NPR 2009-03-11

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack 1 Speer.

In a surprising development, the lawyer for disgraced money manager Bernard Madoff has told a federal judge he will plead guilty later this week to 11 charges that will result in a life sentence. NPR's Margot Adler has more.

The hearing was supposed to simply resolve an apparent conflict of interest between Bernard Madoff and his lawyer Ira Sorkin. Sorkin and his family had invested more than 900, 000 dollars with Madoff and the judge wanted to make sure that Madoff could not have the case thrown out based on a conflict of interest. In the end, Judge Chin ruled that the lawyer could continue to represent the money manager. But then the judge said I gather it is the expectation that he, referring to Madoff, will plead guilty on Thursday. And Sorkin said that was a reasonable expectation. Madoff is charged with 11 separate felonies including four counts of fraud as well as theft, perjury 2 and three counts of money laundering 3. Prosecutors 4 say Madoff faces up to 150 years in prison. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

US Vice 5 President Joe Biden at a meeting in Brussels today appealed to NATO allies to help the US deal with the worsening situation in Afghanistan. Biden told representatives of the 26-country military pact 6 that the deteriorating 7 situation there poses a security threat not just to the US but other nations as well. Meanwhile, in an interview with NPR today, Defense 8 Secretary Robert Gates also acknowledged the US could use military assistance, though he said civilian 9 help is also vital. “We would like more help. But I would say that really where we need the help as we look to the weeks and months ahead is on the civilian side, whether it’s agricultural specialists or people who can help with governance, economic development and so on.”

The Netherlands announced today it will host a one-day UN conference on the future of Afghanistan at The Hague later this month.

Pakistan is sliding into yet another political crisis. President Asif Ali Zardari's government has responded to challenges by one of the leaders of the main opposition 10. He could face charges of treason. NPR's Anne Garrels has more.

The warning comes as the country's lawyers planned a 4-day march to the capital later this week to demand an independent judiciary. Zardari has broken promises to restore the popular Supreme 11 Court justice who was removed by his predecessor 12. Fueling growing oppositions 13, Zardari then upheld a recent ruling that bans his main opponent Nawaz Sharif from public office. The lawyers' movement argues that verdict is invalid 14 because until the fired chief justice is restored, the Supreme Court itself is illegitimate. So the lawyers and Sharif are now joining forces. Zardari's top security advisor 15 has accused Sharif of calling on people to defy the government, warning he could be charged with treason. The government is paralyzed in the face of an economic crisis and a growing Islamic militant 16 threat. Anne Garrels, NPR News, Islamabad.

On Wall Street, positive earning: the news from Citibank sent stock soaring. The Dow gained 379 points today. This is NPR.

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The Vatican has launched a barrage 17 of criticism against President Barack Obama's decision to lift restrictions 18 on federal-funding for human embryonic 19 stem cell research. One official called it a victory of politics over ethics 20. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome.

Monsignor Rino Fisichella told an Italian news agency that President Obama's decision was probably influenced by some drug companies or some economic interests. Fisichella heads the Pontifical 21 Academy for Life. His predecessor Monsignor Eli Sgreccia echoed the suggestion, telling the Italian media the motive 22 for this decision should be seen in the pressure for profits. In an article in the Vatican Daily, L'Osservatore Romano said a real democracy should be founded on protection of human dignity in every phase of its existence. The Vatican opposes this kind of research because it involves the destruction of embryos 23. In announcing his decision, President Obama had said he was ending what he believes was a false choice between sound science and moral values. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.

Crude oil futures 24 prices moved lower today. The price for benchmark crude was down $1.36 a barrel to settle at $45.71 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

I'm Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.