Headlines for Thursday, October 11, 2012

Biden, Ryan to square off in Vice Presidential Debate

This evening the Vice Presidential Candidates will debate.  It’s a chance for Vice President Joe Biden to take on Representative Paul Ryan on a variety of issues.  Jobs and the economy are likely to be a significant focus, but as in the first Presidential debate, Medicare reform is expected to garner attention as well.  Biden will have to answer to Republican charges that the President cut billions from Medicare. Paul Van de Water at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says what's being reduced under the Affordable Care Act are overpayments to private Medicare Advantage plans and the rate of growth in payments to healthcare providers.  Basically, the cuts make the program run more efficiently.

"None of this involves actually reducing the benefits that Medicare beneficiaries will receive, in terms of doctor’s visits and hospital stays, and nursing home stays."

Paul Ryan comes into tonight’s event defending a candidate who seemingly reversed his position on several major issues during the first Presidential debate.  In that debate, Mitt Romney took much more moderate positions on issues such as taxes and financial regulations than he had on the campaign trail.

Foreclosure rates and unemployment insurance claims fall

New economic numbers out today show the number of US workers filing for unemployment insurance dropped to its lowest level in four years.  This follows data out last week showing the unemployment rate had dipped below 8%.  In other economic news, the rate of home foreclosures has dropped to a 5 year low – the fewest since July 2007.  Florida saw the highest percentage of foreclosed properties in September, with one in every 318 homes in foreclosure.  North Dakota had the lowest with one in every 106,000.

Obama orders protections for intelligence agency whistleblowers

President Obama has signed a policy directive that extends whistleblower protections to intelligence personnel.  Under the new rule, issued yesterday, employers cannot retaliate against or limit access to classified information to employees who legally reports waste, fraud or abuse.  The move is being seen as a major step forward in whistleblower protections.

Rare drone strike in Orakzai Agency, Pakistan kills sixteen at religious school

Today the US launched a drone attack in the Orakzai Agency of Pakistan.  The region in the central west of the country has only been targeted one other time.  From Pakistan, FSRN’s Gabe Matthews reports.

The US drone attack killed sixteen people in Upper Orakzai Agency.  The area is home to a Sunni sect of Muslims.  Orakzai connects the volatile North Waziristan Agency with other tribal areas.  The drone targeted a religious school, which is widely known, and a place where the local poor send their children to have an Islamic education. The drone attack is the main topic of discussion in the bazaars and male guest houses of the Agency.  A local resident tells FSRN people are afraid, and that those who can afford to live in cities are planning to move to Peshawar.  The general sense is that there will be more drone attacks in the future.  I’m Zayn Qarissli reading for Gabe Matthews in Pakistan.

Landless Indian farmers end protest march after striking deal with government

Following up on a story FSRN covered last week… Thousands of India’s landless farmers and rural poor who have been demanding land rights have called off a multi- week march to New Delhi, after reaching an agreement with the government.  FSRN’s Bismillah Geelani reports.

The breakthrough came on the ninth day of the march.  The farmers had completed more than half of their 200-mile journey.  The government agreed to introduce a new national land reform policy within six months that would give farmers legal rights over residential and agricultural land.  The government also agreed to set up fast-track courts for efficient disposal of land disputes. Jairam Ramesh is Minister for Rural Development.

The organizers, however, made it clear that if the government did not keep its promise they would restart the march from where it ended today.  Nearly 50,000 thousand people have participated in the protest since it began last week in Central India.  Bismillah Geelani, FSRN, New Delhi

South African mine strike overshadowed by violence once again

Worker strikes continue at an Anglo American platinum mine in Rustenburg, South Africa, west of Pretoria.  Two people have reportedly died.  One from injuries sustained from rubber bullets, assumed to have been shot by police while trying to disperse the crowd of protesters.  Another man was set on fire by miners and died of his wounds.  No reason for that attack has been reported.  Late last week, Anglo American fired 12,000 striking workers.  In turn, the workers have vowed not to allow the company to hire any new miners.  Police have banned public gatherings.