NPR 2010-01-25

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

The death toll 1 is rising in Haiti. As NPR's Corey Flintoff reports from Port-au-Prince, the Haitian government confirms at least 150,000 people have died since the earthquake struck nearly two weeks ago.

That grim assessment 2 came from Haiti's communications director who said it's based on reports from around the capital city. Haitian officials say they believe there are thousands more dead under the rubble 3 of fallen buildings and in surrounding communities. Aid is beginning to reach some of the more than two million people left homeless by the quake, though many survivors 5 complain that supplies of water and food are reaching them much too slowly. The World Food Program estimates that at least two-thirds of the survivor 4 camps have received at least some aid. And volunteer doctors at hospitals around the city say they are still receiving patients with bone fractures and serious infections 12 days after the earthquake struck. Corey Flintoff, NPR News, Port-au-Prince.

Meanwhile, donations are still being counted from Friday's star-studded telethon for earthquake victims. Organizers say that so far they have raised at least 57 million dollars.

A new tape purported 6 to be from Osama bin 7 Laden 8 is out. On it, the speaker takes credit for the attempted bombing of a US airliner 9 on Christmas Day. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.

The recording 10 said to be Osama bin Laden but which cannot be independently confirmed, praises the Nigerian suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a heroic warrior 11. The tape warned of more attacks against the United States. Twenty-three-year-old Abdulmutallab stands accused of trying to blow up Northwest Flight 253 as it approached Detroit from Amsterdam on December 25th. Abdulmutallab told federal agents who questioned him shortly after the explosives he wore in his underwear failed to detonate that he was trained and instructed by al-Qaeda in Yemen. The Arabic al-Jazeera News Channel aired the recording. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Abuja.

Afghanistan's parliamentary election is being pushed back from May to September. Officials say they still don't have enough international funding to pay for the vote. They are also citing security concerns. The Obama administration is urging Afghan President Hamid Karzai to take advantage of the delay in parliamentary elections to reform the electoral process and to win back the confidence of Afghan voters. Karzai's reelection last year was marred 12 by fraud which cost him political supporters abroad.

The White House says it is confident Ben Bernanke will be voted into a second term as head of the Federal Reserve. But there is growing concern in Congress about the Fed Chair’s handling of the economy.

Former Commerce Secretary and Houston Oil multimillionaire Robert Mosbacher has died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

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A group of nations led by China is upping the pressure on wealthy countries to immediately hand over the first ten billion dollars they've pledged to help the world's poorest nations fight climate change. Ministers from China, Brazil, South Africa and India, some of the worst polluters, wrapped up their meeting in Delhi today also pledging to make good on their own commitments. The last major climate change conference was last month in Copenhagen. Mexico is slated 13 to hold the next round of negotiations 14 this December.

The first game in the final round of the NFL Playoff is underway. The AFC and NFC Championships determine which teams face each other in the Super Bowl. NPR's Mike Pesca has this preview.

The NFC Game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints pits the NFL's top two rated quarterbacks against each other. Drew Brees of the Saints uses precision and field vision to pick apart defenses. Minnesota's Brett Favre is always described as a gunslinger. But this year, the 41-year-old has thrown fewer interceptions than he ever has in his career. The Vikings come into the game with a more highly regarded defense 15 but New Orleans' home field advantage may come into play as Minnesota has struggled on the road. Another great quarterback Peyton Manning will play in the AFC Title Game as his Indianapolis Colts host the New York Jets. After barely qualifying for the Playoffs, the Jets’ defense has been impressive, which means the cerebro-Manning will have his hands and brain full of Jets' blitzes all afternoon. Mike Pesca, NPR News.

A 16-year-old California girl is on a quest to become the youngest to sail solo around the world. She left state yesterday.

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