WORLD NEWS –January 17, 2011
Written by Voice of America.
It is 00:30 universal time and here is the news in special English.
Gunfire is reported in the Tunisian capital Tunis. News reports say the Tunisian army is fighting members of the presidential guard. They remain loyal to ousted leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. He was forced into exile two days ago after protests and rioting about corruption and unemployment. Earlier the leader of the presidential guard was arrested for plotting against the country’s new leadership. The speaker of parliament Fouad Mebezaa was sworn in Saturday as interim President. He has asked the country’s Prime Minister to form a unity government. Announcements about the new government are expected Monday. President Mebezaa also called for Democratic elections in two months.
South Sudan ’s President Salva Kiir has urged his people to forgive the north for the civil war. His statement comes as early results of the vote on independence are counted. A Study by the Associated Press shows a large majority of voters in southern Sudan have chosen independence from the north. The Associated Press did a Study of early results at 10 voting stations in Juba, the capital. The vote on independence was part of 2005 peace deal that ended 21 years of civil war. Muslims are the majority in the north. The population in the south is mainly Christian and other religions. President Barack Obama has praised the Muslim peaceful voting process in southern Sudan.
Afghan officials say a bomb explosion killed 9 family members on their way to a wedding in Baghlan Province. The dead included 6 women, 2 men and a child. Saturday in Helmand province, 6 civilians were killed when the vehicle they were traveling in hit a bomb. 3 other people were wounded. Helmand province is a major battle area between Taliban militants and NATO and Afghan forces. On Sunday, NATO says its forces killed many militants in an airstrike launched in the eastern province of Kunar. Coalition says it acted after militants nearby threatened the safety of ground troops.
Floods that have caused major death and damage in Northeast Australia moved south Sunday. Officials say more than 1,400 homes in 43 towns in the state of Victoria have been flooded. The same area was damaged by wildfires 2 years ago. River levels continue to rise. Residents are filling bags with sand to attempt to hold back the river waters. In Queensland, residents are conducting a huge clean-up after weeks of rains and floods. The floods caused by a weather system known as La Nina. The system brings cooler weather and strengthens storms.
The Brazilian military is sending helicopters to people trapped by floods and mudslides. 610 people had been killed including children. A huge amount of rain began falling Wednesday. People who live in mountains in Rio de Janeiro state were trapped. Bodies remain covered by mud. The mud also damaged buildings and cars. 14,000 people lost their homes. More dangerous rain is expected in the coming days. Brazil has declared three days to remember those who died in the floods.
You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.
The Israeli government is considering a proposal to build 1,400 new homes in the disputed area of east Jerusalem. The project could be approved next week. The Palestinians say they will not continue peace talks with Israel until it stops building in east Jerusalem. The United States has made similar appeals to Israel. Members of ruling Likud Party in Israel support the building project. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said that Israelis have the right to live anywhere in the city. Palestinians are planning to propose a resolution to the U.N. Security Council later this month. The resolution will condemn the building projects.
The leader of Lebanon’s Shi'ite Hizbullah group Hassan Nasrallah says his party will not support Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Talks to form a new government are set to begin Monday. Mr. Nasrallah spoke on Television Sunday night. He did not say who the Hizbullah led opposition would support. The Shi’ite leader denounced Mr. Hariri for betrayer. He said Mr. Hariri did not honor a promise to reject a United Nations investigation of the death of his father, former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. The U.N. tribunal is expected to charge members of Hizbullah with the death. Mr. Nasrallah says the expected charges are political and that witnesses lied to the investigators. Several Hizbullah party government ministers resigned recently over a dispute about the expected charges.
Chinese President Hu Jintao says there are some differences and some sensitivities between the United States and China. Mr. Hu made the comment in an answer to some written questions presented by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post newspapers. They published his answers on Sunday. Among his comments, the Chinese leader said a lack of rules and enforcement of rules were responsible for the recent world economic crisis. He also said current American dollar led world money system is a product of the past. Mr. Hu did not answer questions about human rights issues. Mr. Hu is to visit the United States this week. He will meet with President Obama at White House on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to resolve more treat between the United States and China.
And now briefly, here again is the major news of the hour read in VOA special English.
Gunfire is reported in the Tunisian capital Tunis. News reports say the Tunisian army is fighting members of the presidential guard.
South Sudan ’s President Salva Kiir has urged his people to forgive the north for the civil war.
And Afghan officials say 9 family members were killed Sunday when a bomb destroyed a car carrying people to a wedding.
That’s the news in VOA special English from Washington.