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> Thur., Jan. 26, 2006
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Congressional Budget Office Releases Projections
Hamas Wins Majority in Palestinian Parliament
More from Palestine
Florida Execution Stayed - Is Lethal Injection Cruel and Inhumane?
Workers Sue IBM for Back Pay
India's Republic Day - A Kashmiri Perspective
Who Gets Farm Subsidies? A Look at the Dakotas
FSRN Headlines
VERDICT IN AGENT ORANGE LAWSUIT
A South Korean court today ordered chemical companies, Monsanto
and Dow, to pay over 65 million dollars in damages to South
Korean veterans of the Vietnam War. The two companies manufactured
dioxin-laced defoliants used in large qualities by U.S. forces.
Dioxin exposure can cause severe illness, birth defects, and
cancer. Similar lawsuits brought against Agent Orange manufacturers
by U.S. veterans were settled out of court.
US AMBASSADOR SCOLDED IN INDIA
India's Foreign Secretary scolded the U.S. ambassador in India
today for comments the Foreign Ministry calls "inappropriate
and not conducive". Vinod K. Jose reports from New Delhi.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported yesterday that
the United States ambassador to India, David Mulford, said
in an interview that a nuclear deal with India could die if
New Delhi does not support the US against Iran in the International
Atomic Energy Agency vote on February 3rd. President Bush
and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed the civilian nuclear
cooperation agreement last year. But even after many rounds
of official talks and couple of visits by the US Under Secretary
of State Nicholas Burns, the agreement has not progressed
further. Soon after Mulford's comment yesterday, many Indian
political parties reacted calling it "outrageous".
The US administration distanced itself from Ambassador's statement
calling it "his personal opinion". The Indian government
asserted that it would proceed on the basis of its own independent
judgment and rejected linking Iran vote to nuclear deal with
the US. From New Delhi in India, this is Vinod K. Jose for
FSRN.
UNREST CONTINUES IN NEPAL
In Nepal, agitating political parties called for a countrywide
shutdown today...and the government responded by arresting
hundreds of protesters. From Kathmandu, Carey Biron reports.
The capitol's streets were unusually filled with people this
morning. Unlike in previous days and weeks, however, those
streets were eerily quiet, with little slogan-chanting or
violence. With the institution of a nation-wide bandh, or
unofficial curfew, stores, factories and schools are shutdown
throughout the day, while both public and private transport
is barred from the streets. Called by the country's dispossessed
political parties, today's bandh is meant to show support
for the parties' calls to release political leaders arrested
earlier this week. Today also coincides with the nomination
of candidates for the upcoming municipal elections, which
the parties are boycotting as undemocratic. While cooperation
with a bandh is meant to show solidarity, most of its effectiveness
comes through intimidation. Today's shutdown comes less than
a week after the government imposed its own full-day curfew
last Friday for security concerns, and follows almost daily
violent skirmishes between protesters and security forces.
While today's quiet streets are arguably a show of some political
strength, they are unarguably another in a long string of
disruptions in the everyday lives of Nepalis.
FIVE WOMEN DETAINEES FREED IN IRAQ
In Iraq, US forces today released five women prisoners. Officials
denied that the timing was related to demands made by the
captors of Christian Science Monitor journalist Jill Carroll.
The journalist's captors threatened to kill her unless Iraqi
women held in US custody were freed. There has been no word
of Carroll since her kidnapers released a video of her last
week.
PINOCHET'S DAUGHTER SEEKS ASYLUM IN U.S.
The daughter of Chile's former dictator Augusto Pinochet has
requested political asylum in the U.S. after her arrest yesterday
in Washington's Dulles International Airport. Lucia Pinochet
is wanted by the Chilean courts on charges of tax evasion
and documents fraud. From Santiago FSRN's Jorge Garretón
has the story.
Interior Minister Francisco Vidal was visibly angry when
informed of Lucia Pinochet's intent to seek protection in
the U.S. on grounds of alleged political persecution. Lucia
Pinochet fled the country after she was summoned to appear
in court this week, alongside 4 family members, for charges
stemming from the Riggs bank scandal. She was detained yesterday
as she attempted to enter the US. Foreign Minister Ignacio
Walker says he is certain U.S. authorities will deny Lucia
Pinochet's asylum request. The rest of the accused members
of the Pinochet family are free on bail. For FSRN this is
Jorge Garretón in Santiago.
DANIEL MCGOWAN RELEASED ON BAIL
A New York activist charged with conspiracy, property destruction,
and arson was released yesterday on 1.6 million dollars bail.
Daniel McGowen is suspected of having participated in arson
attacks against an Oregon tree farm and a lumber yard in 2001.
FBI agents arrested McGowan last month. Evidence in the case
against him is reportedly based on testimony from confidential
informants. At yesterday's hearing, the prosecution argued
against McGowan's release, saying that he posed a serious
flight risk. As he awaits trial, McGowan must abide by a court-imposed
curfew, live with his sister, and wear a monitoring device.
Although no injuries or deaths resulted from the arsons, McGowan
could face life in prison if convicted.
[top]
Congressional Budget Office Releases Projections
(4:00)
Official budget and economic projections reveal optimism,
noting that the economy is strong and the deficit will turn
into a surplus in nine to ten years. But if the level of spending
remains consistent and President Bush's tax cuts are made
permanent, a large deficit, and debt, will remain. Leigh Ann
Caldwell has more from Capital Hill.
[top]
Hamas Wins Majority in Palestinian Parliament
(2:57)
Palestinian election officials now say Hamas has won 76
seats in the 132-member parliament in yesterday's vote and
the Palestinian government has resigned following the first
elections there in a decade. Despite earlier fears of violence
the voting went smoothly at more than 1000 polling stations
across Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. Today, however,
Hamas supporters clashed with Fatah loyalists when they raised
their flag over the Palestinian Parliament building. Irris
Makler went to Ramallah to see thousands join in Hamas victory
parades.
[top]
More from Palestine (1:53)
Following the announcement of the official election results
- Hamas proposed a collaborative approach to Fatah leaders
in the form of a national unity government. Manar Jibrin repots
from Bethlehem.
[top]
Florida Execution Stayed - Is Lethal Injection Cruel
and Inhumane? (3:19)
In a decision that could temporarily halt executions by
lethal injection across the United States, the U-S Supreme
Court blocked the execution of Florida inmate Clarence Hill,
who was convicted of killing a police officer in 1982. From
WMNF in Tampa, Andrew Stelzer reports.
[top]
Workers Sue IBM for Back Pay (2:38)
Current and former workers for International Business Machines
Inc. filed suit this week in Federal court in San Francisco
accusing the high tech giant of not paying overtime to tens
of thousands of employees. Max Pringle reports.
[top]
India's Republic Day - A Kashmiri Perspective
(2:01)
India celebrated its 57th Republic today. Celebrations took
place amid high security in the capital New Delhi and in other
Indian states. In Indian administered Kashmir celebrations
also took place again with high security arrangements. Kashmiri
separatist groups called for a shutdown strike. People stayed
indoors and movement on the roads was sparse. As Shanawaz
Khan reports - the Republic Day brings a lot of hassles for
Kashmiris each year.
[top]
Who Gets Farm Subsidies? A Look at the Dakotas
(2:49)
The Environmental Working Group released a report noting
that more than $143 billion has been spent on farm subsidies
by the U.S. government since 1995. The Washington-based advocacy
group indicates that $10 billion of that amount has been funneled
to farms in North and South Dakota. FSRN correspondent Jim
Kent spoke with a Washington, D.C. trade analyst as well as
farmers in South Dakota to examine which farms are receiving
government payments of up to $360,000 per year, and which
are being left behind.
[top]
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