NPR 2009-10-05

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Insurgents¹ in Afghanistan killed eight American soldiers and two Afghan police officers in a brazen² daylight attack in the eastern part of that country this weekend. But President Obama's National Security Advisor³, retired⁴ General James Jones is dismissing concerns that the Taliban could seize power again in Afghanistan. More from NPR's David Welna.

 James Jones downplayed the threat of the Taliban when asked on CNN's “State of The Union” whether its return will provide a safe haven⁵ for al-Qaeda. "I don't foresee the return of the Taliban and I wanna be here very clear that Afghanistan is not in danger, imminent⁶ danger of falling." But on the same program, Arizona Republican Senator John Kyl warned against the US withdrawal⁷. "I think almost everybody agrees that if we were to pull out, the Taliban would take over again in Afghanistan." Jones told CBS that no one’s suggesting the US is about to leave Afghanistan. Still when US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice was asked on NBC's “Meet the Press” whether President Obama will stay in that country until it’s stable, this was all she would say. "The President will do what is necessary to keep America safe." David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.

 Greece's Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has stepped down as leader of the governing conservative party after the main opposition⁸ Socialists⁹ won a landslide¹⁰ victory in parliamentary elections. Analysts¹¹ say voters were angry about ongoing¹² government scandals and the sagging¹³ Greek economy.

 Indonesia's vice¹⁴ president says there is little hope of finding any more survivors¹⁵ from the powerful earthquake that shook that country last week. The United Nations says the death toll¹⁶ will top 1,000 and thousands more are missing. Sjaak Seen is deputy team leader of the United Nations Disaster Assessment¹⁷ and Coordination¹⁸. "Today, we have conducted a joint¹⁹ rapid assessment, the rapid assessment are focused on all the needs for the population."

 Heavy rain across Indonesia is making conditions difficult for rescue crews trying to reach hard-hit areas. Doualy Xaykaothao is there, and has this report.

 Families and villagers not yet reached by emergency aid are now huddled²⁰ under tarps in cold and desperate condition. With no electricity and no running water, survivors are eating instant noodles, using rain water and candles to get by. Meanwhile, World Vision and Save the Children say they delivered the first of many truckloads of aid to several hundred families. The kits²¹ include sleeping mats, pointed²² sarongs, toothbrush and soap. For NPR News, I'm Doualy Xaykaothao in Padang, Sumatra.

 A wildfire is spreading through the San Gabriel Mountains of California. The flames have charred²³ more than five-square miles of land so far. Hundreds of firefighters are trying to prevent the wind-driven flames from reaching a mountain resort community. More than 4,000 people have been evacuated²⁴ as a precaution.

 This is NPR News from Washington.

 A Russian government commission has concluded that negligence²⁵ was a major factor in a devastating²⁶ accident at the country's biggest hydroelectric power plant. The panel hinted that high level officials could face trial over the accident which killed 75 workers. NPR's Anne Garrels has the story.

 The Russian commission said poor maintenance caused a turbine to vibrate excessively and then explode. It had been forced to generate additional power because of a fire at yet another plant in Siberia. It's cited bad decisions and neglect stretching back years and said six senior officials were responsible. Among them Anatoly Chubais, a leader of the privatization drive in the 90s. Chubais oversaw²⁷ the breakup of the country's utility monopoly into regional power companies. He signed off on the power plant despite documented problems. Chubais has defended his decision, saying money was tight and that shutting down the plant would have been a catastrophe²⁸ for the economy. The report underscores concern about Russia's crumbling²⁹ infrastructure³⁰ and careless management. Anne Garrels, NPR News, Moscow.

 Famed Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa has died at the age of 74. Sosa had been in intensive care in a hospital for days with kidney problems. Her music inspired opponents of brutal³¹ military dictators across South America. Government censors³² banned her songs since she fled to Europe in 1979 after being arrested in the middle of a concert. Sosa has been nominated for several Latin Grammy Awards this year.