VOA Africa News Summary

Here are today's top stories from VOA Africa. To listen or watch one of our programs or to read more visit our website at www.voaafrica.com.

Violence Continues in Somalia Ahead of Reconciliation Conference Witnesses say grenades thrown at Ethiopian soldiers Saturday as they patrolled neighborhood in Mogadishu Pentagon Chief Says Al-Qaida Expanding in N. Africa Robert Gates says intelligence reports indicate that Maghreb is latest area where network working to establish or affiliate with terrorist groups UN, EU Consider Joint Peacekeeping Force for Darfur Refugees in Chad Chad says it is struggling to contain violence linked to Darfur conflict as well as domestic rebellion Zimbabwe President Ignores Central Bank Governor's Advice Gideon Gono reportedly sent lengthy reminder of policy suggestions to try to halt collapse of country's economy

Your daily e-mail from the BBC

	Saturday, 14 July, 2007, 18:00 GMT 03:00 +09:00:Asia/Seoul

Taleban challenge Red mosque Islamists strike a chord in Musharraf's Pakistan		In pictures Nicolas Sarkozy hosts his first Bastille Day as France's president

TOP STORIES
	Man charged over failed attacks A third man is charged in connection with the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
	N Korea 'closes nuclear reactor' The US says it has been told by North Korea that it has closed its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
	Family tribute to murder victims Relatives of a mother and two children who were murdered pay tribute to the loved ones that "lit up" their lives.
	Airport security costs 'too high' The aviation industry says it can no longer afford the spiralling costs of security at UK airports.
	Housing need must be met - Brown The demand for rented accommodation and houses to buy must be met, says Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

WORLD
	N Korea 'closes nuclear reactor' The US says it has been told by North Korea that it has closed its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
	Russia suspends arms control pact Russia's president suspends application of a key Cold War arms treaty limiting heavy weapons in Europe.
	PM Maliki defends Iraq progress Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki shrugs off US criticism of slow progress saying it is understandable in the face of violence.

AFRICA
	Tanzanian leader takes Aids test Tanzania's president and opposition leaders launch a campaign for voluntary HIV/Aids testing by being tested in public.
	Bid to move UK teenagers in Ghana British officials want two girls suspected of drug smuggling in Africa moved to a more suitable prison.
	Amputee sprinter second in Rome Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee, finishes second in a 400m race against able-bodied runners at a Rome meeting.

AMERICAS
	Republicans press Bush over Iraq Two Republican senators add to pressure on President Bush with a new plan on Iraq troop withdrawal.
	Disgraced mogul Black 'to appeal' Disgraced media tycoon Conrad Black will appeal against his convictions for fraud, his lawyer has said.
	US farewell to former first lady US ex-presidents pay respects to Lady Bird Johnson, the late wife of ex-President Lyndon B Johnson.

ASIA-PACIFIC
	N Korea 'closes nuclear reactor' The US says it has been told by North Korea that it has closed its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
	S Korean ship 'sinks off Iran' Thirteen people are missing after a South Korean cargo ship sinks in Iranian waters, Iran's state TV says.
	Indian doctor in UK plot charge Australian police charge an Indian doctor for his alleged involvement with attempted bombings in the UK.

EUROPE
	Russia suspends arms control pact Russia's president suspends application of a key Cold War arms treaty limiting heavy weapons in Europe.
	Man charged over failed attacks A third man is charged in connection with the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
	Sarkozy shakes up French holiday France's popular president leads national day celebrations with several breaks with tradition.

MIDDLE EAST
	PM Maliki defends Iraq progress Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki shrugs off US criticism of slow progress saying it is understandable in the face of violence.
	S Korean ship 'sinks off Iran' Thirteen people are missing after a South Korean cargo ship sinks in Iranian waters, Iran's state TV says.
	Spaniard hurt in Yemen bomb dies A Spanish woman injured in a 2 July suicide bomb attack against tourists in Yemen dies in hospital.

SOUTH ASIA
	Deadly attack on Pakistani troops Twenty four Pakistani soldiers die in a suicide attack amid fears of reprisals for the Red Mosque assault.
	Indian doctor in UK plot charge Australian police charge an Indian doctor for his alleged involvement with attempted bombings in the UK.
	Murali captures 700th Test wicket Muttiah Muralitharan takes his 700th Test wicket as Sri Lanka seal a 3-0 series triumph over Bangladesh.

UK
	Man charged over failed attacks A third man is charged in connection with the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
	Family tribute to murder victims Relatives of a mother and two children who were murdered pay tribute to the loved ones that "lit up" their lives.
	Housing need must be met - Brown The demand for rented accommodation and houses to buy must be met, says Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

ENGLAND
	Family tribute to murder victims Relatives of a mother and two children who were murdered pay tribute to the loved ones that "lit up" their lives.
	Two people dead in M25 accidents At least two people are killed in separate accidents on the M25 either side of the Dartford Crossing.
	Man charged over failed attacks A third man is charged in connection with the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.

NORTHERN IRELAND
	Pair arrested over car park rape Two teenagers are being questioned in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old girl in south Belfast.
	Climate protesters on long walk Walkers from around the world set off on what is being called Britain's longest protest march.
	Woman attacked in her own house A 19-year-old woman from Lurgan is recovering after being assaulted in her home in the Shankill estate.

SCOTLAND
	Man charged over failed attacks A third man is charged in connection with the failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow.
	Memorial marks pit deaths tragedy A memorial is unveiled to commemorate 12 miners killed in a pit explosion near Stirling 85 years ago.
	Ibiza DJ rocks working men's club Celebrity DJ Judge Jules swaps the glitz and glamour of Ibiza "superclubbing" for a small working men's club.

WALES
	'Throttle' school backed by chief Recruitment procedures at a school where a teacher "throttled" a five-year-old pupil are backed by an education chief.
	Drinking milk cuts diabetes risk Drinking a pint of milk a day may protect against diabetes and heart disease, say UK researchers.
	Schools shake-up passes hurdle Council leaders say plans to reorganise secondary schools in Cardiff have taken a "big leap forward".

POLITICS
	Housing need must be met - Brown The demand for rented accommodation and houses to buy must be met, says Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
	Convicted rapist at Labour event A businessman with a rape conviction attended a fund-raising event for the Labour Party, the BBC reveals.
	US and UK 'no longer inseparable' A minister says the UK and the United States would no longer be "joined at the hip" in foreign policy.

BUSINESS
	Disgraced mogul Black 'to appeal' Disgraced media tycoon Conrad Black will appeal against his convictions for fraud, his lawyer has said.
	Dow Jones ends week on new high The Dow Jones share index closes at yet another record high, despite weak retail sales data.
	Call for flood insurance change House builders are "walking away" from developments that flood when they should fund insurance, says an MP.

ENTERTAINMENT
	'Evictee' Charley back in house Charley Uchea is voted out of the Big Brother house - but only temporarily - as the TV show stages a fake eviction.
	Hilton's jail stay to be examined Claims that Paris Hilton received special treatment in jail are to be investigated by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
	UK cinema attendance down by 5% Cinema audiences in the UK fall for the second year running despite an increase in the number of films shown.

SCIENCE/NATURE
	'Jules Verne' set for sea voyage Europe's biggest, most complex spacecraft is packed up for despatch to the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.
	London's small but relentless dip Scientists trace London's inexorable sinking in a study that will be critical to the planning of defences against sea level rise.
	Tests begin on Canaries telescope Tests on one of the world's largest optical telescopes have begun on the Canary Island of La Palma.

TECHNOLOGY
	Intel and $100 laptop join forces Intel and the One Laptop per Child foundation bury their differences and agree to work together on the project.
	The fight against net crime Using high tech know-how and old fashioned police work, net detectives are cleaning up the web.
	'Jules Verne' set for sea voyage Europe's biggest, most complex spacecraft is packed up for despatch to the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.

HEALTH
	Effects of autism 'long-lasting' Almost half of all adults with autism still have to live with their parents, a report finds.
	Hope for new Parkinson's therapy Scientists have discovered a protein which may help to slow, or even reverse symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
	Drinking milk cuts diabetes risk Drinking a pint of milk a day may protect against diabetes and heart disease, say UK researchers.

EDUCATION
	The dead parrot curriculum The shake-up of the school curriculum signals a truly radical change in education, argues Mike Baker
	Brown backs child sport campaign A campaign to get school children and teenagers out of school to do more sport is announced by Gordon Brown.
	Academies expel far more pupils Academies expelled pupils at twice the rate of other secondary schools last year, figures reveal.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES
	1958: Coup in Iraq sparks jitters in Middle East A military revolt in Iraq overthrows the monarchy and prompts King Hussein of Jordan to call for British and US military help to avert a similar rebellion in his country.
	1991: UK forces withdraw from Kurdish haven British troops protecting the Kurdish population in Iraq begin to pull out amid fears of reprisal.
	2001: NI agreement stalls in Staffordshire Six days of crisis talks to save the Northern Ireland peace process end in deadlock.

SPECIAL COVERAGE

Week in pictures A look at some of the most striking photos of the week		The 'hardest job' The officers telling the bad news to families of troops killed in Iraq