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It's 23:30 universal time, here is news in Special English on the Voice of America. This is Richard Rael reporting from Washington.

1.A bomb explosion has killed at least forty-one people in southern Russia near the Republic of Chechnya. More than one hundred other people were injured. The Chief of Russia's Federal Security Service says three women and a man carried out the attack. He says two women jumped out of a railroad car seconds before it exploded. A third woman who seemed to be supervising the attack was seriously wounded. The man was killed. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the bombing. He said it was at(an) attempt to cause trouble before parliamentary elections in Chechnya on Sunday. Chechen separatist leaders deny responsibility for the attack.

2.American Secretary of State Colin Powell has met with the men who wrote an unofficial plan for peace in the Middle East. Mr.Powell met with former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo in Washington. They discussed the plan called the Geneva Accord. Mr.Beilin said the plan could push Israelis and the Palestinians to act on the peace plan known as the Road Map. The Israeli government criticized Mr.Powell for agreeing to the meeting Israel has rejected the Geneva Accord. The plan calls for a Palestinian State in most of the West Bank and Gaza. Also it calls for Israel and the Palestinians to share control of Jerusalem. Israel's Deputy Prime Minister says the peace process has stopped. He said Israel may have to act independently.

3.The leader of Taiwan says a special vote to be held next year will urge China never to threaten the island with military force. 'President' Chen Shuibian says the vote also will urge China to withdraw missiles aimed at Taiwan. He says such a vote would show the world the threat Taiwan faces and would reduce tensions. China's Xinhua News Agency says Mr.Chen is using the vote to help himself politically. American State Department officials have not given an opinion on the vote, but they have urged Mr.Chen not to call a vote on independence issues.

4.The government of Burma says it is investigating two banks. The United States Treasury Department has accused the Mayflower Bank and Asia Wealth Bank of illegal financial dealings. Burmese Finance Minister Hla Tun said the banks will remain open during the investigation. The United States said last month the banks are linked to traders of illegal drugs. It also said American banks would be banned from doing business with those Burmese banks.

This is news in Special English on the Voice of America.

5.The Burmese government says it may not attend a meeting called to discuss Burma's plans for democracy. The Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister says Burma will take part only if it is permitted to explain its proposed democratic reforms. He said Burmese officials would not attend if Burma is to be criticized. The government of Thailand has invited up to 9 other countries to the meeting. They are to discuss a seven-part reform plan announced by Burma in August. The meeting may take place on December 15th.

6.In the United States, the unemployment rate fell to five point nine percent in November.That is the lowest rate in eight months. The Labor Department reported Friday that the American economy created fifty seven thousand jobs that is less than most economists had expected. In another development, the Commerce Department said orders for goods from factories grew at their fastest rate in one year.

7.Two major makers of treatments to prevent influenza say they have almost none of the medicine left. Reports say the companies of Aventis SA and Chiron will not be able to meet current demand for their influenza vaccine, a dangerous form of the flu has appeared in parts of the western United States. Five children died from the disease in the State of Colorado. Influenza also is a serious problem in Salt Lake City, Utah. Reports say hospitals in the United States treat about one hundred thousand people for influenza each year. In most years, about thirty six thousand Americans died from the disease.

8.In Nigeria, Commonwealth leaders have appointed a committee to consider calls to lift Zimbabwe's suspension from the commonwealth. The committee includes Australia, Canada and India. Jamaica, Mozambique and South Africa also are included. Commonwealth members disagree about the suspension of Zimbabwe from their group. Australia, Britain and New Zealand want the suspension to continue. South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique want to end the suspension. The fifty-four-nation group opened its meeting in Abuja Friday. Britain's Queen Elizabeth led the opening ceremony. Most commonwealth members are former British colonies.

Again, the hour's top news in brief.

A bomb explosion has killed at least forty people on a train in southern Russia. United States Secretary of State Collin Powell has met with the man who wrote an unofficial plan for peace in the Middle East. And Taiwan's 'President' says a special vote to be held next year will urge China never to threaten the island with military force.

This has been news in Special English on the Voice of America, reporting from Washington. This is Richard Rael.