Archive - Apr 16, 2009

• Obama plans crackdown on Mexican drug cartels
• Tax changes aim to simplify and strengthen outreach to poorest
• Texas considers permitting concealed firearms on college campuses
• The consequences of Sharia Islamic law in Pakistan’s Swat
• Emerging communist coalition threatens India’s major-party stronghold

• Obama announces plans for high-speed rail in the US
• NY’s Governor announces marriage equality legislation
• US soldier convicted of Iraqi murders
• Strikers in Chile demand job security
• Israel won’t cooperate with UN in Gaza war crimes investigation

The fifth Summit of the Americas kicks off tomorrow. The summit brings together heads of state from the Western Hemisphere to discuss economic, social and political concerns.  In anticipation of the event, President Obama penned an op ed that ran in 14 papers in English, Spanish and PortuguesS. He outlined some of his goals and sAId there is "no time to lose" in improving relations with countries in the western hemisphere. Obama is also strengthening ties with neighboring Mexico. Today President Obama is meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to examine how the two nations can combat drug trafficking and violence. Already, President Obama has  announced a new border czar and tougher sanctions on  US companies  that do business with Mexican drug cartels. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

Tax Day is behind us. But some of President Obama’s tax changes are still ahead. His changes could make the daunting maze of schedules and credits less complex – or they could do a better job targeting tax benefits to the people who need them most. Experts say they probably won’t be able to do both. Tanya Snyder reports.

Today marks two years since the Virginia Tech massacre. Thirty-two people were killed before the killer took his own life, making it the deadliest single-shooter incident in US history.  The incident prompted advocates of gun ownership to push for legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons on university and college campuses as a means of self-defense. Their efforts have so far failed in all states...but that may soon change in Texas. Legislators there are expected to vote in the coming weeks on a measure that would require all of the state's public institutions of higher learning to allow concealed firearms into the classroom. Shannon Young reports from Austin.

Today marks two years since the Virginia Tech massacre. Thirty-two people were killed before the killer took his own life, making it the deadliest single-shooter incident in US history.  The incident prompted advocates of gun ownership to push for legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons on university and college campuses as a means of self-defense. Their efforts have so far failed in all states...but that may soon change in Texas. Legislators there are expected to vote in the coming weeks on a measure that would require all of the state's public institutions of higher learning to allow concealed firearms into the classroom. Shannon Young reports from Austin.

Pakistani President Asif Zardari's government went forth this week with legislation that implements Sharia Islamic law as the SWAT valley's sole justice system. Despite the concession, the region's militants are refusing to abandon weapons just yet. Skeptics argue that allowing militants to rule by their own interpretation of Sharia law will only further Talibanize the northern mountainous region once known as a place for tourism. They point to video of a woman being publicly flogged while screaming for mercy as evidence. While some locals welcome the implementation and hope that it will bring an end to violence with the Pakistani government, others worry that this will only lead to greater rifts with the West, particularly U.S. relations.
To find out more about Sharia law, FSRN's Rose Ketabchi interviewed Senator Saeeda Iqbal, a professor and women’s rights advocate.