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> Mon., June. 2, 2003
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Media Consolidation Regulations Weakened
G8 Leaders Meet in Evian, France
India's Involvement in Iraqi Reconstruction
More on Affirmative Action Debate
Changes to Fair Labor Standards Act
Riverside Ploughshares Activists Controversial
Media Consolidation Regulations Weakened
The Federal Communications Commission today approved sweeping
new rules by three votes to two that will weaken media consolidation
rules, despite fears about reducing the diversity of viewpoints
expressed at town hall meetings and protests across the country.
This vote also lifted a ban that prevents a company from owning
both a newspaper and a television or radio station, except
in the smallest markets. James Collum reports from Washington
DC.
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G8 Leaders Meet in Evian, France
Today, at the G8 summit held in Evian in France, the eight
leaders pledged to widen and intensify the fight against what
they identify as international terrorism in a bid to avoid
a repeat of the recent attacks in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
This as a document reported by the Guardian, known as the
"Waldorf transcripts," detailing a conversation
between British Foreign secretary Jack Straw and US secretary
of state Colin Powell in which both men express doubt about
the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq –
is circulated amongst European capitals. The existence of
these transcripts has not affected the relationship between
President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac which also
continued to take center stage at the G8 summit. Their first
meeting since the US-led invasion of Iraq was described, by
Agence France Presse as cordial, with President Bush stating
quote: There is no question where Jacques Chirac stood and
I made it clear where I stood. That's why I can say we've
got good relations, because we are able to be very honest
with each other. They failed, however to address the issue
of suspending subsidies on farm exports to Africa. African
leaders observing the summit, slammed the major powers' record
on debt relief - Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo said
they believed relief was coming too slowly and too selectively.
All this, whilst reports from Agence France Presse state that
as many as 200,000 activists demonstrated near the summit
meeting. Although the majority of protest was non-violent,
the minority that did clash with police made the front pages.
Yvonne Zimmerman reports from Lousanne, in France.
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India's Involvement in Iraqi Reconstruction
Statistics of big favors done by Pakistan for the United
States during its Afghan war was up on the US Central Command
website. After a visit to Pakistan by Richard Armitage, the
data was removed from the website. Armitage's mission to get
India's Rashtriya Rifles for Iraqi reconstruction was put
on hold by the Indian government. Vinod K. Jose has this update
from South Asia.
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More on Affirmative Action Debate
Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to
make a ruling, on what observers say is one of its most important
legal Challenges since 1978 - the admissions policy at the
University of Michigan. It's ruling on race diversity and
affirmative action could dictate how universities consider
applicant's race for admissions. Meanwhile, advocates of affirmative
action gathered for a conference in New York to prepare for
the battle that lies ahead. Simba Russeau files this report
from New York.
[top]
Changes to Fair Labor Standards Act
Now that the Federal Communications Commission has voted
to weaken media consolidation rules, the Bush administration
is currently attempting to pass regulations through the FCC
that would radically change the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime
protections. Sarah Turner reports.
[top]
Riverside Ploughshares Activists Controversial
On May 25, four peace activists calling themselves the Riverside
Plowshares threw their own blood and hammered on the missile
launch hatches on the deck of the guided missile cruiser,
USS Philippine Sea, as dozens of civilians were touring the
ship in New York Harbor. In a surprising twist from the dozens
of previous Plowshares actions against weapons of mass destruction,
the four were released after a few hours in custody and not
charged. Melinda Tuhus reports from New Haven, Connecticut
where she spoke with the Ploughshare Activists.
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