NPR 2009-11-25

President Obama welcomed the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House today on a formal state visit. The president says he and the Indian leader have agreed to increase cooperation on law enforcement issues and intelligence. And he underscored his administration's support for an agreement on civilian 1 nuclear cooperation between India and the United States. Both leaders met with reporters at the White House today and Mr. Obama was asked about his pending 2 decision about the US military strategy in Afghanistan. "After eight years, some of those years in which we did not have, I think, either the resources or the strategy to get the job done, it is my intention to finish the job. " Mr. Obama is expected to announce his Afghan strategy early next week.

The US economy's return to growth during the third quarter this year was not as robust 3 as originally thought. The government has revised its first estimate. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

The government had originally estimated that the economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in July, August and September. But the updated data shows the economy grew at a slower 2. 8% annual rate. Several factors helped to push down the growth number. Consumer spending was weaker than initially 4 reported. There was also less commercial construction activity and businesses trimmed their inventories 5 more than originally thought. In addition, a larger trade deficit 6 was a drag on growth. The 2. 8% growth rate ended a record four-straight quarters when the economy was shrinking. Even with the downgrade, the economic expansion in the third quarter very likely signals the end of the worst recession since the Great Depression. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission admits it did not act as quickly as it should have a day after announcing a voluntary recall of more than 2 million baby cribs due to concerns about possible entrapment 7 and suffocation 8. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports.

The chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission acknowledged during interviews today that the agency hadn't moved as quickly as it should have on crib safety. The statement comes amid a large recall of baby cribs designed with so-called drop-sides. The side slide up and down, making it easier for parents to pick up their babies. But over the past several years this design of crib has been linked to several infant deaths and a few dozen injuries. Past recalls have included more than 5 million drop-side cribs. And consumer groups have pushed the call attention to the issue. The head of the CPSC says the commission will write regulations in the next few months and look closely at the issue. She says drop-side cribs will likely not be used in the future. Allison Aubrey, NPR News, Washington.

On Wall Street at the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 16 points at 10, 433. The NASDAQ was down seven points. It was at 2, 168.

You are listening to NPR News from Washington.

A wide-ranging investigation 9 into the events leading up to the Iraq War and the conduct of the war is underway in London. It is the first such inquiry 10 by any country that took part in the Iraq invasion. Larry Miller 11 reports from London.