Thai Army Head Calls for PM Resignation

Protesters in Thailand continue to call for democratically elected Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down from his post.  This morning the commander of the country's army has joined their clamor, calling for the Prime Minister to initiate snap-elections.  But soon after, Somchai rejected that demand, saying Thailand needs to protect and restore democracy.  Yesterday anti-government protesters moved from the lawn of the PM's offices to his de facto office at the Bangkok airport.  Flights in and out of the busy airport are still on hold.


Indian Army Sinks Thai Fishing Boat, Not Pirate 'Mother-Ship"

The International Maritime Bureau says an alleged pirate ship sunk last week by an Indian warship was actually a Thai fishing boat being held hostage.   The fishing vessel's owner claims one of the original Thai crewmembers was rescued from the ocean and explained what happened.  Another 14 sailors on board have not been accounted for.   The Thai foreign ministry is investigating whether the Indian vessel acted appropriately.  India maintains ITS WARSHIP responded in self-defense and did not violate maritime law.  Last week India got the go-ahead from the UN to further pursue pirate vessels along the horn of Africa.  Somali pirates have hijacked 96 ships so far this year.

 
Iraqi Parliament Pushes SOFA Vote Back Another Day

The Iraqi Parliament was scheduled to vote today on the Status of Forces Agreement – a new security pact between Iraq and the United States referred to as SOFA.  But in a rush of last-minute negotiations, that decision has been delayed – at least until tomorrow.  Hiba Dawood has a preview.

Reporter:
After the Iraqi cabinet passed the SOFA a few weeks ago, the Iraqi parliament failed to vote on the pact today.  The terms of the agreement have angered Sunni parties and Al-Sadr Movement.  Specifically of concern are provisions giving immunity to US troops and the possibility US forces could remain in Iraq after 2012.  Sunnis are also concerned about the status of tens of thousands of Iraqi detainees in US prisons. A few weeks ago, Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr threatened that if the pact passES, his militia WILL carry out attacks against U.S. forces. And last Friday, supporters of Al-Sadr demonstrated in opposition to the pact.  The Kurdish and the Shiite parties remain in support of the agreement.  For FSRN this is Hiba Dawood.

 
Greenland Votes for Greater Autonomy

Seventy-five percent of Greenland's 56-thousand residents have voted to increase the country's level of independence from Denmark.  Under the referendum, Greenland will gain greater control of its natural resources – which with the melting of arctic ice have become more accessible.  The vote also officially recognizes the Inuit population of the world's largest island as a distinct people.  Greenland's Premier says this is a step along the way to full independence.  The island still relies on Danish subsidies for half it's public spending.  And across the ocean in Spain, Basque separatists are hailing Greenland's vote as a democratic ideal.  The Basque region in Northern Spain has a similar semi-autonomous structure as Greenland, and has been pushing unsuccessfully for greater independence.   

Brazilian Flood Casualties Continue to Rise

The flooding disaster in Southern Brazil isn't over yet, nor is the growing drought only a few hundred miles away.  Mike Fox has an update.

Reporter:
Dozens more have been found dead, further roads and bridges are out, and over 50,000 have had to leave their homes in Santa Catarina, Brazil due to the heaviest rains seen in nearly five decades.  Over 100 residents are currently dead or missing.  Brazilian President Lula da Silvia is expected to visit the region today with a $250 million dollar disaster relief package.  The rains are forecasted to let up in the hardest hit areas, nevertheless new estimates say it could take weeks to fix the section of the Bolivia-Brazil natural gas pipeline that was knocked out by mudslides early Monday morning.  The break has cut off Southern Brazil's primary source of natural gas.  It's affecting thousands of consumers, 90 industries and numerous hospitals in the state of Santa Catarina and its Southern neighbor, Rio Grande do Sul.  While Santa Catarina has been pummeled by downpours, the lack of rain in Rio Grande do Sul has already effected crop production in this crucial spring growing season.  Fires are on the rise, and the drought has interrupted the planting of soy, corn and sunflowers in more than 12 municipalities across the state.  This is bad news for the region, which is already battling increasing food prices and a high inflation rate.  Mike Fox, FSRN, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

 
Franken Absentee Recount Request Denied

In follow-up to the US election earlier this month, nearly 5 percent of absentee ballots cast in Minnesota's election were rejected for a variety of reasons.  And today, the state's Canvassing Board denied an appeal by Democrat Al Franken's senate campaign asking the state to ensure the ballots were correctly disqualified.   The board punted the decision, saying it did not have the authority to order a second look.  Franken currently trails incumbent Norm Coleman in the recount.

 
USDA Looks to Allow GM Corn for Ethanol Production

The US Agriculture Department has moved to allow genetically engineered corn to be planted and used specifically for ethanol production. Critics say the corn could contaminant non-GM crops.  Africa Jones reports.

Reporter:
The corn created by Syngenta Seeds, Inc. would be engineered to produce a special enzyme THAT WILL make it easier to convert the corn to ethanol. The Department of Agriculture says there is unlikely to be any environmental, human health or food safety concerns associated with the GM corn, but environmentalists say there haven't been adequately safety tests.  There is also concern that ethanol production creates more global warming gases and pushes good prices up. Right now 30% of the US corn crop goes to ethanol production.  The agriculture department has until January 20th to make its final decision and will accept comment until that time. For FSRN, this is Africa Jones.