News for Sunday, April 15, 2007
• Two US Military Helicopters Crash in Iraq The U.S. military says two military helicopters have crashed north of Baghdad, killing two soldiers and injuring five.
• Suicide Bomber in Afghanistan Kills Four No summary available.
• MLB: Giambi Homer in 13th Gives Yankees Win In Major League Baseball, New York Yankee slugger Jason Giambi hit a home run in the 13th inning to beat the Oakland Athletics, 4-3.
• Gunmen in Darfur Kill Another AU Peacekeeper No summary available.
• US Envoy: Washington Not Happy North Korea Missed Nuclear Shutdown Deadline The top U.S. envoy to North Korean nuclear talks says Washington is not happy Pyongyang failed to uphold its pledge to begin closing its main nuclear facility by Saturday.
• UNHCR Conference to Raise Awareness of Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq More than 450 participants from at least 60 nations are expected to attend an international conference this week on refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq and the surrounding region. The U.N. refugee agency, which is hosting the conference, aims to raise awareness about Iraq's alarming humanitarian crisis and enormous needs. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
• Nigerians Anxiously Await Election Outcome Some results are expected Sunday from Nigeria's gubernatorial elections. Gilbert da Costa reports from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, authorities are bracing for the possibility of violence as results from Saturday's poll are made public.
• Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Agree to Future West Bank Meeting Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Sunday in Jerusalem - holding the first of what are supposed to be regular meetings every two weeks. VOA's Jim Teeple reports the two made no major breakthroughs but did agree to hold their next meeting in the occupied West Bank.
• At Least 23 Dead in Mexico Bus Crash At least 23 people have been killed and 11 others injured in a crash between a passenger bus and a tractor-trailer in Mexico.
• At least 15 Killed in Kenya Bus Crash At least 15 people have been killed and 16 others injured in a passenger bus accident in northeastern Kenya.
• Northeastern US Hit by Intense Storm The northeastern United States is being hit by a powerful storm that forecasters say is likely to cause severe coastal flooding and power outages in some places.
• Bush, Congress Prepare For Next Phase of Iraq Debate The White House and Congress are starting to look beyond the current impasse over legislation to fund the Iraq war. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports both sides are starting to talk about ways to resolve the controversy.
• Philippine Troops Kill 8 Muslim Rebels, Capture 2 Camps The Philippine military says government troops have captured two camps belonging to the Islamist Moro National Liberation Front, killing eight Muslim rebels.
• Israel Observes Holocaust Memorial Amid Row With Vatican Israel is holding a solemn observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem, the annual commemoration comes amid a row between Israel and the Vatican over the Church's role during the war.
• Wolfowitz Vows to Stay on as World Bank Chief A defiant Paul Wolfowitz Sunday said he will stay in his job as World Bank president pending an executive board decision on irregularities concerning the promotion of an employee with whom he was romantically linked. VOA's Barry Wood reports.
• Riot Police Beat Anti-Kremlin Marchers in St. Petersburg Russian riot police beat and clubbed opposition backers Sunday in St. Petersburg as they wrapped up an anti-Kremlin march.
• Palestinian Group Claims to Have Executed BBC Journalist A little-known Palestinian group has claimed to have executed Alan Johnston, the BBC's Gaza correspondent who was taken prisoner last month.
• Nigeria Election: Partial Results Show Ruling Party Victory Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party has taken a commanding lead in state elections that have been marred by violence and allegations of fraud.
• Ecuadoreans Vote in Favor of Constitutional Reform Exit polls in Ecuador indicate voters have overwhelmingly approved President Rafael Correa's proposal to establish an assembly to rewrite the country's constitution.