News Segments

Demonstrators took to the streets of Oakland, California to protest the killing of unarmed black man by BART Police.  Oscar Grant was twenty-two years old, and the father of a four year old daughter.  He was shot in the back as he lay on the ground in a public transit station on New Year's Day. People in the community are angry - and the protests in support of Oscar Grant have been growing in scale and intensity. From Oakland, Africa Jones reports.

Grant's family, community leaders, and politicians are questioning both the shooting and investigation into his death. Joining us now to discuss what legal avenues the family is pursuing is the Grant's attorney, John Burris.
John Burris is the Civil Rights attorney for the family of Oscar Grant, who was shot in the back and killed by a BART Officer on New Years Day, in Oakland California.

Barack Obama is now officially President elect. With Vice President Dick Cheney presiding, the House of Representatives sealed the results of November 4th's electoral college. Reading the results state by state, applause and laughter erupted during the reading of Ohio's results.  The states votes were contested because of alleged illegal vote activity which resulted in George Bush winning the 2004 Election.

Meanwhile, a Senate panel held the first confirmation hearing for an Obama appointee.  Former Senator Tom Daschle, picked to head the Department of Health and Human Services appeared before the committee today.  As Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, Daschle promises to cooperate with the Senate to drastically reform health care.

Three weeks after a massive environmental disaster in Tennessee, lawmakers on Capitol Hill grilled officials from the Tennessee Valley Authority about the safety of the their coal-fired power plant.  FSRN's Karen Miller was there and files this report.

In Kenya, journalists and media activist are protesting a controversial law signed by president Mwai Kibaki.  Kenyans fear for their freedom of press.  And also for the fragile coalition government which came together last year to end the post-election violence that left half a million people displaced and more than a thousand people dead.  Arusha Topazzini reports from Nairobi.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced an agreement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, but released no details and didn't mention Hamas. But an Israeli official who commented on the proposal, indicated that the military's attacks on Gaza won't come to an end until rocket fire into Israel stops, and the international community supports an arms embargo on Hamas.

Meanwhile, a three hour long ceasefire observed today by the Israeli military and Hamas did little to get desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. After the ceasefire expired, both sides began their attacks again. Israeli warplanes also dropped leaflets today on the border lines between Gaza and Egypt, ahead of demolishing dozens of homes. FSRN's Rami Almeghari reports from Rafah city.

Despite a rising death and injury toll, U-S government reaction to the conflict in Gaza has been slow, with few lawmakers making public statements about the crisis, including President Elect Barack Obama. But a former presidential contender - Ohio Congressmember Dennis Kucinich - took his time on the House floor today to raise questions about the U-S relationship with Israel - whether or not continued military aid to the county is a violation of the Arms Export Control Act.