Newscast for Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Health care reform faces obstacles in final stage of process
This is a crucial week for health care reform. It appears that the final stages of the process are imminent. House Democratic leaders say the vote could happen by week’s end. But as FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, many obstacles must still be overcome before the health care reform is passed.

FCC unveils plan to provide internet access to every American within ten years
Today, the Federal Communications Commission unveiled details of a plan that aims to confront the digital divide and secure high speed internet access for every community in the US over the next ten years. That means business, homes, rural and urban areas. It's an ambitious goal and one that presents plenty of challenges. FSRN's Karen Miller reports.

Thailand’s prime minister resists calls to step down as protests continue
Today, Thailand's parliament postponed a joint session in response to ongoing protests. Since the weekend, thousands have filled the streets of Bangkok, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The majority of protesters are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from power in 2006 in a military coup.

Earlier today, FSRN spoke to Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch. He spoke to us by mobile phone from Bangkok and he began by describing the public's response to a series of grenade attacks in several sections of the city, including near to the home of the president of the supreme administrative court.

Palestinians clash with police, Hamas calls for Intifada
Tensions are rising in the Mideast in response to the Israeli Government’s continuation of settlement building in Jerusalem. In the West Bank today, dozens of Palestinians were arrested after youth threw stones at police, according to Haaretz. An estimated 40 to 60 people were injured when police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the crowds. The clashes followed Hamas’ call for a “Day of Rage” in the West Bank. Hamas is also pressuring other Palestinian factions to launch a third Intifada. Rami Almeghari reports.

Middle East peace process suspended as US envoy cancels trip
Also in the Middle East, US special envoy George Mitchell has now postponed his visit to Israel. Mitchell was originally scheduled to meet with Israeli officials today to begin the groundwork for indirect peace talks. But Israel's announcement to go forward with the construction of 1,600 units in East Jerusalem, coming during Vice President Joe Biden's trip to the region last week, seemed to take the US by surprise and since then, the talks have been up in the air.

To take a deeper look at some of these issues, we're joined by Naseer Aruri. He's professor emeritus of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.