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    (CNN Student News) -- August 31, 2006 Quick GuideDefying the World - Hear dissenting Iranian opinions about the possibility of sanctions over the country's nuclear program. The Fight for Iraq - Find out why one U.S. general cites progress in Iraq despite a recent upswing in deadly insurgent attacks. Before We Go - Learn how some Filipino convicts are helping stem an environmental crisis by getting their hair cut. TranscriptTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: This is your mid-week edition of Student News! I'm Monica Lloyd. Glad to have you along. Iran faces down the west and ignores a U.N. deadline. The cost the country might face as it pursues its nuclear path. In Iraq, a week of violence leaves hundreds dead. Why one U.S. general says there's progress being made, in spite of the bloodshed. And in the Philippines there's a hairy plan to save mother earth. How barbers are cutting a crisis down to size. LLOYD: We begin tonight's program with Iran, a country that's setting a defiant tone toward the U.S. and the United Nations. Earlier this week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that Iran will pursue what he calls a peaceful nuclear program. The U.N. deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear pursuits is today. Ahmadinejad stressed that's a deadline his country will ignore. CNN's Aneesh Raman in Tehran questioning the president about the recent defiant stance and asking Iranians for their feelings and fears as U.N. sanctions loom. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANEESH RAMAN, CNN REPORTER: Iran is showing its defiance of world opinion in a variety of ways .... from a major military exercise to a well publicized missile test ... to street demonstrations. Now, Iran's long stand-off with the United Nations over its nuclear program is coming to a head, and the Iranian president shows no sign of conceding anything. At a rare news conference, in which he challenged President Bush to a live TV debate, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was standing firm on the nuclear issue. RAMAN ASKS AHMADINEJAD: Is suspension of the nuclear program at all on the table for any talks that might take place? AHMADINEJAD: Access to peaceful nuclear energy and power is the right of the Iranian people -we've chosen our right and under international law we want to use our right - nobody can prevent us from it RAMAN: But that defiance could come at a cost - international economic sanctions - and that's where ordinary Iranians starts to differ. Most people feel immense pride in the country's nuclear program, especially among those in blue collar southern Tehran. Here it's all about making your daily wage and showing no weakness to the West. RAMAN: 'We've been subjected to sanctions before, 8 years of war and we withstood that and for what is our right we can do it again,' says shopkeeper Ali. But head to Northern Tehran, home to the more affluent, the more moderate, and confidence gives way to concern. 'We are very worried, everybody is worried, we've been through sanctions and hardships but we don't want any more of it,' says University student Hassan. He is part of a generation that's been hit hard by the country's high unemployment. But there's something even worse than sanctions that has people worried. It's prospect of a military conflict over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Last week the government launched a massive military exercise - war games over to demonstrate Iran's ability to defend itself. In part against potential attacks on its nuclear sites. Something that could drag this country into a broader military conflict. That remains the worst case scenario. But, with Iran's President recently announcing that Iran's nuclear program will not just continue, but actually expand. It's clear that Iranian officials believe defying the West, especially the United States, on nuclear issues is the best strategy. It gives their country more influence in the Muslim world where a majority of people are critical of the U.S.'s role in in Iraq and its continuing support of Israel. And it keeps ordinary Iranians from talking too much about a struggling economy, about alleged violations of human rights right here at home. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran. (END VIDEO CLIP) Shoutout CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! What's Iran's former name? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Persia B) Mesopotamia C) Timbuktu D) Nasiriyah According to the CIA, Iran was called Persia until 1935. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! LLOYD: We now go from Iran to Iraq, where there's been no let-up in the violence. Since Sunday, hundreds of Iraqis have died in attacks in and around Baghdad. Insurgents have struck shopping districts, gas stations, and continue to target Iraqi police and security forces. Michael Holmes is in Baghdad where officials are stressing progress. But everyday Iraqis see less cause for hope. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN REPORTER: U.S. and Iraqi officials had been pleased with a sharp drop in violence this month, that is, until this week. Since Sunday, 200 Iraqis have been killed in a bloody string of attacks around the country - more than 200 wounded. Sure-ja sells everything from food to electronics, and Iraqis travel from miles around to visit, making it a popular target for acts like this. For those who were there Wednesday, talk of a reduction in violence this month means little. MAN ON THE STREET: The situation won't get better for me -- It goes from worse and worse and the bloodshed will continue HOLMES: South of Baghdad, in the town of Hillah, an army recruitment center was targeted by a bomb rigged to a bicycle killing a dozen, wounding dozens more. Elsewhere around the country, the attacks continued near Baquba, just north of the capital. Six members of one family killed, two wounded when the family's mini bus was hit by a roadside bomb Others killed and hurt in a second roadside bomb in the same area. Police in Baquba tell us it has been particularly targeted by sectarian violence people killed even as they flee the area. All of this as Operation Together Forward continues. U.S. and Iraqi troops sweeping through Baghdad's more violent suburbs, an operation successful in reducing sectarian killings in those areas...but clearly not affecting the ability of insurgents to attack elsewhere. Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad. (END VIDEO CLIP) General Casey Responds LLOYD: As Iraqis look for progress in establishing law and order, U.S. officials are looking for more help from Iraqi security forces. On that front. The top American general in Iraq is citing progress. In remarks yesterday General George Casey said Iraqi security forces are currently leading three-quarters of all security operations in Iraq. He also said those forces might be up to the whole security job within the next 12 to 18 months. Casey wouldn't say when U.S. troops would be reduced in Iraq, saying that timetable depends on the wishes of the Iraqi government. Is this legit? AZUZ: Is This Legit? The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale only ranks the intensity of Atlantic hurricanes. Wrong-o! The Saffir-Simpson scale can also be used to rank storms in the Pacific Ocean. Storm Season LLOYD: Case in point: Hurricane John, a storm that formed Tuesday night off the western coast of Mexico, and spun to category four strength in a matter of hours! That means its wind speeds were at least 131 miles per hour as of yesterday afternoon. And you can see from this map why folks in California's Baja Peninsula were concerned. Here's a look at some of the flooding John caused in Acapulco, Mexico. Forecasters say the region will be in danger for a couple days. LLOYD: Before we go.. A story about haircuts for a higher cause. In the Philippines a leaking oil tanker is threatening to become a major environmental disaster. To help mop things up, some prisoners are stepping up by slipping into the barber's chair Anjali Rao explains the pros of cons getting cut. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANJAL RAO, CNN REPORTER: Thousands of prisoners in the Philippines are volunteering to have their heads shaved this week in a good cause. Donating their hair to an ingenious plan to help clear up the country's worst ever oil spillage. Officials estimate 350,000 liters of oil have leaked from an tanker which sank off the Philippines central coast on August 11, threatening some 220 kilometers of coastline. More than 26-thousand people - directly and indirectly dependent on fishing - have been affected. Prison authorities called for volunteers after the Philippines coastguard urged people to donate chicken feather and human hair to assist the cleanup The plan is to use the material in sacks as absorbent booms to contain and soak up the spill. BONGBONG ACOLEDS, INMATE VOLUNTEER: It will be a big disaster if the oil spill spreads. It needs to be stopped. They said it could be stopped by hair. There was no shortage of prisoners eager to do their part, no matter how modest: NIGEL RICHARD, GATWARD INMATE VOLUNTEER: This is a contribution, even though it's a small part, cause my hair is very short. RAO: Outside the prison walls, one of the country's largest hair dressing chains is also pitching in. Its 200 shops are now sending their hair clippings to the Coastguard too. LES REYES CHAIRMAN OF REYES HAIRCUTTERS: We're not just here here to help make people beautiful inside and outside. We're supposed to be responsible and to what can we do for the country? RAO: But environmentalists say it is still up to Petron, the company which had chartered the sunken oil tanker, to take practical steps to control the situation. BO BACONGUIS, GREENPEACE: Well hair has an absorbent quality. It absorbs oil so that's why they are probably using hair, but I think the more important issue is for Petron to siphon out the oil from the tanker or to salvage the ship so that further contamination will be prevented. RAO: In the meantime though, hairdressers throughout the Philippines continue fill the breach with their own brand of cutting edge technology. Anjal Rao, CNN Hong Kong. (END VIDEO CLIP) Goodbye LLOYD: That's all for this edition of Student News. Where we come to you online and on the air. We'll see you tomorrow. I'm Monica Lloyd. |
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