NPR 2009-09-08

President Obama told union members in Ohio today it's time to stop debating an overhaul 1 of the nation's health care system and to get something done. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

 At Labor 2 Day picnic in Cincinnati, Mr. Obama said the long-running national conversation over health care has been useful, but he added now it's time to act. He warned that unless Congress moves to fix the health care system, runaway 3 costs will continue to eat into workers' paychecks and push people and businesses into bankruptcy 4. "And that's why it's time to do what's right for America's working families and put aside partisanship 5, stop saying things that aren't true, come together as a nation, pass health insurance reform now--this year. " Mr. Obama said he continues to support a public insurance option as important ingredient to any health care overhaul. He's left the door open though to alternative means of providing choice and competition in the insurance market. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Cincinnati.

 The White House today released a transcript 6 of a speech President Obama plans to deliver to schoolchildren tomorrow. He urges them to show up in school, pay attention to their teachers and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. The president said no matter what children want to do in life; they'll need a good education to do it. Some conservatives have urged schools not to broadcast the address. And they've urged parents to keep their children home from school if the address is broadcast, claiming the president has tried to promote a political agenda.

 Former Congressman 7 Joseph Kennedy issued a statement today, but he will not seek the Senate seat held by his late uncle Edward Kennedy. The younger Kennedy said the best way to contribute to the causes of his late uncle would be to continue his work at Citizens Energy Corporation, a non-profit organization that provides free heating oil to the poor.

 Three British Muslims were convicted today in connection with what's become known as a liquid bomb plot. It was designed to be the biggest terrorist attack since 9/11. Four others on trial with them were acquitted 8. Larry Miller 9 reports from London.

 In their first trial, the three men were convicted of conspiring 10 to murder using liquid explosives. In this trial, the jury decided 11 the intention was to detonate the explosives in flight to bring down at least seven trans-Atlantic airliners 12. The accused denied that was their intention and the prosecution 13 supplied no evidence to show the men had actually produced the viable 14 bomb. However, the jury accepted the bombs were to be assembled in airplane toilets, using liquid explosives that earlier had been injected into juice and soft drink bottles. British officials estimate that 2,000 passengers would have died if the plan had been successful, far more the bombs were detonated over US and Canadian cities. The attacks were set to be just days away when the plot was foiled by Britain’s security service. For NPR News, I'm Larry Miller in London.

 This is NPR News from Washington.

 A suspected US drone fired at least one missile at a compound near the Afghan border in Pakistan today. Officials say five people were killed. The attack took place near the town of Mir Ali, a major sanctuary 15 for militants 16 linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban who operated in Pakistani tribal 17 lands to the border with Afghanistan. Officials identified the dead as Uzbek militants. The US has fired scores of missiles from unmanned drones into the region in an attempt to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders.

 A court in Khartoum has convicted a Sudanese woman for wearing trousers in violation 18 of Islamic law. She's been ordered to pay 200 dollars but has been spared 40 lashes 19. Dale Gavlak reports.

 Lubna Hussein, a journalist who once worked with the United Nations, said she has no intention of paying the fine. Her Lawyer said it was likely she would be jailed for one month. Hussein was arrested along with 18 other women in July in a Khartoum restaurant when so-called morality police burst in and checked women for their clothing. At the time, she was wearing trousers. Hussein said she's fighting to have Sudan's decency 20 law declared unconstitutional. She resigned from her UN position in order to waive 21 her immunity 22 as an international worker and go to trial. Police lobbed tear gas at crowds of her supporters who gathered outside the Khartoum courthouse. For NPR News, I'm Dale Gavlak in Amman.

 In tennis, 17-year-old American Melanie Oudin advanced to the US Open quarterfinals today. She beat 13th-seeded Nadia Petrova. She lost the first set in 31 minutes and nearly fell behind 5-3 in the second set before coming back to win.