Newscast for Friday, February 5, 2010

UN official assesses relief strategy, points to long-term commitment in Haiti
Today, the US Treasury Department called for the cancellation of all debts owed by Haiti to international institutions. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said the US would work towards "comprehensive multilateral debt relief" for the country, including the $102 million emergency IMF loan approved at the end of January. The move follows international calls for Haiti's debt to be erased in order to pave the way for long-term recovery after the January 12 earthquake. Currently, Haiti's total national debt stands at around $1 billion, according to Jubilee USA.

Meanwhile, relief organizations in Haiti are reassessing their strategies. Food and shelter for thousands of survivors are still of primary concern. The UN's top official in Haiti also called on Haitians to take a central role in the recovery of their country. FSRN's Dolores M Bernal spoke with Edmond Mulet, head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and Special Representative for the Secretary General, about this and other topics in the recovery effort.

January labor stats show lower unemployment along with loss of jobs
Job figures are out for January and they're showing that the official unemployment rate dipped below 10 percent last month. Temp and retail jobs are up, but the construction, transportation and warehousing sectors all lost jobs.

To take a closer look at the numbers and what they mean, we're joined by our regular guest, Lauren Appelbaum. She's Research Director at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Budget for Energy Department includes boost for green industry, nuclear power
Over the past week, FSRN has examined several areas of the president’s budget proposal including what it will mean for the military, labor, education, social programs, and the deficit. Today we turn our attention toward energy. FSRN’s Tanya Snyder reports.

Task force calls for changes in military’s sexual assault policies
After five years, the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military has come out with its recommendations. They focus on policies for those who commit or are survivors of sexual assault in the armed forces. The report looks at prevention, response to survivors and accountability. Task force members testified before the House military personnel subcommittee this week and said that the military needs to address all three. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

Voters in New Orleans go to the polls in mayoral primary
Four and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, voters in New Orleans will go to the polls this weekend for the primary elections for the upcoming Mayoral race. Contenders include Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu and James Perry, a prominent housing and civil rights advocate.  In this edition of Street Beat, FSRN’s Zoe Sullivan spoke with people on St. Claude Avenue and on Broad Street to learn what they expect from the next Mayor.