NPR 2012-02-21

 An international bailout deal may be close at hand to keep Greece from defaulting, which would have a ripple 1 effect on global economies. Eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels. The Greek prime minister is also there. Meanwhile, Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens that the Greek parliament is also said to pass emergency cuts that would satisfy Greece’s European lenders.

 
 
Greek lawmakers are expected to approve about 427 million dollars in pension cuts. Those cuts come on top of the new austerity measures approved last week amid rioting in central Athens. In exchange for the new measures, Athens would get about 170 billion dollars in bailout loans. The loan deal must be finalized 2 to secure separate bond swap 3 that could cut Greek debt by at least 50%. The country needs the two deals to avoid a chaotic 4 default, which could lead to an exit from the eurozone. More than 70% of Greeks want to keep the euro, but they also say austerity measures have killed the economy. For NPR News, I’m Joanna Kakissis in Athens.
 
 
With investors 5 hopeful that the bailout is indeed close at hand, world markets were higher today. In the oil markets, prices rose to a nine-month high today above 105 dollars a barrel. Iranian oil is no longer flowing to Britain and France after those countries threatened more sanctions against Iran for running a nuclear program. Benchmark March crude rose $1.83 to 105.43 a barrel.
 
 
President Obama's national security adviser 6 has wrapped up three days of talks in Jerusalem, pledging “unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.” Israeli government has vowed 7 to defend itself against any Iranian nuclear threat; however, the US has been urging the Israelis not to attack.
 
 
Investigators 8 in northern Mexico are still working to identify the dead from that country's worst prison massacre 9 in years. NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports that at least 44 inmates 10 were killed in the confrontation 11.
 
 
The riot at a penitentiary 12 in Nuevo León pitted members of two of Mexico's most powerful drug gangs against each other, according to a spokesman for state security ministry 13. Jorge Domene Brano says in the middle of the night, members of the Gulf 14 Cartel who were housed in the C block charged into an area holding members of the Zetas. It's still unclear how the rivals were able to move freely from one part of the prison to another. Seventeen guards and the director of the facility are being questioned over the incident. Mexican federal police and soldiers had to be called in to restore order among the inmates. This weekend's melee 15 was the deadliest prison riot in Mexico in more than a decade. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Mexico City.
 
 
The Spanish government is dispatching military planes to Florida to pick up 17 tons of treasure. That treasure was uncovered by the US-based group Odyssey 16 Marine 17 Exploration.
 
 
US markets closed for the holiday.
 
 
This is NPR News.
 
 
New releases are taking a back seat to hold over at the box office in the United States and Canada. NPR’s Trina Williams reports it's a tight race for the top spot.
 
 
“He’s after us.”
“Why?”
“I think you need to consider how your safe house was attacked in the first place.”
“That house was a secure location.”
 
 
“Safe House” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds is in first place for now with 24 million in estimated ticket sales. It's up a spot from its debut 18 last weekend. That could change when final figures are released as last week's champion “The Vow” is virtually tight, earning an estimated 23.6 million dollars.
 
 
Nicolas Cage and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” opens in third place. Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson’s family adventure “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” debuts 19 at No.4. Closing out the top five is a third newcomer, romantic comedy “This Means War” starring Reese Witherspoon. Trina Williams, NPR News.
 
 
The owner of the New York Knicks has reportedly finalized its deal to return the NBA teams’ games to about two million Time Warner Cable subscribers in the New York area. The Madison Square Garden Company said Monday that it agreed to a multi-year deal under which the cable operator would carry its various networks. The dispute between MSG and Time Warner had left the cable subscribers unable to watch Knicks games since January 1st.
 
 
Wal-Mart Stores plans to buy a controlling interest in a fast-growing Chinese online retailer 20. The big-box chain operator Yihaodian said it has agreed to increase its stake in holding company to approximately 51%.
 
 
Again US stocks or the market that is closed for the Presidents’ Day holiday.
 
 
This is NPR News.