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It is 15:30 universal time and here is the news in Special English on the Voice of America. I am Steve Ember in Washington.

1. American Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq. He spoke with military officials about efforts to secure northern Iraq. Guerillas have launched many attacks against American forces from that area. An army general in Kirkuk told Mr. Rumsfeld that recent operations against guerillas have led to an increase in intelligence information that American forces are receiving from Iraqis. Mr. Rumsfeld later flew to Baghdad. He reportedly said that he wants to further speed the deployment of Iraqi security forces in the country. Mr. Rumsfeld is also expected to meet in Baghdad with a top American official in the country, Paul Bremer.

2. Japan has held funeral services for two diplomats killed in Iraq last week. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, other government leaders, foreign diplomats and family members attended the funeral. Katsuhiko Oku and Masamori Inoue were shot and killed last Saturday near the town of Tikrit. They were the first Japanese killed in the war in Iraq.

3. A large bomb has exploded in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. At least 18 people were injured. There are no reports that anyone was killed, but Kandahar police chief Mohammed Hashime told VOA that seven victims were seriously injured. He said the explosion was caused by a bomb attached to a bicycle. The bomb severely damaged a number of buildings in the center of town. The police chief has blamed the attack on Taliban rebels and others linked to the ousted Afghan government.

4. Russian officials are increasing security at election centers after a bomb on a passenger train killed at least 41 people near the border with Chechnya. At least 150 others were injured in the attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the bombing Friday near the southern Republic of Chechnya was designed to interfere with Sunday's parliamentary elections. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion. Russian officials blame Chechan rebels. The rebels deny the accusation. Russians will vote Sunday for candidates campaigning for the 450 seats in the Duma--Russia's lower house of parliament. Mr. Putin's United Russia Party is leading in recent opinion studies.

5. China has denounced the proposed vote in Taiwan. The People's Daily newspaper says the Chinese government and people will do whatever is necessary to continue to rule the island if Taiwan seeks independence. Taiwanese officials say the vote they plan to add to election ballots in March will call on China to withdraw missiles it has aimed at Taiwan. Taiwanese President Chen Shuibian says such a move by the Chinese government will ease tensions between the two countries. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will visit the United States on Sunday for talks about Taiwan.

You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.

6. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has welcomed an unofficial Middle East peace plan known as the Geneva Accord. Mr. Annan said the proposal has helped Palestinians and Israelis to begin discussing important issues. But he said that the official peace plan known as the Road Map is still the most important plan. Mr. Annan made the comments after speaking to Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abet Rabbo. The two men wrote the plan. The two men also met with American Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday. He welcomed their ideas, but he also said the Road Map plan is the best plan for Middle East peace efforts.

7. Police in Indian controlled Kashmir have placed a separatist leader under house arrest to prevent a threatened protest demonstration. Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had planned to hold a demonstration Saturday to protest being denied permission to hold demonstrations in Srinagar. Mr. Geelani is chairman of a separatist group of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. The organization seeks Kashmir's independence. Mr. Geelani opposes efforts by some of his group to settle the dispute with India through peace talks. Indian police used tear gas Saturday to remove a crowd protesting Mr. Geelani's arrest.

8. And Commonwealth leaders meeting in Nigeria have named a six-nation group to decide whether to end Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth last year following charges that President Robert Mugabe cheated in an effort to be re-elected. The six-nation group is expected to report their findings before the four-day meeting is over. Many African countries want to end Zimbabwe's suspension. But Britain, New Zealand, Australia and others opposed the move. They say Zimbabwe must first show it has improved Democracy in the country. The meeting of mainly former British colonies opened in the Nigerian capital Abuja Friday.

And now briefly here again is the major news of the hour in Special English.

American Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq. He spoke with military officials about efforts to secure northern Iraq. Guerillas have launched many attacks against American forces from that area. A large bomb has exploded in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar; at least 18 people were injured. And Russian officials are increasing security at election centers after a bomb on a passenger train killed at least 41 people near the border with Chechnya.

That's the news in VOA Special English, Steve Ember reporting.