Newscast for Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Iran clamps on press freedoms as election protests continue
As protests continue over Iran´s disputed presidential election results, Iranian authorities are clamping down on freedom of expression. Dozens of people have been arrested and clashes between supporters of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mossavi have left at least seven people dead.

The powerful Guardian Council approved a partial recount of the votes on Tuesday, as opposition leaders blame President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of winning rigged elections.

Meanwhile, local authorities have canceled accreditation for foreign journalists covering the protests, limiting reporters to working from their offices.  Mohammad Abdel Dayem is the Middle East director for the Committee to Project Journalists, he spoke with FSRN Anchor Manuel Rueda about the constraints on freedom of expression.

Here´s the full-length interview.

IMF obligations get in the way of US war spending bill
The US Congress is preparing to vote for a 100 billion dollar war spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While some liberal members refuse to vote for another war funding bill, it’s funding for the International Monetary Fund that is proving to be problematic for the bill’s passage. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Government assesses impact of climate change in the US
The Obama Administration has released a sweeping new assessment of the impacts of climate change in the United States. From Pacifica station KPFA, Brian Edwards-Tiekert reports.

Congress reviews insurance companies´ commercial practices
Today the House Subcommittee on Government Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on health insurance rescission, the practice of insurance companies retroactively canceling individual health care policies.  FSRN´s Karen Miller has more.

Rape ignites protests and violence in Indian administered Kashmir
In Indian administered Kashmir, protests continue as well as battles between police and civilians. The rape and murder of two Kashmiri women continues to bring people out on the streets and the government has responded with bullets, and undeclared curfews.  Civilians are reporting excessive use of force. From Srinagar, Shahnawaz Khan reports.