Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Thur., July. 27, 2006
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Democrats May Seek to Block Bolton’s Nomination
Indiscriminate Bombing by Israeli Defense Forces Continues
Nepal’s New Government’s Flexibility for Tibetan
Refugees Angers China
Bipartisan Report Cites Waste and Abuse in Department of Homeland
Security Contracts
Scientists Say More Record-Breaking Heat Waves May be Part
of the Future
FSRN Headlines
No Let Up for Israeli Assault on Gaza
Today Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the release
of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was abducted in Gaza could
be imminent. The comments were made shortly after meeting
with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome. However,
Palestinian authority and Hamas officials downplayed that
possibility calling Abbas's statement premature. Published
reports indicate that Hamas is ready to accept a deal that
includes the release of Shalit, but that the Israeli military
must agree to a cease fire and pull out of the Gaza strip
beforehand. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continue in Gaza. Manar
Jibreen reports.
Al-Qaeda Calls on World's Poor to Revolt
In a video statement aired on Al-Jazeera, the alleged second
in command of Al-Qaeda Ayman al-Zawahiri said that the group
will not remain silent over Israel's attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.
Zawahiri said that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah would
not end with a cease fire. He also denounced Arab government
for being complicit in Israeli attacks and he called for all
the worlds poor people, including non-Muslims, to rise up
against the West and the United States. At the White House
Press Secretary Tony Snow responded. Al-Zawahri last appeared
in a video posted on an Islamic Web site on the first anniversary
of the train bombings in London.
Attack Kills 27 in Iraq
Two bomb attacks in a central Baghdad district have killed
at least 27 people. The blasts happened in the commercial
district of Karrada, a mostly Shia area. At least 10 people
were injured, most of them seriously.
Record Profits for Oil Companies
As the middle east spent another day in turmoil, it was a
good day for multi-national oil companies. The Exxon Mobile
Corp. announced it earned $10.36 billion dollars in the second
quarter, the second largest quarterly profit ever recorded
by a US company. High oil prices helped boost the company's
revenue by 12%. And Royal Dutch Shell has reported a 36% jump
in profits on the back of soaring world crude prices.
Fingerprinting Immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security announces today a proposal
to fingerprint green card holders at all ports of entry into
the US. Rebecca Myles has more.
Bush Signs Voting Rights Act Extension
Today President George Bush signed legislation extending the
historic Voting Rights Act for another 25 years. The Act,
first signed by President Lyndon Johnson, outlawed racist
voting practices in the South. While civil rights activists
applaud the 25 year extension, they indicate concern that
the Bush administration's Justice Department has done little
to enforce it.
[top]
Democrats May Seek to Block Bolton’s Nomination
(3:38)
John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations, is seeking
confirmation from the full Senate. But, as Washington Editor
Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, Democrats could stand in his way.
[top]
Indiscriminate Bombing by Israeli Defense Forces
Continues (6:29)
Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the activation of
Israeli Defense Force reservists for a potential ground invasion
of Lebanon. How that could escalate concerns by neighboring
Syria is unclear. According to Israeli daily newspaper, Ha'aretz,
the goal of the proposed 2-month ground offensive would be
to "cleanse" Lebanon's Southern region of Hezbollah
forces. On this 17th day of war in the region, FSRN Producer
Monica Lopez spoke with Beirut correspondent Jackson Allers
about the attacks, challenges to providing humanitarian support,
and how Hezbollah might fare in a ground battle with the IDF.
[top]
Nepal’s New Government’s Flexibility
for Tibetan Refugees Angers China (3:21)
China’s Vice Foreign Minister arrived in Katmandu
today to voice Beijing’s displeasure at recent reports
of a secretive U.S. plan to resettle 5,000 Tibetan refugees
in the United States. Although the now deposed royal government
in Nepal has been dependent on China during its years in power,
the new democratic government has begun to quietly loosen
its refugee policy. FSRN’s Carey Biron is in Katmandu
and reports that with this visit, Beijing is attempting to
reassert its influence.
[top]
Bipartisan Report Cites Waste and Abuse in Department
of Homeland Security Contracts (4:15)
A bipartisan congressional report released today cites gross
organizational weaknesses in the handling of contracts by
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report, prepared
by staff of the House Committee on Government Reform, describes
a pattern of waste and abuse by the DHS that includes reckless
spending, poor planning, and ineffective oversight. FSRN’s
Selina Musuta reports from Capitol Hill, where the House Committee
on Government Reform held hearings to examine Homeland Security
contracts.
[top]
Scientists Say More Record-Breaking Heat Waves May
be Part of the Future (2:24)
A record-breaking heat wave is winding down in California:
the state has seen 13 days of hundred plus degree weather
across a 900-mile stretch, topping 115 degrees in some places.
Some 1.5 million Californians lost power as the heat strained
the electrical grid to the breaking point, and county coroners
are reporting up to 83 heat-related deaths. As Brian Edwards-Tiekert
reports, scientists who track climate change expect more of
the same in the future.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
