News for Friday, April 6, 2007
• Suicide Bombing in Afghan Capital Kills Four No summary available.
• Cambodia Announces Human Bird Flu Fatality A 13-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, bringing to seven the number of people in the country who have died from the virus.
• Suicide Car Bombing in Ramadi Kills 20 Iraqi security officials say a suicide car bomber struck a police checkpoint in western Ramadi Friday, killing at least 20 people and wounding 30 others.
• Nepal's June Election Date in Doubt Nepal's election commissioner is casting doubt on the feasibility of the Himalayan kingdom conducting elections in June. Less than a week ago, the country's prime minister and leaders of other political parties pledged to hold elections on June 20. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.
• Bangladesh Now Says Elections Not Possible Until Late 2008 Hopes for early restoration of democracy in Bangladesh have received a setback, after officials said elections could not be organized until the end of 2008. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, Bangladesh has been ruled by an army-backed interim administration since January, when general elections were postponed indefinitely.
• Multi-Party Talks on Release of North Korean Funds End Without Resolution Talks on releasing North Korea's funds that have held up international efforts to disarm Pyongyang have ended in China's capital with no resolution.
• Pentagon Probe Finds No Ties Between Saddam And Bin Laden A published report says an internal probe by the U.S. Defense Department found there was no direct cooperation between the al-Qaida terrorist network and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein' government.
• World Christians Commemorate Good Friday Pope Benedict XVI is to preside over Good Friday ceremonies in Rome Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus some 2,000 years ago.
• Radical Pakistani Cleric to Set Up Islamic Court in Mosque A radical Pakistani cleric leading a Taleban-style drive against vice in Islamabad says he will set up an Islamic "Sharia" court at his mosque.
• East Timorese Commemorate Good Friday as Campaign Period Officially Ends Thousands of East Timorese attended church services to commemorate Good Friday as the nation's presidential campaign period officially ends. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in the capital Dili has more.
• UN Alleges War Crimes in Darfur The U.N. human rights chief is calling on Sudan's government to investigate possible atrocities committed in the war-torn Darfur region.
• Fifth American Space Tourist Prepares For Journey to International Station American computer software entrepreneur Charles Simonyi is reportedly paying about $25 million to fulfill his childhood dream of flying in space. He follows in the footsteps of Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth, Gregory Olsen and Anousheh Ansari - all space tourists who traveled to the ISS aboard Russian rockets.
• Chinese Send Mixed Signals Regarding Poisoned Pet Food Scandal Chinese officials and a Chinese food processing company are giving conflicting statements about whether the company exported a contaminated wheat product to the United States that eventually poisoned scores of cats and dogs. China has a history of food safety problems that experts say could adversely affect its food exports. VOA's Michael Lipin reports from Hong Kong.
• EU Investigates Possible War Crimes in Somalia European Union diplomats say they are investigating whether Ethiopian and Somali government forces have committed war crimes in Somalia.
• UN: Climate Change Threatens 30 Percent of World's Species A United Nations climate change panel warns that up to one third of the Earth's species face an increased risk of extinction if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celsius.
• Britain Suspends Maritime Boarding Operations in Gulf Britain has suspended its practice of boarding and inspecting vessels in the Persian Gulf, following Iran's detention of 15 British naval personnel in disputed waters.
• World Labor Unions Call for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi Labor unions from around the globe have agreed to work together to fight for the release of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.
• US Ambassador, Congresswoman Accuse Vietnam of Manhandling Dissidents' Wives U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine and a U.S. congresswoman who represents a heavily Vietnamese district have criticized Vietnam's manhandling of two women invited to the ambassador's residence to meet a U.S. congressional delegation. The women, wives of Vietnamese political dissidents, were surrounded by police on Thursday and physically prevented from entering the residence. Matt Steinglass reports from Hanoi.
• British Sailors Report Psychological Pressure During Iranian Captivity British naval personnel who were held captive by Iran say they were subjected to constant psychological pressure during their two weeks in detention.
• Benin's Presidential Coalition Leads in Preliminary Election Results Provisional results in Benin's legislative poll give the coalition of President Boni Yayi the highest total with more than 20 percent of the votes. But opposition parties say the results are fraudulent. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.
• Michael Jackson Considers Legal Action to Block Upcoming Auction of Family Memorabilia Michael Jackson is considering legal action to oppose an upcoming auction of Jackson family memorabilia.
• California Medical Board Investigates Doctor Who Prescribed Medications Found in Anna Nicole Smith's Hotel Room The Medical Board of California is investigating a doctor who, according to documents, prescribed all 11 medications found in Anna Nicole Smith's hotel room the day she died.
• Darfur Refugee Waits for Life to Begin Again A deadly armed conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan has left hundreds of thousands dead, and millions more displaced. For many people who have fled the violence, moving on can be difficult. Kari Barber has more from Ngor, Senegal, where she met one man, who like many other refugees, is far from home and trying to figure out what to do next with his life.
• Rwanda's Ex-President Pardoned, Freed From Prison Rwanda's first post-genocide president has been released from prison after being pardoned for convictions that included inciting ethnic tension.
• Actor Kevin Costner Sues Music Promoter The Guardian" hspace=2 src="/english/images/Guardian_Kevin_Costner_210.jpg" width=210 vspace=2 border=0> Kevin Costner is suing a music promoter, alleging the company breached a contract to back his fledgling music career.
• Palestinian President Says Israeli Soldier Soon to be Released Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told French television that militants in the Gaza Strip will soon release a captured Israeli soldier.
• Italian Filmmaker Luigi Comencini Dies One of Italy's most noted film directors, Luigi Comencini, has died at age 90.
• Afghan President Admits to Meetings With Taleban Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said for the first time that he has talked with Taleban militants about bringing reconciliation to the country.
• 20 Dead in Latest Fighting Between Pakistani Tribesman, Foreign Militants Pakistani security officials say 20 people have died in the latest fighting between government-backed tribesman and al-Qaida-linked militants in South Waziristan.
• Ukrainian President, Prime Minister Hold Talks on Political Crisis Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych met Friday in a bid to ease the nation's escalating political crisis.
• US Says North Korea Nuclear Deal Still On Track The State Department said Friday a way has been found to transfer frozen funds to North Korea, and that the six-party deal under which Pyongyang is to give up its nuclear program is still on track. A senior U.S. envoy is being sent to the region in advance of an April 14 implementation deadline for the first phase of the accord. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• Amnesty International Says Conditions at Guantánamo Getting Worse Amnesty International released report April 5 criticizing conditions of terror suspects at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The human rights group says conditions there are getting worse. VOA's Sean Maroney reports.
• Tennis: Sweden, Germany, US Have 2-0 Leads in Davis Cup Quarterfinals Sweden, Germany and the United States have 2-0 leads while defending champion Russia is tied with France after the first day of the Davis Cup tennis quarterfinal round.