April 17, 2006
Headlines (6:17)
CHAD WITHDRAWS FROM DARFUR PEACE TALKS
The government of Chad has withdrawn from the African Union-brokered peace talks on Sudan’s troubled Darfur region. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.
SCARCITY IN NEPAL
Strikes and protests continue into their 12th day in Nepal. Although the length of the strike is indicative of the strength of the pro-democracy movement, paralyzed transportation has spawned a scarcity of food and fuel. PC Dubey reports from Kathmandu.
FORMER GOVERNOR FOUND GUILTY OF CORRUPTION
Former governor of Illinois, George Ryan, has been found guilty 18 counts of corruption-related charges, including racketeering, tax evasion, and mail fraud. Ryan faces up to 4.5 million dollars in fines and 95 years in prison. The former governor is best-known for ending capital punishment in Illinois.
MAD COW FOUND IN CANADA
Canada confirmed its 5th case of mad cow disease over the weekend. But as Matt Kaye reports, the US is unlikely to further restrict trade between the two countries.
WIRELESS CAMERAS TO WATCH NYC
The New York Police Department has launched a new video surveillance program. Mitch Jeserich has the story.
PALESTINIAN PRISONERS
Thousands of Palestinians filled the streets of Gaza City today to commemorate Prisoner’s Day. Laila El-Haddad reports.
Features
High Court Rejects Guantánamo Uigher Prisoners Case [reader]
The Supreme Court rejected a case by two Chinese Muslim detainees at Guantánamo Bay who were erroneously captured and remain under detention. Military officials told the two Uighers they were not enemy combatants, but have not been released because the administration does not want them to enter into the United States, and they cannot return to China, because they will likely face torture. The Justices declined to intervene in the case while it is under appeals in the ninth circuit court.
Justices Hear Case About Employer Retaliation (4:35)
In more news from the Supreme Court, Justices heard a case today that could impact what constitutes retaliation of an employee by an employer in the workplace. Leigh Ann Caldwell reports on the case, where a woman in a non-traditional position claims she was retaliated against after she reported sexual discrimination and harassment.
Suicide Bomber Targets Tel Aviv (3:16)
Israel celebrated the opening of the 17th Parliament under the shadow of a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, which killed 9 people and wounded 60 more. Irris Makler reports from Jerusalem that during the ceremony, Israel’s President, Moshe Katsav called on the new Palestinian government to recognize Israel and to realize the dreams of people on both sides for peace.
Some in Iraq Optimistic About Extended Curfew (2:53)
Violence in Iraq continued this weekend, killing more than 100, as Iraqi political leaders continue to negotiate over top appointments in the new government, and the US military announced that at least 48 US soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the month. But, in a spot of potentially good news: some Iraqis say they are optimistic that the government has scaled back a curfew in Baghdad which started at 8pm, but now begins at 11pm. FSRN’s David Enders is in Baghdad, and files this report.
Mumia Comments: The Milwaukee Maulers (3:20)
More than 500 people gathered in Milwaukee last night, to hear from religious leaders calling for an investigation of the local police department, after an all-white jury acquitted 3 white off-duty police officers of brutality beating an unarmed black man in 2004. From his cell on Pennsylvania’s Death Row, Mumia Abu Jamal comments on the beating and torture of Frank Jude, and the trial itself.
Gay and Lesbian Couples and Their Children Attend Annual Easter Egg Roll (1:14)
President Bush hosted the traditional Easter Egg Roll at the White House today. Thousands of children and their parents attended the annual event, which began in the 19th century. Over 100 gay and lesbian couples lined up for tickets for the occasion, and wore rainbow leis to make a political statement and raise awareness about gay and lesbian couples with children. Yanmei Xie has more from DC, where all types of families defied a cold Spring rain to roll brightly-colored colored eggs on the South Lawn of the White House.
The Campaign to Protect New York City’s Drinking Water (2:51)
New York City’s water supply system provides 1.4 billion gallons of high quality drinking water to almost nine million New Yorkers every day: eight million City residents, and one million people in Westchester, Putnam, Orange and Ulster counties. The source of the water supply is a network of 19 reservoirs in a 2,000 square mile watershed that extends north of the City into Westchester and Putnam counties and west into the counties of Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster. Over the past 15 years, New York City has spent over $1 billion on protection initiatives in these regions. As FSRN’s Danuta Szafraniec reports, the ongoing campaign to protect drinking water calls for vigilance on multiple fronts.
