Friday, June 29, 2007

Headlines
SUPREME COURT RECONSIDERS GITMO CASE
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments regarding whether
Guantanamo Bay detainees can challenge their confinement in US
civilian courts. The court refused to hear a similar case in April.
The justices gave no explanation today for the rare reversal. The case
could go before the Supreme Court as early as this fall.

CAR BOMB DEFUSED IN LONDON
Almost two years after the London bombings, police have found and
defused a car bomb in the English capital. From London, Naomi Fowler
reports.

PAKISTANI FORMER PRISONER TO FILE LAWSUIT
A well known critic of Pakistan's president has announced plans to
file a lawsuit against those suspected of causing his forced
disappearance and subsequent imprisonment. Devin Theriot-Orr reports.

INDIGENOUS DAY OF ACTION IN CANADA
Indigenous people throughout Canada are participating in a national
'Day of Action' to bring attention to issues facing the country's
native communities. Stefan Christoff reports from Montreal.

US-KOREA TRADE AGREEMENT IN FINAL STAGE
South Korean and US officials are expected to sign a bilateral trade
deal this weekend in Washington. The agreement could be the largest
FTA since NAFTA. In Korea, tens of thousands of workers opposed to the
trade deal have walked off the job in protest. Jason Strother has the
latest from Seoul.

TENSIONS RUN HIGH IN PERUVIAN MINE STRIKE
A month long miner's strike in Peru has turned deadly for strike
supporters and police alike. From Lima, Pamela Cueva has the story.

Features
Lebanese Army Kills Two at Palestinian Refugee Camp
The Lebanese Army opened fire on Palestinian protesters today at the
Beddawi refugee camp in Northern Lebanon leaving two dead and more than
30 wounded. This was the second day of a three-day water only hunger
strike to show solidarity with the refugees trapped in the Nahr
al-Bared Refugee camp where the Lebanese Army and the Sunni Muslim
Islamic group Fatah al Islam have been engaged in a 6-week conflict.
Simba Russeau has more from Beirut.

Weekly Political Round-Up
Democratic Presidential Candidates gathered in a forum where issues of
race and class topped the agenda. They answered questions on
disparities between whites and people of color in health care, the
criminal justice system, the education system, and the workforce. DC
Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell was at last night's debate at the
historically black Howard University in Washington DC.

Fading Power of GI Bill
Army recruiters promise new enlistees tens of thousands of dollars in
education benefits, but the Department of Education reports only 3
percent of veterans graduate from college. FSRN's Aaron Glantz reports
on why that is, and a new bill introduced in Congress designed to help
service members complete their degree.

Hong Kong Marks 10th Anniversary Handover to China
Hong Kong will mark its 10th anniversary of its handover to China this
Sunday. While the economy thrives, many people in the territory feel
that their political demands are not being listened to. Severine Bardon
reports from Hong Kong.

Palm Oil as a Potential Savior for the Environment?
Across Indonesia, An estimated 3 million hectares of forest are being
destroyed every year to make way for new palm oil plantations. The
Indonesian Government plans to double the existing 6.5 million hectares
of plantations in the next five to eight years- to meet rocketing
worldwide demand. Palm oil, mixed with diesel to produce bio-fuel, has
been hailed as a potential savior for the environment; a cleaner
alternative to fossil fuel. However closer investigation reveals carbon
rich peat-land forests are being cleared to make way for the
plantations…. sending huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Rebecca Henschke traveled across Central Kalimantan to see
first hand what's taking place.