NPR 2010-08-01

Government officials in Pakistan say at least 800 people died in the past week in the worst flooding the region has seen since 1929. The United Nations estimates that about a million people have been affected 1 by the disaster. The BBC's Lyse Doucet is in one of the hardest-hit areas in the northwestern part of the country.

We went as far as we could along one of the main roads running south, and then literally 2 ran up into a sea of water, and what a tale of misery 3 when far unfolding all around us. We saw the desperate traders with their lorries that are filled still with goods trying to move as far as they could through the sea of water. They've been stranded 4 for days, and this is a main lifeline in Pakistan, and the entire province is cut off from the rest of Pakistan. We saw so many people walking barefoot in the water, grandparents with children on their heads, exhausted 5. They've made many, many complaints to people that they’d received no relief at all, although we could’ve kept seeing military helicopters flying overhead.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet reporting from northwestern Pakistan.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says that anyone of foreign origin who attacks the police will be deported 6 and deprived of French nationality. Eleanor Beardsley reports.

Critics say Sarkozy is stepping on civic 7 and human rights, and his moves won't reduce crime. His latest declaration comes on the heels of riots and violence earlier this month in the city of Grenoble. There, a multi-recidivist youth of Arab origin was shot dead by police after being involved in an armed holdup. Many immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa burned cars after the young man's death. They also threatened to kill police officers and opened fire when confronted by them. Sarkozy said such juvenile 8 delinquents 9 of foreign origin would lose the privilege of automatic French citizenship 10 upon turning 18. The opposition 11 Socialist 12 Party has accused Sarkozy of worn-out speech and says immigrants are not the main cause of crime in France. For NPR News, I'm Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.

President Obama today called on Senate Republican leaders to stop blocking legislation that would make it easier for small businesses to get credit. The bill would set up a 30-billion-dollar fund for community banks to lend to small businesses. In his weekly address, the president said the GOP is holding the measure hostage.

"Understand, a majority of senators support the plan. It's just that the Republican leaders in the Senate won't even allow it to come up for a vote."

The Republican address also concerned legislation and small business. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska says Congress should repeal 13 a provision from the new health care law that requires businesses to file tax forms for every vendor 14 that used this or provides more than $600 in goods.

Scientists say they may not know for years the full effect of an oil spill on wildlife in the Kalamazoo River. At least 820,000 gallons of oil spilled this week.

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Fire crews in Southern California say they've partially 15 contained a wildfire that has been burning for two days north of Los Angeles. It's blackened nearly 22 square miles of brush. No structures are currently being threatened. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says this is just the beginning of the wildfire season in his state. He urged residents to clear dry needles and brush near their homes and to obey evacuation orders.

The biggest cultural festival in North America is drawing to a close this weekend in Toronto. As Dan Karpenchuk reports, in recent years, Caribana has drawn 16 a million people to the city and with it a mini economic boom.

Officials estimate that of a million visitors to the summer festival, half of them come from outside Canada, most of those from the US. The highlight of the festival is today, the Caribana Parade with its bright and elaborate costumes, floats, bands and dozens of performers and food. But Caribana, now in its 43rd year, is also big business. Last year, festivalgoers spent more than $300 million in Toronto, mainly at restaurants, bars, hotels and on entertainment. But it's not all party. The Royal Ontario Museum hosted a juried show of African-Canadian art, and the Ontario Science Center held an exhibition on the science and technology behind the Caribana costumes and the steel drum. Much of the festival's economic success is that people attend multiple events. This year, there was also a black-tie gala celebrating Haiti. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto.

A memorial service was held in Duisburg, Germany today for the 21 people who died at the Love Parade techno music festival last weekend. They were crushed to death in a tunnel. That was the only entrance point to the festival grounds.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.