Archive - Jun 1, 2010

• Israel attacks humanitarian convoy headed to Gaza
• US reaction to Israeli convoy attack shows strained ties
• BP makes another attempt to contain oil in Gulf of Mexico as fed investigations open
• Race to Top grants shape schooling with emphasis on testing and market model

• Iraq election results ratified by Supreme Court
• Colombian candidates go to run off: Santos v. Mockus
• Pakistan Interior Minister says the government will protect Ahmadis
• US Supreme Court says former Somali PM not immune from US legal action
• China officially outlaws torture, will review pending death sentences
• Tropical Storm Agatha batters Central America – 150 dead
• Two gay men released from Malawi prison

Today was a day of mourning in the Gaza territory following an Israeli navy attack on a convoy of ships heading to the area that killed at least 9 people. The convoy was sailing to Gaza to bring supplies to the coastal region cut off by an Israeli blockade. In response to the attack, Turkey's Prime Minister called it a massacre and leadership from NATO and France called on Israel to immediately release detained civilians and ships being held. Israel has said that its soldiers were attacked when they boarded the ship and fired in self defense. Activists from the Freedom Flotilla denied that, and some witnesses posted testimony today saying that the soldiers fired many rounds before boarding the ships.  Egypt also condemned the attack and opened the Rafah border crossing to let Gazans in need of medical treatment pass through and to let aid enter Gaza. FSRN's Rami Almeghari reports.

Israel’s actions were quickly condemned all around the world – with one voice notably muted. The Obama Administration has been unwilling to respond as forcefully as many other nations, possibly out of concern for already strained relations with Israel. Tanya Snyder has more.

Today President Obama called the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico the greatest environmental disaster of its kind in US history and said an independent commission would investigate the causes of the spill. Obama spoke at the White House after the commission's first meeting. He stood next to former Senator Bob Graham of Florida and former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, who will head the commission.

Election results in Iraq are official – the nation's Supreme Court ratified the outcome today, declaring Iraqiya the victor. The alliance – led by former Prime Minsiter Iyad Allawi keeps a two seat lead over Nouri al-Maliki's Shia bloc. But none of the four political groups that won the most seats took enough to form a government on their own. So coalition building remains to be done. Iraq's President now has fifteen days to call the first session of Parliament.

Today is the deadline for the second round of Race To the Top applications. President Obama’s education initiative is a competitive grant process for states to alter their school system to the administration’s education priorities, especially focusing on teacher accountability and more charter schools.  In the first round, Delaware and Tennessee won $600 million in grants. This time, following the administration’s recommendation, some states have even drafted new laws in order to be more competitive. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell spoke with Stan Karp, an editor of the magazine Rethinking Schools about the impact of the competition on public education.