Archive - Jun 9, 2010

• UN approves new round of sanctions on Iran over nuclear program
• Lawmakers look to increase liability over oil damage; explore effects of hold on drilling
• Conservatives gain in primary elections
• At Bonn climate conference scientists say effective change possible, but policy lags
• Egypt opens Rafah crossing, but access still limited for some Gazans

• California approves open primary measure
• NATO convoy attacked by militants in Pakistan
• Border shooting by US Customs threatens relations between US & Mexico
• Four Somali ministers resign in protest of transitional government

The UN Security Council voted today to approve a new round of sanctions against Iran over the country's nuclear program. The vote was 12-2, with Brazil and Turkey voting against the resolution and Lebanon abstaining. In passing the resolution, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice called on Iran to take what she called "a wiser course."

"We are at this point because the government of Iran has chosen clearly and willfully to violate its commitments to the IAEA and the resolutions of this council. Despite consistent and long standing demands by the international community, Iran has not suspended its uranium-enrichment and other proliferation activities. The security council has passed a resoultion today aimed at reinforcing the need for Iran to take these steps and comply with its obligations."

The resolution expands a so-called blacklist of companies, banks and individuals associated with Iran's nuclear program, creates a ban on missile systems and sets up increased cargo inspections.

In opposing the vote, Brazil said that sanctions would not be effective but rather punish citizens of Iran and encourage political factions.

"Sanctions will most probably lead to the suffering of the people of Iran and will play in the hands of those on all sides that do not want dialogue to prevail. Past experience in the UN, notably the case of Iraq show that the spiral of sanctions, threats and isolation can result in tragic consequences."

To learn more we're joined by Zachary Lockman, chair of the department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University.

It's been more than fifty days now since the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and while oil continues to gush into the deep ocean water, Congress is faced with questions of how best to move forward. In both houses, lawmakers are looking at ways to increase oil companies’ liability for spills like this one. And they’re looking at the potential fallout from the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. Tanya Snyder reports from Washington.

Yesterday was the busiest primary day of the midterm elections. Voters in 12 states headed to the polls. As FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, progressive challengers failed to make it to the next round while Tea Party candidates were largely successful.

The UN's new lead negotiator on climate change downplayed the possibility of ever achieving a legally binding agreement to stop global warming. Cost Rica’s Christiana Figueres told reporters today in Bonn, Germany that a deal is unlikely in her lifetime. Several other leaders at the ongoing climate conference in Bonn are echoing that.

But that dire political assessment stands in stark contrast to the message from scientists. They say the evidence is clear that we still have time to act -- but it must happen soon. Jenny Johnson reports.

After meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today in Washington, President Obama called the situation in Gaza "unsustainable" and announced $400 million in development aid to go to the Palestinian territories. He also pledged to work with Israel to loosen the three-year blockade on Gaza.

Meanwhile, in the region Egyptian authorities have decided to keep the Rafah crossing terminal open indefinitely for the first time in three years. The decision comes in the wake of a storm of international criticism against Israel following the deadly Israeli navy attack on a Gaza aid convoy last week. FSRN's Rami Almeghari files this report.