Taliban Threatens Pakistan Takeover; Ruling Allows 17-Year-Olds Access to Morning-After Pill; General Motors Planning a Long Summer Shutdown
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And thanks for being with us, as we cross the top of the hour. It's Thursday, it's the 23rd of April. John Roberts together with Kiran Chetry.</s>KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: We're working on a lot this morning. Here's what's on the agenda. Stories we'll be breaking down for you in the next 15 minutes. Pakistan's army now moving into a district just 60 miles from the capital of Islamabad after Taliban militants from the nearby SWAT Valley started taking over. Also developing right now, police say that dozens of armed militants attacked a truck terminal burning five tankers carrying fuel for NATO troops in Afghanistan. Those are the pictures now. And General Motors reportedly planning a long summer shutdown in most of its U.S. plants to clear a massive backlog of unsold vehicles that have been piling up on dealer lots. The struggling automaker will close plants possibly for up to nine weeks this summer. And 17-year-olds may soon be able to get the morning after emergency birth control pill known as Plan B without a doctor's prescription. The Food and Drug Administration says it will not appeal last month's federal court ruling that ordered the age limit lowered from 18. Those restrictions on over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill were imposed during the Bush administration. And starting on the other side of the globe this morning, terrorists threatening a fragile nuclear armed nation. Pakistan's army trying to take that government buildings and bridges taken by Taliban militant just 60 miles from the capital. Secretary of State Clinton speaking out on the crisis.</s>HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I think that we cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing advances now within hours of Islamabad that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state which is, as we all know, a nuclear armed state.</s>CHETRY: Ivan Watson is live in Islamabad this morning. Certainly, a lot of ears perk up when you hear nuclear arms state. What is, though, the -- the -- the threat on the ground right now that these Taliban fighters will actually be able to get their hands on any of the nuclear arsenal?</s>IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think we're still a bit away from that scenario right now, Kiran. In fact, we've heard from the Pakistani military, the spokesman for the military, saying that paramilitary forces are being sent to this district about 60 miles from the Pakistani capital, the district that the Taliban forces claimed earlier this week. He said that paramilitary forces were headed to that district. However, we've gotten reports from the Pakistani police of a deadly ambush by militants of a convoy of Pakistani paramilitary forces. And police with one police officer killed in that ambush, another police officer wounded. The Pakistani military spokesman went on to issue a warning to the Taliban, Kiran, saying, quote, "The Taliban will either move out or they will be thrown out one way or another." What's confusing here is we're getting a very different message from the Pakistani government. I attended a foreign ministry press conference today and there, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said, "We think it's too early to comment on the effectiveness of this peace deal that the Pakistani government signed with the Taliban last week." That they still need time to see how that could spread peace across the region. So two very different messages coming from different parts of the Pakistani state - Kiran.</s>CHETRY: Yes, and can you tell us a little bit more about this video that we're looking at apparently of the setting fire to these trucks?</s>WATSON: OK. This incident took place in the western city of Peshawar. Now that has been a major supply route for fuel and other supplies going into Afghanistan, to NATO and American forces there. And what took place before dawn this morning was an ambush on a fuel station there, where six fuel trucks were blown up by rocket propelled grenades. Now, the supply lines there have come under attack before as the fuel lines go through the Khyber Pass, and that has forced the U.S. military in Afghanistan and NATO to think of alternative routes to bring in their supplies to Afghanistan just because of the threat to those supply lines, Kiran. And they have opened up deals just in recent months with other central agent states to the north of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and more recently Tajikistan, Kiran, simply because Pakistan has become too dangerous.</s>CHETRY: Wow. Yes, absolutely. And these pictures certainly tell that story as well. Ivan Watson live for us in Islamabad, this morning, following all the latest developments. Thanks.</s>ROBERTS: This morning, President Obama launching a new offensive to help keep more of your money in your hands. And in just a few hours, he'll meet with executives at major credit card companies to crack down on high interest rates and fees. At the same time, Congress is considering a credit cardholder's bill of rights. Under the legislation, banks would have to give you at least 45 days before increasing rates. They would have to mail your bill more than three weeks before it's due, instead of three hours. And it would ease penalties from unrelated cards or debts. CNN's congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar is live for us in Washington. A whole lot of moves being made, Brianna. Do you think we're going to see anything getting done?</s>BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is a question. Certainly, though, we're going to be seeing a vote soon in the House, John, and it is expected to pass. These types of changes we're talking about are the kind that would be welcomed by many credit card holders who say they feel taken advantage of by their credit card company.</s>KEILAR (voice-over): Tens of thousands of angry consumers bombarded the Federal Reserve with e-mails and letters when it considered cracking down on the credit card industry. Like this one. "I had to take out a loan for $25,000 to pay off the card that was generating $900 per month in interest charges." And this one from a person who said, "A credit card company increased my promotional APR from a very low 4.99 to 28.99 percent, even though I have had no late payments." The fight to stop these practices is one New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has lost before, but with an ally in the White House, this time the so-called "Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights" could become law.</s>REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: When we go to a store and buy a gallon of milk, they don't change it as we're walking out the door. A contract is a contract. If you're going to change that contract, you've got to tell the consumer, you've got to be clear in your terms.</s>KEILAR: Maloney's bill would require credit card companies to give you 45 days notice before upping your interest rate, force them to mail your bill at least 25 days before it's due, and prevent companies from increasing your rate because of late or mispayments on unrelated cards or debts. Credit card companies staunchly oppose the changes saying if they can't penalize risky card holders, they may have to deny credit to other consumers and small businesses.</s>NESSA FEDDIS, AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION: They may also find that the costs are increasing and that some people who manage their credit well will have to pay for those who don't.</s>KEILAR: It is expected to pass the House next week. The Senate, though, more of a question mark. That's somewhere where President Obama may be able to exert some influence or he'll need to in order to get this passed to change some minds of people in his own party. And John, it is important to note this bill of rights would not go into effect until next summer. It's actually the same time when the fed starts enforcing similar regulations on credit card companies - John.</s>ROBERTS: All right. Brianna Keilar for us, live in Washington this morning. Brianna, thanks so much.</s>CHETRY: And the credit card practice of jacking up the interest rates while clamping down on credit limits continues to heat up our show hotline. Here's what you had to say about it.</s>CALLER: Credit cards is what's running this country. They need to put more green on the streets.</s>CALLER: I think credit cards should be just stopped, cut out. Because some people, it's just another bill.</s>CHETRY: And we want to hear what you have to stay about all of this and our other big stories. Call our show hotline. It's 1-877- MY-AMFIX or 1-877-692-6349. You can also get us on Twitter, Twitter.com/1-877-my-amfix. That's 1-877-692-6349. Also this morning, we're giving you the tools to take control of your home and your money. Just a few minutes, the best way to deal with foreclosure. It's all part of our special series "Money & Main Street," which you can catch tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, on "</s>NO BIAS, NO BULL." ROBERTS: We're checking our top stories now. Levi Johnston, the father of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's grandson spoke to CNN's Larry King last night about the public feud between his family and the Palins. Levi says he has not seen his baby, Tripp, in weeks. Larry asked him if he would take legal action in order to see his son more.</s>LARRY KING, CNN HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Why wouldn't you hire a lawyer to fight for your rights as a father?</s>LEVI JOHNSTON, EX-FIANCE OF BRISTOL PALIN: I think we just -- I think we can work things out. I mean, I don't think either one of us want to go, go to the lawyer and try to fight for custody and stuff like this.</s>KING: But then why can't you see -- why can't you take your baby, it's your baby. Why can't you take your baby for a weekend?</s>JOHNSTON: I don't know.</s>KING: But you're not interested in finding out legally why you can't?</s>JOHNSTON: I am. I think if it keeps going like this, I think we're going to have to.</s>ROBERTS: Levi Johnston said he and Bristol Palin have no formal visitation agreement for their baby son. Julia Roberts won an Academy Award for playing her in a movie. Now the real environmental activist Erin Brockovich is at it again. She's urging northwest Missouri residents to stop a tannery from distributing sludge that's actually tainted with a cancer causing chemicals. The sludge has been used on farmland as fertilizer. And after five years and 241 shows, it's finally good-bye yellow brick road for Elton John. The singer taking his final bow at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Elton will tour this year with Billy Joel - Kiran.</s>CHETRY: Well, a controversial ruling on the so-called morning- after pill. Teens as young as 17 can now get it without a prescription. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be with us live about what you need to know about this drug.