A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 750 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the U.S.
The show streams LIVE daily from 08:00–09:00 ET, US, then usually repeats soon after.
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by Brian Montopoli

Barack Obama today signed the first bill of his presidency, a piece of legislation known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act that makes it easier for workers to sue after discovering what they believe to be pay discrimination.
Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. worker, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, on the ‘Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.’ (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In signing the bill, Mr. Obama said that it sends the message “that there are no second class citizens in our workplaces, and that it’s not just unfair and illegal — but bad for business — to pay someone less because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability.”
The legislation is named after Ledbetter, 70, who worked at Goodyear Tire & Rubber in Alabama for nearly 20 years before discovering that she was being paid less than men who were doing the same job. She became the face of workplace discrimination during Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign, speaking at the Democratic National Convention and appearing in commercials for the then-Illinois senator.

The legislation, which Congress passed on Tuesday, effectively overturns a two-year-old, 5-4 Supreme Court decision that found that Ledbetter did not have grounds to sue because she did not discover the alleged pay discrimination within six months of it first taking place.
The bill signed by Mr. Obama today changes the rules so that Ledbetter and workers like her can sue within six months of discovering the alleged pay discrimination, regardless of when it began.
The Bush White House and Senate Republicans had previously blocked efforts to bring forth such legislation, which they suggested could encourage lawsuits.
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By RIZ KHAN

RIZ KHAN (Al Jazeera): Hello and welcome. Could Hamas be a key to peace between the Israelis and Palestinians? In spite of the U.S. condemning the democratically elected organization as terrorists and Israel launching a prolonged military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, there are those who feel there cannot be a solution without Hamas in peace talks. The argument for dialogue gains weight with the backing of a former U.S. president who’s been willing to take on the critics and controversy as he continues to staunchly campaign for peace in the region. In his book, “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work,” former President Jimmy Carter argues that, despite the recent violence between Israel and Hamas, the conditions are right for a peace deal.
Well, for more than 30 years, Jimmy Carter has worked on building peace in the Middle East. The 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel paved the way for later agreements with Jordan and the Palestinians. So as a new U.S. president takes on the challenge of finding a resolution, what advice does President Carter offer, will it be received willingly and why is he hopeful now, when the two sides seem further apart than ever? President Carter, it’s an honor to speak with you again.
Read entire interview here
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By Seema Jain

“Choti Si Umar Parnai Re Babo Sa, Kario Tharoo Kain Main Kusoor.” These lines from a song sung during marriages put forth the agony of a child’s heart undergoing a marriage ceremony that as to why was she being married off at such a tender age. Child marriage is one of the worst forms of denials of child rights.
Child marriage, involves either one or both spouses being children. The problem of child marriage in Madhya Pradesh is a complex one because it is related with traditional and religious practices. Compared to boys, girls are severely affected due to this practice of child marriage, due to social & physiological factor.
Madhya Pradesh has large number of teen aged mothers who is suffering with unnameable miseries entailed by the customs of early marriage. This wicked practice of child marriage has destroyed the happiness of children’s life. Child marriages continue to be a fairly widespread social evil in Madhya Pradesh, despite a law banning it. The DLHS-3 recorded that 40.5% of boys are married below the age of 21 years and 29.2% of girls aged below 18 were married. The scenario of rural parts in the state is nastiest where about 58.5% women aged 20-24 years got married by the time they are 18 years old.

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Interview with Shahrukh Khan

You didn’t go to any of the solidarity rallies in Mumbai because people will say you’re doing it to promote your film?

Silly people will anyway say silly things, which is ok… I keep reading some idiotic writer somewhere writing **** about me. But I felt there was no need for me to go and create confusion, because, as much as I may like to just go there normally, it won’t be normal – there will be channels, and I will be saying the same stuff. I am also as angry and as upset, but I am a little older so maybe I’m a little more controlled… I didn’t want to just hang around there. If it’s about solidarity, I know we’re all together. If it’s about sadness, we’re all very sad. I think the youngsters who went there and made a statement, that was important. I stand by them, even if I wasn’t personally there. Also, I don’t usually go and speak in public. I only come out in public and chat about my work when my film is releasing. So I felt that even if I go out and attend an event, people will misconstrue it. In a serious thing like this, I felt we didn’t need diversions, like oh, why is this actor saying this, why has this director gone here?

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What’s behind Obama’s charm offensive towards the Muslim world
What’s behind Obama’s charm offensive towards the Muslim world
Last week President Obama introduced the new U.S. State Department, including two new special envoys – George Mitchell to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to Afghanistan/Pakistan. Early this week the President gave his first sit-in interview in power – to an Arab TV network. He has promised a new partnership with the Arab world based on mutual respect. As groundbreaking as this may seem – compared to the Bush administration’s approach – Pepe Escobar argues that the overall strategy may not be substantially different.
Bio
Pepe Escobar, born in Brazil is the roving correspondent for Asia Times and an analyst for The Real News Network. He’s been a foreign correspondent since 1985, based in London, Milan, Los Angeles, Paris, Singapore, and Bangkok. Since the late 1990s, he has specialized in covering the arc from the Middle East to Central Asia, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has made frequent visits to Iran and is the author of Globalistan and also Red Zone Blues: A Snapshot of Baghdad During the Surge both published by Nimble Books in 2007.
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