Newscast for Wednesday, November 25, 2009

US refuses to sign international ban on land mines
Following a review of its policy on land mine use, the US State Department says it will not join an international treaty banning the use of mines.  The US will send delegates this Sunday to a conference of nations who have signed the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, but officials say they have no intention of reversing their landmine policy and joining the treaty. Landmines killed more than 5,200 people worldwide last year and can continue to threaten civilians long after a conflict is over. Humanitarian groups say they want to see a more thorough policy review.  FSRN’s Matt Pearson reports.

Honduras prepares for presidential election under military crackdown
This weekend, Honduras will hold its presidential election. The vote is scheduled for November 29th. It's a pivotal moment in the five-month old political crisis that has divided the country, one of the poorest in Latin America. In June, a military coup forced President Manuel Zelaya from the country by gunpoint when soldiers broke into his home at dawn. Roberto Micheletti, the head of Congress, then took over. Zelaya clandestinely returned to Honduras in September and has since remained in the Brazilian Embassy. Micheletti says that if Zelaya steps a foot outside the embassy grounds he will be arrested for treason.

A compromise between the two leaders fell apart in October and a resolution is far from certain.

Here to discuss the election this weekend and what it means for the crisis is Suyapa Portillo, a research fellow at Pomona College. Portillo is from Honduras and has been closely watching the events there.

Blockade in Gaza adds strain as families prep for Eid Al-Adha
As families across the US prepare for the holiday of Thanksgiving, many Islamic nations around the world are also getting ready for the “Festival of Sacrifice” or Eid Al-Adha. As part of this religious holiday, celebrated around the world, families sacrifice their best cow or sheep. But in the occupied territory of the Gaza Strip, thousands cannot celebrate the holiday due to the Israeli blockade. From Gaza, FSRN’s Rami Almeghari reports.

As women increase in US military, key services lag behind
More women serve today in the US military than ever before. Despite the increasing presence of women in the armed forces, there remain many inequalities. Some women are finding it difficult to deploy when they have children to take care of. And when female soldiers return from a tour of duty, they don’t always receive the mental and physical health services they need. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Questions continue over government’s handling of suspected shooter at Ft. Hood
Funeral services took place today at Arlington National Cemetery for a soldier who was killed during the mass shooting at Fort Hood earlier this month. Maj. Libardo Caraveo had recently earned a degree in psychology and was set to deploy for Afghanistan. Meanwhile, questions continue about why and how the shooting took place. So far, in addition to the criminal case, President Obama, Congress and the Pentagon have opened investigations into alleged shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. As new evidence comes to light, questionable policies and decisions the Army and FBI made point to the possibility that they may have let Hasan slip through the cracks. FSRN'S Karen Miller has more.