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> Fri., Aug. 13, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
NYC Missile Plot
California Gay Marriage Reaction
Oil Prices
Cuban Vote in Florida
Maryland Prisons
FSRN Headlines
This morning, the US military suspended its offensive against
forces loyal to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-sadr in the city
of Najaf. The move brought a temporary halt to fighting that
has raged for nine days, and allowed Iraqi government officials
to begin negotiations with the insurgents. The move comes
as protests against the offensive sweep the region. The Associated
Press reports that thousands of al-sadr supporters demonstrated
in Baghdad, Fallujah, and the largely sunni town of samarra.
Al-Jazeera reports that protesters in the southern town of
Diwaniya attacked the local office of Prime Minister Iyad
Allawi’s political party, and more than 1000 Sunni and
Shia muslims marched through the small town of Kut al-Hayy
to demand an end to bloodletting. Meanwhile, thousands of
Iranians participated in a state-sponsored protest in Tehran,
and similar rallies are planned across the country.
Today the Australian parliament passed legislation that enables
a controversial free-trade agreement with the United States
to move forward. Erika vowles reports from Sydney.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed
that most of the benefits from President Bush's tax cuts have
gone to millionaires. Mitch Jeserich reports from Washington
DC.
Nigerian groups are raising concern over a joint military
exercise between the United States military and its Nigerian
counterpart set to take place in the oil-rich Niger Delta
region. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
Argentina's Senate has begun the impeachment proceedings
against the Supreme Court judge; he would be the fourth removed
in a popular purge that could make it easier to prosecute
former officers responsible for human rights abuses under
Argentina's military dictatorship.
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NYC Missile Plot
Federal and local officials arrested two men in Albany,
New York last week under suspicion of terrorism ties. Another
New Yorker remains in jail after being picked up for videotaping
financial buildings in North Carolina. These men are labeled
terrorists by the media and some government officials before
any conviction. Meanwhile, a Public Service Announcement was
released yesterday to bring awareness that Muslim American
men are not terrorists. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell files this
report from WBAI in New York City.
[top]
California Gay Marriage Reaction
The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that San
Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority when
he directed the city clerk to begin providing marriage licenses
to same sex couples six months ago. The justices also voted
5-2 in favor of invalidating the more than 4-thousand licenses
issued. Tori Taylor reports.
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Oil Prices
Even as economic indicators demonstrated an increasingly
volatile market, both Bush and Kerry focued on the economy
as a top issue of their respective campaigns. Oil markets
are tight, as increased demand hits disruptions in supply.
Anastasia Nezditskaia reports
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Cuban Vote in Florida
President Bush recently signed a law limiting Cuban American's
visits to Cuba to once in every three years. Travel by Cubans
to their homeland opened in 1978 during the Carter years.
In the past, the Cuban vote in Florida has historically gone
to hard line Republicans who have been tough on Fidel Castro's
regime. At the same time, Florida's Cuban population have
annually ferried money and medicines to their families on
the island. But now, President Bush has aligned himself with
a faction in the Cuban-American community who are willing
to sacrifice their families back home in order to send Fidel
a message. From Tampa, Mark Antokas has the story.
[top]
Maryland Prisons
Nationwide, corrections officials are returning to old ideas
to reduce booming prison populations. A progressive philosophy
of inmate rehabilitation is set to take effect in two Maryland
prisons, and eventually the entire state. Inmates will gain
better access to programs that will benefit them upon return
to the community, including education, substance abuse treatment,
metal health and re-entry support services. FSRN's Jenny Johnson
has the story.
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