October 10, 2008 (Friday): Palin Rebuked in Inquiry; G-7 Aims to Boost Economies

The Alaskan legislature releases a report concluding that Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, abused her powers as state governor by trying to get her former brother-in-law fired from his job as a state trooper. The report accuses her of having advanced a “personal agenda” by putting “impermissible pressure” on state employees. However, it also finds that she was within her rights to fire the trooper’s boss, the public safety commissioner. (For more on this news, click here, here and here.)

The G-7, a group of the world’s wealthiest countries, agrees today to collaborative action to try to stem the global economic crisis. Among the goals are unfreezing the credit market, beefing up depositor insurance, and stopping big banks and institutions from failing. It specifically endorses governments taking ownership positions to shore up banks. The plan lacks details of which specific actions the group will take, but comes as global markets end the week down. (For more on this story, click here, here and here.)

A former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, wins the Nobel Peace Prize today for years of work in international hot spots. Ahtisaari also spent 13 years working with Namibia to help the country overcome a history of violence with South Africa. His skills as a negotiator and peacemaker are cited as key factors in his successful mediations as a Finnish diplomat, and as a United Nations envoy. (For more on this news, click here, here and here.)