NPR 2010-02-25

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Korva Coleman.

The president and CEO of automaker Toyota has apologized for safety problems on his company’s vehicles. “I’m deeply sorry for any accident that Toyota drivers have experienced.” Akio Toyoda says the company’s priorities became confused and that safety was not Toyota’s leading goal. “For the past few years, been expanding its business rapidly. Quite frankly 1, I fear the pace at which we have grown may have been too quick.” Toyota is recalling well over eight million vehicles for brake and sudden acceleration 2 problems as well as for troubles with gas pedals.

Federal prosecutors 3 have charged a former New Orleans police lieutenant 4 with covering up possible police misconduct. The case involves the shootings of civilians 5 on a bridge in the chaotic 6 days after Hurricane Katrina. NPR’s John Burnett reports.

Federal charges unsealed on Wednesday accuse former Lt. Michael Lohman of obstructing 7 justice when he and other unnamed individuals filed false statements on a police report. The incident involved a shooting on the Danziger Bridge in East New Orleans on September 4th, 2005. Two people were killed, including a 40-year-old mentally disabled man shot in the back and four others were injured. The police and the civilians each claim the others opened fire unprovoked. The federal charges state that Lohman went to the scene of the shooting after the gunfire, saw the civilians had no weapons and then provided false and misleading information to ensure the police shootings would be justified 8 and the officers would not be prosecuted 9. Seven police officers have been charged with murder and attempted murder in the shootings. John Burnett, NPR News.

For the first time, a top Russian official is suggesting that Russia may delay selling a weapon system to Iran for fear of destabilizing the Middle East. We have more from NPR’s David Greene in Moscow.

Russia signed a contract more than two years ago to supply Iran with so-called S-300 defense 10 missiles. The US and Israel have been angry about the sale as the missiles in theory could help Iran ward 11 off a preemptive attack on its nuclear sites. Russia has insisted it will honor the contract and deliver the weapons and that there was just a delay due to last-minute technical problems. But now, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is sending a different message. He was asked specifically about the weapon sale at a press conference and Lavrov responded, saying Russia won’t take any action leading to the destabilization of a region. Meanwhile, the US has also been hoping to get Russian support for tough new sanctions against Iran. For now, the Foreign Ministry 12 says Russia won’t support any move that would isolate 13 Iran politically or economically. David Greene, NPR News, Moscow.

A Colorado man suspected of shooting two middle school students yesterday will have to pay one million dollars in bail 14 if he wants to leave jail. Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood was accused of shooting the children in a school parking lot.

On Wall Street, the Dow was up 67 points.

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Nigeria’s vice 15 president is continuing to run the affairs of state despite the overnight return of the ailing 16 president after a long absence. NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.

A statement from the president. He gave the first official confirmation 17 that Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was back. The announcement said his health was greatly improved, but he would continue to recuperate 18 after three months in hospital in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is to press on as acting 19 president. The decision has averted 20 the kind of feverish 21 political tension and speculation 22 during the prolonged absence of the president which plunged 23 Nigeria into a constitutional crisis. However, questions remain about the long-term health of Yar'Adua and whether he will have the strength to resume the onerous 24 duties of president. The issue has divided Nigeria’s political elite 25 and the people of Africa’s most populous 26 nation. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Accra.

Vice President Dick Cheney is back home a few days after suffering a heart attack. He was hospitalized Monday after complaining of chest pain. Doctors later determined 27 the heart attack was mild. Cheney has experienced heart trouble for much of his life including several prior heart attacks and procedures to help keep him healthy.

The chairman of Federal Reserve says it will be a while before interest rates go up again. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is telling a House panel low rates are necessary to help the US economy recover from the devastating 28 recession. In testimony 29 today, Bernanke said the number of people who don’t have jobs or are losing their homes will take some time to return to normal. The Fed sets certain interest rates and these affect other rates, such as for mortgages and for car loans.

I’m Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.