• Unity Government Formed in Lebanon
• Senate Takes Up Mortgage Crisis Legislation
• UK Offers Military Aide to Nigerian Government, Ending Cease-Fire
• International Criminal Court to Seek Indictment of Sudanese President for Genocide
• Ohio Community Wins Water Discrimination Verdict

Click here for newscast for Friday, July 11th, 2008 

Unity Government Formed in Lebanon

Opposing political parties in Lebanon have reached a power-sharing deal.  The Lebanese government and the Hezbollah-led opposition came to the agreement during crisis talks in Qatar.  The opposition was guaranteed 11 of 30 cabinet seats.  The deal comes about two months after violent clashes swept the country.

Senate Takes Up Mortgage Crisis Legislation

Housing and mortgage legislation is once again circulating in Washington.  The Senate is looking at a bill that would increase Federal Housing Authority oversight of failing mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The companies' stock lost nearly half its value in the first hour of trading this morning.  The legislation would also offer help to homeowners facing foreclosure.  Katherine Jarmul reports from DC.

The Senate bill would grant 300 billion dollars to help 500-thousand homeowners now facing foreclosure.  Brenda Muniz, legislative director for Acorn, says the legislation will only be effective if lenders choose to opt-in.  She says one provision in particular would help low-income families the most.

"A provision of the bill that is actually under attack are the Emergency Community Development Block Grant dollars that would actually go to localities that have seen a high foreclosure rate and who could use that money to purchase and rehabilitate these properties.  We actually think that would go a long way to helping some of the low-income communities that are most affected by the crisis."

President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, citing that provision as a reason, saying it is a bailout of irresponsible lenders and borrowers.  The House passed the legislation in May, with 39 Republicans defying the veto threat.  But before it reaches President Bush, the bill still must return to the House to approve Senate's revisions. For FSRN, this is Katharine Jarmul in DC.

UK Offers Military Aide to Nigerian Government, Ending Cease-Fire

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta says it will resume its attacks on Nigeria's petroleum facilities tomorrow, ending a 2-week cease-fire. They're responding to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's offer of direct military assistance to the Nigerian government. From London, Naomi Fowler reports:'

Despite the vast oil wealth being extracted from the region, the Niger Delta is one of the poorest regions in Africa. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta is its largest armed group; its attacks on oil industry installations and kidnapping of oil workers have cut Nigeria's oil production by a quarter. Hundreds die each year in the conflict. The group wants a greater share of the wealth for local people and an end to environmental degradation by the oil industry.  Britain is one of Nigeria's largest investors and Prime Minister Brown says the UK is ready to help return law and order to the region and restore oil output. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has accused Britain of a return to colonial policies of divide and rule. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua (whose election was contested by independent observers) is visiting Britain next week.  This is Naomi Fowler in London for Free Speech Radio News.

International Criminal Court to Seek Indictment of Sudanese President for Genocide

The International Criminal Court at The Hague announced today it will seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir.   The ICC chief prosecutor will go before judges on Monday to present evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur over the last five years.  An indictment is expected.  And if indicted, al-Beshir would be the first sitting president charged with genocide.  In response, the United Nations is expecting a violent backlash in Sudan.

Ohio Community Wins Water Discrimination Verdict

A Federal district court in Ohio today handed down a landmark decision favoring the plaintiffs in a civil rights suit that has been in litigation since 2002. The suit involves a mostly African-American community that was not hooked up to municipal water until years after neighboring communities received the service.  Evan Davis reports from Ohio.

Sixty-seven residents in a small community near Zanesville, Ohio sued the county commission and water authority claiming that city water services had been denied to their neighborhood since 1956, when water lines were first installed in the area.  They believed the county's negligence was a clear case of racial discrimination. Today the jury agreed and awarded the plaintiffs a total of 11 million dollars.  One plaintiff said she grew up literally in the shadow of a city water tower.  And even though her neighbor's house some 900 feet away had running water, she and other residents had to haul water from cisterns or wells.  City water was extended to the community in 2003 - one year after the discrimination complaint went to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Muskingham County has announced plans to appeal the verdict.  For FSRN this is Evan Davis in Columbus, Ohio.