July 09, 2004
Headlines
The International Court of Justice at The Hague has ruled Israel’s barrier in the West Bank illegal. Although the court has no power to enforce the decision, it comes as a blow to the Sharon government’s argument that the wall is a necessary security measure. Geraldine Coughlan reports from The Hague.
There is new evidence that The White House has plans to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling granting detainees in Guantanomo Bay, Cuba the right to be heard in American courts. Aaron Glantz has the story.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a multimillion dollar complaint against DuPont for concealing health information about a chemical it uses to manufacture Teflon. The fine could be the largest ever in the US, but public interest groups are warning the company may get off with a slap on the wrist. From KPFT in Houston, Erica McDonald reports
Over 4000 scientists have signed onto a statement that accuses the Bush administration of abusing science to support its political agenda. Betsy Desitter reports from Washington:
Brazil’s president Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva has signed off on a new campaign to take firearms out of circulation. Toya Milena reports:
Features
Senate Intelligence Committe Report
Today the Senate Intelligence Committee released its long awaited report on intelligence failure over prewar Iraq. Though all the Democrats on the committee signed off on the report, many of them contend that the CIA was pressured to produce results favorable to the Bush administration’s arguments for invading Iraq. Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol Hill.
The Patriot Act and Reading Privacy
A spending bill amendment to rescind a portion of the Patriot Act failed last night in a tie vote. FSRN’s Karen Mitchell explains the manner in which the controversial vote went down.
Mexico Joins Mercosur
MercoSur is South America’s largest trade block, encompassing Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with associate members Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The conference got off to a shaky start, as Argentina decided to impose trade restrictions on some Brazilian imports in an attempt to protect its national interests. More surprisingly, yesterday, at the close of the 2-day MercoSur Summit, held in Puerto Iguazu, the block accepted Venezuela and Mexico- which is a non-South American country- as its newest associate members. Mark Weisbrot is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He joins us today from in Washington DC.
Indigenous Human Rights in Mexico
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Human Rights, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, presented his report on Mexico yesterday afternoon. In it, draws attention to the affect of the current economic system on indigenous people’s human rights. Vladimir Flores has more form Mexico City.
Germany’s New Immigration
After more than 30 years of a closed door immigration policy to non-European Union citizens, Germany’s upper house of Parliament today passed a new immigration law with the hope of attracting new skilled foreign workers. However, as Guy Degen reports, the new law makes it easier for the German Government to deport foreigners and human rights groups say the laws fall short of protecting refugees and asylum seekers.
Indigenous Pygmies in the Congo: Return to the Forrest?
Human rights advocates this week called on the International Criminal Court to investigate an alleged ‘campaign of extermination’ being perpetrated against pygmies by various militia groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Evidence is being uncovered which points to horrific atrocities against the pygmy population. Rupert Cook reports.
