August 23, 2005
Headlines (5:12)
The evacuation of all 21 settlements in Gaza and 4 in the West Bank is complete. Israel’s Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, said bulldozing Of the settlements will take 10 days followed by a military pull out. He said he expects Gaza to be in complete control of the Palestinians by September. Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Israel will maintain control of the remainder Of the West Bank. Palestinians hope to also recover control of the West Bank.
European Union negotiating countries have called off nuclear incentives talks with Iran that were scheduled for August 31st. Helene Papper has more.
Legislation passed today that will guarantee India’s poor 100 days of employment per year. Vinod K. Jose reports from New Delhi.
Impeachment proceedings for Philippine President Gloria Arroyo have been delayed, which is considered a first round victory for her. Rupert Cook reports from Manila.
Bush supporters clashed with anti-war protestors in the home town of Cindy Sheehan, The military mom who began protesting outside Bush’s Texas ranch on August 6th. Pro-war activists began a tour through out California called “You don’t speak for me, Cindy.” When they arrived in Sheehan’s home town of Vacaville, where anti-war activists are Also protesting, verbal clashes between the two groups erupted. The Bush supporters are Traveling to Crawford, to meet the anti-war protestors.
Protestors outnumbered residents in the tiny mountain town of Donnelly, Idaho as President Bush arrived for a two-day working vacation. Protests are also planned For the Boise Area, where Bush will speak to military families tomorrow. Leigh Robartes has more.
Features
Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon and The Right of Return (3:49)
As much of the world’s focus has turned toward the Israeli withdrawal of illegal Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon – the majority of whom were displaced through the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, continue to demand their right to return to their villages, towns and cities throughout Palestine. Mohammed Shublaq and Stefan Christoff visited the Lebanese refugee camps and file this report.
A Look at What the New Iraqi Constitution Will Mean for Women (1:28)
As FSRN reported yesterday, the Iraqi parliament received a draft of the constitution just before the appointed deadline. But how will the new laws – which are religiously-based – affect the rights of women in a country that has been governed under secular laws? FSRN spoke with Hozan Mahmoud, the UK head of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq and asked her about the thinking behind the authors of the new constitution.
The State of the Muslim Minority in Britain (3:45)
In the wake of last month’s London bombings, the British government is searching for ways to deal with the radicalization within the country’s Muslim minority. Yet Tony Blair’s newly proposed terror legislation is unlikely to get at the heart of the problem. David Enders interviews Adbul Rehman Malik, a contributing editor of Q News, a London-based magazine focusing on Muslims in Britain.
Connecticut Files Suit Against No Child Left Behind Implementation (3:54)
Politicians, educators, civil rights leaders and the general public all support the goals of the No Child Left Behind law, but officials in many states have complained about what they call the unfunded mandates in the law. Connecticut has now become the first state to file a lawsuit to force changes in how the law is implemented. Melinda Tuhus reports from New Haven.
Watchdogs Denounce Police Tactics at Anti-War Rally in Pittsburgh (3:15)
The Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board received nearly a dozen complaints following a weekend march in the city against military recruiters in high schools. Organizers of the anti-war protest say demonstrators were forcefully attacked by police – who employed the use of Taser guns and dogs. At least two demonstrators were hospitalized and five were detained. Andalusia Knoll reports.
Turkey’s Government and Kurds Discuss Peace Talks (4:01)
Turkey’s National Security Council meets today and is focusing on the activities of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK. The PKK called for a ceasefire after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan made a trip to the Kurdish region and called for reforms for the Kurdish minority. The trip garnered the attention of rights groups, which urged dialogue to solve the conflict which started in 1984, when two Turkish police officers were killed. A ceasefire was called in 1999, yet the violence continues – two PKK members were killed by police this past weekend. Ozhan Onder has more.
