VOLUME No: 78 Issue No:2
Washington, D.C. September 23, 2005
Houston Mayor Orders Evacuation as Texas Braces for a Category 5 Storm...
Houston Mayor Bill White has called for residents of low-lying areas of Houston to evacuate in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Rita, which is expected to hit Texas Saturday, September 23, 2005. Rita was recently upgraded twice on Wednesday to a Category Five storm, the highest category, and has already battered the coastline of Cuba and the southern tip of Florida. Tens of thousands of people are evacuating coastal towns in Texas as Rita looms offshore with winds at 125 mph. Troops and supplies are already in the region in preparation for the hurricane's aftermath, and government assistance in evacuation is being provided. New Orleans has been warned to evacuate low-lying areas as, once again, flooding may ensue.
Roberts Makes it Past the Senate...
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved John Roberts' nomination on Thursday. Three Democrats joined the committee's 10 majority Republicans in a 13-5 vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate. Roberts' approval effectively assures that the conservative judge will be confirmed by the Senate next week as the next United States Supreme Court chief justice.
New Blast Rocks Baghdad as UN General Assembly opens in NYC
In a new wave of violence Wednesday, a coordinated surge of suicide bombings rocked Baghdad, killing almost 150 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks were staged by insurgents, with Al Qaeda of Iraq taking responsibility for the assault which killed more people in Baghdad since the invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein more than two years ago. The largest of the attacks occurred in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad, the bomber using promise of work to draw day-laborers to his van before blowing it up.
The attacks coincided with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, attended by top Iraqi leaders and President Bush, who addressed the General Assembly and urged the UN to step up its battle against terrorism, to help in chasing down terrorists, and rooting out the causes of terrorism.
Egyptian Elections of early September Deliver No Surprises...
For the first time in history on September 7, 2005, Egypt had its first multi-candidate elections, with nine nominees challenging the incumbent president of 24 years, Hosni Mubarak. Elections in Palestine and Iraq, international pressure, and frustrations with Mubarak's rule resulted in an amendment to the Egyptian Constitution in May of 2005 calling for multi-party elections every 6 years and political reform. The elections resulted in a fifth 6-year term for Mubarak with his margin of victory coming in at 88.6%. This was a step for Egypt towards democracy in allowing others to contend with Mubarak, though there were many allegations that the elections were rigged. There was no surprise that Mubarak won with an overwhelming majority of the vote.
