NPR 2011-04-28

The economy is gradually strengthening enough for the Federal Reserve to end its bond-buying program on schedule in June, according to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who says he expects a moderate economic recovery to continue through this year after a mostly weak first quarter.

"Looking ahead, committee participants expect a moderate recovery to continue through 2011, with some acceleration 1 of growth projected for 2012 and 2013."

It's the first time in the Fed's 96-year history that a chairman has called a full news conference with reporters. The Fed's bond purchases are meant to drive loan rates lower and encourage spending. Others worried the Fed's efforts to boost the economy will feed inflation.

The governor of Ohio says President Obama should focus more on reducing the nation's debt and less on collective bargaining restrictions 2 in states. Governor John Kasich's remarks come a day after Mr. Obama told WKYC-TV in Cleveland that he strongly disapproves 3 of new laws restricting the union rights of public employees in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Officials from rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah say they've reached an agreement to form an interim 4 unity 5 government. NPR's Jackie Northam in Gaza City says the reported deal would allow the Palestinians to move forward on peace efforts with Israel.

The tentative deal between Hamas and Fatah was hammered out in Cairo with the help of the Egyptian intelligence service. It calls for creating a single caretaker government and setting up a date for general elections. What is unclear for consensus 6 was reached on other critical questions, such as who will control the security forces. There has been a division between the two sides since 2006, when Hamas won parliamentary elections. Fatah refused to accept the results. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, leaving Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, in charge of the West Bank. Pessimism 7 about a reconciliation 8 runs deep here in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, attempts to reach an agreement have unraveled. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Gaza City.

BP expects to be drilling again in the Gulf 9 of Mexico later this year. NPR's Jeff Brady says the company made that announcement during an earnings 10 call today.

BP's Chief Financial Officer Byron Grote says the company has applied 11 for drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico and is waiting for regulatory approval.

"We expect to be back and actively 12 drilling during the second half of the year."

Meanwhile, BP's profits were up $1 billion during the first quarter compared to last year. The company had $7.2 billion in profits thanks to high oil prices and asset sales. BP had $400 million in expenses related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill during the first quarter. Conoco Philips also announced its earnings today. The company's profits were $3 billion, up $900 million over the first quarter of 2010. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

On Wall Street just before the close, the Dow Industrials are up 96 points at 12,692. The NASDAQ up 21.

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The brother of an Afghan officer who today killed nine Americans at Kabul airport says the gunman had financial troubles, but he says his brother was not connected in anyway to insurgents 13. Nine Americans, eight troops and a contractor 14 were killed by the gunfire. Officials say the killing 15 occurred after an argument. It's the deadliest incident today of an Afghan turning against its own coalition 16 partners, according to officials.

The French Foreign Ministry 17 in France says leading European nations have summoned Syrian ambassadors across Europe to condemn 18 recent violence in that country. The ministry says France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain have all condemned 19 the deadly crackdown on protesters in Syria.

A new report finds that a quarter of American children are being raised by a single parent. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, that's higher than in other developed nations.

The average for other nations is just 15%, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD finds American single parents more likely to be employed, but also more likely to live in poverty. The report points out the US is the only developed nation without a national policy for paid parental 20 leave and also lags in federal support for childcare. In recent years, the share of Americans born to unmarried mothers has surged to 40%. The report finds that's not so different from some other countries, but family demographers 21 say unmarried Americans are far more likely to break up and change partners and couples in other nations. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

At least ten people in Alabama and Arkansas were killed in a wave of powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes 22 today in the South. It's the same storm system that caused several deaths in southern states the past two days. High winds have snapped trees and damaged homes.

I'm Carol Van Dam, NPR News in Washington.