March 24, 2006	Friday	Safar 23, 1427

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10 killed in Nigeria’s census violence AWKA (Nigeria), March 23: Police beefed up security in southern Nigeria on Thursday after a violent start to the country’s first census in 15 years left 10 dead and scores injured....		China accuses US of harming world trade BEIJING, March 23: China accused the United States on Thursday of severely undermining the world trade system as tensions between the two nations heated up ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington....
Japan rejects US plea to halt work on Iran oil field TOKYO, March 23: Japan said on Thursday it would press ahead with its multi-billion-dollar oil investment in Iran, rejecting a plea by US officials to pull out due to Tehran’s nuclear drive....		US meddling with environment LOS ANGELES: A beleaguered president stubbornly insists on staying the course even as his staunchest allies abandon him. I’m not talking about Iraq, but global warming....
Humans spur worst extinctions: UN OSLO: Humans are responsible for the worst spate of extinctions since the dinosaurs and must make unprecedented extra efforts to reach a goal of slowing losses by 2010, a UN report says....		Arab women face uphill struggle for rights: UN BEIRUT: Arab women are taking more senior government posts than before but many are still years away from challenging men’s domination of key decision-making positions, a top UN official says....
US, China set to oil Africa’s growth CAPE TOWN: The United States’ intention to increasingly import oil from Africa and demand from China offer the world’s poorest continent an enormous growth opportunity, a top US politician said on Wednesday....		French student strike shows deep worries over jobs PARIS: French students take to the streets at the drop of a hat but a long strike that has crippled universities shows they are deeply worried about job prospects....
Australia obstructed inquiry, panel told: Iraq’s oil-for-food programme SYDNEY, March 23: The head of the UN’s probe into illegal kickbacks paid to Iraq under the oil-for-food programme found the Australian government initially uncooperative and reticent to provide information, an inquiry heard on Thursday....		Pragmatism draws China and Russia closer BEIJING: China and Russia tightened a strategic embrace this week when Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a clutch of energy deals in Beijing, but Moscow remains wary of drawing too near to its rising neighbour....
12 US tourists die in Chile accident SANTIAGO, March 23: Twelve elderly US tourists died in a road accident in northern Chile this week when the minibus they were travelling in plunged into a ravine, Chilean authorities said on Thursday....		Thai monarch urged to end deadlock BANGKOK, March 23: Opponents of Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra said on Thursday they would ask the king to intervene in a political crisis pitting the prime minister against those demanding he resign over corruption allegations....
Launch of Al Jazeera’s channel put off DOHA, March 23: The launch of Arabic satellite television Al Jazeera’s English-language channel will be delayed until later this year, the group’s director general said on Thursday....		Company chief quits over loan to Labour LONDON, March 23: The chairman of outsourcing firm Capita Group resigned on Thursday, blaming publicity surrounding his decision to loan money to British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s governing Labour Party....
Pope, cardinals discuss ties with Islam VATICAN CITY, March 23: Pope Benedict XVI discussed Muslim-Christian relations with his cardinals on Thursday on a special day of reflection on key issues facing his Church on the eve of...		US soldier sentenced to 6 months in prison WASHINGTON, March 23: A US soldier convicted of abusing detainees with his guard dog at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday by a court martial, a military spokeswoman said....
Tortoise gifted to Clive dies at 255 KOLKATA, March 23: Zoo officials in Kolkata said on Thursday a famed 255-year-old tortoise brought to the eastern Indian city during the rule of the British East India Company has died....		Ex-Iraq FM also spied for France, says paper WASHINGTON, March 23: Naji Sabri Hadithi, Iraq’s foreign minister under Saddam Hussein, was a paid spy for the French intelligence services prior to providing the CIA with information before the 2003 invasion, a US newspaper claimed on Thursday....
Turkey favoured for solar eclipse view ISTANBUL, March 23: Tens of thousands of scientists and astronomy fans are expected in Turkey on March 29 to see the total solar eclipse, Turkish astronomers and hoteliers said on Thursday....		US firms eye India’s $100bn N-market WASHINGTON, March 23: US companies believe that India will be in the market for more than $100 billion in nuclear supplies while New Delhi has already announced a plan to spend $15 billion on upgrading conventional weapons....