1、From NPR news in Washington, I am Jeanine Herbst.A meeting is underway at White House between Senate and House leaders at this hour,its a final step and trying to find the final solution to avoid the looming fiscal cliff about automatic tax hikes and spending cuts.The President plans to offer scaled
2、-down package that would prevent tax increases on income afford 2000 dollars or less.Some Senators are optimistic about the deal, Democratic Senator Charles Shumas says he thinks it can be reached.Republican Senator Bob Clarke agrees but,“Probably the worst case in area would come out this naming to
3、day, that is we will kick the can down the road, just , we will do some small deal, and we will create another fiscal cliff to deal with this fiscal cliff.”Clarke was interviewed on CBS this morning.A threatened port strike would have crippled the east and Golf coast, its offer least a month, a fede
4、ral mediator says contracts from more than 14,000 longshoremen has been extended for 30 days.Economists has feared the strike would cripple the US retail and manufacturing, parts of the economy.Jonas Gold With the Retail Federation, he says the extension take some of the pressure of both sides.“The
5、pressure is gone, but this the hope that they can, get the final deal worked out, with another 30 days, we dont have to worried about another strike or shut down,towards the end of January.”The sticking point between the Union and the dork workers has been over the royalty payments to Union workers,
6、 based on cargo weight.Mediator say both paries have reached an agreement, in principle over that issue, but not giving details.A 23-year-old student who was the victim of gang-raped in Indias Capital is fighting for her life, according to doctors at Singapore hospital, where she is being treated.Fr
7、om New Delhi, NPRs Julie McCarthy reports young woman remains on life-support and her condition is worsening.The patient just currently struggling against the odds.Kevin Lou, the CEO of Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore, he said that multidisciplinary team of specialist have been working tireles
8、sly to treat the young woman.Doctors are quoted to say she has suffered significant brain injury, and she has infection in her lung and abdomen.Delhi police say the young student was beaten with iron rod , gang raped and thrown from the bus on December,16th.Her brutal case has united the rage in the
9、 country, the boiled over inter-violence protest in the Capital.The government has try to stem raising public anger, by promising safer streets, speeder trails of sexual crimes, on the consideration of the death penalty for the crime of rape.Julie McCarthy, NPR news, New Delhi.President Obama says h
10、e was the American original.General Norman Schwarzkopf died yesterday form complications of pneumonia after long illness.The Stormin Norman ,he led the successful US ejection of the Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which had invaded that country in 1990.Its also a highly decorated Vietnam vet.General Schwa
11、rzkopf was 78.On Wall street at this hour, the Dow is down 92 points at 13,004.The NASAQ down 12.The S&P500 is down nine.This is NPR.Security is a top concern in the Capital of Central Africa Republic. After the US ambassador and its diplomatic team were evacuated on fiere rebels get try to take the
12、 Capital.The president of Central Africa Republic is calling for international help.To find of those rebels who were quickly ceasing territory in the country.Russia has acquitted the only official charged in the death of Sergei Magnitsky.Jessica Gallaher reports from Moscow that the 37-year-old lawy
13、er who died in jail, pending corruption charges.Jailed doctor Dmitry Kratov was found not guilty of negligence in causing the death of Magnitsky , who passed away in jail in 2009 after a pancreatitis was untreated.And an investigation by Russias Presidential Human Rights Council found that Magnitsky
14、 was denied treatment and severely beaten.The lawyer worked for Russias largest investment firm allegedly uncovered the plan by Russian officials, to reclaim more than 200 million dollars in taxes paid by that company.Magnitsky was later arrested by the same officials he accused fraud.The case was w
15、idely criticized around the world.As a result, the US Congress passed the so called Magnitsky Act , which bars Russians entering to the US, if they are accused of violating Human Rights.And it ticked for the tied response, Putin signed the law banning the Americans from adopting the Russian children
16、.From NPR news, I am Jessica Gallaher, in Moscow.The number of pending home sales rose to its highest level in two and half years last month.The National Association of Realtors says seasonally, it just index rose 1.7% in November from October.This is the highest since April, 2010 when the home buyer tax credit cost to spike in sales.Pending sales on houses under contract usually takes one to two months for a sign contract.I am Jeanine Herbst,NPR news in Washington.
