NPR News 2013-05-02 加文本

NPR News 2013-05-02

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Three more people are in federal custody in connection with last month terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon. Two of the suspects from Kazakhstan made a brief court appearance a short time ago, accused of removing a backpack containing empty fireworks from bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's dorm room, days after the attack that killed three and wounded more than 260, some of them severely. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston has more details on the latest suspects.

All three men are 19 and they are college friends of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The 19-year-old surviving bombing suspect who is in a prison hospital now. Two of the men are from Kazakhstan and they were taken into custody by 11 days ago on immigration charges. They shared an apartment in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where Tsarnaev is said to have spent a lot of time. Officials suspected over a week ago that they might have been helping Tsarnaev after the bombing and they were holding the two on immigration violations while they tried to develop the case. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston.

After a two-day policymaking meeting, Federal Reserve officials say they will continue their extremely stimulative monetary policy aimed at boosting economic growth and reducing unemployment in the U.S.. NPR's John Ydstie reports the Fed. also suggested in the statement issued following the meeting that they might add even more fuel to the stimulus.

Fed. officials said the U.S. economy is expanding at a moderate pace, but suggested the budget policies forged by the Congress and White House are restraining economic growth. Economists predict the sequester and earlier budget cuts will reduce U.S. growth by about 1.5% this year. Fed. policymakers also made clear they could boost their stimulative bond buying program if the job market doesn't improve. The Fed. again said if inflation remains in check, it will keep short term interest rates exceptionally low, at least until the unemployment rate reaches 6.5%. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

Air traffic controllers are no longer subjected to furloughs under a new law President Obama signed today. The Federal Aviation Administration is clear to use its money to shore up staffing this fiscal year which ends in September. The administration came under heavy pressure to act from travellers recently ensnared numerous flight delays triggered by FAA staff reductions.

Workers around the globe-led have their frustrations over minimal pay, benefits and austerity measures during May Day rallies.

A woman reacts to police preparing to fire water cannons at demonstrators in Istanbul, one of many cities slowed by rallies and labor strikes. They coincided with immigration rallies in the United States where thousands were expected to take part in the events across the nation to call for immigration overhaul.

Before the closing bell, Dow was down 139 points at 14,701.

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A new watchdog report says the Federal Bureau of Prisons poorly manages program to let sick and dying inmates go free. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports the inspector general at the Justice Department says the program lacks clear standards and it's plagued by long delays. Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz says in 13% of cases he studied, ill prison inmate who got some approval for compassionate release, died before bureaucrats in Washington okayed the move. His report says prison officials don't track request or study how long they'll take. Congress gave the Federal Bureau of Prisons the authority to offer inmates early release for compelling medical or family reasons back in 1984. But information about the program is hard to combine and it's rarely used. Watchdog say it could help prison save money. With relatively little chance, those inmates will return to a life of crime. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

The Obama administration says it's still trying to determine what to do about a growing hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay, where about 160 terror suspects are detained. A majority of the prisoners is refusing to eat. Military Spokesman Samuel House reportedly says 23 are being force fed to prevent starvation. Yesterday, President Obama said he would make another push to shut down Guantanamo, calling it a costly operation that is no longer in the interest of Americans.

Before the closing bell, Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 139 points at 14,701; NASDAQ down nearly 1% at 3,299; and the S&P 500 down nearly 1%, 1,583.

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