Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Right smack in the middle of November with the Thanksgiving break right around the corner, CNN Student News is bringing you the latest from your world!
AZUZ: President Obama is back in Washington after a 10-day trip to Asia, his longest trip overseas since he became president. It wrapped up over the weekend in Japan, where he attended APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. This is a group of 21 member countries, from Australia to Canada -- from China to Mexico to the U.S. -- and their mission is to improve economies and help the Asia-Pacific region to become more prosperous. No surprise, they talked about how the world economy is still hurting from the recession. And they acknowledged that it's still hard to say whether things are improving, with so much uncertainty in its members' economies. APEC nations did agree to work toward increased trade, though. And during the meeting, President Obama talked about some other concerns as well. This soundbite you're about to hear, came after a meeting he had with Russian leaders.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We spoke about a range of security issues. I reiterated my commitment to get the START Treaty done during the lame duck session and I communicated to Congress that it is a top priority.
AZUZ: Okay, you heard the president mention two things there: the start treaty and Congress. Here's the deal on start: it's an agreement between the U.S. and Russia to reduce the number of nuclear weapons they have. Because it's a treaty, it has to be ratified by the U.S. Congress, and tha is one of the things that'll be brought up in Congress' lame duck session, which starts today and ends in December. Another task for lawmakers: What to do about tax cuts that date back to President George W. Bush. Do they keep them in place for everybody, meaning taxes don't go up but neither does government revenue? Or do they let the cuts expire, as they're scheduled to do. Meaning taxes do go up, but the government takes in more money? Or do lawmakers compromise, raising taxes only on wealthier Americans? You're going to hear more about these issues as 2010 winds down.
Activist Released
AZUZ: A speech made in an Asian country the size of Texas, catches the world's attention. Myanmar is also known as Burma. It's the home of Aung San Suu Kyi. She's the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace prize and a renowned activist for Democracy. But Myanmar is controlled by a military regime that has all the power. So Suu Kyi, who wants to change that, says she's going to need her supporters' help. Here's CNN's April Williams.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
APRIL WILLIAMS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, ATLANTA: A prisoner in her own home no more, Saturday, Myanmar's military regime released democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, which she has been under for 15 of the past 21 years. Members of her National League for Democracy party now hope for the best with Suu Kyi free.
UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER OF NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY, [TRANSLATED]: We really want her to come back to the party, she will be the leader of the National League for Democracy forever.
WILLIAMS: Suu Kyi was first locked up in 1989, in the aftermath of a student uprising against the government. The release of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate comes a week after Myanmar's first elections in two decades. Critics blasted the ballot as rigged, and international monitors and media were not allowed in to observe. One of Suu Kyi's attorneys says she should never have been detained in the first place, and sought to put her release in perspective.
JARED GENSER, SUU KYI'S INTERNATIONAL LAWYER: One must remember that we're dealing with a brutal military dictatorship here, and ultimately they have the ability to arbitrarily detain her, arrest her, or imprison her at any time
WILLIAMS: Suu Kyi's supporters vow to fight on, no matter what the cost.
UNIDENTIFIED MEMBER OF NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY, [TRANSLATED]: We know we're doing the right thing so we don't fear the pressure of the government and the military.
WILLIAMS: I'm April Williams reporting from Atlanta.
(END VIDEO)
Is This Legit?
CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? The structure shown here is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This is true. The Kaaba is considered the most sacred shrine in Islam.
Hajj Begins
AZUZ: Millions of Muslims will be circling the Kaaba in the coming days, as part of the Hajj-- The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Attending the Hajj is one of the five main tenets of Islam. Every Muslim who is able to, is required to make this journey once in his or her life. The holy city of Mecca sees more than two million people arrive around this time every year. Islam is the world's second-largest religion, after Christianity. The CIA estimates that Muslims make up about 21 percent of the world's population.
Freeze on Building?
AZUZ: Israel's government is considering incentives from the United States: Hold off from building settlements in the west bank, and the U.S. would sell Israel fighter jets and give the country more diplomatic support. But some Israeli lawmakers have already said, U.S. support for Israel didn't come with conditions before. And the settlements are a major sore spot in relations between Israelis and Palestinians. They both see parts of the west bank as their land. So many Israelis want to build settlements there; Palestinians don't want them to. The United States thinks a 90-day freeze on building settlements, could be a step toward getting both sides to talk permanent peace. But Palestinians say a temporary stop in building isn't enough. And Israeli settlers say stopping construction, would be a sign of weakness by their government.
Shoutout
CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Ms. Van Winkle's publications class at Lux Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska! What do Colin Powell, John McCain and Bill Cosby have in common? Are they all: A) Politicians, B) Actors, C) Veterans, or D) Lawyers? You've got three seconds -- GO! Before their successful careers, all three served our country in the U.S. military. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
AZUZ: Like any other company, CNN has a number of veterans who work for it. Our Associate Producer Tomeka Jones returns for another behind-the-scenes report on "Career Connections." Tomeka:
TOMEKA JONES, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Carl, as you and I know, a producer decides what to cover on the news. That's a role, James Curry is in now working at CNN International. But, prior to fulfilling his dream of becoming a producer he served in the military. James said it was something he always had an interest in. And, it helped prepare him in pursuing his career.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, ANDERSON COOPER 360°: We are back with this remarkable breaking coverage from the historic mine rescue in Chile.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Some breaking news coming in from Scotland Yard...
JAMES CURRY, CNN INTERNATIONAL PRODUCER: A producer guides the newscast and decides what stories are going to be covered, all the elements, graphics, video, sound, etc. Everything you see on TV a producer decided it should be there. Basically, you put everything into the rundown: video, sound, graphic elements, and this is used as a guide during the show in the control room, of what's going to happen and when it's going to happen. When I come in I see what stories CNN is covering and what stories CNN has devoted resources to, so for example have we assigned reporters to certain things that are happening around the world, etc.? And then, I decide what we're going to lead with, what's going to be the top story. The A block is usually the most important, we devote most of our resources to the A block, because it's the top of the newscast and that's what viewers are watching first.
I credit the Marine Corps with all of the success that I have had so far because I have been on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. I went in the Marine Corps. I was an engineer, and then I deployed to Iraq, I was in Fallujah in 2004. That really set me up for success coming to CNN International. I know the geography, a little bit about the politics of all the different countries that I served in. The experience I got overseas serving with the Marine Corps, it's not an education you can pay for, it's just experience that you get.
One of the best pieces of advice I was given is treat every job like you're running for political office. That doesn't mean go shake hands and kiss babies and all that kind of stuff. It just means get your name out there, let people know you're interested. And pursue it, and don't stop.
(END VIDEO)
CNN Teachers' Lounge
AZUZ: Taking it to teachers, now -- we hear a lot about the struggles and problems of school systems -- what's going wrong in education. Some say, not enough attention is being paid to what's going right. We're doing it at our Teachers' Lounge at CNNStudentNews.com. Take a moment to brag a bit, and tell us what your school or district is doing that works!
Before We Go
AZUZ: It's the biggest pet I've ever seen and it's not a mastiff and it's not a pony. It's a bison! This is bailey junior, though there's not much about him that's junior. He's an "indoor" bison, when he's not out for a ride in the car -- the poor car. Baley's owners say he bonded with them like a dog: A 1,500 pound dog that could get up to 2,200 pounds. He is affectionate. Sorta cuddly. Not potty trained. And not cheap to feed. So if you want your very own buffalo...
Goodbye
AZUZ: ..there's a lot to think about before you buy, son. We have a load, a buffa-load, of stories coming your way this week, so please hoof your way back to CNN Student News. I'm Carl Azuz and I'm shameless!