NPR News 2011-06-26 加文本

NPR News 2011-06-26

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone.

At New York's legislature, a victory for gay marriage supporters. The bill has been signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, and it’s due to take effect in 30 days. Correspondent Kemmie Getts reports not everyone is pleased.

The Senate approved the bill 33-29, with four members of the Republican majority joining all but one Democrat in support. New York is now the sixth and largest state to permit same-sex marriage. People have varied reactions on the streets of Brooklyn. Julie Ruediger says she's elated.

"It's just not about having a wedding or rings but gives gay people rights that many people have."

But Goffta Joseph disagrees.

"I know lots of gay people. I love them. I have no bad feeling against them because they're human being like myself, but I just, I find they should not be getting married."

Opponents have vowed to retaliate at election time. The law goes into effect in 30 days.

For NPR News, I'm Kemmie Getts in New York.

In waterlogged Minot, North Dakota, the Souris surface rise appears to be slowing down as it approaches a crest that could turn out to be lower than an earlier projection of 8.5 feet above major flood stage. In nearby Sawyer, North Dakota, crews are working hard to prevent major flooding damage. Mayor Cy Kotaska, "It’s a full floods effort that still saved the city. I'm standing in my office at City Hall right now, and we pretty all got this out because we think that City Hall will be in the water sometime." The town population 350 is under mandatory evacuation orders.

In Pakistan, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 10 policemen in the country's restive northwest. NPR's Julie McCarthy reports militants, some reportedly dressed in burkas, seized a police station, took several hostages in the latest terror assault since the raid that killed bin Laden.

Local authorities say the siege in Dera Ismail Khan lasted some four hours before police regained control of the station that fell to the attackers when officials say three or four suicide bombers entered the building, hurling grenades. Local media say a series of explosions was followed by a fierce gun battle. Television footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the roof of the fortress-like police station as security forces and police deployed to end the assault. Authorities say five terrorists were killed. Dera Ismail Khan sits beside Pakistan's violence-ridden tribal belt. It's proximity to South Waziristan, used as a base by al-Qaeda, and the Pakistan Taliban has put it on the frontline of the militancy. Julie McCarthy, NPR News, Islamabad.

In his weekly address, President Obama is saying high-tech manufacturing is key to job growth in the US.

From Washington, you're listening to NPR News.

One researcher is saying that diabetes may become the defining global health issue for the next decade. In a study published in The Lancet journal, an international team of researchers reports that in the past 30 years rates of diabetes have either risen or at best remained the same in almost all parts of the world. The study conducted with the World Health Organization estimates there're 347 million people with diabetes worldwide.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is calling for the end of civilian trials in Bahrain and for the immediate release of all peaceful demonstrators arrested in February. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports Pillay has sent a letter to the king of Bahrain, conveying her concerns.

Pillay condemns the harsh sentences including life imprisonment handed down to 21 political activists in Bahrain. She says these are the marks of political persecution. Her spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani says some of those sentenced reportedly have been severely beaten.

"We noted particularly that four individuals previously arrested reportedly died in detention due to injuries resulting from severe torture."

Shamdasani says the UN has information that more than 100 people have been convicted of crimes allegedly committed during the protests since March. And up to 1000 people remain in detention. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Schlein in Geneva.

As the 4th of July approaches, South Georgia officials banning the use of fireworks as a precaution against wildfires. Three large fires have burned more than 500 square miles in that region.

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News.