Archive - Oct 17, 2007

• Bush Appoints Contraceptive Opponent to Run Family Planning
• Lawsuit Over Forced Drugging of Immigrants Before Deportation
• Vancouver Police Threaten to Evict Tent City Encampment
• Pakistani Supreme Court Hears Post-Electoral Challenges
• Indian Farmers to Launch Countrywide Campaign
  

The House of Representatives is supposed to vote on a new plan for
electronic surveillance today. But the outcome is suddenly unexpected
as Democrats are pulling their support. The legislation reverses some
surveillance powers given to the President in August, but it expands
the government's ability to wiretap.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

From habeas corpus to warrentless wiretapping, and from the firing of
federal prosecutors to low justice department moral, the Senate
Judiciary committee held a confirmation hearing for Michael Mukasey
today. He's the Judge who could be the next attorney general.

Karen Miller has more from Washington, DC

A resolution labeling the Ottoman Empire's killings of 1.5 million
Armenians a genocide, is loosing support in the U-S Congress. Many
initial backers of the resolution are pulling their support because of
the potential for negative diplomatic reaction of Turkey. The country
is a strategic base for the U-S.

Tensions are simmering on the border between Turkey and Kurdish
Iraq. Today the Turkish parliament voted overwhelmingly to authorize
military action against the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK in Northern
Iraq. But with diplomatic pressure from the United States, NATO and
Iraq not to move forward with military action, some doubt an actual
attack will happen.

U.S Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is meeting again in two
days with Palestinian and Israeli officials. It's a bid to bridge the
gap between the two sides and come up with a joint statement on key
negotiation points - such as questions over Palestinian refugees,
Jewish settlements and the accessibility of holy sites. Rice's visit to
the region comes ahead of a Washington-sponsored conference on Middle
East peace next month.

FSRN'S Rami Almeghari has more from Gaza City.

The Khalil Gibran International Academy is the first public bilingual middle school in New York City dedicated to educating children about Arab history, culture, and language. Before the academy opened its doors this fall, the school and it's founding Principal Debbie Almontaser came under fire by right-wing bloggers and corporate media who said the school was a breeding ground for Islamist terrorists. As a result, Almontaser was forced to resign immediately before the school opened. But yesterday, Almonaster, amid strong public support announced that she will reapply for the principal position.

Andalusia Knoll reports from New York.

Commentary from Mumia Abu-Jamal.