• A Faction of the Lakota Tribe Declares Independence, Tries to Break Treaty with US Government
• Bush Releases New Economic Stimulus Package
• Democratic Candidates Focus on the Economy Going into Nevada Caucuses
• Kosovo Independence Becomes a Key Issue in Serbia's National Elections
• Israel Tightens Reigns on Gaza in Response to Rocket Attacks

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Bush Releases New Economic Stimulus Package

The sub-prime lending crisis and housing slow down, the high unemployment rate, high oil prices, low consumer spending, poor market performance… Add them all up, and according to many economists, you have the makings of a recession.

The US government is scrambling to turn things around, and today President Bush proposed a new economic stimulus package. He says the plan would provide a 145 billion dollar shot in the arm to the weakening economy. FSRN's Karen Miller has more from DC.

Democratic Candidates Focus on the Economy Going into Nevada Caucuses

The Nevada caucuses are just a day away, but Mitt Romney is the only Republican who has spent significant time this week courting Nevada caucus-goers. Most of the Republicans are focusing on the South Carolina primary, which happens tomorrow as well.

Meanwhile, the South Carolina Democratic primary isn't for another week, so Democrats are concentrating all their efforts in Nevada. At the top of the agenda for the candidates is the economy. As President Bush releases a plan mitigate financial woes, Democratic candidates are touting their own stimulus plans. Nevada is a state where foreclosures and the housing slump are hitting particularly close to home. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell takes a look at what the Democrats are proposing.

Kosovo Independence Becomes a Key Issue in Serbia's National Elections

At the UN Security Council earlier this week and again today, Russia reiterated its readiness to veto independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo. The Serbian government has offered a high degree of autonomy to the province, but has stopped short of granting independence. On the issue, the United States, Britain and other EU countries have spoken out in favor of Kosovo.

The future of the province has been the decisive campaign issue for the two leading parties in coming Serbian presidential elections. Serbs go to the polls on January 20 th. Reporting from Belgrade, Amy Miller has more on the presidential campaigns.

Israel Tightens Reigns on Gaza in Response to Rocket Attacks

Collective punishment for Gaza is wrong say UN Humanitarian Affairs Officer John Holmes. Despite this, Israeli army attacks on Gaza this week have left more than 31 people dead and nearly 100 injured. Israel has increased targeting of Palestinian resistance groups. Today Israel closed off all borders with Gaza, reportedly stopping at least one shipment of humanitarian aid materials. Israel has also, once again, cut back the amount of fuel shipments to Gaza, causing constant power outages to the regions 1.5 million residents. As FSRN's Rami Al-Meghari reports, all this comes as Palestinians and Israelis kicked off a key round of peace talks on Monday.

[Gaza Segment]

That was Gaza correspondent Rami Al-Meghari.

On Friday , Israel decided to seal off all Gaza's crossings and cut fuel supplies to the coastal region completely, as Israeli military officials declared that more attacks on Gaza will be carried out in the upcoming period.
Gaza has been under a strict Israeli closure since June 2007. That's when Hamas took over the coastal territory amidst a power struggle with Fatah party of President Abbas, who embraces the US endorsed peace strategy.

Palestinians and Israelis initiated on Monday their final status talks on core issues, following President Bush's trip to Palestinian Territories and Israel last week.

A Faction of the Lakota Tribe Declares Independence, Tries to Break Treaty with US Government

Lakota tribal members have spent the last month advising federal, state and local governments that they're officially declaring the formation of a new Lakota nation. The Lakota people govern reservations in the northern states from South Dakota to Wyoming. Those who live on the reservations face continuing problems not unlike other Native American groups: high levels of poverty, domestic violence and suicide.

Although many tribal members support this "declaration of Lakota independence," the movement has caused division among the Lakota and is being shrugged off by state authorities. FSRN's Jim Kent spoke to people on several sides of the issue and filed this story.