September 15, 2004
Headlines
More Violence in the Occupied West Bank
Israeli forces killed an 11-year old girl and at least 10 Palestinian fighters in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank. Laila el-Haddad reports from Gaza.
Nigeria Neglects to Transfer Bakassa Pennisula
Nigeria was supposed to hand over the Bakassa peninsula to Cameroon today – but the transfer has been put on hold. From Lagos – Sam Olukoya explains.
Brazil’s University for All
A new, independent report card flunks America’s colleges in a key subject for many students and parents: affordability. While noting progress in areas such as student preparation, the biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education drops the country to an “F” in affordability from the “D” it received two years ago in the not-for-profit group’s report. Meantime, Brazil’s Government passed legislation called Universidade Para Todos, or a University for All, that will provide greater access to higher education for the poor. Natalia Viana reports from Sao Paulo.
UNPF Says Womens Rights Progressing, But Billions More Needed
The United Nations Population Fund says there’s been steady progress over the past decade in increasing women’s rights and providing access to reproductive health care. But in its annual report, the UN agency says billions more dollars are needed to meet the goals set at a landmark conference in Cairo ten years ago. President Bush has blocked the 34 million dollars annually that Congress has approved for the fund — charging that the UNFPA helps China manage programs that involve forced abortions. The agency denies that assertion.
Features
Shifting $ from Reconstruction to Security in Iraq (4:02)
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill today reacted angrily that only 1 billion dollars has been spent on Iraqi reconstruction, while over 7 billion dollars has been given to contractors. This comes as the White House submitted a request to Congress to take another three and a half billion dollars from reconstruction and shift it to increase security, as the US acknowledges that several key areas of Iraq are controlled by the resistance. Mitch Jeserich has more from Capitol Hill.
US Groups Condemn US Action Over Sudan (3:50)
Peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel groups collapsed on Wednesday, leading many to wonder if negotiations will resume before the humanitarian crisis in the region escalates further. From Washington, DC Selina Musuta reports on a coalition of US groups who are speaking out against the actions on the Sudan by the U.S., European Union, and anti-Sudanese government activists.
FDA: Anti-Depressants Need Suicide Warning Labels (4:15)
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration has concluded that strong warnings should accompany a broad class of antidepressant drugs when prescribed to children. The advisory panel led hearings where they heard testimonials from families who blame antidepressants for the death of their loved one and independent doctors who believe the evidence of danger from antidepressants is decade-old. Jenny Johnson reports.
SD Native Children Not in Native Homes (3:59)
There is growing outrage in South Dakota over the policy of removing children from their families, a policy that seems to harshly impact native families. A newly formed grassroots multi-racial women’s group, Voice Of Women (VOW) is bringing attention to the welfare of South Dakota children who are removed from their families by the state’s Department of Social Services (DSS) when their parents turn to the DSS for help. Parents are finding themselves being prosecuted and charged with neglect or abuse of their own children. Of particular concern is how these actions are impacting the Indian Child Welfare Act. FSRN correspondent Jim Kent reports.
Eliminating Vocational Training in CA (3:09)
As all students around the country are now back at school, there is growing concern over many aspects of the nation’s education system. One concern involves the national trend away from vocational education programs in high schools in what some see as an important youth resource being threatened with extinction. California may be the first state to close high school shop classes, creating hard times for high school graduates who do not want to go to college. Annie Esposito reports from Northern California.
