NPR 2012-06-12

 Caution appears to be returning to global markets after the initially 1 rallied over news that Spain’s banks would get an EU bailout. Lauren Frayer reports from Madrid Spanish markets have closed flat, and the country's borrowing costs have shot back up to the same levels as before the rescue announcement was made.

 
Stock surged and Spain's bond yields initially fell on word Europe would extend a 125-billion-dollar lifeline to rescue Spanish banks. The idea with Spain would have a bit breathing room without having to bailout its banks on its own. But the rally was short-lived. Stocks have lost most of their early gains, and Madrid's borrowing costs are back near levels that triggered bailouts for Greece, Portugal and Ireland. An EU loan will add to Spain's overall debt, and its deficit 2 will increase too with interest payments. Investors 3 are worried about how the overspent Spanish government will manage to pay back the bailout loan. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Frayer in Madrid.
 
At last check on Wall Street, the Dow was down 61 points, nearly 0.5%, at 12,493.
 
The secretary of Commerce is under investigation 4 for a felony hit and run for a pair of traffic accidents in the Los Angeles area over the weekend. John Bryson's office says he had a seizure 5 and stayed overnight in the hospital before returning to Washington. The White House, meanwhile, is offering few details about Bryson's condition or whether may have an impact on his job.
 
“We're obviously concerned about the incident, concerned about Secretary Bryson’s health-related issues that played a role in this incident, and we're still gathering 6 information about it.”
 
The White House Press Secretary Jay Carney speaking to reporters earlier today from the White House.
 
The defense 7 has rested in the Roger Clemens perjury 8 trial without Clemens testifying. As NPR's Nina Totenberg tells us, the last defense witness was the former Yankees security director, Gerald Laveroni, who told the jury that the prosecution's star witness cannot be believed. 
 
Laveroni worked for the Yankees at the same time Clemens and his chief accuser  Brian McNamee did. As how much credibility McNamee had, Lavernoi replied zero. Also at the close of the defense case, the defense read a stipulation 9 agreed to by the government that Clemens was tested for by Major League Baseball for performance-enhancing drugs during the years 2003 to 2007, and never tested positive. Prior to that, Major League Baseball did not conduct those tests. Clemens is accused of lying to Congress about using these drugs in the years prior to 2003. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.
 
Jerry Sandusky's trial on sex abuse charges underway now in Pennsylvania. The former Penn State assistant football coach faces 52 counts of sexually abusing children, charges he vehemently 10 denies. 
 
At last glance on Wall Street, the Dow is down 64 points at 12,490.
 
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NATO says it is limiting its air strikes in Afghanistan to be used as a final option in the defense of coalition 11 troops. The alliance's commanders say that previously 12 air strikes could be conducted against insurgents 13 in residential 14 areas as long as civilians 15 were not present. But that changed after women and children were killed during a NATO air strike against insurgents last week. 
 
Meanwhile in northern Afghanistan, rescuers are searching the debris 16 of a village that's been buried in a landslide 17. That landslide was triggered by a strong earthquake today.
 
An intense firefight is underway in western US. In Colorado, a blaze has grown to nearly 60 square miles.
 
“Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted” is No.1 at the box office in the US and Canada. More from NPR's Trina Williams.
 
Receipts are up nearly 30% compared to last year this time, thanks to “Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted” and some serious competition from “Prometheus.” “Madagascar 3” pulls away to claim the top spot.
 
“This train is for circus animals only. But we are circus. What is your act? Uh, da-da-dadada-da da circus da-da…”
 
The third in the series of films about escaped zoo animals and their adventures features the voices of Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and David Schwimmer. Outer space thriller 18 “Prometheus” finishes at No. 2. Last weekend's winner “Snow White and the Huntsman” is still doing well, despite dropping to the third place on the chart. “Men In Black III” is fourth with “The Avengers” following. Trina Williams, NPR News.
 
And Dow is down 67, NASDAQ off 27.
 
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