To the Point
Dangerous Assignments, Risky Travel and Government to the Rescue
Two American journalists have been released by North Korea. Three other Americans are in custody in Iran. What are the rights and obligations of tourists, reporters and the governments on both sides of closed borders? Will a new generation of travelers and journalists provoke more international incidents? Also, the President checks in on Senate healthcare bill, and ”snail mail” is in trouble again.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenTwo American journalists have been released by North Korea. Three other Americans are in custody in Iran. What are the rights and obligations of tourists, reporters and the governments on both sides of closed borders? Will a new generation of travelers and journalists provoke more international incidents? Also, the President checks in on Senate healthcare bill, and the US Postal Service is now officially a "high risk" government agency.
Banner image: Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling arrive back to their families on August 5, 2009 in Burbank, California after being released by North Korean authorities yesterday. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Shangri-La
In this episode
3 storiesPresident Checks in on Senate Healthcare Bill
All over the country, members of Congress and other federal officials are facing demonstrators stirred up about healthcare reform. Back in Washington today, six Senators — three Democrats and three Republicans -- briefed President Obama on their effort to reach a consensus. Shailagh Murray reports for the Washington Post .
Read the story8 minDangerous Assignments, Risky Travel and Government to the Rescue
Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been freed from North Korea , but three other Americans are still being detained for crossing from remote Kurdistan into Iran. These are only the latest in a series of international incidents created by American citizens accused of entering forbidden zones, creating multiple headaches for US diplomats.
Read the story37 minPostal Service Warns of Service Cuts
E-mail is a major challenge to "snail mail" and the recession is taking its toll on the US Postal Service. Saturday delivery and hundreds of post offices are at risk of being discontinued and closed. Mail volume has dropped almost 13% in the past nine months and the USPS is on track to lose $7 billion this fiscal year.
Read the story6 min
