Newscast for Friday, December 26, 2008

• India and Pakistan Moving Closer to Armed Conflict; Taliban Making Inroads in Pakistan's Northwest
• Barack Obama: War and the Presidency
• Nepal: Journalists Take to the Streets Over Attacks
• Los Angeles: Homecare Workers Picket for Backpay on Christmas
• Kenya: Remembering Tragedy With Theater
• Eartha Kitt Dies at 81

India and Pakistan Moving Closer to Armed Conflict; Taliban Making Inroads in Pakistan's Northwest

Tensions are rising between India and Pakistan. Both nuclear-armed nations have said they don't want an armed conflict, but India has not ruled out military force in response to the attacks in Mumbai, which it blames on Pakistan-based militants. The Indian prime minister met with his military chiefs today, and the government warned Indian citizens it's unsafe to travel to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan placed its armed forces on high alert, cancelled leave for members of the military, and moved some troops away from the western border with Afghanistan. Those movements are weakening the Pakistani government's presence in the area where Taliban forces are gaining strength. Militants recently attacked three schools in the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and announced a complete ban on all Girls' Schools beginning January 15.  Afridai Afridi has more from Swat.

Barack Obama: War and the Presidency

With the presidential inauguration just three weeks away, one of the biggest puzzles facing President Elect Barack Obama is the war in Iraq. On the campaign trail, he promised to withdraw troops within 16 months. But recently the military's signaled it will re-classify some soldiers as "advisors" to keep them in Iraq past a formal pullout. Meanwhile, the US military is promising to send at least 20,000 more troops into Afghanistan. FSRN's Karen Miller has more:

Nepal: Journalists Take to the Streets Over Attacks

In Nepal, journalists are protesting today over violent attacks on the Himal Media House, publisher of the Nepali Times and two other newspapers. Pro-Maoist trade unionists carried out the attacks, and injured a dozen media professionals.  The Kathmandu police have brought a criminal case against two people they say were involved. PC dubey reports.

Los Angeles: Homecare Workers Picket for Backpay on Christmas

In Los Angeles, some labor rights advocates spent Christmas outside the home of the owner of a Los Angeles homecare agency, asking him not to be a Grinch.  They're asking him to pay $25,000 in back-wages to two former employees as part of a campaign to raise work conditions for the city's 20,000 Filipino homecare workers. Leilani Albano has the story.

Kenya: Remembering Tragedy With Theater

It is now almost a year since post-election riots erupted in Kenya, bringing that country's economy to a standstill, displacing half a million people, and leaving more than one thousand dead.  Nairobi's National Theatre is marking the painful anniversary with a musical play. FSRN'S Arusha Topazzini has the story:

Eartha Kitt Dies at 81

The unmistakeable voice of Eartha Kitt.  She died Christmas day at the age of 81, after a fight with colon cancer. Before moving to Harlem and starting her career in show business, Kitt grew up the child of rape in the cotton fields of 1930s South Carolina:

"I'm not only illegitimate – but I don't even have a race. . . not that I want a race! I was given away by my mother. See, I don't be lieve my mother gave me away because she wanted to, she gave me away because she had to – see, she was very young when conceived me, and she was conceived by one of the cotton plantation owners' sons. So therefore you're illegitimate, and you're a bastard child, and you recall that your whole life."

Kitt's career as a singer, dancer and actress spanned six decades, and won her two Emmys. But her politics also got her effectively blacklisted in the United States. After she denounced the Vietnam War during a white house luncheon, Kitt was investigated by the FBI and CIA, and spent nearly 11 years performing almost exclusively overseas. She continued performing until last year. We'll take you out with more from Eartha Kitt, who died yesterday at the age of 81.