Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was in Seattle following this past weekend’s landmark vote on health-care. The House approved the measure by a slim margin on Saturday night, but dozens of Democrats went against their party and voted “No” — including Representative Brian Baird of Vancouver. The fate in the U.S. Senate is still uncertain. So, public persuasion is important for Democratic leaders. Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured Seattle’s Swedish Hospital, and told reporters she wants to highlight aspects of the legislation getting less attention, such as rewarding safety and quality improvements. Swedish has won praise for reducing infections in its Intensive Care ... Read Full Story

 Delicious “Thank you very much, Mr. Whip. Yes, it was a great occasion for us to receive the President of the United States on this day when we will be making history with our vote and making progress for the American people.”It is also, as Chris Van Hollen reminds us, the third anniversary of Democrats winning the House and Senate for the American people - November 7, 2006. So it is appropriate that the New Direction that we promised them at the time and that we have worked on since then, will be manifested today in the passage of this important legislation. “It ... Read Full Story

Syria's president on Monday issued a decree banning smoking in public places, joining an anti-smoking trend already under way in other Arab countries. The ban also includes a rare restriction in the Arab world: limiting places where Syrians can indulge in the hubbly bubbly — water pipes known as argileh here. President Bashar Assad's decree, which will go into effect in six months, bans smoking in restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theaters, educational institutions, official functions and places of public transport. It also imposes a fine of 2,000 Syrian pounds — about $45 — on offenders. Syria had taken steps before to try to restrict ... Read Full Story

The svelte models strutted down the catwalk in sexy dresses with bare backs and short hemlines — all under the watchful portraits of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his late father, Hafez. The glitzy occasion was Syria's first ever fashion design competition, meant to encourage young Syrian talents and local products. But perhaps more importantly, it was part of the authorities' recent efforts to soften Syria's image and open up the authoritarian country. A tightly controlled nation often vilified by the West for harboring militant Palestinian organizations and criticized for alleged support for Iraqi insurgents, Syria has worked hard in recent years to shed ... Read Full Story

Saudi Arabia's king on Wednesday made his first visit to Syria since becoming monarch, the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit is also the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally. Syria was widely blamed for his death, which came only months before Abdullah became king, but Damascus has denied any responsibility. The two Arab countries have also been at odds over several regional issues, including Syria's close ties with Shiite Muslim Iran. They have recently made moves toward ... Read Full Story