http://192.168.2.6/english/1117/20061116VOA.mp3

It's 15:00 Universal Time and here is the news from the Voice of America.
I'm David Deforest from the VOA news center in Washington.

Japanese and US agencies have issued tsunami warnings for Japan and Russia's Pacific coasts after a powerful earthquake struck the Kureal islands east Japan. The Pacific tsunami warning center measured the earthquake as having a magnitude of 8.1. The US geological survey later report the second earthquake measuring 6.5 in the same area.
Initial reports from northern Japan indicates only minimal waves.The Japanese meteorological agency says larger waves still could follow. Officials have advised residents in Pacific coast areas to flee to higher ground. Warnings have also been issued for the markets week and mid-way islands.

President Bush stopped in Moscow today to meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at a meeting coming ahead of Asian Pacific Economic Cooperations summit which is being held in Vietnam. The two presidents sent wide exchange greetings at an airport near Moscow then walk to a reception hall for lunch. The Russia and US leader will meet again Friday at an official meeting in Hanoi preceeding the summit, two days' talk by leaders from APEC's 21 member states.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for the quick arrest the perpetrators of a mass kidnapping Tuesday in Baghdad. Gunmen dressed as police commandoes kidnapped dozens of men from an institute belonging to the higher education ministry. Most of since be released but officials say some are still being held. VOA's M. has more from Iraq.
Prime Minister al-Maliki called the kidnappers worse than extremists because they abducted intellectrals preventing universities from carrying out their work. At the news conference held in Baghdad University Mr al-Maliki said Iraq's teachers and students are the hope for the country's future. He said those who tried to destroy them are trying to destroy the country and would not be tolerated. Tuesday's raid was brazen even by Baghdad's standards. Some 18 men dressed as Iraqi policemen commandoes burst into the scientific research Corodi ministry higher education taking away all the men present. Officials initially said more than 100 people were kidnapped, but later revised that figure lower. Five senior police officials from the Corodi district where the kidnapping take place have been detained for questioning. Rocker P. VOA news, Erbu.

The United Nation report accuses several middle eastern and / African countries of providing arms, training and funding to Islamic militias in Somalia in violation of the UN arms embargo. And a report prepared by UN weapons and financial experts says these Islamists are getting supports from A, Iran, Serial, Libya,Egypt and Lebanon's Hezbollah group. The officer say at least three countries Ethiopia, Uganda and Yemen have provided arms and soldiers to bolster Somalia's weak interim-government. Copies of the report were obtained by several news organizations this week.

Nigerian security forces have repelled a raid by about dozens of armed men in the Nige delta, killing at least 2 of the attackers. Police in the state B. Y. say the clush occured today at a oil facility operated by royal dutch shell.

Pakistian's Lower House Parliament has passed a landmark bill amending the country's controversy laws governing of rape and dotery. Legislation has one more hurtle clear. VOA's Bengermin Sam has this report from Islambad.
Despite strong oppositions from Islamists in Parliament Pakistan's Lower House passed the landmark legislation late Wednesday evening. Speaker the house Tro Hussin tali the final vote. The law would not be forward to the country's senate where the ruling party hold the commanding lead and expected to pass the bill without major opposition. The legislation effectively shifts future rape cases out of Pakistan's religious courts and into the country's more moderate civil court system. Passage of the law with significantly cotel Pakistan's concern of Islamist legal system and so-called hedud organise which were regionally passed in 1979. Under those laws women are liable to prosecution for a doctry if they felt produce female Muslim witnesses to operate claims of rape. Benjermin Sads, VOA news Islambad.

US stock indexes are up.