Hello, welcome to Podcast Free Earth. My name is Eric D'Entremont, reporting today from Munich Germany. This week's news summary includes Chavez's failed bid to change the Venezuelan constitution, an election in Russia, an new intelligence report on Iran, a mining strike in South Africa, a bombing in Sri Lanka, and fighting in Chad.
Chavez Fails in Bid to Change Constitution
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
narrowly
lost a
referendum
on Sunday that would have altered
1
the country's constitution. The final vote was 51% against to 49% for.
2
Opponents of the referendum argued that Chavez's proposed changes would have damaged democracy by allowing Chavez to run for president
indefinitely
and
eliminating
the central bank's
autonomy.
Despite the loss for Chavez, he remains popular. In fact, some of the referendum proposals, like reducing the working day from 8 to 6 hours, were well received.
Putin Wins Big in Russian Parliamentary Elections
The Pro-Putin party United Russia won 64% of the vote in Russian parliamentary elections on Sunday. Other parties that
exceed
the 7%
threshold
required to gain seats in the
Duma,
were the Communists with 11%, and the Liberal Democrats and Just Russia party both with 8%. Though he is not an official member, Putin was at the top of United Russia's list of
candidates,
and will receive a seat in the next Duma. Putin is required by the constitution to step down as president next year, but many believe he could retain significant power by becoming Prime Minister or leader of the United Russia party. Outside observers claim the election was unfair and cited
'irregularities,'
such as people voting more than once and
widespread
pressure to vote for United Russia.
Intelligence Report Downgrades Iran's Nuclear Danger
A new National Intelligence Estimate(NIE) concludes
3
with 'high confidence' that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and with 'moderate confidence' that the Islamic Republic has not restarted
4
it. The report, which is a
consensus
of America's 16 intelligence agencies, also states that the program is still open and could be re-started at any
5
time. However, the report estimates that if Iran were to resume the program, it would not have enough
fissile
material for a bomb for at least two years. The report's release could weaken the Bush administration's argument for increasing international
sanctions
against the Islamic Republic. In a
press conference
on Tuesday, President Bush argued that the report's findings justify his tough stance against Iran and that sanctions should continue (One finding states that Iran had stopped
6
the program because of international pressure).
Democratic
Senator
Harry Reid argued that the findings should lead to more
dialog
with Iran, with which America has had no official diplomatic relations since 1979.
7
Tehran believes the report justifies its assertion that its nuclear program is peaceful in nature.
South African Miners Strike for Safety
The
mines
were silent on Tuesday in the world's largest producer of gold, platinum, and chromium. Over 200,000 South African miners went on
strike
then demanding safety improvements. Over two hundred people have died in South African mines this year, surpassing the 199 who died in 2006.
8
The miners are also demanding higher
wages
and argue that record-high metal prices should allow the industry to improve both. The strike will have an effect
9
on the South African economy, which relies on mining for 16% of its
GDP.
16 Dead in Sri Lanka Bus Bombing
A
landmine
killed 16 people on
10
a crowded
Sri Lankan
bus on
11
Wednesday. The government has blamed the attack on the Tamil Tiger militants, who have been fighting a civil war with the military for 25 years in hopes of creating an independent state for the Tamil
minority.
The bombing comes
amid
an escalation of hostilities on the island. A week earlier the Sri Lankan air force destroyed a Tamil radio station, killing nine. This was followed by a bombing blamed on the Tigers that killed 20 in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
Heavy Fighting in Chad
The Chadian military and the Rally Forces for Change (RFC) rebel group fought a series of battles in eastern Chad last week. The military claims they have inflicted
heavy
casualties
and forced the rebels across the border into Sudan. The rebels
maintain
that their casualties have been light and that the government has suffered heavy losses. The truth is difficult to determine, but local aid workers
confirm
that many have been killed or injured.
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