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President Obama addresses the nation tonight from the Oval Office with a speech focusing on Iraq. Today marks the end of US combat operations in the country. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki said that the drawdown reinstates sovereignty for Iraq. But despite assurances by political leaders, the people of Iraq are still struggling. A political crisis has left many without basic services; a recent spate of bombings and attacks have left dozens dead and injured; and millions of refugees wait to return home.

For more we're joined by Hadani Ditmars. She was one of the first journalists to chronicle the effects of the US-imposed sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s. She's the author of the book Dancing in the No Fly Zone and co-editor of the New Internationalist.

More work by Hadani Ditmars: www.hidaniditmars.com

Post-Invasion Fact sheet from the New Internationalist: http://www.newint.org/features/2010/05/01/post-invasion-iraq-facts/

photo credit: www.hadaniditmars.com

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Today Kenya's new constitution goes into effect. Earlier this month voters approved it by a wide margin. It's the culmination of a process put in place after clashes in 2007-2008 killed more than 1,000 people. The new constitution reigns in the powers of the president, creates a bill of rights and addresses the long-simmering issue of land reform.

To discuss how it could change the country we're joined by Njonjo Mue, head of the Kenya chapter of the International Centre for Transitional Justice. That's an international human rights organization. He joins us from Nairobi.

Today, opponents of same sex marriage in California formally filed an appeal to a ruling by a federal judge that overturned the state's Proposition 8. On Wednesday, US District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the state's ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional.

The decision led to celebrations for some, including Robin Tyler and Diane Olsen, the first gay couple to get married in Los Angeles County. They spoke to reporter Dan Fritz in West Hollywood.

"When I heard I just broke down crying because it was the correct decision. It's unconstitutional for a majority to vote away the rights of a minority."

The appeal to Judge Walker's decision today was expected and sets up a court battle that could find its way to the US Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Walker ordered both sides to submit written arguments by Friday, before he requires a stay of the ban, which would allow same sex marriages to take place.

To get more details of the ruling and the process ahead we're joined by Herma Hill Kay, Barbara Nachtrieb Armstrong Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley and an expert in marriage law and civil unions.

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According to the International Office of Migration, 1.5 million Haitians remain homeless six months after January's earthquake - other relief groups put that number even higher. In Port Au Prince and surrounding areas, many live in tent cities that lack basic services, such as reliable food, water and sanitation. But there are added challenges. A new report released this week by the group International Action Ties documents a lack of security and forced eviction in sites around Port Au Prince. At some camps, residents are facing intimidation and raids by armed men.

We're joined by Deepa Panchang, one of the field mobilizers with International Action Ties, a grassroots community development organization. She joins us from Port Au Prince.

Read the report from International Action Ties here:

http://www.internationalactionties.org/

This week, Iraq's parliament was scheduled to come to session, but was once again delayed - it's the latest in a five-month long political stalemate that has continued since national elections in March failed to produce a clear mandate. Meanwhile, violence has continued - attacks on religious pilgrims last week kill some 50 people Baghdad. This comes as an important deadline for a drawdown of US troops is fast approaching in August.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari in Washington on Tuesday, saying that the US was concerned over the lack of political progress.

"More is needed from everyone involved. The United States expresses no preference for the outcome in the government formation, but we share a sense of urgency. The people of Iraq deserve to have a government that is ready to meet their needs, and we hope that that occurs soon."

For more on the political situation in Iraq, we're joined by Raed Jarrar - he's an Iraqi-born political blogger, and a consultant on Iraq with the American Friends Service Committee, a nationwide social justice organization.

A jury in Los Angeles released a lesser guilty verdict in the case of Oakland BART officer Johannes Mehserle. Mehserle, who is white, shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant, who is black, while he lay unarmed at a BART platform on New Year's Day in 2009.

Mehserle's guilty verdict for involuntary manslaughter carries a lighter sentence than second-degree murder, the charge the prosecution was seeking. He faces up to 4 years in prison, plus additional time because the crime included a gun.

Yesterday, Grant's mother, Wanda Johnson reacted to the verdict.

This weekend, the month-long FIFA World Cup comes to a close in South Africa with a final game between Spain and the Netherlands. But as viewers across the world tune in to watch the final, activists in South Africa are bringing attention to some of the negative effects of hosting the biggest sporting event in the world and threats to civil rights and the local economy.

To discuss these issues, we're joined by Patrick Bond, who directs the Centre for Civil Society in Durban and has been closely monitoring the World Cup in South Africa.