http://192.168.2.6/english/20061225VOA.mp3

It’s 15:00 Universal Time and here is the news from the Voice of America. I’m Perter / from the VOA news center in Washington.

Ethiopian forces have launched /the/ airstrikes as part of a counterattack against Islamist fighters in neighboring Somalia. Ethiopia's information minister says operations targeted its several Islamic militia's strongholds along Ethiopia's border, it is the first time Ethiopia has acknowleged its military is fighting in Somalia. Witnesses in centeral and northern Somalia reported warplanes bombarding Islamist positions and Ethiopian ground troops exchanging mortar fire with Islamist forces. Heavy fighting was also reported near the transitional government headquarters in Baidoa. The airstrikes marked an apparent escalation in days of fighting that both sides claim its caused hundreds of casualties. On Saturday, Somalia's Islamist defense chief asked for Muslems worldwide to join a so called /a/ "holy war" against the Ethiopian forces.

Leaders in Iran have condemned the United Nations Security Council sanctions on its nuclear program and vowed to speed up uranium enrichments. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad compared the sanctions to a "torn piece of paper". He claimed the Security Council is controlled by the United States, Britain and / regime and said he will regret its move. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said the sanctions will have no effect what he called the country's peaceful nuclear program. He said work will begin on Sunday to install 3000 uranium enriching centrifuges at Natanz, the site of uranium enrichment plant.

The Israeli government has decided to transfer a hundred million dollars in tax revenues to the Palestinian authority. Israel's cabinet voted Sunday to transfer the fund (zero mark) as humanitarian aid to the Palestinian authority headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The move is intended to send Palestinian tax and customs revenues collected by Israel to the Palestinians and bypassed the Palestinian government headed by the militant Hammas movement. The transfer was agreed to in principle late on Saturday, the first official meeting between Mr. Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since Mr. Olmert formed the government in May.

Iraqi police say at least 7 police officers have been killed and 30 others wounded in a suicide bombing attack at the police station northeast of Baghdad. Security officials say the attack occured Sunday in (),90 kilometers from the capital that said the police station also came under what appeared to be mortar attacks.

Pop Benedict has emphasized the importance of human lives in his weekly address where hundreds of people attended the late funeral of Italian right to die activist denied Roman Catholic (barrier) by the Vatican. The Pop told pilgrims gathered at St. Peter Square Sunday, Christmas helps people be aware how valuable the life for every human being is from the first instant to its natural end.

I wish you all a present state funeral, the / Christmas must feel ()of peace or cries or lord and ().

Now the same time in Rome, a non-religious funeral was held for right to die activist ()who died last week after asking his daughter to disconnect him from live support machines.

South Asia reported strong growth in 2006. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi that poor infrastructured widespread poverty remains.

The World Bank estimates that Southeast Asia economy has expanded at the rate of 8.2% in 2006 among the fastest in the world. India led the way rising ahead nearly 8.7% as both the service and manufacturing sectors boomed. Other countries in the region also showed strong growth despite political tensions and civil conflicts. The () had an economic research institute, the RBG foundation in New Delhi is optimistic about the region's prospects.

I think it will be the region of the future about from China, and to ()8 to 10% (), similarly ()Pakistan I think Pakistan ()are living improving. Bangladesh is on / approving.

However, economists warned that South Asia continues to ()the problems that could impact future growth. But () says infrastructure is not keeping pace with the needs of expanding businesses ...