Thursday, January 24, 2008 Updated

• Skyrocketing Price of Soy Creates Unrest Among Indonesia's Poor
• Economy Tops the List of Issues for Democratic Candidates in South Carolina
• Telecommunication Company Immunity within FISA Debated on the Senate Floor
• Progress Made on US Economic Stimulus Package
• India Works to Strengthen its Child Labor Laws; Child Advocates Skeptical

13 Meg Version Click Here
Dial-Up Version Click Here

Economy Tops the List of Issues for Democratic Candidates in South Carolina

As Hillary and Bill Clinton are sparring with Barack Obama in the media, Democratic presidential candidates have been sticking to message on the campaign trail. That message Thursday was the economy. It's a top issues for South Carolina voters. The decline of the textile industry, which has moved abroad, has depressed the economy there. Democratic candidates have made this issue central to their campaign. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports from Greenville, SC.

Telecommunication Company Immunity within FISA Debated on the Senate Floor

Many Senate Democrats are holding firm to their objections to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA The legislation went to the Senate floor for debate this morning. The most contentious issue is a Bush Administration-backed push to grant telecommunications companies immunity from lawsuits for participating in the warrantless wiretapping program after 9-11. Currently there are dozens of civil cases filed.

Majority Leader Harry Reid has told Republicans that if they are interested in keeping Democratic changes to FISA – such as eliminating immunity protections - from going to a simple majority vote, they would have to live up to their threats, and filibuster.

But not all Democrats are against giving immunity to the telecommunications firms. West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller spoke out in their defense.

(Rockefeller quote) – they were doing what they were told to do and should be protected.

A version of FISA from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which did not include the immunity clause, was defeated this afternoon.

(Sound Clip) – announcing vote count

Following the vote, Senator Rockefeller introduced a bi-partisan amendment to FISA that would offer further protections for Americans living outside the United States. Senator Chris Dodd is expected to introduce amendment that would once again make telecommunications companies legally responsible for sharing private information.

The US's current surveillance law expires on February 1st, and the Bush Administration is pushing to have its replacement in place before then. Bush has even, after months of denying requests, granted access to secret document about the warrantless wiretapping program to members of the House in an effort to win support for keeping telecommunications immunity in the bill.

Progress Made on US Economic Stimulus Package

Today Democrats struck a deal with the President on an economic stimulus package, which could mean tax rebate checks for millions of Americans. It's the latest effort from Congress to try to avert a recession. But as FSRN's Karen Miller reports, in certain sectors of the US economy, what has been a bust for some has been a boom for others.

Skyrocketing Price of Soy Creates Unrest Among Indonesia's Poor

Indonesia has been forced to take emergency action to calm unrest over record Soya Bean prices. The commodity hit an all-time global high of 13 dollars a bushel last week, an increase of almost 90 per cent on last year's level. Indonesian prices have risen even higher.

The rise is a partly a result of US farmers reducing the soy crop to grow more corn for bio-fuel. The Indonesian government is now looking at subsidizing the product and giving incentives to local farmers. As Rebecca Henschke reports from Jakarta, the rising prices have had a dramatic impact on the country's poor.

India Works to Strengthen its Child Labor Laws; Child Advocates Skeptical

India has the dubious distinction of being home to the largest number of working children in the world. But the Central Government is considering amendments to the country's 20-year old child labor law, prohibiting employment of children in hazardous occupations. The proposed amendments are intended to give more teeth to officials to enforce the law. But child rights activists have little hope that the changes will make any significant difference. FSRN's Bismillah Geelani reports.