Will be christened today in front of a very small group of royal family members. Good morning. Welcome to aljazeera america. Im stephanie sy. Im thomas drayden. To do a federal trial gets underway to determine if the largest municipal bankruptcy filing can move forward. With detroit more than 20 billion in debt, there is little doubt it is in dire financial straits. A city manager has taken over and proposed cutting worker pensions and benefits to help the city get back on track. Labor unions and retirees will argue rolling back pensions view lathes the states constitution. The bankruptcy itself is quickly becoming a costly affair. For the motor city, first came the debt, then came the bankruptcy, then the bankruptcy bill. Its soaring like detroits skyline. The city council dutifully keeps meeting, but since the finances taken over, it is the city manager calling the shots. Hes handed contracts to lawyers and bankruptcy experts worth more than 62 million and counting. Only his office k
Training academy. Thousands of people have been asked to leave their homes around the australian city of sydney. Unpredictable weathers air cross the australian state of New South Wales is making conditions even tougher for crews battling dozens of fires. Lightning storms have now add today the problems caused by soaring temperatures and strong winds. Many local people have made the decision to leave. Only sensual things, a few clothes, you cant take everything. And a few valuables, photographs and things like that. If i seen flames coming up through the bush there, i would be out of here. But we have had a lot of smoky days up here, but i am quite at ease. But, you know, if the wind changes i think i will leave. Bush fires are creeping ever closer towards australias commercial capital. A number of them are burning around sydney as firefighters struggle to bring them under control. Joining us now is jonathan, who is at the headquarters for the Rural Fire Service in the Blue Mountains j
Miles of bushfires burn in australia. Wednesday could be the most destructive day. Appear the Barack Obama Administration calls them an important weapon in the war on terror. Pakistans Prime Minister says the use of drones is a threat to his people and must stop. The leaders are meeting at the white house tomorrow, hours after two human Rights Groups issued reports critical of americas widespread deployment of drones. The group says drones kill civilians, violate International Law and their use may be a war crime. Randall pinkston has the storey. Amnesty international focussed on drone strikes in north waziristan. Investigators researched nine of 45 known attacks occurring between january 2012 and august 2013. In one strike they claim 18 labourers were reportedly kill. The most challenging situation we had to face was the complete and utter secrecy of the u. S. Authorities. Because of that we cannot be 100 certain, but we are certain that these and other killings in the reports may con
A federal judge has begun hearing arguments on whether to accept the citys bankruptcy filing. Bisi onileere joining us live in detroit. Bisi how long could this take and is there a chance that pensions could be saved. Reporter the judge on this case is really trying to push this process forward, and im told that the trial at the most could last about five days. Theres crowds of people out here. There were hundreds out here at one point, protesting this bankruptcy. The crowd made up of many retirees who have so much to lose if this bankruptcy moves forward. They have they could possibly lose their pensions as well as their health care, and as to the question as to whether their benefits can be saved these retirees, they really think they can be saved, because they say they are protected by the state constitution. So as i was saying a lot of drama out here earlier today. The crowd is beginning to die down a little bit. Bankruptcy has been a huge topic here in detroit over the past couple
Pakistawillbe meeting to discusf drones. Reporter there are contentious issues between pakistan and the United States. Its been a rocky relationship for many years. Particularly after u. S. Forces raid deep in the party of pakistan that killed osama bin laden, and the continuing issue of drone strikes, which have increased dramatically under the obama administration. We saw amnesty report holding the United States responsible for civilian deaths and violating international laws. Certainly those issues are going to be on the table. But what is also on the table for pakistans Prime Minister, regional stabilities, with trade, trying to stabilize the region and enhance pakistan economy. A lot of that will be discussed here in the oval office. Well hear from the two leaders after the conclusion of the leaders. Is there any expectation that the meetings will bring the meeting of the minds on the issue of drones in pakistan . Reporter we can say with some specificity and confidence that relat