• Bush Lifts Offshore Drilling Ban
• Oil Workers Strike in Brazil
• Nigerians Die Applying for Jobs
• FCC to Sanction Comcast
  
• Mortgage Crisis Bailout
• Sudanese President Charged at the ICC
• United National Indian Tribal Youth Conference

Click here for newscast for Monday, July 14th, 2008

Bush Lifts Offshore Drilling Ban

In a clear challenge to the US Congress, President Bush lifted an executive order in place since 1981 that banned offshore oil drilling.

The move by the President is largely symbolic as drilling on the OCS – or Outer Continental Shelf – is also banned by Congress. That ban expires on September 30, but could be renewed. Environmental groups condemned the move and say offshore drilling would not end U.S. dependence on oil or cut the prices at the pump.

Oil Workers Strike in Brazil

Offshore oil workers on 33 rigs in Brazil kicked off a 5-day strike today. They are demanding that the company recognize the travel day employees leave a platform for shore as a paid work day. The strike may broaden tomorrow, adding to concerns of further price hikes on the international market.

Nigerians Die Applying for Jobs

More than twenty people applying for employment with the Nigerian Immigration Service died during job recruitment exercises. Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

The deaths occurred over the weekend in at least eight recruitment centers located throughout Nigeria. Most of the twenty two job seekers who lost their lives died after being subjected to rigorous physical exercises like running for long distances under the scorching sun. Other applicants died during stampedes to get accreditation to participate in the written interview. More than 130,000 applicants competed for just over 1000 vacancies. Critics blame the Nigerian immigration service for the deaths. They said the stampedes would not have happened if the crowd was properly managed. The government agency is also blamed for subjecting applicants to harsh physical exercises without necessary first aid facilities in place. For Free Speech Radio News, this is Sam Olukoya in Lagos.

FCC to Sanction Comcast

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says that Cable and Internet Giant: Comcast should be sanctioned for blocking it's customers from using certain types of online file sharing. Consumer groups say it could be the biggest victory do date in the struggle for Net Neutrality. Eric Klein has more.

Software quality engineer Rob Topolsky was trying to share one hundred year old Barber Shop Quartet music with other enthusiasts using peer to peer file sharing, but his internet service provider was secretly blocking the technology. The ensuing controversy led to an AP investigation as well as two recent FCC hearings. On Friday, FCC Chair Kevin Martin called for sanctions on Comcast.

"This will be the biggest victory for Net Neutrality and the open internet." Marvin Ammori is General Council for Free Press. He helped the Media reform organization file a complaint with the FCC. Free Press says that Comcast might have been squashing the competition, since it is a cable TV company and it was blocking internet users from downloading video content like Free Speech TV or Hi Definition programming from ABC dot com. Comcast says it was simply managing traffic on its vast network. “Under a Republican chairman that hasn't always been friendly to open internet issues – he thought it was important enough to act, it's an important victory that we can build on."

The FCC will vote on Chairman Martin's recommendation on August 1st. For FSRN I'm Eric Klein

Mortgage Crisis Bailout

The Federal Reserve adopted rules today providing increased protection to "subprime" borrowers – those with low incomes or blemished credit histories. And, the response from Capitol Hill to a bail out plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was overwhelmingly positive. Yesterday, the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department announced a plan that granted the Federal Reserve Bank of New York authority to lend to the two companies at a rate of 2.25 percent for any borrowed funds. That’s the same rate given to commercial banks and big Wall Street firms. The Treasury Department is also seeking expedited authority from Congress to expand its current line of credit to the two companies and buy shares of the companies if necessary.

Sudanese President Charged at the ICC

The United States tightened security at its embassy and offices in Sudan today after charges were brought against the country’s president at the International Criminal Court. The international prosecutor sought the arrest of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on allegations that he masterminded a campaign of genocide in Darfur, killing 35,000 people and using rape as a weapon of war. Yesterday, thousands of protesters chanted anti-American slogans at a rally in Khartoum to protest a potential arrest warrant.

United National Indian Tribal Youth Conference

Hundreds of Native American Youth gathered in Reno, Nevada were urged to become politically active today. Participants at the United National Indian Tribal Youth Conference were courted by both presidential candidates. The conference, which drew participants between the ages of 15 and 23 from about 24 states, also features panel discussions and speeches on obesity and other health concerns, the importance of education, and fatherhood and families. The gathering ends Tuesday.