Archive - Apr 13, 2010

• Nuclear Security Summit ends in Washington with progress and further questions
• Officials say Washington Mutual's irresponsible practices led to bank's failure
• Israeli orders could lead to thousands of deportations from West Bank
• New Delhi rickshaw drivers push to preserve pollution-free transportation
• University of Wisconsin ends licensing deal with Nike over labor violations

• More than 70 civilians killed by Pakistan’s military, 13 more die in US strike
• Rio shantytown razed – residents evicted
• Deposed Kyrgyz leader wants immunity for family, US airbase lease extended
• Hundreds of thousands of voters disenfranchised in South Sudan
• Nebraska enacts restrictions on abortion
• Biologists say it will take two decades for Great Barrier Reef to recover

The Nuclear Security Summit concludes in Washington this evening. And there are signs that officials are making progress. China appears to be moving closer to supporting sanctions against Iran. And individual countries have committed to getting rid of their nuclear weapons materials. But now that countries are making promises to dispose of nuclear material, some are asking where it's going to go. FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Washington Mutual's former CEO Kerry Killinger testified on Capitol Hill today. A Senate committee investigating the roots of the financial crisis heard from Killinger on the role of high-risk home loans. While Killinger says he heeded warnings about subprime loans, some of his subordinates say Killinger and the bank’s board continued to pursue irresponsible banking practices that led the US government to seize the 120 year old savings and loan, making it what some are calling the largest bank failure in history. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

In the West Bank, Israeli military orders go into effect today that could enable the deportation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the region, by designating certain residents as "infiltrators." In a statement, the Israeli Army said the orders would be used to "assure judicial oversight of the extradition process." But Israeli human rights organizations are calling them a violation of international law.

To discuss what these orders will do, we’re joined by Jerusalem-based Attorney Elad Cahana, with HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, an Israeli human rights organization.

Photo by Bismillah Geelani

India’s capital, New Delhi, is one of the world’s most polluted cities. According to India’s ministry of Environment, vehicular pollution contributes nearly 70 percent of the total air pollution in the city. Environmental groups and urban planners have been suggesting non-motorized vehicles like cycle rickshaws to tackle the problem. But the Cycle Rickshaw pullers say the existing transport policy is leading to their gradual eviction from the city. They've launched a campaign demanding more space on Delhi roads. Bismillah Geelani has the story.

The University of Wisconsin has announced it will end its licensing relationship with the Nike Corporation.  The decision, announced last week, was a result of the company's failure to adequately address labor violations at two Honduran factories. From Madison, JoAnne Powers reports.