Archive - Jun 16, 2009

• Iran clamps on press freedoms as election protests continue
• IMF obligations get in the way of US war spending bill
• Government assesses impact of climate change in the US
• Congress reviews insurance companies´ commercial practices
• Rape ignites protests and violence in Indian administered Kashmir

• New York judge won’t intervene in state Senate power struggle
• Advocacy Group says sexual orientation biased murders up 28 percent in 2008
• Peru’s PM agrees to propose measure to repeal laws that sparked deadly clashes
• Mexican Human Rights Commission: Ten thousand migrants kidnapped in six months
• India: Maoists seize control in West Bengal and tribal violence escalates in Assam

In Indian administered Kashmir, protests continue as well as battles between police and civilians. The rape and murder of two Kashmiri women continues to bring people out on the streets and the government has responded with bullets, and undeclared curfews.  Civilians are reporting excessive use of force. From Srinagar, Shahnawaz Khan reports.

Today the House Subcommittee on Government Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on health insurance rescission, the practice of insurance companies retroactively canceling individual health care policies.  FSRN´s Karen Miller has more.

The Obama Administration has released a sweeping new assessment of the impacts of climate change in the United States. From Pacifica station KPFA, Brian Edwards-Tiekert reports.

The US Congress is preparing to vote for a 100 billion dollar war spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While some liberal members refuse to vote for another war funding bill, it’s funding for the International Monetary Fund that is proving to be problematic for the bill’s passage. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

As protests continue over Iran´s disputed presidential election results, Iranian authorities are clamping down on freedom of expression. Dozens of people have been arrested and clashes between supporters of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mossavi have left at least seven people dead.

The powerful Guardian Council approved a partial recount of the votes on Tuesday, as opposition leaders blame President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of winning rigged elections.