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> Fri., Mar. 31, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Secretary Rice's Rude Reception in UK
Corruption on Downing Street
Democratic Lawmakers Oppose Censuring the President
Kidnappings in Iraq
Thai PM Runs for Re-elections Against the People's Wishes
Indo-US Nuclear Deal Good For Monsanto/Wal-Mart
FSRN Headlines
VIOLENCE IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
Three Palestinians are dead after gunfights erupted in the
wake of a bombing that killed a commander of the armed Popular
Resistance Committees. Intense Israeli shelling in the Gaza
Strip followed a suicide bombing in the West Bank. For the
first time in years, an Israeli F-16 dropped a bomb on Gaza
City last night. Manar Jibreen reports from the West Bank.
Four Israelis died Thursday night when a suicide bomber detonated
a car bomb near the entrance of the Qadumim settlement in
the West Bank. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs brigade, the armed wing
of Fatah, claimed responsibility for the attack. The bomber
was identified as 24-year-old Ahmad Masharka from Hebron.
This morning, Israeli troops invaded Al Burj village near
Hebron and broke into the home of the bomber, arresting his
brother. Israeli Forces tightened its closure on the West
Bank city of Nablus today and shelled several locations in
the Gaza Strip. Street fighting erupted in Gaza after the
assassination of Abu Yousef Al-Quqa, a commander in the armed
wing of the Popular Resistance Committees. Some accounts indicate
that an Israeli missile hit his car. Members of the PRC have
accused Palestinian security forces of planting explosives
in the car, saying that they had received warning of a possible
assassination plot between Israel and PA security forces.
Prime Minister Ismael Haniya vowed an immediate investigation.
EARTHQUAKES IN IRAN
Three earthquakes and associated aftershocks have killed around
70 people in Iran and injured some 1200 others. The largest
of the earthquakes struck this morning and measured 6.0 on
the Richter scale.
MILITARY EXERCISE IN IRAN
This, as thousands of Iranian troops were set to begin a week-long
exercise as a mock reaction to an attack, according to state-run
television. Although the exercise spans a large portion of
national territory, specific focus will be on the straight
of Hormuz, a strategic point through which a majority of the
Persian Gulf's oil exports pass.
KASHMIR MILITANT LEADER OFFERS POSSIBILITY OF TRUCE
In Kashmir, a major guerrilla leader has expressed willingness
to enter into peace talks with India if India recognizes Jammu
and Kashmir as a disputed territory. Shahnawaz Khan has more.
Syed Salahudin heads the largest Kashmiri guerrilla group
Hizbul Mujahideen, active in Kashmir since 1989. Salahudin
is also the Chairman of United Jihad Council, an alliance
of over a dozen anti India guerrilla groups active in Indian
administered Kashmir. This week Salahudin said guerrilla groups
could consider a truce if India recognizes Jammu and Kashmir
as a disputed territory. He also added that ceasefire should
not be made a pre-condition for dialogue as armed confrontation
would come down automatically as the dialogue proceeds. Hizbul
mujaheddin had declared a ceasefire in 2000 and started peace
talks with India, but the talks broke down immediately as
New Delhi refused to include Pakistan in the dialogue; a demand
put forth by the group.
CHIRAC ANNOUNCEMENT ON CPE
French president Jacques Chirac has just declared that the
government's controversial youth employment scheme is now
law, although he's ordered some minor changes. Students crammed
public squares to hear the declaration and they, along with
workers' unions and left-wing politicians, have slammed the
decision. Tony Cross reports from Paris.
In an announcement carried before the major channels' news
bulletins, the president told the nation that he's officially
endorsed prime minister Dominique de Villepin's First Jobs
Contract, the CPE. But, he says, he understands young people's
worries about the contract for workers under-26, which allows
employers to fire them at any time. So, he's ordered the government
to make some changes. The contract will now last for one year,
not two, and workers will have the right to know why they've
been fired, although they still can't appeal the decision
to employment tribunals. Students gathered in the main squares
of major towns and cities to hear the broadcast. They'd already
pledged to carry on protesting if the plan wasn't completely
scrapped. Trade union leaders and Socialist politicians described
Chirac's decision as "incomprehensible" and promised
a monster protest next Tuesday.
BIODIVERSITY CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
The two-week long world summit on biodiversity came to an
end today without making any major breakthrough on issues
related to the loss of life in the world's forests and oceans.
Haider Rizvi reports from Curitiba, Brazil.
On the last day of the conference, officials say negotiations
may continue into the night, but indications are that decisions
on some major issues will remain pending for at least another
two years. The most important issue raised at the conference
by developing countries, environmental groups, and indigenous
communities was the question of biopiracy by big corporations.
Another question of acute concern was the funding for reducing
the loss of biodiversity. On both issues, the response from
rich countries have disappointed delegates from poor countries.
They have accused Canada, Austrialia, and New Zealand of playing
a destructive role in negotiations on behalf of the United
States, which is not even party to the Convention. However,
the Conference did make some popular decisions, such as placing
a moratorium on the commercialization of the so-called "Terminator"
genetically-modified seed technology. Throughout the Conference,
hundreds of indigenous people and peasant groups continued
their demonstrations against the use of such technologies.
[top]
Secretary Rice's Rude Reception in UK (1:10)
Sound In the UK, hundreds of protesters flanked US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice. While visiting a school in in the
northern English city of Blackburn, some of the students'
parents also protested her visit there saying she had only
bad examples for their children. Audio While giving a policy
speech, Secretary Rice admitted that the US made thousands
of tactical errors in Iraq, but she also said that history
will judge the US's decision to invade Iraq favorably. During
her trip Rice responded to questions of US policies of indefinite
detention of so called enemy combatants. Rice told the British
that while the US respects the rule of law, it finds itself
in a conflict in which laws don't always apply.. Audio A planned
visit to a mosque in the town was scrapped because of fears
of protests in the building.
[top]
Corruption on Downing Street (3:43)
Meanwhile, the British government, political parties and
prominent business interests are under an ever-widening criminal
investigation by the British police. From London Naomi Fowler
reports:
[top]
Democratic Lawmakers Oppose Censuring the President
(3:39)
A motion to censure the President over the NSA spy scandal
got a hearing today in the US Senate. The motion, which is
being sponsored by Democratic Senator Russ Feingold, is receiving
little support, even among Democrats. The Republican leadership
is looking to expose the Democrats unwillingness to support
the censure by bringing the motion up for a full vote on the
Senate floor. Leigh Ann Caldwell has more from Capitol Hill.
[top]
Kidnappings in Iraq (2:44)
As many took a deep breath of relief with yesterday's freeing
of journalist Jill Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor,
kidnapping remains a threat in Iraq, especially for Iraqis,
thousands of whom have been abducted in the last three years
by political and criminal gangs. David Enders files this report
from Baghdad.
[top]
Thai PM Runs for Re-elections Against the People's
Wishes (3:39)
This Sunday Thailand will be holding elections following
the dissolution of its Parliament. The country has seen massive
demonstrations and boycotts in recent weeks against its Prime
Minister Thaskin Sinawatra. Still, Sinawatra says he's running
for re-election. Severine Bardon reports from Bangkok.
[top]
Indo-US Nuclear Deal Good For Monsanto/Wal-Mart
(4:56)
Following the India-US nuclear deal, concerns are NOW being
raised whether the Indian government has sold out the interests
of Indian agriculture in its eagerness to get a favorable
nuclear deal. Critics say a new bilateral agreement on farm
research and education is the beginning of an all-U-S invasion
into Indian farms and backyards. Critics say the Indo-US Knowledge
Initiative signed by President Bush in his March visit in
India seems to be a smooth deal worked out for US firms like
Monsanto and Wal-Mart. From New Delhi Vinod K. 'Jose reports.
[top]
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