Newscast for Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Food aid in Haiti still slow, one month after earthquake
Today marks the four-week anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. And food aid still remains a challenge.  The World Food Program is currently operating 16 food and water distribution points throughout Port Au Prince. American troops are in charge of the distribution of that aid with cooperation from UN forces on the ground. But as FSRN'S Dolores M. Bernal reports, many Haitians are having to resort to selling some of the food they are receiving to supplement their diet.

Iran begins process of enriching uranium, US to push for sanctions
Today, Iran announced that it has begun enriching uranium for use in a medical reactor. In a notification to the UN Monday, Iran said that it needs the fuel at a research reactor that produces medical isotopes for kidney, heart and cancer patients.

In response, the US said that it will pursue renewed sanctions on Iran through the United Nations within the coming weeks. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency,  which had inspectors on-site during the enrichment today, says that it is "seeking clarifications" from Iran on the production of materials and other technical details.

A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Minister told Al Jazeera that the work is moving forward, but at a measured pace.

"We never said that everything will be ready in no time and that, for example, the twenty percent cycle of enrichment would be begin on Tuesday. What we said is that we are preparing the ground for the necessary measures in order for us to produce twenty percent enriched fuel."

The action comes just one week after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed a willingness to negotiate on fueling the research reactor. The US and its allies favor a plan to swap low-enriched uranium for fuel rods with Iran as a way of blocking Iran from building up stockpiles that could be used for bomb fuel.

Speaking yesterday in Paris, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that he hoped international sanctions would stop a need for a military strike.

"The key is persuading Iranian leaders that their long term best interests are best served by not having nuclear weapons as opposed to having them. So I think an  approach along these lines, as long as the international community is seen pressing vigorously to resolve this problem, my hope is we will be able to keep this in economic and diplomatic channels."

That audio from Voice of America.

This news also comes as Iran is preparing to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, which could mean renewed protests and pressure on the government that has intensified since last June's disputed presidential elections.

Post-election unrest continues in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan president dissolved the parliament today setting the stage for new elections to fill 225 seats. Meanwhile post presidential election violence is on the rise. Arrests, intimidation, killings and repression of free speech have all taken place, since Mahinda Rajpakase was re-elected last month. International and local concern for the safety of the arrested opposition candidate, former army Chief Sarath Fonseka, is mounting.  FSRN’s Ponniah Manikavasagam reports.

Costa Rica elects first woman, social conservative as next president
Voters in Costa Rica have elected Laura Chinchilla as the next president. The former vice-president was elected with 47 percent of the vote over the weekend and will now become the country's first female head of state. During the campaign, Chinchilla promised to continue Costa Rica's free trade policies and highlighted fighting crime as a top priority, by pledging to raise spending on security by fifty percent. She follows the welfare policies of her party, The National Liberation Party, but comes down conservatively on other social issues. She's against gay marriage and a woman's right to an abortion.

To discuss what the election of Laura Chinchilla means for the Costa Rican people, we're joined by Nicole Fillion-Robin, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs; and Larry Birns, Director at the DC-based organization.

Analysis of election in Costa Rica from the Council on Hemispheric Affairs: http://www.coha.org/costa-rica-elections2010/

Senate rejects nominee for National Labor Relations Board
Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama, has dropped his hold on most of President Obama’s 70 nominees. He made the move after receiving the attention from the White House he wanted in regards to two projects for his state, one a multibillion dollar contract with Northrup Grumman. Some of the nominees have been blocked for more than a year now.

With the process back on track, the Senate took up and rejected Obama's controversial nominee to sit on the National Labor Relations Board by a vote of 52 - 33. The debate over Craig Becker to sit on the board was a proxy debate on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “Card Check”. The measure, supported by unions and opposed by business, is also stalled in the Senate. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.