Wednesday 19 November 2008

Your VOANews.com Headlines (UTF-8)

VOANews.com, with its new community site USAVotes2008.com, will continue to provide you with English post-election coverage. Check out the blogs from VOA reporters on the election experience. Users can also share their thoughts and experiences. Also watch for USAVotes2008 and VOA updates on Twitter!


Indian  Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F5F7:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Officials say stealth frigate destroyed  heavily armed pirate mother ship with two speed boats in tow, about 528 kilometers southwest of Oman coast
For the second time in a week, India's navy has repelled pirates in the Gulf of Aden. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that compared to other navies patrolling the pirate-infested water, India's warships are showing no hesitation in opening fire to thwart hijackings and protect their national interests beyond its shores.Indian Naval Ship TabarIndia's navy says one of its stealth frigates destroyed a heavily armed pirate mother ship with two speed boats in tow, about 528 kilometers southwest of the coast of Oman. It is the second time in a week the Indian navy has clashed with suspected hijackers in the pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden. The director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in New Delhi, retired Indian Army Major General Dipankar Banerjee, says India's navy has been given the all-clear by the government here to confront the pirates. "It is very much in order for India to take an active interest in these attempted hijackings of ships, which now often have a very significant portion of Indian sailors," said Banerjee.  "Indian merchantmen are manning most of these ships now. And most of these ships will have a significant number of Indians in them apart from the Indian cargo. The presence of a number of warships from at least nine countries, including the United States, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden has, so far, done little to thwart the rising number of attacks on commercial vessels. Click to see larger mapMaritime industry groups report pirates are currently holding 14 ships off the Somali coast, including an oil supertanker. An Indian navy warship, on November 11, first intercepted pirates who surrounded an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.In the second incident - late Tuesday - the Indian Naval Ship Tabar, according to the Defense Ministry here, encountered a so-called mother ship of a group of pirates. The vessel refused to be boarded for an inspection, responded that it would destroy the Tabar if it did not depart and then fired upon the naval ship. India's navy says the Tabar returned fire, the pirate ship exploded as two speed boats of the suspected pirates broke away and escaped. The Tabar was dispatched on an anti-piracy mission to the region at the beginning of the month to escort Indian and other merchant ships through the pirate-infested waters off of Somalia.The International Maritime Bureau says piracy in the region is out of control. It is calling on the United Nations to take a role to halt the menace which is driving up costs for shipping and making crew members hesitant to transit one of the world's busiest commercial maritime routes.


------------------------------------------------------


Al-Qaida Leader Says Obama's Afghan Plan Doomed

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F5F8:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Statement from Ayman al-Zawahiri, terror network's second-in-command, refers to US president-elect by derogatory racial term, attacks his policies as anti-Islamic
Al-Qaida's first reaction to Barack Obama's election as U.S. president refers to him by a derogatory racial term and attacks his policies as anti-Islamic.Al-Qaida number two leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's video statement about President-elect Obama, 19 Nov. 2008In an posting on a militant Web site Wednesday, a voice identified as the terror network's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, says President-elect Obama's plan to increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is doomed. There was no immediate reaction from the U.S. government or Mr. Obama's transition team.The al-Qaida recording says Mr. Obama's support of Israel confirms his hostility toward Islam. The posting shows a picture of Mr. Obama wearing a skull cap at a Jewish holy site in Jerusalem.Zawahri also denigrates Mr. Obama's achievements and those of other prominent African Americans: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and General Colin Powell - implying they are servile to whites.Zawahri uses a phrase popularized by slain U.S. activist and Muslim convert Malcolm X to refer to Mr. Obama as a "house slave."  The English caption translates it to "house Negro" - a reference to enslaved African Americans who Malcolm X said were manipulated by white power. The personal attack also includes a rebuke to Mr. Obama for turning his back on his father's Muslim roots.Mr. Obama has said he would return America's military focus to Afghanistan and the fight against al-Qaida after what the president-elect has called the distraction of Iraq.  The U.S. military is already working to draw down troops in Iraq, while boosting forces in Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have been on the rise.Zawahri says in the posting that "the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh" of American soldiers "to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them."Zawahri refers to a specific U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan on November 5, showing that the message was taped after Mr. Obama's election.


------------------------------------------------------


Pakistan Says Al-Qaida Operative Killed in US Missile Strike

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F5FB:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Most of six killed are said to be foreign fighters including senior al-Qaida operative of Arab origin identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi
Authorities in Pakistan say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least six al-Qaida-linked militants in a remote northwestern village.  Meanwhile, senior military officials say that close coordination between Pakistani troops and U.S-led coalition forces has helped an ongoing offensive to evict militants from a tribal region bordering Afghanistan.  Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.Local residents sit by rubble of a house hit by suspected US missile strike in Indi Khel village near Bannu, Pakistan, 19 Nov 2008Officials say a pre-dawn missile strike by what is believed to have been a U.S. unmanned spy plane destroyed a militant hideout in the northwestern district of Bannu.  Most of those killed in the attack are said to be foreign fighters, including a senior al-Qaida operative of Arab origin identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi.  Witnesses say that militants quickly removed bodies from the scene before local authorities arrived to investigate the incident. Speaking by telephone district police officer Mohammed Alam Shinwari confirmed the attack.He says investigations continue in an effort to confirm exactly how many people were killed in the early morning attack.  This was the first alleged U.S missile strike to have hit a target outside Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal regions on the Afghan border, which have become a safe haven for al-Qaida and Taliban militants. Pakistani authorities allege U.S drones have carried out more than 20 missile strikes in the past three months.  Although Washington does not comment on them, senior U.S officials are reported as saying the strikes have killed important al-Qaida operatives in recent weeks.  But Pakistani leaders and tribesmen say most of the victims were innocent civilians. The government has protested the U.S attacks, saying they violate the country's sovereignty and undermine public support for its anti-terror efforts. Reports appeared in American media have suggested that a secret deal between Washington and Islamabad signed recently allowed the stepped up U.S missile attacks inside Pakistan.  But a statement this week from the country's foreign minister denied the reports. Meanwhile, military spokesman Major General Atthar Abbass disclosed an ongoing anti-insurgent operation in the militant-infested Bajaur tribal region has made gains because U.S-led coalition forces have given assistance from the Afghan side of the border. "This is the first time that they have also deployed their forces checking the border crossings, and, therefore, we were able to target the foreign militants in Bajaur and choke them in the area," Abbass said.  "There have been also communications between the main posts on both sides of the border.  They have been communication with each other and assisting each other against the militants' crossings and militants' operations in the area." A senior U.S military commander has also confirmed that NATO and Afghan forces have stepped up border cooperation with the Pakistani military.  He told reporters this week that "Operation Lionheart" also included coordinated action against militants on both sides of the border. Pakistani authorities say that they have killed nearly 2,000 militants, including foreigners in the Bajaur operation.  


------------------------------------------------------


Former US President Clinton to Submit to Ethics Review

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F5FD:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Media reports say former president will submit to extensive ethics review if his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is nominated to be secretary of state in Obama administration
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (file photo)U.S. media reports say former President Bill Clinton will submit to an extensive ethics review if his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is nominated to be secretary of state in the Obama administration.The reports first published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal newspaper cite Democratic Party officials familiar with President-elect Barack Obama's vetting process who say Mr. Clinton has agreed to submit future charitable and business activities to rigorous ethics reviews. The reports say the former president has also offered to release the names of several major donors to his charitable foundation.  They say Mr. Clinton would also seek clearance from the Obama administration before agreeing to any paid speeches.Mr. Obama is reportedly considering Senator Clinton among others for the top U.S. diplomatic post.  Officials say Mr. Obama's transition team wants to ensure that Mr. Clinton's activities do not pose a conflict of interest with the new administration.Senator Clinton lost to Mr. Obama in the long and often bitter race earlier this year for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.Mr. Obama is also reportedly considering New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, another rival for the party nomination, for secretary of state.Eric Holder, 09 Jun 2008In other Cabinet posts, party officials say Mr. Obama is considering private practice attorney Eric Holder to be attorney general.  Holder served as deputy attorney general under former President Clinton, and would be the first African-American to head the Justice Department if he does become attorney general.Officials say Mr. Obama's aides have been talking with senators to determine if they would support the selection.  At issue is Holder's involvement in the controversial 2001 pardon of a fugitive financier, Marc Rich, by President Clinton.  At the time, Holder said he was neutral and leaning toward favoring the pardon.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AP. 

 


------------------------------------------------------


Paulson, Bernanke Defend Financial Rescue Strategy

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F5FE:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
US Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve Chairman faced criticism that original intent of financial rescue program as approved by Congress in September shifted
In testimony to Congress, the U.S. treasury chief and central bank chairman have strongly defended their management of the $700 billion financial and credit market rescue program.  VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, where the officials faced tough questions from lawmakers about how government money is being used.Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, left, accompanied by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifies on Capitol Hill before House Financial Services Committee, 18 Nov. 2008U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have faced criticism the original intent of the financial rescue program as approved by Congress in September has shifted.Mr. Paulson revealed last week that billions of dollars approved by Congress is now going to prop up capital liquidity and lending capabilities of banks and other institutions, rather than to purchase troubled assets they hold.Under questioning before the House Financial Services Committee, Paulson said negative developments in U.S. and global market conditions since Congress approved the rescue program outstripped the effectiveness of initial $350 billion amount approved by Congress, forcing the change in direction."It is clear that an effective mortgage asset purchase program would require a massive commitment of TARP [Troubled Asset Relief Program] funds," he said.  "In September, before economic conditions worsened, $700 billion in troubled asset purchases would have had a significant impact.  But half of that sum in a worse economy simply is not enough fire power."Paulson said actions so far had strengthened the financial system, prevented further harm to the U.S. economy, and preserved for President-elect Barack Obama the flexibility he will need to deal with future challenges. Committee chairman Democratic Representative Barney Frank said lawmakers are unhappy with how banks and institutions have used money from the government program, and their failure to significantly expand lending to home owners."The fundamental policy issue is our disappointment that funds are not being used out of the $700 billion to supplement mortgage foreclosure reduction," he said.Lawmakers have pointed to media reports that banks have used money from the government assistance program to purchase other banks, and pay investor dividends and bonuses to executives. Representatives of some major institutions told Congress last week that executive compensation will be sharply reduced in light of economic conditions, and defended their efforts to expand lending.  Ranking panel Republican Spencer Bachus said Paulson deserves credit for recognizing the need to shift strategy."[If] conditions on the ground change, then you must be agile and adjust, and I hope we all understand that," he said.In their testimony, Bernanke and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair said while capital injections reduced pressure on and provided some stability to banks, credit conditions remain unsatisfactory."Overall credit conditions are still far from normal, with risk spreads remaining very elevated and banks reporting that they continued to tighten lending standards through October," Bernanke said.FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair testifies on Capitol Hill before the House Financial Services Committee, 18  Nov. 2008"The financial system is now more stable and interest rate spreads have narrowed substantially, however credit remains tight and a serious threat to the economic outlook," said Bair.Bair pointed to continuing increases in the number of U.S. home foreclosures, saying that government efforts are "falling behind the curve."  In his testimony, Treasury Secretary Paulson said the Bush administration remains opposed to using funds from the government rescue program to help the three major U.S. automakers avoid collapse.House and Senate lawmakers are considering a $25 billion plan to help auto manufacturers.   


------------------------------------------------------


Congressional Democrats Vow Bipartisan Approach in New Congress

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F600:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Democrats speak to reporters after finalizing party leadership positions on Capitol Hill
Democratic leaders in Congress say they will use their strengthened majority to pursue bipartisan solutions to U.S. economic problems.  VOA's Dan Robinson reports, Democrats spoke to reporters late Tuesday after finalizing party leadership positions on Capitol Hill.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (l), and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 18 Nov 2008California Representative Nancy Pelosi, who House Democrats re-elected as Speaker, says Americans expect the Democratic-led Congress to tackle the difficult challenges facing the country, and work with a President Obama after he is inaugurated in January."That change brings with it tremendous responsibility," said Nancy Pelosi. "The American people have great expectations for what this Congress can do working with the great President-elect Barack Obama."Pelosi said a new direction, the main theme of Democrats in the 2008 election campaign, will require bipartisanship and civility, as well as fiscal responsibility.House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who also retained his position in the Democratic hierarchy, echoed the remarks."We intend to work across the aisle, with the Senate and with the President of the United States, to do what American voters wanted done, to make a change in America," said Steny Hoyer.Congress has returned for a lame duck session, during which lawmakers attempt to complete unfinished work, and tackle other issues.Hoyer earlier raised the possibility that the session might continue into December after the Thanksgiving holiday break, to accommodate work on legislation to help U.S. automakers.Executives from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler pressed members of a Senate panel to approve billions of dollars to help them avert potential collapse.But Pelosi said she doesn't see much likelihood of a December session, saying Congress will either have to pass an auto company assistance bill now or wait until lawmakers return to begin a new 112th congressional session, at which time they will also be working on a new economic stimulus measure.  And any new government assistance to car companies, Pelosi adds, must come with strict conditions:"We will put up enough money to infuse the industry with the liquidity to take it until March," she said. "By March we want to see a plan.  If you want us to show you more money, you must show us your plan for how this industry will be viable."Representative Jim Clyburn - House Democratic Whip, 18 Nov 2008Elsewhere in the House Democratic leadership, South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn, now arguably the most influential African-American lawmaker in Congress, retains his number three post as Democratic Whip."We now have an expanded majority and we are now faced with some significant challenges," said Jim Clyburn. "This caucus will work with Barack Obama to manage some of the most significant crises our country has ever faced."Connecticut Representative John Larson will head the House Democratic Caucus, replacing Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman and former Clinton administration aide who will be chief of staff to Mr.Obama when he takes office in January.  


------------------------------------------------------


Georgia, Russia Conclude Talks

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F601:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Meeting aimed at easing tensions after five-day war over south Ossetia in August; parties agree to meet again next month
Russian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigori Karassine and  members of delegation arrive for second round of talks at UN offices in Geneva, 19 Nov 2008Russia and Georgia have wrapped up a round of talks aimed at easing tensions after a five-day war in August over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.The United Nations and European Union sponsored Wednesday's eight-party talks in Geneva.  Officials from South Ossetia and from the breakaway region of Abkhazia attended the meeting, along with a representative from the United States.Officials did not say much about today's discussion.  But Russia's deputy foreign minister confirmed that the parties are set to hold another round in Geneva next month.Georgia has said it wants an international peacekeeping presence in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are now patrolled by Russian forces.  Russian forces swept into Georgia August 7, following Georgia's military effort to regain control of South Ossetia.  Moscow subsequently recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.Wednesday's meetings were held in two working groups, rather than in a formal plenary session.  Delegates are meeting as individuals without identifying the side they represent. Abkhazia's Deputy Foreign Minister Maxim Gvinjia was pessimistic ahead of the meeting. He said he expects results "many, many years" from now.Georgian and Russian delegates walked out of inaugural talks in Geneva last month.  Georgia objected to Russian demands that officials from South Ossetia and the other separatist region, Abkhazia, be seated at the talks.Meanwhile, exchanges of gunfire are reported outside a Georgian village near the boundary of South Ossetia. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


------------------------------------------------------


US Food Safety Officials Open Office in China

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F602:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says FDA presence in China is first step in global strategy
The United States has opened a Food and Drug Administration office in Beijing, as the first step in an FDA strategy to try to improve food and drug safety standards
around the world.  The moves comes one week after the United States placed a temporary ban on dairy products imported from China, which is still recovering from a scandal involving tainted milk.  Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
Beijing retiree, Mr. Ling, says recent scandals involving tainted foodstuffs in China have him worried.

Ling says he cannot be so scared that he stops eating altogether.  He says although some businessmen who sold tainted milk to consumers have no conscience, he generally trusts his
government and, in the end, still has to eat.

 The safety of Chinese food products also concerns the United States, which imported more than $4 billion worth of foodstuffs from China in 2007.

In recognition of the importance of China as a growing source for US edibles, the Food and Drug Administration opened its first overseas office in Beijing Wednesday.  Eight FDA staffers
eventually will be based in three Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Mike Leavitt talks to reporters in Beijing, 19 Nov 2008U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said FDA's China presence is the first step in a global strategy that will see FDA offices also open in India, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East in coming months.

"The opening of offices around the world is part of a desire we have to both build regulatory capacity with host governments, in other words, to improve our relationships and to work
jointly, in collaboration," he said.

Leavitt said having US inspection personnel on the ground, around the world, means they will be able to respond more rapidly to any problems that could occur.

China in recent months has been embroiled in a scandal involving milk tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical that gives the false appearance of higher protein content.  The
tainted milk has killed at least four babies and sickened tens of thousands of others.

Melamine was also found to be the culprit in contaminated pet food ingredients imported to the United States from China in 2007, after pet cats and dogs died.

Last week, amidst the latest scandal, the United States imposed a ban on imports of Chinese dairy products, unless importers could certify they are free of melamine.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday said his country regrets the US decision, and called for the ban to be lifted as soon as possible.

He also told reporters China plans to send "relevant" Chinese food safety officials to the United States.

Qin gave no specifics, but said China hopes the arrangement will help the two countries strengthen communication and cooperation on food quality and safety.

The posting of FDA officials in China was based on two agreements on the safety of food, feed, drugs and medical devices US and Chinese officials signed last December.


------------------------------------------------------


New Report Calls Nuclear Terrorism Serious Risk

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F603:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
'Securing the Bomb 2008' urges President-elect Barack Obama to make reducing risk a top priority of US security policy and diplomacy
A new report says the world still faces a serious risk that terrorists could obtain a nuclear bomb and urges President-elect Barack Obama to make reducing that risk a top priority of U.S. security policy and diplomacy.  VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.The new report, called "Securing the Bomb 2008," says major progress has been made to reduce the danger of nuclear terrorism.The report warns, however, there are still major gaps in these efforts and says the risk of terrorists acquiring a nuclear weapon remains unacceptably high.The author of the report, Harvard professor Matthew Bunn, says the potential for a disastrous attack is very real."That would incinerate the heart of a major city," he said.  "It could turn the center of Washington, D.C. or the center of Manhattan into a smoking, radioactive ruin that would be unusable for decades to come.  That would have profound and catastrophic affects on our society, really reverberating around the world."The study is the seventh annual report from Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and was commissioned by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a nonproliferation group based in Washington, D.C.  The report details a series of events around the world in recent years it says highlights the risk of poor security at nuclear installations.These include an armed break-in at a South African site with hundreds of kilograms of highly enriched uranium, the arrest of a Russian colonel for soliciting bribes to overlook violations of nuclear security rules and the increasing terrorist threats amid the ongoing strife in Pakistan.The report says the materials for a nuclear bomb exist in hundreds of buildings in dozens of countries.Professor Bunn says there are currently about 130 research reactors around the world that still use highly enriched uranium for fuel."I think they are a quite serious concern because many of these facilities have very minimal security measures," he said. "Some of them are on university campuses and other locations where it is really not plausible that you would ever have the kind of security that in my view is required when you are talking about potential nuclear bomb material."The report says there has been progress in the former Soviet Union in recent years.  It says U.S.-sponsored security upgrades have been completed for 75 percent of the buildings that contain weapons-grade material and for about 65 percent of Russia's nuclear warhead sites.  The study says major issues remain, however, ranging from insider theft and corruption to chronic underinvestment in nuclear security.The report also recommends expanding efforts to secure nuclear materials in China, India, Pakistan and South Africa.The study contains an agenda for the next U.S. president to prevent nuclear terrorism and Professor Bunn says President-elect Barack Obama needs to accelerate efforts to combat the threat."They really need a comprehensive strategy to prevent nuclear terrorism, starting with locking down nuclear stockpiles all over the world, making sure that every nuclear weapon, every kilogram of plutonium or highly enriched uranium, wherever it may be, is secure and accounted for," he said.Professor Bunn says the Obama administration should appoint a senior White House official, with direct access to the President, to supervise all efforts focused on preventing nuclear terrorism.   


------------------------------------------------------


Space Shuttle Endeavour Crew Begin Space Station Repairs

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F7F604:E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B&
Astronauts begin first of four space walks planned for current mission
Two astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour began a series of repairs on the International Space Station Tuesday.  The space walk is the first of four that the astronauts have planned for the current mission.  VOA's Catherine Cannon has this report from Washington. TS-126 space walker Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper rides the International Space Station's Canadarm2 to space shuttle Endeavour's payload bay, 18 Nov 2008The first mission for Endeavour's crew began as astronauts Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen left the station for a more than six-hour walk in space.  The astronauts' main task for all four space walks is to repair and lubricate massive joints that turn the station's solar panels toward the sun.  The solar panels must face the sun in order to produce the maximum amount of electricity for the station.   During the first space walk, Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen cleaned and lubricated the starboard solar alpha rotary joint.   Tuesday's mission included the transfer of a nitrogen tank assembly from a storage platform on the space station to the shuttle Endeavour so it can be brought back to Earth.  NASA technicians described the work as the astronauts carried out the mission."Steve Bowen as he moves hand-and-hand back to the cargo carrier where he will help Stefanyshyn-Piper install that for return home to Earth," a NASA official explained.Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who will participate in the next space walk, is this walk's choreographer or intravehicular officer.  Mission specialist Don Pettit is in charge operating the Canadarm2, a robotic arm that helps the space walkers move materials.To prepare for conditions outside the space station, Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen spent the night in lower air pressure to remove nitrogen from their systems. Stefanyshyn-Piper will also participate in the crew's second space walk.  The astronauts will continue to clean and repair the joints on the space station in two days.  

------------------------------------------------------


If you have questions about this E-mail newsletter send an e-mail to:


voanews@voanews.com

Click here to unsubscribe from the VOA Daily World News Summary2: http://enews.voanews.com/u?id=E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B


Forward this E-mail: http://enews.voanews.com/bin/ftaf?id=E2FDB7E6D97F9373BC64BCFC0560C5B20531BB26A5003E7B

No comments: