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Financial Bailout Tentative Deal Reached
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Congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced a deal
early Sunday, and said they hoped to formally announce the bailout bill later
in the day - but before Asian markets open Monday
U.S. lawmakers and the Bush administration have reached a tentative agreement
on a plan to bailout endangered financial institutions. VOA's Dan Robinson
reports, key House and Senate negotiators, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry
Paulson made the announcement early Sunday after around-the-clock
negotiations.Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, center, House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, left, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, right, announce a
tentative deal on bailout legislation, Sunday, Capitol Hill in Washington, 28
Sept. 2008Looking tired but pleased, House and Senate leaders, along with other
key lawmakers walked to a microphone in the Capitol to announce they have an
agreement they believe will rescue the financial markets and protect
Americans.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We have made great progress. We h
ave to get it committed to paper so we can formally agree."Saying their
congressional staffs would work through the early hours of Sunday to put final
words on paper, lawmakers turned to Secretary Paulson, who said, "We begin with
a very important task, a task to stabilize the markets, to protect all
Americans and do it in a way which protects the taxpayer to the maximum extent
possible."The original Bush administration proposal was for an estimated $700
billion plan to purchase troubled assets from imperiled financial institutions
in order to prevent a collapse of the U.S. credit markets.But lawmakers balked
after a wave of public complaints and media reaction about the size of the
proposal. They demanded more oversight and other measures.Last week, despite
an initial announcement of an agreement on basic principles, Republicans in the
House of Representatives insisted on other changes.House Republican whip Roy
Blunt said he believes an agreement can be announced later Sunday, but his
remarks were a bit more tentative than others. "We will be looking at the final
wording of this, talking to my colleagues."Details are expected later Sunday,
and lawmakers would provide no specifics.House Financial Services Committee
chairman Barney FrankBarney Frank, who chairs the House Financial Services
Committee, said the tentative deal "includes genuine compromise, an idea
originally proposed by the Bush Administration and then subject to a process in
which other points and values were added to it."U.S. presidential politics
became caught up in the negotiations last week when Republican candidate John
McCain called for postponement of the first presidential debate with Democrat
Barack Obama.Democrats accused McCain of using the financial crisis to increase
his credibility on economic issues, while Republicans came to his defense.The
debate went ahead after the two men attended an extraordinary meeting at the
White House with President Bush, who was pushing lawmakers for an agreement.
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Top Female Police Officer Killed in Afghanistan
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Malalai Kakar was regularly profiled in international media and known for her
courage in one of Afghanistan's most conservative and male-dominated provinces
Afghan officials say unidentified gunmen fatally shot one of the country's most
prominent female police officers. Malalai Kakar was killed Sunday as she
traveled from her home in the southern city of Kadahar. Her son was also
wounded in the attack. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the
shooting.Kakar, a mother of six, was the head of the department of crimes
against women in Kandahar. She was regularly profiled in international media
and known for her courage in one of Afghanistan's most conservative and
male-dominated provinces. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned the
assassination. Officials from the European Union said Kakar was an example to
her country and to Afghan women. In other violence, Afghan police officials say
a raid by US-led coalition forces killed three civilians in eastern Kunar
province overnight.The coalition says its troops targeted al-Qaida militants
responsible for a series of bomb attacks in the region.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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Iran Avoids New Sanctions in Security Council Vote
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Members reaffirm previous resolutions
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution ordering Iran to
halt its uranium enrichment program -- but the council did not impose any new
sanctions.The 15 council members voted unanimously Saturday for a measure that
reaffirms three previous sets of sanctions on Iran. The resolution states that
previous resolutions are legally binding and must be carried out. It also
calls on Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency,
which is investigating whether Iran has conducted research on nuclear
weapons.The resolution offers Iran the choice of incentives to stop enriching
uranium or face the threat of more sanctions.Iran's Mission to the U.N. called
the resolution unfortunate and unwarranted. It said Iran's nuclear program is
strictly for peaceful purposes, and it said Iran remains determined to exercise
its "inalienable right" to the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Iran denies
Western charges that it has secretly worked to develop nuclear weapons.Enriched
uranium can be used both to generate power and to build a nuclear weapon.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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US Deploys Radar in Israel Amid Fears of Iranian Attack
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Israeli officials say some 120 American crewmen will operate the system, which
was set up this month at Nevatim military base in southern Israel
The United States is beefing up missile defenses in Israel amid fears of a
conflict with Iran. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
The U.S. has provided Israel with an advanced radar system to give early
warning in the event of an Iranian missile attack. The system has been set up
at an air base in the Negev desert in southern Israel. Israeli officials say
120 American military personnel have been deployed at the base to operate the
radar.Their has been growing regional tension over Iran's nuclear program.
The West fears that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons, but Iran says the
program is for peaceful purposes. "If I was sitting in Iran I would see this
just as a signal that they could very well be involved in a conflict that they
do not want," Israeli analyst Gerald Steinberg said. Steinberg says deployment
of the radar shows that the military option remains on the table, despite
threats from Iran that it would retaliate by bombarding Israel with long-range
missiles. "The Iranians should see this as a ratcheting up, that Israel and the
United States are preparing to do something because they are worried about an
Iranian counter attack and preparing to block that as well," Steinberg said.But
Steinberg says Iran will probably not be deterred because the West is not being
tough enough. He points to Saturday's U.N. Security Council resolution that
reaffirmed previous sanctions on Iran without introducing new ones. "We are
seeing that Israel and the United States are talking about defensive measures,
but that is not really sending a strong message to Iran," Steinberg said. "So
what do the Iranians say? 'Well, we are getting slapped on the wrist very
lightly.'" Israel says it wants to give diplomacy a chance. But it has warned
that if sanctions fail, it would consider a pre-emptive strike on Iran's
nuclear facilities. In the meantime, Israel is building up its missile
defenses just in case.
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Israel's Olmert: Jewish Extremism Threatens Israeli Democracy
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Mr. Olmert says pipe bomb attack outside the home of Israeli scholar Ze'ev
Sternhell appears to have been carried out by new right-wing Israeli
underground organization
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says extremism is threatening
democracy in the country, after a pipe bomb attack wounded a critic of Israel's
settler movement.Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert In his weekly
Cabinet meeting Sunday, Mr. Olmert said an "evil wind of extremism" and hate is
passing through some sectors of the Israeli public. He said the violence
threatens people's ability to express opinions without fear.Mr. Olmert said
Thursday's pipe bomb attack outside the home of Israeli scholar Ze'ev Sternhell
appears to have been carried out by a new right-wing Israeli underground
organization. He said authorities are working quickly to arrest those
involved.In other violence, Israeli police said a Palestinian shepherd was
found shot to death in the West Bank today. Palestinians are accusing Jewish
settlers of killing him. An Israeli police spokesman says the youth's body has
been taken for an autopsy and that police are investigating. Other shepherds
said they saw a white car belonging to settlers pursue the teen late Saturday,
and then heard gunshots.Tensions between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in
the West Bank have been running high in recent weeks.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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Foreign Warships Tracking Somali Pirates
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Somali official says three warships, one from US and the other two are from
European countries are tracking pirates
A U.S. navy warship is tracking a Ukrainian vessel carrying weapons that was
seized by pirates off the Somali coast. A Canadian Navy warship Ville de
Quebec, foreground, secures safe sailing as they escort a World Food Programme
ship on off the coast of Somalia (File)A Navy spokesman said Sunday that a Navy
destroyer has made visual contact with the Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina.A
Somali official in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, adviser to the
presidency, Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, says two other warships from European
countries are also tracking the vessel. On Friday, the Russian Navy said it
was sending a frigate, Neustrashimy, to Somalia's coast.The hijacked ship is
carrying 33 Russian-made T-72 tanks, as well as ammunition and spare parts for
the armored vehicles. Twenty one people are aboard the ship, which was seized
by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday as it traveled to Kenya. The pirates
are reported to be demanding a $35-million ransom for the release of the
vessel. In other developments, maritime officials say Somali pirates seized a
Greek tanker and its crew Friday in the Gulf of Aden. The 19 crew members are
Romanians.Separately, authorities announced Saturday that Somali pirates
released vessels from Egypt, Malaysia and Japan along with their
crews.Officials say Japan and Malaysia each paid a $2-million dollar ransom.
It is not clear if Egypt paid a ransom to secure the release of its vessel.Some
information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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Russia Proposes New European Security Pact
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August crisis shows need for new security says Russian Representative
Russia's foreign minister has proposed the creation of a new European security
pact, saying existing mechanisms failed when tested during the Caucasus crisis.
Sergei Lavrov was one of several world leaders who addressed the U.N. General
Assembly's annual debate during a special Saturday session. From United
Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.Sergei
Lavrov said the crisis that erupted in August between Russia and Georgia over
the breakaway Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia demonstrated
that new security mechanisms are needed to provide equal security for all
states.Mr. Larov went to on to state, "it is a process involving all
participants who would reaffirm their commitment to fundamental principles of
the international law, such as non-use of force and peaceful settlement of
disputes, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the
internal affairs, and inadmissibility of strengthening one's own security by
infringing upon the security of others."He said such a treaty should fit
naturally into the legal framework of the U.N. Charter and its principles of
collective security. On the subject of the military conflict between Russia and
Georgia he said, "this problem has now been closed" because Moscow has
recognized the independence of the two pro-Russian breakaway provinces. "The
recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia was the
only possible measure to ensure their security and the very survival of their
peoples," he continued.Lavrov also said the implementation of the peace
agreement negotiated by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France would help
stabilize the situation. The United States and some European countries consider
Russia in violation of that agreement because the Russians have not entirely
withdrawn to their pre-conflict positions. Also speaking Saturday was
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He called the Caucasus crisis
"worrisome" and said simmering regional conflicts endanger peace and
security."The Georgian case has also proved that the protracted conflicts
existing in the Georgia-Ukraine-Azerbaijan-Moldova (GUAM) area, including the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, remain a major source of
instability and a fragile cease-fire regime cannot be a substitute for a
lasting and durable peace in the region," Mr' Mammadyarov stated.North Korea's
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pak Kil Yon told the delegates that
denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is President Kim Il Sung's "lifetime
instruction" and that Pyongyang has honored its commitments under the Six Party
Talks.But in August, North Korea stopped work to disable its main Yongbyon
nuclear reactor, saying the United States had not honored its promise to remove
it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism. He said, "this is little short
of admitting that the list is not related to terrorism in actuality."Washington
says it will remove North Korea as soon as it agrees to a verification
program.Also Saturday, the Assembly heard from ministers from the Arab
countries of Egypt, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria and the United Arab
Emirates.In a statement that was circulated but not read at the General
Assembly, Saudi Arabia spoke of its grave concern over the global financial
crisis and called for effective action to re-stabilize markets. But the world's
largest oil producer did not mention rising fuel prices that have caused a
global crisis. The annual debate concludes on Monday, when diplomats from South
Africa, Jordan, Ethiopia and Nigeria are among those scheduled to speak.
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No Clear Winner in US Presidential Debate
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Commentators, analysts, bloggers appear split on who may have gained advantage
from Friday's debate
Both U.S. presidential candidates were claiming victory following the first of
three scheduled debates. Commentators, analysts and bloggers appeared split on
who may have gained an advantage from Friday's debate. Many believe that both
Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama performed well, but neither
walked away the clear winner. VOA's Kent Klein reports from Washington. John
McCain, left, and Barack Obama shake hands after first presidential debate (26
Sep 08)The headlines in Saturday's newspapers, websites and blogs show mixed
reactions to the debate: "Neither candidate won, tie goes to Obama," "McCain
very glad he decided to show up," and "The big winner was America." Experts
seem to agree that neither Barack Obama nor John McCain made any serious
mistakes. NBC political analyst Chuck Todd said on Saturday's Today show he
thinks it was a good night for both candidates."They were both very good at
doing what they do well, Obama being a little more direct than he usually is,
but still expansive, and the format helped him there, McCain being very direct,
showing a lot of energy," he said.Bruce Miroff, a professor of political
science at the State University of New York at Albany, says John McCain was
particularly comfortable in the foreign policy portion of the debate."McCain
had had a rocky two weeks on the economy. He was back on his ground of foreign
policy, and he probably reassured his supporters that he was still in command
of his campaign," he said.On the other hand, Miroff says Barack Obama held his
own with McCain on foreign policy.Barack Obama"Obama's task was to show that he
could go toe-to-toe with McCain on foreign policy, his supposed weakness and
McCain's supposed strength. He had to look presidential, he had to convince
people that he was ready to be commander-in-chief, and to be a president
knowledgeable and with good judgment on foreign policy, and I think he
accomplished that task," he said.The 90-minute debate at the University of
Mississippi was originally intended to focus entirely on foreign affairs. But
the recent convulsions in the financial markets led debate moderator Jim Lehrer
to spend the first 40 minutes on economic issues. Larry Sabato, Director of
the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, says that was a distinct
advantage for Obama."In essence, John McCain got cheated. That was supposed to
be the foreign policy debate. That is John McCain's strong suit," he said.
"The McCain campaign was delighted that the series of debates began with the
foreign policy issues. And, of course, because of the financial superstructure
meltdown, the moderator naturally asked questions about the economy."Some
analysts have commented on the contrasting demeanor of the two candidates.
While Obama argued with McCain on numerous issues, he said eight times he
agreed with his opponent on various points. Some commentators have called that
a sign of weakness. Bruce Miroff, however, says it hurt McCain.John
McCain"McCain very visibly smirked and showed a kind of disrespect for Obama,
which was also evident in constantly saying that Obama did not understand this
or that. And to some people that may convey strength, but I suspect to more
people it was a negative for McCain," he said.Larry Sabato says the candidates'
behavior during a debate has very little to do with who is more qualified to be
President."Whether McCain looked at Obama is irrelevant," he said. "Whether
Obama was interrupting McCain because he was upset is irrelevant. What matters
really is the substance of what they said. Does style play into it? Of course
it plays into it. But that is no way to pick a president."The second of this
year's three presidential debates will take place October 7 in Nashville,
Tennessee. The candidates will respond to questions on both foreign and
domestic policy from the audience, and to questions submitted on the Internet.
Larry Sabato says the format of the second debate appears to favor John
McCain."Town hall debates are McCain's strong point, and yet you never know
what is going to be asked," he said.There will also be one vice presidential
debate, between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin October 2 in
Saint Louis, Missouri.
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Zimbabwe Cabinet Formation Urgent To Prevent Food Disaster - Tsvangirai
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Action by the proposed unity government is urgent so "our people have food and
do not die of starvation," Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists in Harare
Zimbabwean prime minister-designate leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned on Saturday
that the country could face a famine in months if President Robert Mugabe does
not promptly name a cabinet under the power-sharing agreement signed Sept. 15
to take urgent action.
Tsvangirai, founder of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change
party whose two formations now control the lower house of parliament, said the
govenrment must seek donor assistance to feed 5.5 million Zimbabweans by early
2009.
Action by the proposed unity government is urgent so "our people have food and
do not die of starvation," Tsvangirai told journalists. It was his first major
public statement since efforts to name a cabinet pursuant to the power-sharing
deal bogged down last week.
President Mugabe told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday that he
and his long-time ruling ZANU-PF party would respect the spirit and letter of
the compact - but some observers say the power-sharing deal, less than two
weeks old, is already in trouble.
But Tsvangirai expressed optimism, saying the differences are
surmountable.Zimbabwe has been without an official
government for months following disputed presidential elections. Tsvangirai won
the most votes in the March 29 first round, but pulled out of the June 27
runoff because of
state-sponsored violence against his supporters.Zimbabwe's economy has
continued to crumble, with inflation last officially measured at some 11
million percent - though economists say it is probably over 40 million percent
by now - and food shortages widespread following a failed harvest.
Correspondent Irwin Chifera of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reported on
Tsvangirai's appeal for formation of a government that can urgently take action
to avert disaster.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...
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Chinese Space Mission Returns to Earth
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Astronaut Zhai Zhigang completes historic space walk making China the third
country after the Soviet Union and US to do so
Chinese astronauts have returned safely to earth after a three-day orbital
mission that included a space walk. Daniel Schearf reports from
Beijing.Chinese taikonaut Zhai Zhigang waves after getting out of Shenzhou-7
re-entry module following its landing in Siziwang Banner in North China's Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region, 28 Sep 2008China's state television broadcast
images of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft as it parachuted back to earth on the flat
grasslands of China's Inner Mongolia province.A team of men in red jump suits
helped the three Chinese astronauts, in their bulky spacesuits, to exit the
craft.They were presented with flowers and later carried off in their
chairs.Astronaut Zhai Zhigang led the mission and was the first Chinese to
perform a spacewalk by exiting the craft while in space. He says the mission
was glorious, full of challenges and with a successful end. He says he is
proud of his motherland.The walk was a key test of Chinese astronauts' ability
to operate in space. Chinese political and military leaders watched from the
control center. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao declared the astronauts heroes and
said the mission would benefit China's economy, technology development, and
national defense. He says it marks China's becoming the third country in the
world to independently grasp the technology for entering space. He says it is
a great victory for the country's space flight capabilities. China sent its
first man into space in 2003, and this latest effort was the third manned
mission to space.The space walk was also another step towards Beijing's goal to
build a space station in the next few years.The United States and other
countries are watching China's space program carefully.Last year China's
military used a missile-launched weapon to destroy an old satellite. The move
was not announced, left scattered debris in orbit, and was widely seen as a
demonstration of China's space power.Beijing says it has only peaceful,
scientific plans for space.
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