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> Wed., July. 26, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
International Diplomats Meet in Rome to Discuss Middle East
Crisis
Israel Rejects Palestinian Offer to Negotiate Solution
Legislation to Deter Presidential Signing Statements is Introduced
in the Senate
Critics Say Proposed Legislation Will Make it Easier to Spy
on U.S. Citizens
Iraqi Prime Minister Addresses Joint Session of Congress
Guatemalan Political and Justice System Faces Major Test
German Education System Tier Places Migrant Students at a
Disadvantage
FSRN Headlines
LATEST FROM LEBANON
The Israeli military suffered their worst losses in Lebanon
today, with as many as 13 Israeli soldiers killed during an
offensive to take the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil,
a Hezbollah stronghold. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary
general Kofi Annan called for an investigation into the killing
of four members of a U.N. force in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
Jackson Allers has more from Beirut.
ARIEL SHARON IN INTENSIVE CARE
The condition of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
is deteriorating. Sharon was moved to the intensive care unit
today to drain fluids in his body. He has been in a coma since
suffering a massive stroke in January.
SENATE APPROVE ENERGY DEAL WITH INDIA
In Washington, The Senate unanimously passed a US-India energy
cooperation bill today. Vinod K. Jose has the details.
The energy cooperation bill calls for promoting dialogue
and increased understanding between India and the US on national
energy policies and strategies. Supporters of the legislation
call it an integral part of an expanding strategic partnership
of the two countries. The energy bill makes sure that India
changes its earlier state-subsidized energy policy to a new
market-based approach. The US-India Energy Security Cooperation
Act of 2006 is seen by many observers as a curtain-raiser
for clinching another bill in the pipeline; The US-India Nuclear
Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006. From New Delhi in India,
this is Vinod K. Jose for FSRN.
SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO ENFORCE PARENTAL CONSENT LAWS
The Senate passed legislation last night that would criminalize
the transportation of pregnant minors across state lines.
The bill is designed to prevent teens from circumventing state
laws requiring parental consent for an abortion.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST MEXICAN ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES
In Mexico, the coalition that supported the center-left candidate
in the the country's contested presidential election has filed
a criminal complaint against election authorities. Vladimir
Flores explains.
The coalition of leftist political parties filed a criminal
complaint yesterday against members of Mexico's Federal Electoral
Institute. The complaint accuses electoral authorities of
failing to uphold rules by doing nothing to prevent companies
from paying for ads that attacked the character of center-left
candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The criminal complaint
filed yesterday is in addition to a legal complaint which
calls for a ballot-by-ballot recount of the very close election.
Conservative candidate Felipe Calderon has refused to back
a call for a ballot re-count. The Federal Electoral Institute
has until the end of August to rule on a re-count and until
the sixth of September to declare a president-elect. Vladimir
Flores, Free Speech Radio News.
VERDICT ON SOUTH CENTRAL FARM
A Los Angeles judge has ruled on the case brought against
the city by the South Central Farmers. Gabriel San Roman has
more.
The Honorable Judge Helen I. Bendix ruled against the South
Central Farmers today in the case of the South Central Farmers
vs. The City of Los Angeles and land developer, Ralph Horowitz.
Attorneys for the farmers had argued that the 2003 sale of
the 14 acre piece of land by the city to Ralph Horowitz constituted
"public waste" and was unlawfully transacted. Horowitz
purchased the land from the city for only five million dollars.
Attorneys for the farmers contend that the selling price was
too low and unfair to LA city taxpayers. The court decision
comes after Los Angeles County Sheriffs evicted farmers and
activists from the land on June 13th. The lawsuit was the
farmers' last legal hope for retaining the land. Attorneys
for the farmers may appeal the decision. For FSRN, this is
Gabriel San Roman in Los Angeles.
[top]
International Diplomats Meet in Rome to Discuss
Middle East Crisis (3:55)
Rome hosted an international conference on the Middle East
conflict today, with diplomats from the U.S., U.N., E.U, Italy,
Egypt and Lebanon. The international talks aimed at creating
a common strategy to resolve the ongoing violence between
Israel and Lebanon - now in its 15th day. Diletta Varlese
reports.
[top]
Israel Rejects Palestinian Offer to Negotiate Solution
(2:26)
At least 40 people were injured, and 16 people were killed
by Israeli forces in Gaza today - among them three young girls
and a disabled man. As the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
enters its fifth week, Palestinians came together to propose
a negotiated solution with Israel, but Israeli officials rejected
the offer. Israel continues its attacks on Palestinian civilian
areas and government buildings. Saed Bannoura reports.
[top]
Legislation to Deter Presidential Signing Statements
is Introduced in the Senate (0:52)
Legislation to deter Presidential signing statements was
introduced in the Senate today. Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen
Spector's legislation would allow Congress to take Bush to
court over statements the President adds to bills he signs
into law, if Congress believes that the act dilutes Congress's
power to legislate.
[top]
Critics Say Proposed Legislation Will Make it Easier
to Spy on U.S. Citizens (3:17)
Legal experts rang the alarm over proposed legislation to
amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. They say
the Act diminishes congressional oversight while expanding
the President's power thereby giving him greater ability to
spy on U.S. citizens. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.
[top]
Iraqi Prime Minister Addresses Joint Session of Congress
(2:20)
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki continued his visit
in Washington DC today, speaking before a joint session of
Congress. Prior to the speech, some Democratic lawmakers criticized
Maliki's comments regarding the Israeli attack on Lebanon,
but a threatened boycott by some Congress members never materialized.
As Darby Hickey reports from Capitol Hill, despite differences
with the administration over the fighting in Lebanon the Iraqi
Prime Minister spoke in terms squarely supporting President
Bush's contention that the situation in Iraq is improving.
[top]
Guatemalan Political and Justice System Faces Major
Test (3:49)
Guatemala says that it has the necessary votes to gain the
non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat, which will soon
be vacated by Argentina. The U.S. started backing Guatemala
to gain the seat after Venezuela announced its interest for
the post, which vacates at the start of next year. The seat
is decided by secret ballot, so it remains unclear which country
will fill it. Meanwhile, the stakes have been raised in the
case against former Guatemalan military leaders accused of
perpetrating genocide in the late 1970s and 1980s. Spanish
judge Santiago Pedraz issued international arrest warrants
for former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, along
with seven other former authorities. As Jill Replogle reports,
carrying out the arrest warrants will be a major test for
Guatemala's political and justice system.
[top]
German Education System Tier Places Migrant Students
at a Disadvantage (3:39)
Germany's education system places students in distinct tiers,
setting a basic, vocational or academic track for all students
by the age of 10. Critics say this system places immigrant
children, who are learning a new language and adapting to
a new country, at a disadvantage. Immigrant children are more
likely to end up in the lower, basic and vocational tiers
of the German education system, before they have had a real
chance to develop their skills. Cinnamon Nippard reports.
[top]
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