mar. 16
At twenty-two hours thirty Universal Time, here is the news in Special English. ▼ Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem Tuesday. The demonstrators were protesting Israel's decision to identify a Jewish religious center as holy. Israeli police fired non-deadly weapons at the protestors who threw rocks. Protests also took place in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Officials say sixty Palestinians were arrested and more than twelve people were injured. Those hurt included police officers. On Monday, Israel announced plans to rededicate the religious center as a holy place. The synagogue is near a place considered holy by both Jews and Muslims. Some Palestinians had called for a day of anger Tuesday to protest against the Israeli decision to build new homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.
Afghan officials say the government will send more than one thousand policemen to the southern city of Kandahar. The action comes after a series of planned suicide attacks by the Taliban that killed at least thirty-five people. Kandahar's provincial governor said Tuesday that the Interior Ministry agreed with his request for more security. The Taliban called the attacks a warning to NATO's top commander, United States General Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal is planning another major offensive against the Taliban in the area.
Pakistani officials say an American missile strike has killed at least ten people in North Waziristan. Officials said the missiles hit a militant position in the Datta Khel area. The United States has often used pilotless aircraft to carry out attacks in the area. North Waziristan is said to be home to supporters of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Separately, Pakistani police say an anti-Taliban force killed ten Taliban fighters Tuesday near the Afghan border. The force attacked the fighters after they attempted to kidnap one of its members.
Officials of the United States central bank decided Tuesday not to change the bank's main interest rate. The officials made it clear they are likely to keep the rate at its current level for what they called, “an extended period.” The Federal Reserve pushed interest rates to extremely low levels more than a year ago to help the American economy. Its main lending rate is still between zero and one quarter of a percent. The Federal Reserve said economic activity is strengthening. It also said the job market is what it called, “stabilizing.” But, it said high unemployment and tight credit continue to be problems.
[You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.]
Some of Google's Chinese partners are appealing to the American Internet company to take responsibility for their business troubles if the company closes its Chinese search engine. Advertising resellers wrote a letter to the company's vice-president of sales in China. In the letter, they asked Google for a clear description of its plans. The resellers said they lost business after Google announced in January that it may shut down its search engine because of an Internet attack that came from China. A Google spokesperson says the company is considering the letter. Google says it will continue operating in China if it does not have to obey the severe restrictions the government places on Internet use.
Election officials in Nigeria say the timing of the next presidential election could be moved up if Parliament approves reforms. Elections are supposed to take place in April of next year. However, electoral commission chairman Maurice Iwu said the elections could take place in January if the reforms are approved. Nigeria's parliament is discussing changes to the electoral system. Most observers said disorganization and cheating were problems with the election three years ago. Observers also said some voters were threatened.
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has suggested that Nigeria should be divided into separate Muslim and Christian states to prevent religious violence. Libya's JANA news agency reported that Mr. Gadhafi made the remarks at a meeting in Tripoli with African student leaders. He said dividing Nigeria would save the lives of Muslims and Christians and prevent the destruction of their religious centers. Nigeria has experienced repeated clashes between Muslims and Christians most often in the city of Jos. On March seventh, Muslims killed hundreds of people in mostly Christian villages. Nigeria is divided almost evenly between the two religions.
The governor of the southern American state of Texas has sent additional police officers to help guard the border with Mexico. The move comes after an attack Saturday killed three American diplomatic workers in Mexico's Ciudad de Juarez area. Texas Governor Rick Perry released a statement Tuesday. It urged the federal government to provide additional resources in order to prevent violence in Mexico from crossing over into the United States. Mr. Perry says officials have increased the number of border guards and the observation of border activity.
The Honda motor company says it will recall four hundred twelve thousand vehicles in the United States because of problems with the braking system. The recall includes over three hundred thousand Odyssey mini-vans and sixty-eight thousand Element vehicles from two thousand seven and two thousand eight. Honda said that the brakes can feel soft over time and must be pressed harder to stop the vehicles. A company spokesman said that the brakes could stop working if left unrepaired. Last month, Honda recalled over four hundred thousand vehicles because of problems with air bags. ▲ And now briefly, here again is the major news of the hour in VOA Special English.
Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem Tuesday. Afghan officials say the government will send more than one thousand policeman to the southern city of Kandahar. And, officials of the United States central bank decided Tuesday not to change the bank's main interest rate. And, that's the news in VOA Spe@cial English from Washington. Source: VOA Special English March 16, 2010 2230UTC
