NPR News 2009-08-04 加文本
NPR News 2009-08-04
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.
Several reports out today reinforce earlier indications that the economy is stabilizing. Construction spending in June beat expectations by climbing 0.3% over May. Manufacturing activity rose in July to the highest level in nearly a year. And US automakers report sales increased from June to July. As Jerome Vaughn of member station WDET reports, Detroit credits the government's "Cash-for-Clunkers" program.
Ford posted the only sales increase among Detroit automakers up nearly 2%, compared to July, 2008. George Pipas is Ford US sales analyst. He says it's clear the federal program to boost consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles worked. "They were clearly tilted towards the fuel-efficient products. I mean that, probably, this is the greatest one-week energy conservation program that may have come out of Washington or any place else." General Motors' sales fell 19%, compared to a year ago, although officials say they saw a significant increase over June figures. Chrysler sales fell 9%, but also showed significant improvement from June. Both Honda and Toyota posted double-digit sales declines in July. For NPR News, I'm Jerome Vaughn in Detroit.
At a news conference today, California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein hailed the success of the "Cash for Clunkers" program and called on the Senate to continue funding it. "After hearing the figures so far, I believe that the best solution is to continue and extend the program as it is." The initiative, which gives up to $4, 500 to people who trade in gas-guzzlers for new more fuel-efficient models, ran out of money in its first week of operation. Last week, the House approved an additional 2 billion dollars for the program. It awaits Senate action.
Al-Qaeda's second-in-command says an offer the group made to President Bush for a conditional truce is still on the table. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston has details.
The latest message from Ayman al-Zawahri was posted on Al-Qaeda's media website. It was presented as a 90-minute interview. The group's second-in-command resurrected an offer to end the group's terrorist attacks against the US if some broad conditions were met. Among them, US troop withdrawals from Muslim lands and an end to US support for corrupt regimes in the Muslim world and the release of all Muslims now behind bars. The US has maintained that it does not negotiate with terrorists, and the offer has been dismissed in the past. Zawahri used this latest interview to take a swipe at President Obama. He compared the President to a wolf, attacking Muslims with his fangs and claws. He also warned his followers not to trust President Obama's approach towards the Muslim world. Dina Temple-Raston, NPR News.
On Wall Street today, the Dow climbed 114 points. The NASDAQ was up 30. The S&P was up 15.
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is pressing Iran to help determine the whereabouts of three missing Americans and return them as soon as possible. The three were believed to have been arrested in Iran last week, though Clinton said the US does not have official confirmation that they are in Iranian custody. They were apparently hiking near Iran's border with Iraqi Kurdistan and were arrested after entering Iran and ignoring warnings by Iranian border guards.
A wildfire in Oregon has expanded to engulf 4,500 acres. The so-called Williams Fire is located about an hour from Eugene. As Rachel McDonald of member station LOCC reports, the flames have forced officials to close a portion of a state highway and evacuate a guest lodge.
The Steamboat Inn east of Roseburg, Oregon was evacuated Friday and a portion of highway-138 has been closed for nearly a week. The fire is in rugged terrain in the Umpqua National Forest. Oregon state fire spokesman Bernie Pineda says crews are working to build a perimeter around the blazes. "We are still working feverishly to try to put some kind of line around this thing, if I can use the term the bars around the perimeter itself indirectly known was a, you know, quite a number of ridges way from the fire's perimeter." Pineda says weather conditions have improved in the area with cooler temperatures than last week. Fire officials hope to reopen the inn and the highway in a few days. For NPR News, I'm Rachel McDonald in Eugene, Oregon.
A powerful earthquake has rocked Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. The 6.9-magnitude quake was centered more than 300 miles southeast of the border town of Tijuana.
I'm Barbara Klein, NPR News in Washington.
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