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> Wed., Jan. 26, 2005
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Alberto Gonzales to be confirmed
Immigrant Rights threatened
House resolution demanding return of troops
Rahul Mahajan on Iraqi Election
Iraq tightens security ahead of Elections
Iraqis not optimistic about Elections
World Social Forum
Embera Katio community protest dam in Colombia
FSRN Headlines
3-yr-old Killed in Gaza
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is negotiating with all
sides in the Gaza strip as more charges and gunfire cuts through
the occupied territory. Laila El-Haddad has more from Gaza
City.
New Mexico Is Open for Exploratory Drilling
Officials with U.S. Land Management announced that the state
of New Mexico is open for exploratory oil drilling. From KUNM
in Albuquerque, Jim Williams has more.
Connecticut State Execution on the Horizon
The U.S. Supreme Court considers a Connecticut state execution
scheduled to take place this week – the first in all
of New England in 45 years. Melinda Tuhus reports from New
Haven.
International Journalists Investigate Reporters' Deaths
The International Federation of Journalists dispatched a team
to the Philippines to investigate a series of reporters’
murders. Girlie Linao reports from Manila.
Bush Pays Press for Support
The Washington Post reports that columnist Maggie Gallagher
was paid 22-thousand dollars by the Department of Health and
Human Services to promote marriage as the way to strengthen
U.S. families, which she did in her National Review Online
column. It is another case of the Bush administration paying
journalists to promote White House policies. Earlier this
month conservative columnist Armstrong Williams admitted he
received 240-thousand dollars for promoting the so-called
“No Child Left Behind” education plan. The Federal
Communications Commission is now investigating whether Williams
broke the law when he promoted the plan on his syndicated
talk show. George W. Bush told reporters today that White
House officials were in the dark and ordered cabinet secretaries
to stop the practice. He said, “Our agenda ought to
be able to stand on its own two feet.”
[top]
ALBERTO GONZALES TO BE CONFIRMED (4:16)
Today the Senate confirmed Condoleezza Rice to replace Collin
Powell as the new Secretary of State, making her the first
African American woman to head the State Department. Dr. Rice
will begin work as the nation's top diplomat tomorrow. Also,
the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the nomination of Alberto
Gonzales to become the next Attorney General. However, all
of the Democrats on the committee voted against his nomination.
But as Mitch Jeserich reports from Capitol Hill, Democrats
are not planning to use a filibuster to hold up Gonzalez's
nomination on the Senate floor, thus ensuring his confirmation.
[top]
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS THREATENED (2:18)
Immigration rights groups celebrated a small victory last
month when anti-immigrant provisions within the 911 intelligence
bill were dropped. However, those provisions may come in the
form of new legislation. Selina Musuta of the dc radio co-op
reports from Capitol Hill.
[top]
HOUSE RESOLUTION DEMANDING RETURN OF TROOPS
(:40)
The increasing number of American troop casualties is one
of many reasons that some legislators are looking to pull
out of Iraq as soon as possible. Today, following up on a
letter sent to President Bush two weeks ago, Representative
Lynn Woolsey is introducing a resolution demanding the return
of US troops from Iraq.
[top]
RAHUL MAHAJAN ON IRAQI ELECTION (3:15)
In the midst of continued attacks on coalition forces on
politicans many are wondering just how fair the upcoming elections
in Iraq scheduled for this sunday will be. Joining us to talk
about that election is Rahul Mahajan, publisher of Empire
Notes.
[top]
IRAQ TIGHTENS SECURITY AHEAD OF ELECTIONS (2:17)
A truck bomb has killed at least 15 people and injured 30
others outside a major Kurdish party office in the northwest
Iraqi town of Sinjar - near the border with Syria. Al Qaeday's
leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has calimed responsibility
for the attack in an Internet statement. 37 US Servicemen
died in Iraq today-- the deadliest day for U.S. forces since
the start of the war in Iraq. Thirty Marines and a Navy corpsman
were killed in a helicopter crash near Iraq's border with
Jordan. There is no evidence of any survivors, according to
US officials, who said the helicopter was on "a routine
mission in support of the elections." In addition, the
US military said four U.S. Marines were killed during combat
in Iraq's Western Al-Anbar province, and two U.S. soldiers
were killed in attacks in the Baghdad area. The increase in
US deaths come as Iraqis ready to go to the polls this weekend
amid a tight police state. From Northern Iraq, Aaron Glantz
has that story.
[top]
IRAQIS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ELECTIONS (1:53)
Iraq's Election Commission announced the full list of more
than seven thousand candidates running for its national assembly
yesterday, only five days ahead of the vote. As more of Baghdad
shuts down, there's something about the vote that seems hurried.
It's often hard to find anyone who is optimistic about the
situation other than those running for office. David Enders
files this report from Baghdad.
[top]
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM (2:15)
As the World Economic Forum meets in Davos Switzerland this
week, international social change-makers are gathering in
the tens of thousands in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Until January
31, the 5th Annual World Social Forum will have workshops,
panel discussions and demonstrations about alternatives to
globalization. Pauline Bartolone reports on the opening day
of the forum.
[top]
EMBERA KATIO COMMUNITY PROTEST DAM IN COLOMBIA
(2:43)
In Colombia, the Embera Katio tribe of more than 2,500 people
continue resisting the hydroelectric dam called Urrá
that was built by a Colombian-Swedish consortium in 1993.
The $700 million project was underwritten by the World Bank.
Some 400 Embera Katio people have been living in makeshifts
beds in Bogotá since December 20, demanding that the
Colombian government repay their people for the damage the
dam has caused. From Bogota, Nicole Karsin has more.
[top]
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