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Seven African-Americans filed a employment discrimination suit today against Microsoft, alleging they were paid less than fellow employees and passed over for promotions. In their five-billion-dollar lawsuit, the plaintiffs, who are current and former Microsoft employees, also contended that they were subjected to retaliation when they complained about their treatment. Microsoft, the world's largest software company, said it is committed to diversity in the workplace. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

President Elect George W. Bush named two of his top campaign aides to new jobs today, completing the transfer of his "Texas Iron Triangle" from Austin to Washington. Senior strategist Karl Rove will become senior adviser to Bush in the White House, where he will handle public liaison and strategy as well as politics. Joe Allbaugh, who has been Bush's campaign manager, will become the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Don Gonyea reports from Austin.

NPR's Michelle Kelemen reports on new developments in U.S.-Yugoslavia relations. A top Yugoslav official, meeting with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright yesterday, said his country is interested in stronger economic ties with the U.S., and might be willing to allow an international war crimes tribunal to try former President Slobodan Milosevic. The U.S. has set aside 100 million dollars to help Yugoslavia...on the condition that war criminals be tried.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports President Clinton didn't follow the usual procedures in some of his last minute pardons, annoying some prosecutors. The official process includes background checks on whether individuals have committed any crimes since the one for which they were pardoned. Also, the FBI doesn't know enough about some people who were pardoned to know if their cases are current, and is reviewing them to see if any active prosecutions should now be closed.

In the second of two reports on school principals, NPR's Wendy Kaufman visits a nationally recognized training program at the University of Washington. The Danforth Program offers mentors and real world experience to people who want to become principals. Discussions include child development, labor relations, and insurance liability, as well as special education and legal issues. Participants are encouraged to examine their values, strengths, and weaknesses, to better equip themselves for changing school environments.

NPR's Julie Rovner reports on President Bush's plan to provide seniors with prescription drug coverage. The plan would give money to states to cover low-income seniors. Mr. Bush said a broader plan, to cover all seniors regardless of income, would be introduced in the months to come. (3:30) For more on Mr. Bush's agenda this week, check out our online coverage at: http://www.npr.org/news/national/2001/jan/010129.bush.html.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that tomorrow, at 5 am eastern standard time, a special Scottish court in the Netherlands will announce its verdict in the case of two Libyans charged with blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Some family members of the American victims are upset they won't be able to travel there in time. Two hundred seventy people were killed when the Pan Am jet, on a flight from London to New York, blew up in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland in December of 1988.

President Bush is devoting his second week in office to promoting the role of non-governmental organizations in providing social services. The President contends that religious and community groups often do a better job at meeting human needs and should have access to public funding. Today, Mr. Bush laid out a few more details of his program and visited a private vocational school in Washington D.C. NPR's White House correspondent Don Gonyea reports.

NPR's Martin Kaste reports that thousands of political activists meeting in Porto Alegre Brazil are trying to channel a protest movement against globalization into positive action. The delegates, who represent a broad range of political ideology, are holding their meeting as world leaders and corporate executives meet in Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum. The Porto Alegre meeting is a follow-up to big protests held over the last 18 months in Washington, D-C, Seattle and Prague.

Thailand's Prime Minister has met with Johnny and Luther Htoo, the young twins who are the leaders of a Burmese rebel group called The God's Army. The ragtag rebel group believed the two boys had mystical powers, and had been associated with some vicious murders in Thailand. The meeting was a public relations coup for Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who patted the boys and said he'd like to see them in school. Noah talks with Robert Horn, Bangkok reporter for Time Asia Magazine.