Archive - Apr 6, 2009

• No formal response to North Korea’s controversial rocket launch
• Obama vows U.S. will lead movement to rid globe of nukes
• Europe wary of Obama’s plans for escalating military effort in Afghanistan
• US assault weapons used in narco cartel violence
• LA county adopts homeless as hate crime category

• US Supreme Court denies Mumia Abu Jamal a new trial 
  
• Search efforts continue after earthquake in Italy
• Controversial family law put on hold in Afghanistan
  
• NASA says arctic ice layer thinnest ever
  
• Coordinated bombs explode in India’s Assam region ahead of Singh visit
• Alleged Nazi war criminal may yet be deported to Germany to stand trial

World leaders have failed to reach a joint response to North Korea’s rocket launch on Sunday. Japan called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council claiming its security was threatened by Pyongyang’s actions – but the hurried meeting yielded little action aside from a pledge to find an appropriate response in the near future. The United States and Japan are now vowing to pursue resolution condemning the Kim Jong-il regime. As Jason Strother reports from Tokyo, a unified response to North Korea’s rocket launch may be hard to find.

Some state and local governments across the country are looking to add homeless as a category for hate crime protection. But as Dan Fritz reports from KPFK in Los Angeles, cities and counties on the West Coast are taking the lead.

Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have recently announced increased efforts to stem the flow of firearms purchased in the US and trafficked to Mexico. Drug-related violence has been raging south of the border for the past 2 years, and high-powered, military style firearms legally purchased here in the States have contributed to record setting homicide levels. Shannon Young has more from Houston, Texas.

Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have recently announced increased efforts to stem the flow of firearms purchased in the US and trafficked to Mexico. Drug-related violence has been raging south of the border for the past 2 years, and high-powered, military style firearms legally purchased here in the States have contributed to record setting homicide levels. Shannon Young has more from Houston, Texas.

At least 36 people are dead as a result of half a dozen car bombs in and around Baghdad Monday. Four of the attacks struck around open market areas during morning hours; the majority of the car bombs appear to have hit Shiite districts. As of air-time, no group has taken responsibly for the attacks. Meanwhile, President Obama’s foreign policy focus continues to be Afghanistan. As he tours around Europe pressing for support, his Ambassador to the region is in Afghanistan meeting with government officials.