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Showing posts from September, 2008

AP Top Stories

Here's the latest news for Tuesday, September 30th: Bush warns of dire consequences if Congress doesn't pass bailout plan; Stock markets continue volatility; Stampede kills 168 in India

Pakistan 'refusing to fight al-Qaeda'

The head of Afghanistan's spy agency has accused Pakistan of refusing to arrest the man they say was behind the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Amrullah Saleh says that his agency gave the man's details to Pakistani officials but that the authorities have failed to act.

Independent U.S. candidate banned from debates

While millions of people around the world watched Barack Obama and fellow U.S. presidential candidate John McCain debate each other, another man running for the high office was ignored. Independent Ralph Nader is not allowed to debate Independent U.S. presidential candidate banned from debates because officials say he doesn't qualify. However, Nader's influence on the tight election may be greater than he's being given credit for.

Obama On The Debate

Barack Obama talks about his debate against John McCain and calls one of McCain's assertions a "debating trick." Bob Schieffer questions Obama on the heated topic of diplomacy without preconditions.

US Presidential canditates appear to be on valium

Pepe Escobar shares his post-debate disappointment. On Friday presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain squared off in Oxford, Mississippi for the first of three presidential debates. Following the debate, Real News Senior Editor Paul Jay and Senior Analyst Pepe Escobar shared their collective disappointment with the debate.

Black-and-white contest

The University of Mississippi, which hosted the first debate of U.S. presidential candidates, has a historical significance for this particular race. Two people were killed in 1962 when white students rioted in protest at the enrolment of the first black student. And today a recent poll suggests that racial prejudice is still an issue that could cost Barack Obama the White House.

U.S. vs Pakistan... Allies at Odds

While the U.S. steps up attacks against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, those attacks are crossing the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan. The results have left a trail of enraged Pakistanis, innocent casualties, and an inflamed insurgency targeting Pakistans fledgling democratic government. Will the U.S. leave the battle against terrorists in Pakistan to the Pakistanis?

Young Iranians discuss upcoming US election

The Iranian leader's visit to the US, this time for the UN General Assembly in New York, will probably be his last before there's a new president in the White House. As the election draws closer, we're focusing on people who will be affected by US foreign policy. So what do young people in Tehran think of the US election? Our correspondent Alireza Ronaghi has been finding out.

India insulated from crisis: Mistry

With the US economy facing its biggest crisis since the Great Depression, and financial markets gripped with fear, Keki Mistry, vice chairman and managing director, HDFC, said India is largely insulated from the financial crisis thanks to low mortgage penetration and strict RBI regulations.

Singapore kidneys for sale

101 East looks at the cost of legalising kidney sales in Singapore and discusses the government's plans to consider a radical plan to legalise kidney sales, in a bid to provide a safe medical environment for the donor and kidney patient. Singapore kidney patients spend hours every week on costly dialysis treatment while waiting for a transplant Singapore has the fifth highest number of kidney failures in the world. Kidney patients face costly dialysis treatments and waits of up to 10 years for a suitable donor. Some desperate patients resort to the black market and pay tens of thousands of dollars for illegal kidney transplants overseas. Part1 Part2

Commuters who helped stabbing victim 'heroes'

Commuters who went to aid of a fatally stabbed man in central Auckland yesterday were "heroes", police have said. Forty-four year old Devonport resident and IAG broker manager, Austin Bernard Hemmings was fatally stabbed while going to the aid of a woman who had allegedly been punched in the face. At a media conference this morning, Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley paid tribute to those who helped. "There were a lot of heroes here that showed that community-minded spirit," he said.

Banned milk sold in Bangladesh

A growing number of countries have banned many Chinese-made foods in a bid to combat the spread of tainted milk products that has caused the deaths of a number of children and left thousands suffering from kideny stones. But not all countires have been vigilant in calmping down on Chinese milk imports. Al Jazeera's Nicholas Haque reports from Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, where tainted milk powder can still be purchased from convenience stores despite the efforts of authorities.

General Motors struggling amid US economic woes

Wall Street banks aren't the only ones asking for money from the US federal government. Until recently General Motors was the biggest carmaker in the world. It's been building new factories to build fuel-efficient cars to try to win back its position but it now needs billions of dollars just to keep its old factories open. Tom Ackerman reports from Youngstown in Ohio.

Presidential Nominees Debate The Issues

Debates between nominated presidential candidates have become a pre-election fixture in the United States. In this segment of "How America Elects," VOA's Jeffrey Young looks at the impact of the three debates between the presidential nominees, and the single vice presidential debate.

Anti-Racism summit row

Part 1 On Riz Khan, live from New York City, we debate the Durban II world conference set up to fight racism and racial discrimination. We will speak with Hillel Neuer, the executive director of UN Watch, who argues that the current preparatory meetings for Durban II ignore key issues in Africa in favour of chastising Israel. Israel and the US pulled out of Durban I, claiming it was anti-semitic, and Neuer believes that the only way to avert a similar disaster at Durban II (to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2009) is for the EU to threaten a boycott. Joining the programme from London, Islamic Human Rights Commission Chair Massoud Shadjareh argues that Durban II should move forward as planned and that putting the issue of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is necessary if racism is to be truly addressed. Part 2

US-Iran relations

Part 1 The United Nations General Assembly has convened in New York amid a global financial crisis, rising oil prices and loud protests. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, is due to address the General Assembly on Tuesday. His second visit to the UN has been marred in protests with thousands of demonstrators protesting Iran's threats towards Israel and its human rights record. A massive pro-democracy rally is scheduled to take place during the president's address in which he is expected to criticise the US and its foreign policy as well as defend Iran's uranium enrichment programmes. On Riz Khan we take a look at the current state of US-Iran relations and what a change in the White House might mean for the way forward. Part2

Free Sarah Palin

A prominent female news anchor chastised the McCain campaign Tuesday evening for engaging in sexism and insulting behavior in its attempt to shield Gov. Sarah Palin from members of the press. In a fiery commentary, Campbell Brown laid into John McCain for casting a "chauvinistic chain" that ran over his running mate. Punctuated by a call to "Free Sarah Palin," the CNN anchor highlighted the attempt Tuesday by the McCain campaign to ban editorial reporters from covering Palin's visit with world leaders at the UN, as yet another gender-demeaning move in a campaign highlighted by sexist behaviour. Related Video Palin's U.N. Crash Course Before her debate with Democratic VP candidate Sen. Joe Biden, Gov. Sarah Palin gets a crash course in foreign policy, reports Bill Plante.

Russian warships head across Atlantic

For the first time in modern history, a Russian naval squadron is making its way towards Latin America. The nuclear-powered cruiser 'Peter the Great', an anti-submarine ship and two support vessels will sail from the Arctic to the Caribbean to take part in joint manoeuvres with Venezuela.

Global Financial Crisis Hits Banks

As the global financial crisis claimed more victims last week on Wall Street, the rest of the world's markets and banks have been in turmoil. Forty-five thousand banking jobs are in jeopardy in Britain alone. From London, VOA's Mandy Clark looks at the global financial fallout of the American credit crunch.

More Americans Bike to Work

Rising gas prices and a slowing economy are forcing many Americans to leave their cars at home and find alternative methods of transportation. Many are choosing bicycles to get around. VOA's Babak Bordbar looks at the rise in bicycling in America and what its impact is on the environment. Brian Allen narrates.

Pakistan funerals

Family and friends gathered for the funeral of Shahbana Jamshed, a popular local figure who was working at the hotel entrance when the bomb went off on Saturday. Hundreds of neighbours joined the mourners to escort her coffin on its final journey to her burial place at a mosque in the capital.

The US financial crisis

In a special show from New York Inside Story looks at the financial turbulence that rocked the US last week. Will the emergency measures by the US government be enough to stabalise the markets or has the fiancial system in the US been changed forever? Part 1 Part 2

Pakistan shaken by deadly blast

Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president, has condemned the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad as "horrible and cowardly". Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports from Islamabad where rescue teams are searching through the remains of the Marriot hotel after a truck exploded, killing at least 40 people.

Bangladesh cracks down on tainted milk powder

Four Chinese babies have died and more than six thousand have fallen ill from dairy products that tested positive for the toxic chemical, Melamine. Singapore and Malaysia have joined Taiwan in a ban of all Chinese milk products. Health notices have now appeared in Bangladesh, warning people against milk products from two Chinese companies. Nicholas Haque reports from Dhaka

A worrying week on Wall Street

The collapse of America's fourth largest investment banks and fears about the stability of other financial institutions have led to some on the most tumultuous days in Wall Street's history. Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports on a week that has seen the Dow Jones index have its best and worst days in over half a decade.

US may assault Iran via Georgia

The U.S. military could have plans to use Georgian air bases to launch air strikes against Iran, according to Russias envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin. He pointed out that Georgia would be the perfect base for a potential U.S. operation in Iran.

Russia's financial crisis

The global financial crisis is causing tremors in Russia, where trading has again been suspended after the worst falls in almost a decade. Investors have deserted Russia in droves - sparked by global credit crunch fears, plunging oil prices and uncertainty after Russia's brief war with Georgia. Alan Fisher reports.

India's child flood victims

An estimated three million people have been left homeless after massive floods swamped hundreds of villages in northern India. In the wake of this natural disaster, Al Jazeera's Anar Virji reports from India's Bihar state where many poor families have resorted to selling their children into bond slavery as a mean to survival.

US election weekly podcast

On this week's Al Jazeera US election weekly we spoke to three prominent US thinkers renowned historian and social activist Howard Zinn, global politics expert John Mearscheimer and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, for their thoughts on the elections and how crucial the results will be for the US.

Palestinians despondent as Israeli polls near

In Israel, Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, has been speaking of the need for a peace agreement with the Palestinians by the end of the year. But he is due to step down as prime minister as his Kadima party prepares for a leadership vote on Wednesday. The Palestinians main fear is that whoever wins will maintain the status quo: a military occupation consisting of checkpoints, walls, and settlement expansion. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh reports.

Thai youth exploited by drug gangs

A UN report says the use of synthetic drugs is worsening in south-east Asian countries. In Thailand, police made more than 84,000 methamphetamine related arrests in 2007, the highest in five years. Thai police are struggling to crackdown on the illegal drug trade despite the country's stringent anti-drug laws. Youngsters are being exploited by the drug gangs in Thailand because as juveniles they escape serving adult sentences. Al Jazeera's Selina Downes reports

UEFA Combats Racism

Athletes are role models to children and adults everywhere. So when people see racism on the field, it can spread racism off the field. That's why the Union of European Football Association has taken strides to encourage tolerance in sports with a brand new TV ad campaign. Here's more on the story.

Several bombs rock India's capital

At least 18 people were killed and more than 60 others were injured when five bombs had exploded in rapid succession. Al Jazeera's Matt McClure reports from New Delhi where a radical Muslim group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack.

New Polls Put Presidential Race Even

Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama's long-standing lead in the race to the White House has disappeared. New polls are putting Republican nominee Senator John McCain statistically even with Obama, and in some surveys, ahead. The shift occurred after McCain picked for his vice presidential nominee a newcomer to national politics, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. V-O-A's Jeffrey Young has details.

America after 9/11

Part 1 Part 2 The attacks of September 11 changed the United States and the world. The fingerprints of that day are visible on everything, from law enforcement to air travel, immigration regulations, and money transfers. In short, much of what we do has been impacted by 9/11. Riz speaks with two legal experts on legal and security matters in a time of fear. David Cole is a professor of law at Georgetown University and author of Less Safe, Less Free: Why America Is Losing the War on Terror. And Ruth Wedgwood is a professor of international law and diplomacy at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC.

Seven Years Post 9-11, Are We Safer?

Seven years have passed since 9-11 attacks and the U.S. is still engaged in two wars. Are we safer today? And why so many people are do not believe that al-Qaeda was behind the attacks. Answers to these questions and more on Link TV's Mosaic Intelligence Report. Presented by Jamal Dajani. For more information, visit at http://www.linktv.org/mosaic.

Americans neglected after Gustav

More than a week after Hurricane Gustav spared the city of New Orleans, some gulf coast communities are still dealing with the storm's destruction. One Native American community has received no government assistance despite being devastated by Gustav. Aljazeera's Mike Kirsch reports.

American Muslims after 9/11

The consequences of the 9/11 attacks will undoubtedly be felt for years to come. And the tragedy has continued to affect ordinary Muslim Americans to this day as over the last 7 years they have bee... The consequences of the 9/11 attacks will undoubtedly be felt for years to come. And the tragedy has continued to affect ordinary Muslim Americans to this day as over the last 7 years they have been facing constant discrimination.

Israel criticised over 'rubber bullet' deaths

Israel's military says it uses "non-lethal" rubber-coated bullets in order to defend troops from stone-throwing protestors. But 21 Palestinians have been killed by the bullets in the last eight years and human rights groups say the munitions are being used "recklessly". Jacky Rowland reports from the West Bank.

An island living on borrowed time

REPORT : The Isle de Jean Charles, off the coast of Louisiana, was hit hard by Hurricane Gustav. It suffers the same fate every time there is a storm. It is now only a matter of time before the whole village here disappears into the Gulf of Mexico.

US Economic Slump Continues

Major stock markets in Europe and Asia closed sharply lower on Friday as pessimism grew over the continuing slump in the U.S. economy. The sell-off was triggered by sharp declines in the U.S. stock market Thursday after disappointing reports on U.S. jobs and retail sales. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Hundreds buried in Egypt rockslide

Rescuers are searching for hundreds of people buried under tons of rock at in a village on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Dozens of homes have been crushed after huge chunks of hillside smashed down onto them. At least 30 people are dead but there are fears that the toll could rise. Al Jazeera's Sylvia Lennan reports.

Al Qaeda video of embassy attack

Al Qaeda has issued an internet video profiling a suicide bomber who it claims carried out an attack on the Danish embassy in Islamabad. The suicide bomber is named as Abu Ghareed al-Makki. The video says he detonated a car bomb on June 2, killing himself and six others. Andrew Potter reports.

Russian-Americans back McCain

Hundreds of thousands of Russians live in the U.S. and their votes could influence the outcome of the presidential election. Republican candidate John McCain has been vocal in his criticism of the Kremlin. But Russians living in America appear to prefer him to Democrat Barack Obama.

Democrats Campaign While Republicans Convene

The newly nominated Democratic Party presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, and his vice-presidential running mate, Senator Joe Biden, wasted no time after their Denver nominating convention. They launched a bus tour of five states - - Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin - - states seen as critical in winning the White House in November. VOA's Jeffrey Young reports.