades after fleeing the civil war then tearing up their country.
• Iraqi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty 5 in Anfal Trial An Iraqi prosecutor says Saddam Hussein's cousin and four other former officials in the ousted regime deserve the death penalty for mass killings of Kurds.
• Bus Explosion Kills at Least 14 in Sri Lanka Authorities in Sri Lanka say a bus has exploded in the eastern part of the country, killing at least 14 people and wounding 20 others.
• WHO Tests Bird-Flu Readiness The World Health Organization has conducted a test of their ability to avert a bird-flu pandemic.
• 'Blades of Glory' Tops US Weekend Box Office Sales Blades Of Glory skated to the top of the U.S. box office rankings last weekend.
• Pop Star Hillary Duff Admits Feeling Pressure to be Thin Hilary Duff says she feels pressure to be thin.
• Apple iTunes Fine Tunes Sound Quality Users of Apple Computer's iTunes online music store will soon hear their favorite songs in even higher fidelity. EMI Group PLC, which distributes music by the Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Coldplay, and other acts, announced April 2 that it will make singles and albums available either with or without copy protection software.
• Congo Suspends Negotiations on Mining Deals Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended all negotiations on mining contracts, while reviews existing deals. Home to a 10th of the world's copper, with substantial gold, diamond and cobalt deposits, Congo has attracted billions of dollars of mining investment in recent years. Franz Wild has the details for VOA from Kinshasa.
• Five AU Peacekeepers Killed in Darfur Five African Union peacekeepers have been killed in Sudan's embattled Darfur region. The African Union says the attack was unprovoked and an investigation into the incident is under way. For VOA, Noel King has this report from Khartoum.
• Usher Announces Engagement Usher is off the market. The multi-platinum R & B star is officially engaged to his longtime girlfriend, stylist Tameka Foster.
• Justin Timberlake Makes Good on Messy Promise During Kids Choice Awards A slimy Justin Timberlake emerged victorious at the 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
• Eritrean, Ugandan Presidents Discuss Somali Conflict The presidents of Eritrea and Uganda have discussed the deteriorating situation in Somalia during a meeting in Eritrea. Meanwhile, several-hundred additional Ethiopian troops have been deployed in the Somali capital to try to quell recent violence there that has killed dozens and sent thousands fleeing. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi.
• Florida, Ohio State to Meet in US Men's College Basketball Final Defending champion Florida and number-one ranked Ohio State are set to meet for the U.S. men's (Division One) national college basketball championship Monday night at the Georgia Dome. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer has this preview from Atlanta.
• American Indian Dresses Reflect Tradition, Culture American Indian dresses created over the last 150 years are showcased in a new exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington. Testimony to the creativity and craftsmanship of the women who made them, the dresses are also a reflection of Native American culture and tradition.
• Top US Court Declines to Hear Guantanamo Prisoners' Appeal The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of Guantanamo prisoners who want the right to challenge their detention in U.S. federal courts.
• Israeli Defense Minister Warns Gaza Palestinians Israel's defense minister says he has authorized the army to take limited action against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
• WHO Warns of Global Health Threats The World Health Organization says emerging diseases, climate change and chemical, radioactive and biological terror threats are putting all nations at risk. To mark World Health Day, WHO is urging greater cooperation among nations to better tackle international threats to health security. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.
• Bon Jovi Scores Hot Shot Debut on Country Chart; Beyonce to Release Deluxe Version of Grammy Winning 'B-Day' Album Bon Jovi has the Hot Shot Debut on this week's Country Singles chart (week ending April 7). The New Jersey-based rock band enters at Number 39 with "(You Want To) Make A Memory," the first single from its upcoming album Lost Highway. Bon Jovi recorded the album in Nashville with noted producers John Shanks and Dann Huff. This isn't the first big Country hit for the group. Bon Jovi's 2005 album, Have A Nice Day, produced the Number One Country single "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a duet with Sugarland's lead singer Jennifer Nettles.
• Top EU Environmental Official Rips US, Australian Rejection of Kyoto Protocol The European Union's top environmental official has strongly criticized the United States and Australia, for rejecting a global treaty on reducing carbon emissions.
• African, European Leaders Push for Liberalization Leaders from African and European nations are discussing how liberalizing their economies and societies could benefit their nations. Kari Barber attended their meeting in Dakar and has this report for VOA.
• White House Presses Congress on Iraq Funding The Bush administration is accusing the opposition-led U.S. Congress of abdicating its responsibility to fund ongoing war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and attempting to legislate failure on the battlefield. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from the White House, where administration officials remain adamant that Mr. Bush will veto any military spending bill that sets a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
• Federer Chosen as Laureus Sportsman of the Year A 42-member panel has chosen world No. 1 men's tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland as the Laureus Sportsman of the Year for the third year in a row.
• France Says Europe Should Renew Aid to Palestinians Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr says he expects the international community to restore aid to the Palestinians, now that there is a new unity government. The Palestinian official made the comment in Paris during talks with his French counterpart, who expressed agreement. Anita Elash in Paris has this report for VOA.
• Saudi Arabia Dismisses Israeli Proposal for Conference Saudi Arabia has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's invitation to Arab leaders to attend a Middle East peace conference.
• Argentina, Britain Observe 25th Anniversary of Falklands War Leaders in Argentina and Britain have participated in events commemorating the start of the war both countries fought over the Falkland Islands 25 years ago.
• Three Egyptian Children Hospitalized With Bird Flu Egypt's government and the World Health Organization say three Egyptian children have been hospitalized with the deadly form of avian flu.