Archive - Nov 29, 2007

• Republicans Give Democrats a Break and Instead Bash Each Other
• Musharraf Retires from Military, but Critics Doubt it Will Make a Difference
• US Vows to Admit 12,000 Iraqi Refugees in 2008
• Public Opinion Favors Teachers in WA Disciplined for Alleged Involvement in a Student Anti-War Walk-Out
• The European Union's Agriculture Policy Faces an Overhaul

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• Military Standoff at Manila Hotel
• Possible Compromise Candidate for Lebanon's Presidency
• Executive Privilege and Immunity Claim Not Legally Valid: Leahy
• Another Labour Party Financing Scandal Triggers Calls for Reforms
• Polish Prosecutors Investigate Deadly Taser Incident
  

Former-General Pervez Musharraf was sworn-in today as the civilian president of Pakistan, a day after he retired from the post of army chief. The decision to retire was hailed by his domestic opposition, as well as world leaders. But many political analysts say this will not end the turmoil that has gripped the nuclear power for more than eight months. FSRN correspondent, Masror Hussain looks at what lies ahead for Pakistan.

With just more than a month remaining before the first votes are cast in the first Presidential caucuses in Iowa, the race is getting tighter and more intense. Hillary Clinton now has another Union endorsement under her cap – from the 180-thousand member Amalgamated Transit Union. She now has nine national unions backing her, promising on-the-ground campaign support in primary states.

The Iraqi Government is pushing to speed up the process by which refugees who fled the country during the US war are able to return home. Several hundred refugees crossed back into Iraq via bus convoy from Syria today where they were greeted by Iraqi officials at the border, who have promised 750 dollars per family to help them resettle. But only a small percentage of Iraqi refugees are opting to take the cash and go back to Iraq and others are still seeking refuge.

Today, the State Department announced a new goal of bringing 12,000 Iraqi refugees to the United States in 2008. But with the millions of Iraqis displaced since US occupation began, some say this effort is too little, too late. Karen Miller has more from Washington, DC

As a part of a "health check" or review of it's Common Agricultural Policy, the European Commission, or E-C, recently proposed to cap subsidies for Europe's biggest farmers. The E.C. proposed a similar scheme of redistributing funds in 2003, but it was abandoned after staunch opposition. The present proposal is being reconsidered after strong criticism from the United Kingdom and Germany.

This latest review is a follow-up to reforms made in 2003 aimed at modernizing the EU's Agricultural Policy. But now this policy will be scrutinized by a larger, 27-member body.

In the Seattle suburb of Tukwila, six schoolteachers are being disciplined for their students' participation in an anti-war walkout on November 16th.   The School District threatened the teachers with termination if they discussed the student-protest.  But one teacher is back in the classroom today, after being put on a week's paid leave.  Jill Freidberg has more from Washington State.