NPR 2011-03-12

Japanese authorities are considering releasing slightly radioactive vapor 1 to ease pressure at a nuclear reactor 2 in Fukushima. Lucy Craft from Tokyo reports the safety of Japan's power plants are major concern in the aftermath of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and the subsequent tsunami 3.

They're all supposed to shut down automatically in the case of an earthquake. Apparently 4, the cooling systems in some of them didn't operate as they were supposed to. And so, there was a lot of alarm about that, but we haven't heard of any radiation leak so far.

Lucy Craft in Tokyo.

The quake triggered a tsunami that sent a torrent 5 of mud and debris 6 across northeastern Japan, killing 7 hundreds of people. NPR's Don Gonyea reports that President Obama is pledging assistance to Japan.

The president opened a White House news conference with a statement of concern and condolences for those affected 8 by the strongest earthquake Japan has seen in more than a century.

"Today's events remind us of just how fragile life can be. Our hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region, and we're going to stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy."

He said the US has a number of naval 9 ships headed toward the region to help if needed. Mr. Obama said the US continues to monitor the situation closely, including the potential impact of waves from the tsunamis 10, some of which have already reached Hawaii and the West Coast of the US. Don Gonyea, NPR News, Washington.

Hawaii's Governor Neil Abercrombie says while there've been no injuries or significant damage in the state, people should remain on alert.

"Significant wave activity that is reaching inland and having an effect on business and our homes, possibly, certainly, transportation, et cetera."

And residents are also on alert in Northern California on the border with Oregon, where higher-than-usual waves are expected.

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels today say any Western military intervention 11 in the crisis in Libya must have clear backing from the United Nations and the Arab League. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports from Brussels France was at odds 12 with fellow EU members and pushing harder for possible military action.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters here that EU leaders have agreed to the idea of creating humanitarian 13 aid zones, some of them inside Libya, and would consider all available options to protect those areas. Sarkozy also said the EU now sees the rebel's transitional council as the legitimate 14 political representative of the Libyan people, but several other key EU leaders seemed on a very different page on those issues. Germany's Angela Merkel said any EU contacts with Libyan rebels did not constitute full recognition. Merkel also said she's wary 15 of using any military action or a no-fly zone against Colonel Gaddafi. Eric Westervelt, NPR News, Brussels.

Dow's up 20 at 12,005; NASDAQ up seven at 2,708.

This is NPR.

Envoys 16 of Ivory Coast's disputed leader are rejecting an African Union proposal drafted to end the violent power struggle in the West African nation. From Abidjan, NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports on the latest attempts to broker 17 peace.

Laurent Gbagbo did not attend the peace talks at the African Union's headquarters in Ethiopia, where Ivory Coast was being discussed. His representatives say there can be no resolution to the crisis unless Gbagbo remains 18 president. African presidential mediators are sticking to a continental 19 position that Gbagbo's presidential rival Alassane Ouattara won November's election. Despite proposals for a government of national unity 20 for Ivory Coast, both Ouattara and Gbagbo insist that they should head it. Anxious Ivorians are desperate for a peaceful settlement after another week of violence and confusion. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Abidjan.

The employment picture remains bleak 21 for veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to the Labor 22 Department, more than one in five veterans ages 18 to 24 unemployed 23 last year. The 20.9% unemployment rate is a slight improvement from the year before but well below still 17.3% rate for non-veterans of the same age group.

Retail 24 sales are up for an eighth straight month, the Commerce Department reporting today a 1% jump in February sales to more than $387 billion. The largest increase in several months was driven by consumers spending more on new cars, clothes and electronics.

At last check, Dow was up 18 points at 12,002.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.