NPR 2008-10-12

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Treasury¹ Secretary Henry Paulson is briefing representatives of the so called G-20 including the world's richest nations and the largest developing nations on the steps being taken by the US and other countries to restore confidence in the global financial system. Earlier today President Bush met with the top financial officials from the G7 nations. "The United States has a special role to play in leading the response to this crisis. That's why I convened² this morning's meeting here at the White House, and that is why our government will continue using all the tools at our disposal to resolve this crisis." After Mr Bush's remarks, the International Monetary³ Fund's Policy Setting Committee meeting in Washington strongly endorsed⁴ the steps outlined by the US and the six other major industrialized nations to unfreeze credit markets and shore up banks and other financial institutions. Egypt's Finance Minister Boutros Ghali is head of the IMF panel. "There is a resolve in the international community that this crisis will be resolved that no tools will be spared to address its ramification⁶." Boutros Ghali says nations must coordinate⁷ their efforts and they must be prepared for bold action to address the crisis.

The Bush administration has removed North Korea from the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The move came after North Korean leaders agreed to resume disabling a plutonium plant and to allow some inspections⁸ of known nuclear facilities. NPR's Korva Coleman reports.

 North Korea has agreed to several other provisions, most importantly leaders will disable their main nuclear power plant and let international inspectors⁹ check the work. State Department spokesman Sean Mccormack says the deal satisfies the Bush administration. "Every element of verification that we sought is included in this package." The agreement is provisional. That means if North Korea doesn't keep its word, it will go back on the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism and that means sanctions such as a block in economic and other aid. Korva Coleman, NPR News, Washington.

 GOP presidential nominee¹¹ John McCain was campaigning in Iowa today, a state where polls show him trailing. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

John McCain held a mid-day rally in Davenport, Iowa, telling supporters his weak standing¹² in the polls there just means they'll have to work harder in the last weeks before the election. McCain acknowledged that Americans are angry about the state of the economy, adding he has the skills to turn things around. "Who is ready to lead? You. In a time of trouble and danger for our country, who would put our country first? You." A pastor¹³ who delivered the invocation at the rally offered a prayer for McCain's victory, saying otherwise, millions of Hindus, Buddhists¹⁴ and Muslims praying for Barack Obama will think "their God is bigger". McCain was not present when the pastor spoke¹⁰. Scott Horsley, NPR News.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Democratic congressional leaders are considering calling lawmakers back to Washington after the election for a lame-duck session to take up a second economic stimulus¹⁵ bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said a 150-billion-dollar plan is needed, one that would include an extension of unemployment benefits and money for food stamps as well as possible tax rebates¹⁶.

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has made a televised appeal for people to take up arms against anti-government rebels in eastern part of that country. His comments come as the UN secretary general urged both sides to negotiate to avoid a war. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.

Congo's President Joseph Kabila urged his compatriots to mobilize behind the army to preserve peace and unity⁵ in their country. The appeal came as the dissident General Laurent Nkunda pledged to take his rebellion in the east across the entire Democratic Republic of Congo. Relief workers say more than 100,000 people have already fled the fighting. Conflicts between the rebels and the military flared¹⁷ again in August despite a much heralded¹⁸, but fragile peace deal signed in January. Congo is locked in a war of words with neighboring Rwanda which it has accused of sending in troops to back Nkunda and the rebels. The Rwandans deny the claim. Congo and Rwanda regularly trade accusations¹⁹ that each supports the other's proxy²⁰ militia²¹ groups. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Dakar.

Parts of South Texas are bracing²² for the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Norbert. The storm slammed into Mexico's Baja California peninsula today, and is expected to make a second landfall in northern Mexico tonight.

In College football, top ranked Oklahoma was upset by the fifth ranked Texas Longhorns today, 45-35.