homework

I'm John Dryden from the VOA News Center in Washington.

Thousands of people rallied in California to protest the Bush administration's new immigration reform plan. Organizers said the march was one end to raids designed to catch illegal immigrants and they want an easier, less expensive pathway to citizenship than the one proposed by the White House. President Bush's plan would allow undocumented workers to apply for three-year work visas, which would cost 3,500 dollars to renew.

Japanese and Iraqi officials say Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to Tokyo has been delayed because Iran has refused to let his plane cross its air space. Mr. Maliki is expected in Tokyo but later in the day. Japanese Foreign Ministry officials and members of the Iraqi delegation say Mr. Maliki's plane was diverted to D and has been forced to change its flight plan to Tokyo.

Iraqi security officials say at least 15 people were killed and 25 wounded Sunday in a large explosion in a county south of Baghdad. Police said the blast was caused by a rocket that slammed into a building. Also Sunday the US military announced the capture of a senior al-Qeada leader and two others during a raid in Baghdad. The military says the man has ties to several senior al-Qeada members and is allegedly linked to a number of deadly vehicle bombings.

President Bush says he will veto the US Congress's funding for the war in Iraq if lawmakers attached timetables for a troop withdrawal from Iraq. VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns reports.

In the two months since the US Congress for emergency war spending, President Bush says Democrats have worked to substitute the judgment of Washington politicians for generals in the field.

In both House and Senate Democratic majorities have passed bills that would pose restrictions on our military commanders, set an arbitrary date for withdrawal from Iraq and fund domestic spending that has nothing to do with the war. The Democrats, who pass these bills, know that I will veto either version if it reaches my desk and they know my veto will be sustained.

Because the votes in both chambers of congress were close it's unlikely that Democrats will find the two-thirds majority needed to override the president's veto. Democrats say their legislation fully funds the wars and includes money for other priorities including navies in L that were damaged by Hurricane C. Scott Stearns, VOA news, at the White House.

Philippine officials say an unidentified gunman has killed nine soldiers in a rampage at a military base on the island of J. It is unclear whether the gunman was a soldier or a civilian. Thousands of troops backed by US advisors on J Island have been tracking down members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and leaders of J which has been blamed for a series of terrorist attacks in the region.

China state news agency says 20 crewmembers are missing from a Cambodian cargo ship after the vessel collided with a Chinese ship off China's east coast. The Cambodian ship sank immediately after crash into the Chinese vessel before dawn on Sunday.

Amnesty International released a report this week, criticizing conditions of terror suspects at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. VOA S reports.

The Amnesty International report calls conditions at a new camp at Guantanamo Bay cruel and inhuman. It says detainees are confined in isolated for 22 hours a day and subjected to constant light and observation by guards. Amnesty's US s director L says it is deplorable for the United States to defend its use of the base and continue operations there especially all of alleged human rights abuses.

What makes the US attack on the idea of human rights so serious is not we are worse than other countries but that we have always suspired to be so much better.

But the K institute, R says that in the global war on terror sacrifices must be made to combat an enemy trend into s.

You are never going to get perfect justice. You are going to have to owe one side or the other.

Earlier this week, US State Department officials said the United States remains committed to help defend human rights around the world. S, VOA news, Washington.

Thousands of pilgrims are gathered in the Vatican Saint Peter Square today as Pope Benedict celebrates Easter mass. This is Pope Benedict's second Easter as pope. Easter Sunday is the holiest day on the Christian ca. It marks the day when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead after his k three days earlier.

I'm John Dryden. VOA news. More news on the Internet at voanews.com.