CNN news 2013-03-24 加文本

cnn news 2013-03-24

From that I-Report in Sartell, Minnesota. We're heading to the Middle East as we kick today's show. President Obama is on a four-day trip to the region, and it started yesterday in Israel. That's where he met with Israeli president Shimon Peres. Now one interesting point here, in Israel's government, the president is a mostly ceremonial position, the person who runs the country's government is the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. President Obama also met with him yesterday. The leaders talked about some of the issues they both face, like how address Iran's controversial nuclear program. Another issue on the agenda for this trip, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Today president Obama is scheduled to visit the West Bank, a Palestinian territory. He set to meet Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian authority. So he is talking to leaders on both sides of this conflict. Tomorrow, after a few other stops in Israel, the president will ahead to Jordan. There he's scheduled to do a news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah. Then he heads back to the U.S. from Jordan on Saturday.

Why is the president making this trip? Part of this job is diplomacy, to represent the United States to the world, that's why he meets other leaders. Plus the U.S. and Israel are close allies, so visiting that country reinforces the strength of that relationship.

Quick side note to this trip, yesterday, we told you about the Beast. President's personal limousine, it went to Israel ahead of president Obama, so it can be there when he landed. Unfortunately, the Beast, went bust, it wouldn't start, had to be towed away. And officials said the driver accidentally filled it up with regular gas instead of what it needs, diesel fuels, oops, nothing to worry about though.

When the president travels overseas, multiple vehicles are usually along for the ride, so when president Obama landed, the backup Beast was ready to go.

It's hard to forget someone like Malala Yousafzai. In her home country of Pakistan where fewer than half of the women can read and write. Malala worked toward women's education rights, even after she got death threats to stop. She survived the shooting by Afghan terrorists, the 50-year-old has been recovering in the United Kingdom, where on Tuesday, she was once again able to continue her education in school. ITV's Rupert Evelyn was there.

"The education campaigner is herself learning again."

"So you will go to school by yourself, OK, you will be independent."

Anxious and escorted by her father. Malala Yousafzai heads towards her first day at her new school. Swapping the classroom of Pakistan's Swat Valley for the private halls of Birmingham's Edgbaston High School.

"I think it is the happiest moment that I'm going back to my school and today, I held my books, my bag, and I would like to talk to my friends, I would like to talk to my teachers."

It is five months since the Taliban attempted to assassinate Malala. Her life saved Pakistan, her skull rebuilt in Birmingham. She has defied the odds, and with thess images released by her and her family. She defies her enemy's attempts to silence her.

"Her return to school is a symbol of the simple yet powerful message, Malala conveys, her campaign for women's education will not be stopped either by a change of country or by a bullet."

"We aim that when she's in school, she'll be a normal girl, she'll follow the normal rules, she'll be taught along with everyone else. And we will support her."

Her new school motto translates as faithfully, bravely and successfully. Her new classmates will not have to look far to find someone who's encapsulate those characteristics. Rupert Evelyn, ITV news, Birmingham.

It might seem strange to think of someone risking her life for an education. Especially if you've heard news report about other people dropping out of school. What is your education means to you? Is it a priority? Or are you just going through the motions?

Talk to us at cnnstudentnews.com, it's the same site where your teachers can comment on today's show.