This Week From Washington
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Bush to Urge Dialogue, Peace in Mideast
President Bush will mix symbolism and substance during a five-day, three-nation trip to the Middle East and will place considerable emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Bush is marking the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding and the 75th anniversary of U.S. ties with Saudi Arabia.
Highlights
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Aid to Burma and China
In Burma, more than a million people are in need of safe water and food two weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck, says USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore. “The extent of the devastation is vast and the relief efforts require the cooperation and coordination of the entire international humanitarian aid community.”
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North Korean Nuclear Documents a Step Forward
As translators and analysts pore over 18,882 pages of newly released documents from North Korea, a top U.S. diplomat says the materials may represent “an important first step” toward a full declaration of Pyongyang’s nuclear activities, required under an agreement reached in the Six-Party Talks.
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Discovery to Deliver Heart of Japanese Lab to Space Station
When Discovery launches May 31, the STS-124 mission to the space station will carry the centerpiece of Japan's laboratory complex and reach a milestone in NASA’s restructuring of its space shuttle program after the 2003 loss of Columbia. Ten flights remain until the shuttle is retired in the summer of 2010.
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U.S. Minority Population Continues to Grow
Slightly more than one-third of the population of the United States -- 34 percent -- claims “minority” racial or ethnic heritage, a jump of 11 percent from 2000. According to a Census Bureau report released May 1, the U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse. Hispanics and Asians continue to be the fastest-growing minority groups.