2022年12月28日发(作者：clerk)From Washington, this is VOA News.
Cleaning up after a strong quake in New Zealand, no deaths but a state of emergency in effect; and in Pakistan, burials begin for victims in Friday’s bombings. I’m Marti Johnson reporting from Washington.
New Zealand is recovering from a powerful earthquake that cut power and caud significant damage to infrastructure but no deaths. Officials say the 7.1-magnitude quake shook the city of Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island just before dawn, Saturday. The city’s cond largest earthquake on record threw people out of bed and nt frightened residents running into the streets. The quake and its aftershocks ruptured underground lines for natural gas, water and wage, as well as damaging bridges, power supplies and phone networks.
Police in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta have been on high alert as mass burials take place for some victims of a suicide bombing that targeted minority Shiites Friday, killing at least 65 people. Shiite leaders called for a general strike on Saturday to mourn the dead, shuttering schools and business and leaving streets derted. More than 160 others were wounded in Friday’s explosion at a Shiite rally called to express solidarity with Palestinians. The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility. The attacks take place as Pakistan is still reeling from the worst (con口误) flooding in that country in its history. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is urging the international community not to turn its attention away from the crisis which he says is far from over. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.
The UN refugee agency says despite the floodwaters in some parts of Pakistan receding, the overall humanitarian situation remains rious. Aid workers report conditions are worning. UNHCR spokesman, Adrian Edwards, says floods still affect almost two million people in Balochistan province including 600,000 who fled from neighboring Sindh.
"We’re eing a persistent threat of waterborne dia, shortages of shelter and very limited quantities of food for children."
The agency says it is continuing the distribution of shelter supplies. Aid agencies report more than five million people, still, are in desperate need of shelter. Lisa Schlein for VOA News, Geneva.
An explosion in Afghanistan’s northern province of Kunduz has killed four police officers and at least one civilian. Officials say veral people were wounded in Saturday’s attack in the provincial capital. Authorities say the explosives were planted in a motorcycle.
Meantime, the New York Times reports that the US curity contractor, Blackwater, has now created thirty subsidiary companies to ek government contracts in the wake of accusations of misconduct against it in Iraq. In the article, the Times reports at least three subsidiary business had deals with the US military and with the CIA. Blackwater has been under inten curity since five of its employees were a
ccud of killing unarmed civilians in Baghdad in September, 2007. There’s more on this story on our website at .
A top US military officer in the United States says the US has asked Turkey to allow non-combat equipment to be withdrawn from Iraq through Turkish territory. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking in Ankara Saturday, emphasized that there are no plans to transport weapons through Turkey.
Three Pakistan cricket players accud of taking part in a betting scandal have been charged by the International Cricket Council under its anti-corruption code. Jennifer Glas reports from London.
The International Cricket Council charged Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir under Article II of its anti-corruption code. The council’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, expresd his extreme disappointment and sadness about the situation.
“We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that we maintain integrity in the sport.”
The players are suspected in a betting scam after a London newspaper showed video of a cricket agent allegedly accepting money in exchange for information of what the players would do at certain points in the game. The head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, Ronnie Flanagan, said the charge is related to one game between England and Pakistan. The three players are suspended from playing until the ca is concluded. Jennifer Glas for VOA News, London.
US president, Barack Obama, says building a strong middle class is key to helping the country heal its economic problems. In his weekly address on Saturday, Mr. Obama said this weekend’s Labor Day holiday in the US is a chance to reaffirm a commitment to American workers. The president touted some of his administration’s initiatives including tax cuts for working families and investment in construction projects that he says will create jobs. In the weekly Republican Party address, the US Reprentative, Geoff Davis, called for greater scrutiny of federal rules and regulations that he said burden small business owners.
I’m Marti Johnson, VOA News, Washington.
