Here is your R&D for November 29th:
US tries to contain damage from leaked cables from the Associated Press
The U.S. State Department is scrambling after WikiLeaks released more than 250,000 classified State Department documents. The documents contain blunt interpretations of foreign leaders and provide insight into America’s handling of diplomatic hot spots throughout the world.
Kirk’s arrival boosts GOP from Politico
Republican Mark Kirk, the winner of Illinois Senate election several weeks ago, will be sworn in on Capitol Hill this evening. Kirk will fill the rest of Roland Burris’s term before beginning his own six year term in January. Kirk’s arrival boosts the number of GOP controlled Senate seats to 42, making it more difficult for Democrats to push partisan legislation in the lame duck session.
Election debacle has Haiti again near turmoil from the Houston Chronicle
Considering the chaos in Haiti over the last year, it is unsurprising that the country’s presidential election is in shambles. Sunday’s vote brought the country’s political parties together to oppose Jude Celestin, considered President Rene Preval’s heir apparent.
Thailand: Ruling Party Holds On to Power — For Now from Time
Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party won a political victory today when the nation’s Constitutional Court dismissed two cases of election fraud that could have dissolved the party and banned Abhisit from politics for five years.
Swiss pass measure to expel foreigners convicted of crimes from the Washington Post
Swiss voters passed a referendum on Sunday to automatically expel foreigners convicted of serious crimes. The measure passed with fifty-three percent of the vote and was closely watching by the European Union.