NPR 2010-09-26

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Nora Raum.

President Obama and Republicans used their weekly addresses today to comment on the GOP’s new plan on taxes and the economy. NPR’s Mandalit del Barco has more.

The GOP’s pledge to America is a new plan to slash 1 taxes and cut spending.

“The new agenda embodies 2 America rejection 3 of the notion that we can simply tax, borrow, and spend our way to prosperity.”

But President Obama says the GOP is offering the exact same ideas that led to the economic crisis in the first place.

“For all their talk about reining 4 in spending and getting our deficits 5 under control, they want to borrow another $700 billion and use it to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.”

The president said cutting taxes for the rich, letting Wall Street loose and leaving the middle-class to fend 6 for itself is no solution to the country’s economic troubles. Mandalit del Barco, NPR News.

The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit 7 filed on behalf of a US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. His father is suing to have the suspected terrorist removed from the CIA’s “capture or kill” list. The Justice Department says the suit would risk the disclosure of classified information.

NATO officials say at least 30 insurgents 8 were killed in eastern Afghanistan in an operation involving coalition 9 soldiers, Afghan soldiers and Afghan police officers. No civilians 10 were hurt. In a separate statement, NATO officials said three members of the international security force were killed in separate bombings yesterday.

In British politics, the opposition 11 Labor 12 Party picked Ed Miliband as its new leader today. He served as energy secretary. He beat four other candidates including his older brother David Miliband. He succeeds former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who resigned after the party lost the May election, ending 13 years in power.

The Commonwealth 13 Games are held every four years, attended mainly by former British colonies. The event's chief says they'll be held as scheduled, starting next weekend, but that a lot of work still needs to be done. Vir Singh reports.

The Commonwealth Games Federation 14 says its greatest concern is for the safety and security of thousands of athletes from 71 countries who are taking part in the Games, which are due to begin on October 3rd. Earlier this week, the event looked doomed 15 as several countries expressed misgivings 16 over hygiene 17 and safety at the Games Village. However, the first few teams have arrived here in the Indian capital and many more are on their way as thousands of workers finish cleaning and other jobs that should have been completed a long time ago. Meanwhile, India has stepped up security after a gunman injured two foreign tourists outside a well-known mosque 18 in New Delhi less than a week ago. For NPR News, I’m Vir Singh in New Delhi.

This is NPR News from Washington.

The spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion says he no longer opposes the appointment of gays as bishops 20. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the Times of London he won’t object to gay bishops as long as they're not involved in a sexually active relationship. Celibacy 21 is not required for heterosexual clergy 22.

A prominent Atlanta-area pastor 23 is now facing a fourth lawsuit alleging 24 he coerced 25 young men into sexual acts. Bishop 19 Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary 26 Baptist Church is expected to address the lawsuits 27 tomorrow. From member station WABE, Charles Edwards reports.

The lawsuits allege 28 Bishop Long violated his fiduciary 29 duty as New Birth’s leader. Long allegedly used money, jewelry 30 and other items to entice 31 young men enrolled 32 in the church's mentoring 33 program. In addition to the lawsuits, an attorney for the young men has released a pair of photos allegedly sent by Long to a young man. The photos appeare to show Long using a cell phone to take pictures of himself in tight fitted athletic 34 gear. The allegations have rocked the church with its more than 25,000 members in worldwide reach. In a statement given before the fourth lawsuit was filed, Long called the allegations false. He also said he will respond to his congregation during New Birth’s regular weekend service. For NPR News, I’m Charles Edwards in Atlanta.

A federal judge in Tacoma, Washington is ordering the reinstatement of an airforce nurse who had been discharged for being gay. Judge Ronald Leighton called Major Margaret Witt a "central figure in a long-term, highly charged civil right movement". This is the second federal ruling in a month against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. A federal judge in California also ruled it unconstitutional.