NORKOR TALKS: China's envoy to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program says Pyongyang has agreed to close its nuclear facilities in return for fuel aid and other incentives. Wu Dawei said in Beijing today (Tuesday) the deal requires North Korea to close its Yongbyon nuclear complex and open the facility to international inspectors within 60 days. The country must also fully declare all nuclear material it possesses. In return, North Korea will receive 50-thousand tons of heavy fuel oil. The nation will receive another 950-thousand tons of fuel once it takes steps to permanently dismantle its nuclear facilities.
IRAQ: Iraqi security officials say a suicide truck bombing near a college in Baghdad has killed at least 15 people and wounded more than 30 others. Police say the attack took place this (Tuesday) morning near the College of Economic Sciences in western Baghdad's Iskan district. Monday, a series of bombings in two predominantly Shi'ite markets in Baghdad killed at least 87 people and wounded 165 others. The bombings hit Baghdad during a new security crackdown by thousands of Iraqi and U.S. forces aimed at bringing an end to sectarian violence in the capital.
INDONESIA-U.S MILITARY: The top U.S. military officer is in Indonesia to discuss expanding military relations between Washington and Jakarta. General Peter Pace, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told VOA that Indonesia is one of the United States' s top priorities for engagement because it is the largest Muslim country in the world. The United States has been reaching out to more Muslim nations to try to recruit allies in its global fight against terrorists, some of whom are Islamic extremists.
TAIWAN POL: Taiwan's main opposition leader, Ma Ying-jeou, has resigned as chairman of the Nationalist Party after being indicted on corruption charges. However, Ma said today (Tuesday) he will still compete in Taiwan's 2008 presidential election, despite stepping down from his party post. Ma has been considered a front-runner for the election, and observers say he may stand as an independent candidate with informal backing from the Nationalist Party.
CHINA-CORRUPTION: A senior official in China's ruling Communist Party says the government has punished nearly 100-thousand party members in its ongoing campaign against corruption. Gan Yisheng, the vice-secretary of the Communist party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said today (Tuesday) that 97-thousand-260 officials were targeted in the anti-graft campaign last year. He said more than 80-percent of the officials had failed to carry out their duties, taken bribes or violated the party's financial rules.
Listen to our World News for details.
