NPR 2010-06-10

Israel is taking its first step toward calming worldwide outrage 1 over its recent raid of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Palestinian officials say Israel is easing its embargo 2, allowing snack foods and other previously 3 banned items, but Hamas, which runs Gaza, says people really need materials to rebuild their territory. NPR's Ari Shapiro reports the Israeli blockade was at the center of President Obama's meeting today with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah movement that runs the West Bank.

President Obama announced the US is setting aside 400 million dollars for Gaza. The White House says the money will go to clean drinking water, jobs, schools, affordable 4 housing and health care. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Mr. Obama called for a new conceptual framework on Israel's blockade of Gaza.

"There should be a means by which we are able to stop the flow of arms that could endanger Israel's security. At the same time, we are doing so in a way that allows the people in Gaza to live out their aspirations 5 and their dreams both for themselves and their children."

Palestinian President Abbas said he would consider negotiating directly with Israelis once relations start improving, but relations worsened after Israel killed nine people aboard a ship heading for Gaza last month. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, the White House.

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Iran is blasting the UN Security Council's decision today to impose new sanctions on the Islamic Republic because of its ongoing 6 nuclear work. Iranian UN ambassador Mohammad Khazaee says the US and UK are twisting the council.

"What is at stake today is the credibility of the Security Council that has turned into a tool in the toolbox of a few countries."

There were 12 "yes" votes, two "no" votes from Turkey and Brazil, and Lebanon abstained 7.

NATO is reporting the deaths of four American troops in southern Afghanistan. Details from Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson in Kabul.

Afghan officials say the US helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade while providing cover during a joint 8 operation with Afghan forces in the southern province of Helmand. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The operation took place in the district called Sangin, a key hub of Helmand's robust 9 opium 10 trade. The deaths of the helicopter crew bring to 28, the number of NATO troops killed this month in Afghanistan. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Kabul.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says the European debt crisis is not likely to affect US economic recovery as much as some might think.

The actions taken by European leaders represent a firm commitment to resolve the prevailing 11 stresses and restore market confidence and stability. If markets continue to stabilize 12, then the effects of the crisis on economic growth in the United States seem likely to be modest.

Bernanke testified today before the House Budget Committee.

US stocks losing ground, last check Dow was down 40 points.

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BP says it is capturing more spilled oil than before, more than 15,000 barrels of crude, but authorities are hoping to push that figure up to 28,000 barrels. BP is using a containment 13 cap system on the damaged well that's been spewing thousands of barrels of oil each day since the deadly rig explosion in April.

A filmmaker who was under a federal court order to turn over 600 hours of raw footage to the Chevron 14 Corporation has won a stay while his lawyers tried to get the ruling overturned. We have the story from NPR's David Folkenflik.

The documentary crude depicts 15 an ongoing multibillion-dollar lawsuit 16 against Chevron for its alleged 17 responsibility for oil pollution in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The company wants those tapes to help fight the suit. On Tuesday, a three-judge federal appeals panel said Berlinger didn't have to turn them over until his appeal is heard. Maura Wogan is Berlinger's attorney.

"To allow a private litigant 18 to rifle through this material would cause great harm to the journalists, and it will have an immediate 19 impact on that filmmakers' ability to make movies like this in the future."

Chevron lawyer Randy Mastro says he is looking forward to the expedited hearing expected by mid 20 July. David Folkenflik, NPR News, New York.

South Carolina's surprise Democratic Senate nominee 21 faces a pending 22 felony charge. According to court documents, Alvin Greene was arrested last November and charged with showing obscene Internet images to a University of South Carolina's student. The 32-year-old candidate was a surprise winner for the Democratic Party in yesterday's primary, pitting him this fall against Republican Senator Jim DeMint.