NPR 2012-06-11

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For weeks, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy denied Spain would need a bailout. He was nowhere to be seen on the night the request was finally made. A day later, he held a news conference, denying reports EU officials pressured Spain into a bailout deal before Greek elections next week. “No one pressured me into this. I pushed forward myself because I wanted a line of credit.” Rajoy told reporters, refusing to call it a bailout. Rajoy then hopped¹ on a plane to Poland to watch Spain play Italy in Europe’s soccer championships. It's a game some have dubbed² the “debt derby” because of both countries poor economies. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Frayer, Madrid.

 

In France, it looks like the Socialist³ agenda of President Francois Hollande could have the backing of a strong leftist representation in parliament. First-round parliamentary elections there this weekend show leftist candidates winning strong support. Conservatives currently dominate the lower house of the French parliament, and it remains⁴ uncertain who will end up in control of the National Assembly after the decisive second round of voting, June 17th.

 

In the US, political losses for organized labor⁵ in races in Wisconsin and California are affecting the race for the new leader of one of the nation's largest labor unions. NPR's Allison Keyes tells us labor leaders are debating what direction to take as the November elections loom⁶.

 

The president of the American Federation⁷ of State, County and Municipal Employees, Gerald McEntee, is retiring after 31 years. He's endorsed⁸ the union's No. 2 official Lee Saunders, who's defended the union's multi-million-dollar support of Democratic candidates. But his opponent Danny Donohue, the union's leader in New York state, has said the union's to focus on galvanizing its members and focus less on national campaigns at the expensive states like Wisconsin. In Tuesday's election, Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who's curtailed⁹ collective bargaining powers for most union public employees, defeated a Democratic challenger. Political pundits¹⁰ see the win as a loss for the labor union. Allison Keyes, NPR News.

 

Rafael Nadal is chasing his record, seventh French Open crown in men's final play against Novak Djokovic. But play in Paris has been rained down today. When the second of two rain delays came, Nadal was leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2. Djokovic, who won eight consecutive¹¹ games in the third set, is up a break in the fourth. The French Open resumes tomorrow when the forecast in Paris is still for rain.   

 

This is NPR.

 

The Miami Heat are back in the NBA Finals. Last night, the Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter and beat the Boston Celtics 101-88 in the seventh and deciding game of the Eastern Conference Finals. NPR's Tom Goldman reports Miami won with a team effort. 

 

Game 7 was a reminder¹² why they came together, why Chris Bosh and Leblang James joined Dwyane Wade¹³ in Miami a couple of years ago, a move that made the Heat a hated team outside Miami. Indeed, there was nothing but love last night. At Miami's American Airlines Arena¹⁴, as 20,000-plus fans watched the Big Three score all 28 of the Heat's fourth quarter points and sealed the win. Bosh scored 19 for the game, including three key three-point shots. Hearing the high praise from James. 

 

“Game ball automatically goes to him. I mean without his production tonight, we don't win.”

 

But Miami doesn't win this hard-fought series without James. He averaged almost 34 points a game and single-handedly saved the Heat from elimination¹⁵ in Game 6. Miami plays the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday. Tom Goldman, NPR News.

 

In hockey, the New Jersey¹⁶ Devils have kept their Stanley Cup hopes alive with a second straight win over the Los Angeles Kings.

 

In the Florida Panhandle, damage assessments¹⁷ are still underway after floodwaters from torrential rains tore through homes and closed roads.

 

At the box office this weekend,  with more than 60 million dollars in ticket receipts, “There it is. The casino. Perfect. That’s where we’ll find the penguins¹⁸.” the No. 1 spot goes to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

 

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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