Archive - Jul 7, 2009

• Ousted Honduran President Zelaya seeks international support
• Political tensions rise in Honduras as de-facto government restricts civil liberties
• Earthquake-striken Aquila prepares for G8 meeting in Italy
• Civil liberties groups say Obama treatment of detainees unconstitutional
• US Senate at loggerheads over clean energy legislation
• Mumia Commentary: Michael the Meal

• Ethnic violence continues in China’s Xinjiang province, curfew imposed
• British police issue critical report on their own actions during G20
• Unpiloted US aircraft drop missiles in Pakistan killing at least 16
• Senator Al Franken, D-Minnesota
• FDA implements new rules regarding food safety
• Hundreds of laid off workers go back to the job at an Illinois auto plant
• Charges dropped against 4 of the San Francisco 8

The deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya arrived in Washington Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Unlike most Latin American and European countries, the US still has not recalled their ambassador from Honduras nor cut aid, which US law requires in the case of a coup.
However, President Obama today said that he supports Zelaya´s return to power  because the United States supports the principle that people should choose their own leaders, even if  “we don´t agree with them.”
Zelaya has been met with more enthusiasm in Latin American countries with left wing or socialist governments.  On Monday the ousted president was in Nicaragua. FSRN´s Nan McCurdy reports.

In Honduras, de facto President Roberto Michelleti called for negotiations with the deposed President, Manuel Zelaya.
Michelleti supporters congregated in the Tegucigalpa city center today calling the Organization of American States a pawn for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.  The OAS recently expelled Honduras from its ranks, after the Central American country refused to allow the ousted President Zelaya to return to power.
Political divisions are rising in Honduras, with at least two marches taking place early Tuesday. FSRN´s Tim Russo reports.

The heads of state of the world´s richest countries, the G8, are set to meet in the Italian town of Aquila on Wednesday. The Italian government initially planned to stage the meeting on a Mediterranean island, but it moved the summit to the mountainous Aquila.
Prime Minister Berlusconi wanted to put the spotlight on survivors of the April earthquake that devastated parts of central Italy.  However, Aquila´s residents are discontent. They say resources are now going to the G8 meeting, instead of the reconstruction of their town. FSRN´s Diletta Varlese  reports.

Nearly eight years after the US captured the first detainees, the debate continues on what to do with them and how to try them.  The Obama administration confirmed that some detainees will be held indefinitely, while others will be tried in a military commission. Civil liberties groups say the policy violates the US constitution. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Today, the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing to look at developing new clean energy legislation that would impact global warming.
Committee members heard from the heads of the EPA and the departments of Energy, Agriculture and the Interior.
But the real tension came from the Senators themselves, with Democrats accusing Republicans of being reluctant to move forward with clean energy  and Republicans accusing Democrats of favoring higher energy taxes and trumping up charges of climate change. FSRN´s Karen Miller has more.