July 11, 2005
Headlines (5:00)
At the FBI Academy in northern Virginia, President Bush expressed his grief for the British people who experienced several bombings on their transportation system which injured hundreds and killed more than 50. President Bush said that the attack is another reason to justify the measures the United States has taken in the war on terror, and that he Patriot Act must be extended.
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The House Judiciary Committee could vote on the Patriot Act as early as Wednesday.
And the BBC is reporting that in Iran, 3 newspapers have taken the position that the western countries plotted the bombings to justify attacking Islam in the war on terror. The paper, Kayhan, said that the west needed to persuade the G8 countries to comply with their plan in Iraq, and the Jumhuri Islami paper said the bombs were planted to give the west a reason to attack Islam. The more moderate paper, Iran News says Osama Bin Laden has support because many Muslims feel their religion, culture and civilization have been dishonored by the west.
The Israeli cabinet approved a new route for its West Bank separation wall on Sunday, which is also the anniversary of the ruling by the International Court of Justice that the barrier is illegal. Laila El-Hadad has this story from Gaza.
Interim President Kurmanbek Bakiyev won nearly 90 percent of the vote in this weekend’s elections in Kyrgyzstan. Election monitors say the elections signal progress in the Central Asian country. Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokesperson for The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe monitoring body.
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Bakiyev won power after he led the people to protests that overthrew the president because of unfair elections and corruption four months ago. He says his goal will be to eradicate government corruption. Bakiyev has also reiterated his stance that became known at the Shanghia Cooperation Organization last week, that he wants a U.S. military base near the capital Bishkek, used for the war in Afghanistan, to close.
The Brazilian government and the HIV drug maker Abbot have signed a deal to provide Brazil with the medicine at an affordable price. Natalia Viana has more from Sao Paulo.
Features
Debate Over Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the Senate (3:42)
The House of Representatives restored 100 million dollars to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funding two weeks ago. However, not all the CPB funding that was eliminated in the house subcommittee was restored. This week, it’s the Senate Subcommittee’s turn to decide what funding should be allocated for public broadcasting. However, like the House Subcommittee hearing, today’s hearing in the Senate on the topic of funding turned into an argument about whether or not the CPB, public broadcasting service, and National Public Radio have liberal bias. Selina Musuta reports from the hearing in Washington DC.
Calls for Congressional Hearings for Karl Rove (4:00)
Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee Henry Waxman, is calling for Congressional hearings on top White House Advisor Karl Rove’s alleged outing of a CIA operative. Rove’s lawyer acknowledged over the weekend that Rove talked to at least one reporter about the covert CIA official Valerie Plame. Exposing a covert CIA operative is a federal crime. Mitch Jeserich has more from Washington.
10 Year Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre(3:53)
It’s been 10 years since the Srebrenica massacre, when up to 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed at the hands of the Bosnian Serb Army. Only about 2,000 bodies have been identified – so far. Although Serbs often deny the events at Srebrenica, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia ruled that it was an act of genocide. As survivors gathered to commemorate the massacre today, many families still wonder if and when their loved ones bodies will be identified and returned to them. We’re joined on the line by Susana Sirkin, Deputy Director with Physicians for Human Rights.
Africans Skeptical Over Pledges (2:40)
G8 leaders, who just concluded their summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, pledged debt relief and more aid to Africa, in an effort to solve the continent’s problems. But many Africans remain skeptical, since G8 countries are often behind some of the problems they are now pledging to solve. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
Continued Racism in Boulder, Colorado (3:30)
A new round of racist incidents culminating with an unprovoked attack on a University of Colorado student that left him with a jaw so severely broken it had to be repaired using two titanium plates has led to more talk of zero tolerance, but no real action. Maria Callier reports from Boulder, Colorado.
