Tuesday, February 19, 2008

• Castro Resigns; US Sanctions Remain
• Musharraf Says He Won't Step Down Despite Massive Election Defeats for His Party
• The US Supreme Court Hears Two Workplace Discrimination Cases
• Olmert and Abbas Meet to Discuss Palestinian Statehood
• Indian Environmentalists Protest Preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi

13 Meg Version Click Here
Dial-Up Listeners Click Here

Castro Resigns; US Sanctions Remain

Cuban President Fidel Castro officially offered his resignation this morning. The move was not entirely unexpected, as he had provisionally resigned in July of 2006 because of declining health. In a translated statement issued today, Castro said, "My wish has always been to discharge my duties to my last breath. That's all I can offer." Fidel's brother Raul Castro will now take the reigns as President.

Today US Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both renewed a call for the release of political prisoners in Cuba. Obama said the resignation –quote "should mark the end of a dark era in Cuba's history."

Meanwhile the Bush Administration announced the official change-over in power would not mean the end of U-S sanctions against the island nation.

To get some perspective on what Castro's resignation will mean for the future of the country, I spoke with Saul Landau, a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies who writes frequently about Cuba.

Musharraf Says He Won't Step Down Despite Massive Election Defeats for His Party

Pakistani President Musharraf says he won't resign, despite a humiliating setback in yesterday's general election. The vote tallies were bad news for Musharraf's allies in the Pakistan Muslim League-Q. They were reduced from the governing party to the third largest party in parliament.

The big winners in the election have been the People's Party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the Muslim League-N, or PMLN, led by another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. As the politicians discuss the formation of a new government, Tony Cross spoke to some of their supporters in the southern port city of Karachi.

The US Supreme Court Hears Two Workplace Discrimination Cases

Today, the Supreme Court decided to not take a case on the Bush Administration's warrrantless wiretapping program. The suit was brought to the court by the American Civil Liberties Union. The Supreme Court offered no explanation for the rejection. This is a blow to civil liberties advocates who are challenging the constitutionality of the Administration's domestic surveillance programs.

Meanwhile, the High Court heard the first of two cases scheduled this week on workplace discrimination. As FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, today's case deals with age discrimination, tomorrow's case covers race.

Olmert and Abbas Meet to Discuss Palestinian Statehood

Two days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed his country had a free hand to attack those in Gaza who would attack them, positive steps towards peace are being taken. Olmert is in negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas met Prime Minister Olmert today in his Jerusalem residence. They agreed to accelerate peace talks between Israel and Palestine, but decided to hold off on discussions about the fate of Jerusalem until the issue of Palestinian statehood was resolved. FSRN's Ghassan Bannoura has the details:

Indian Environmentalists Protest Preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in the Indian Capital New Delhi in 2010. With less than two years left before the massive sports event, green advocates have intensified their attacks on the government for ignoring the environmental threat posed by construction of the Games Village on the Yamuna riverbed in Delhi.

The environmentalists say the area is among the last remaining zones for ground water recharge, and this crucial function will be lost if the massive construction project goes forward. FSRN's Bismillah Geelani has more.