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> Tues., Dec. 30, 2003
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Orange Alert Curbs Civil Rights
Guatemalan Presidential Elections
Pakistan Shuffles Political Powers
Vietnam’s Economy
Senegalese Farmers Ignite Corn Revolution
FSRN Headlines
Ashcroft Recuses Self from Leak
John Ashcroft’s top deputy announced today that the
Attorney General is recusing himself from the investigation
of a White House staffer or staffers who leaked the name of
a CIA operative. Ashcroft was criticized for a possible of
conflict of interest in the matter -- charging he would be
unable to thoroughly investigate the Bush White House.
Others claimed his close ties to Presidential political advisor
Karl Rove make him impartial. The Justice Department is investigating
who leaked the name of a CIA operative – a federal offense.
The name of the agent was leaked to the press after her husband
discredited Bush claims that Iraq had nuclear weapons.
Canada and USDA Moving on Mad Cow Investigation
Today Canadian officials are performing their DNA testing
hoping to confirm the origin of one of the two cows found
in Washington Sate with mad cow disease. Leigh Robartes has
more.
Death Toll in Iran from Earthquake
The expected death toll in Bam, Iran is climbing from 30-thousand
to a possible 50-thousand. Mahdis Keshavarz reports from Qazvin,
Iran.
Increase Nursing Staff Law in CA
On New Year’s Day, California’s first in the nation
Safe Staffing law will go into effect, requiring all hospitals
in the state to comply with minimum nurse to patient staffing
ratios. More from Kellia Ramares in Oakland.
Corporate Crime Report
Today the organization Corporate Crime Reporter listed the
top 100 settlements reached by US corporations with the US
government for making false claims. Approximately 50-percent
of the companies are from the health and pharmaceutical business.
25-percent of the companies are defense contractors. Russell
Mohkiber is the senior editor of the report. Also the Associated
Press reported today, the U.S. Energy Department paid out
330-million dollars to reimburse private contractors for legal
bills that included sexual harassment suits, wrongful terminations,
and false settlement claims listed in the Corporate Crime
Reporter investigation.
[top]
Orange Alert Curbs Civil Rights (3:52)
Today Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, announced
that the nation will remain at a code orange level alert at
least through the end of this week. This comes just a day
after Secretary Ridge announced emergency regulations that
are not subject to a comment period that allows the United
States to require some international airliners to have an
armed marshal on board. Ridge said the U.S. might deny landing
by an aircraft if it does not comply with the arbitrary order.
Secretary Ridge also urged the public to look for suspicious
behavior that could be related to terrorist activities. This
concerns some civil rights groups who say the public hysteria
of Orange Alert can result in the racial profiling of people
who look Middle Eastern. Mitch Jeserich reports.
[top]
Guatemalan Presidential Elections (4:15)
A conservative businessman and former Guatemala City mayor
will be Guatemala’s next president. He was declared
the winner of Sunday’s elections on the seventh anniversary
of the end of Guatemala’s decades long civil war. Catherine
Elton has more on this story from Guatemala City.
[top]
Pakistan Shuffles Political Powers (4:05)
Pakistan's parliament has voted General Pervez Musharraf
President - giving him extraordinary powers including the
authority to dissolve the elected government. In return, Musharraf
agreed to step down as army chief by the end of 2004. The
deal would allow the US-backed leader to serve out his term
as president, which ends in 2007. But many in Pakistan say
the new law undermines their sovereignty. Masror Hussain reports
from Pakistan.
[top]
Vietnam’s Economy (3:50)
This year international business leaders gathered in Southeast
Asia and met with world leaders such as US president George
Bush, Japan’s Prime Minister Jonichiro Koizumi, Russian
President Vladimir Putin, and South Korean President Roh Muh-Hyun
to strategize economic opportunities in the region. Such strategies
often exclude poor nation such as Vietnam. Vietnam is making
its own economic transition, hoping to join the ranks of these
first world nations. And as Ngoc Nguyen and Aaron Glantz report
from Ho Chi Minh City, they're getting help from a team of
American lawyers who are re-writing the country's laws.
[top]
Senegalese Farmers Ignite Corn Revolution
(3:39)
Trade ministers from the Americas met in Miami last week
to discuss plans to complete negotiations on free trade of
the Americas in the western hemisphere in the hands of corporations.
Failed talks in Cancun in September forced Senegalese farmers
to spark a corn revolution. From Senegal, Ndiaga Seck reports.
[top]
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