Archive

• After public outcry, Komen Foundation forced to respond to Planned Parenthood funding cut
• Harsh sanctions on Iran could hit middle and working class the hardest
• Anti-war protests scheduled for US cities as war rhetoric on Iran grows
• New evidence shows NYPD targeted Shia and Iranian Muslims for surveillance
• EU move to strengthen online privacy protection draws criticism from marketing companies who bemoan loss of lucrative data

• Obama pushes plan to employ more veterans
• US opens bidding on wind energy projects on the mid-Atlantic coast
• East Haven police chief steps down amid probe into Latino harassment
• Former Guatemalan president faces genocide charges
• Mass election protests expected in Russia

The Susan G. Komen Foundation's decision to end its long-standing partnership with Planned Parenthood sparked a widespread outcry this week. Many groups and individuals vowed to pull funding from the foundation and send their donations directly to Planned Parenthood. This forced the Komen Foundation to respond with a statement today and apologize to the American public. FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has the details, in Washington, D.C.

Today Iran’s supreme leader vowed to retaliate in the event of an attack and condemned Western-backed oil sanctions on his country. According to Reuters, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke on state TV to mark the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The call for military action in the region has galvanized the anti-war movement and on Saturday, actions are planned in cities across Europe, and the US.

One of the cities taking part is Minnesota and we go there now to speak with Marie Braun. She’s with Women Against Military Madness, part of the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition.

Muslims and civil rights advocates are rallying today outside New York City police headquarters, following the latest in a series of abuses by the department. Yesterday, the AP disclosed new information about the NYPD illegally targeting Shia and Iranian Muslims for profiling and surveillance. This follows an earlier AP investigation into spying and revelations that the NYPD screened an anti-Muslim film. Muslims are redoubling their demand that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly resign. FSRN’s Salim Rizvi reports.

Europe has strict rules for protecting personal data, often going further than the US to make sure private consumers aren’t taken advantage of. Now, as companies are increasing their use of data-mining and social networks are becoming troves of personal information, the European Commission is proposing to overhaul its landmark data protection law. Privacy advocates applaud the move while businesses say the new rules could affect their bottom line. From France, FSRN’s Liam Moriarty reports.