Monday, July 23, 2007

Headlines (5:40)
NEW RULING ON GITMO DETAINEES
A federal appeals court has ordered the Bush Administration to turn
over previously withheld information on Guantanamo detainees...but
human rights groups say the president still hasn't gotten the message.
Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

The ruling is a major blow to the White House. If the court's ruling
is upheld the administration will be forced to provide lawyers and
court officials with their case against the detainees. Jemena Musa is
an Advocacy Director for Amnesty International. She says the
administration sees the issue all wrong. (audio) "It's not about tying
the administration's hands, it's about restoring the basic fundamental
rights for people in custody. Including the right to challenge ones
detention, I mean this is something that has been around since before
the US existed and it was put in place to guard against arbitrary
executive detention and that is exactly what we have right now." Human
rights groups are also worried over an executive order issued by the
president on Friday. It allows US intelligence officials to use
interrogation techniques that were banned last year for fear they
violated International and US laws. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm
Matt Laslo in Washington.

ARROYO PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today called for tougher
laws against political killings and warned that the military and
police would not be spared. Girlie Linao reports from Manila.

Amid mounting international criticism over a spate of extra-judicial
killings President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today urged Congress to
enact laws that would help stop the violence. In her annual state of
the nation address, Arroyo said her government will not allow violence
to threaten the country's democratic way of life. She urged lawmakers
to pass legislation that would impose harsh penalties for those found
to be involved in political killings, especially rogue government
security forces. (audio) "It is never right and always wrong to fight
terror with terror. I ask Congress, I urge you to enact laws to
transform state response to political violence." Nearly 900 people,
mostly leftist activists and human rights workers, have become victims
of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines since Arroyo came into
power in 2001. Human rights advocates have blamed the military for
most of the murders, which have become an international embarrassment
for the Arroyo administration. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Girlie
Linao in Manila.

TALIBAN EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR SOUTH KOREAN HOSTAGES
Taliban kidnappers holding twenty-three South Korean missionaries
hostage have extended the deadline for their demands to be met. From
Seoul, FSRN's Jason Strother has more.

A spokesperson for the Taliban says the group wants a prisoner
exchange by Tuesday night or the kidnappers will kill the 23 Korean
hostages. The pastor of the evangelical church where most of the
missionaries are from says the group was in Afghanistan to provide aid
and not to convert Muslims. He says the church's remaining members
will soon leave Afghanistan. But many South Koreans say the church
should not have sent its followers to a war zone in the first place.
Its not the first time that Korean Christians have gotten into trouble
in Afghanistan. Last year, around 1000 Koreans traveled to Kabul for a
so-called peace march, but were asked to leave by the Afghan
government after violent threats were made against them. South Korea
has now banned its citizens from traveling to Afghanistan. For Free
Speech Radio News in Seoul, I'm Jason Strother.

KBR STILL RAKES IT IN
Profits continue to rise for Halliburton and its former subsidiary,
KBR, despite continued findings of overcharging for US troop support
services in Iraq. FSRN's Renee Feltz has more.

An earnings report released today shows Halliburton gained after
splitting from KBR earlier in April of this year. Vice President Dick
Cheney's former company's profits increased by more than 10 percent.
It expects to make more than half its future profit in the Middle East
and the Eastern Hemisphere. Halliburton's former subsidiary, KBR is
the bigger winner from its break with Halliburton. Its share price is
up more than 60 percent, as investors gain confidence from the
company's new contracts. KBR has signed on to build one of the world's
largest petrochemical plants in Saudi Arabia, and will upgrade two off
shore oil platforms in Iraq for the US Navy. Last month, less than a
week after the US Special Inspector General found KBR overcharged for
its 20 billion dollar contract for logistical support to US troops in
Iraq, the company secured a new joint contract worth 150 billion
dollars to continue its services there over the next decade. For FSRN,
I'm Renee Feltz.

SO-CAL GROCERY WORKERS REACH AGREEMENT BEFORE STRIKE
After 6 1/2 months of contentious labor negotiations, Southern
California supermarket employees have approved a new agreement,
calling it a "win" for workers. Leilani Albano reports from Los Angeles.

Under the new agreement, employees at Albertson's, Ralphs, and Vons
would receive their first raise in 5 years. The agreement would also
eliminate the two-tiered system, which provided lower wages and fewer
benefits to newly hired workers. Organizers welcome the changes but
say the contract has serious flaws. Although the agreement would
reduce the time period for workers to qualify for health benefits,
their health plan would still be too expensive for recent hires, many
of whom are barely making above the minimum wage. And while the
contract has eliminated the two-tiered system, organizers say wage
scales for workers are still low, and that pay raises are minimal.
Ratification of the Southern California contract come ahead of labor
negotiations currently taking place in Northern California and
Washington State. UFCW president Rick Icaza is pledging support for
the grocery workers during contract talks in those regions, if needed.
For FSRN, Leilani Albano in Los Angeles.

Features
Hundreds Demand Impeachment on Capitol Hill (3:45)
Several
hundred people marched through Washington DC demanding impeachment of
President Bush and Vice President Cheney. And activist Cindy Sheehan
met with Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers urging him to open
impeachment proceedings. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Turkey Supports Its PM (5:00)
In Sunday’s special election, Turkish voters overwhelmingly supported
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a second 5 year term. With a 46%
of the vote for his ruling AK party, Erdogan’s victory should boost his
efforts to appoint Abdullah Gull as President. The nomination sparked
controversy as the Turkish military and the national opposition
rejected the nominee saying his Islamic beliefs threatened the
country’s secular tradition. Ezgi Saritas and Oslem Sariyildiz file
this report.

Rough Path for India/US Nuclear Deal in Parliament/Congress (4:00)
The United States and India have reached a compromise on a nuclear deal
to allow India to access US nuclear fuel and reactors for the first
time in 30 years. The Bush administration is portraying the agreement
as a landmark strategic partnership with a rising Asian power. But the
deal is not certain. Bush has just over a year left in his term and its
unclear whether Congress will ratify the deal before he leaves office.
Also, Prime Minister Monmohan Singh is facing uncertainty within his
own cabinet and Parliament over the deal. Vinod K. Jose has more from
New Delhi.

Nigeria Seeks $7 Billion from Pfizer for Illegal Testing of Children (3:00)
The Nigerian government has filed a $7 billion dollar lawsuit against
the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for allegedly conducting an illegal
drug test on 200 Nigerian children. Many of the children have either
died or were permanently deformed. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

Comment Deadline on Satellite Radio Merger (4:00)
Tomorrow is the last day to send comments to the Federal Communications
Commission about the proposed merger of Sirius and XM satellite radio.
The merger appears to have the support of many of satellite radio fans,
but media reform groups remain suspicious. Matthew Lasar reports.