NPR 2008-10-06

The latest financial bailout comes not in the US but in Germany where government officials and private banks have agreed on a 69-billion-dollar deal to save lender Hypo Real Estate. Diane Swonk, Chief Economist 1 with Mesirow Financial says there are a number of major banks in trouble overseas. "The fact that this is rapidly becoming a very global situation, leaves it even less steady for our financial market." The German bailout came on the same day the German government announced it is guaranteeing all private savings 2 accounts in that country, accounts valued at more than 700 billion dollars.

GOP vice 3 presidential nominee 4 Sarah Palin is standing 5 by her claim that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, in her words, "pals 6 around with terrorists". Palin says Obama's association with Bill Ayers, a 1960's-era radical 7 who's now a college professor, is an issue that is fair to discuss. And McCain's supporter Senator Joe Lieberman agrees. "If the shoe was on the other foot, and John McCain had one of his earliest campaign events at the home, of somebody who affirm the right wing group that had bombed buildings, and then had been on board with the guy for several years. You bet the Obama campaign would have been raising that question." Lieberman was on FOX News Sunday.

Obama today dismissed Palin's comment and similar criticism from the McCain campaign. "Senator McCain and his operatives are gambling 8 that they can distract you with smears 9 rather than talk to you about substance. They'd rather tear our campaign down than lift this country up." Obama speaking at a rally in Nashville, North Carolina. Obama has denounced the radical views and actions of Ayers who was the founder 10 of the Weather Underground group during the Vietnam War. Obama was a child at that time.

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni today said she will keep pursuing a peace deal with the Palestinians if she succeeds in forming a new coalition 11 government. Linda Gradstein has the story from Jerusalem.

It was Livni's first foreign policy address since she was nominated to form Israel's next government. That came after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned in the wake of a series of corruption 12 allegations although he remains 13 in power until Livni either forms a new government or elections are held. Livni said Israel must not allow dates or political changes to stand in the way of negotiations 14 referring to the upcoming American elections. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Malki who also spoke 15 at the policy conference in Jerusalem said Palestinians see the next few months as a time of uncertainty 16. He said they are waiting to see the results of the American elections and that the two candidates have different policies. He also said he hopes Livni is able to form a government as that would show commitment to the negotiations for a Palestinian state. From NPR news, I am Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem.

This is NPR News from Washington.

A new medical research report has concluded that men who are overweight or who have high insulin levels are more likely to die if they get prostate cancer. The finding comes from a large study of physicians in the US. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

The Harvard-based physician's health study has followed 22000 doctors for 26 years. The new study that looked at the fate of more than 2500 participants who had prostate cancer is published in a journal called the Lancet Oncology. Men who were overweight at the time of their prostate cancer diagnosis 17 were 47% more likely to die of the disease. Obese 18 men were nearly three times more likely to die. Men with high insulin levels also had much higher prostate cancer mortality. Worst of all, men were four times more likely to die of prostate cancer if they were both overweight and had high insulin levels. Study authors say men should exercise to keep weight under control and insulin levels low if they want to survive prostate cancer. Richard Knox, NPR news.

A majority of members of the US Supreme 19 Court attended a church service today that is called the "Red Mass". It is a tradition before the High Court opens its fall term. Chief Justice John Roberts was joined by justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Breyer as well as a number of top government officials. Roman Catholic cardinal 20 John Patrick Foley told the gathering 21 that he sees similarities between priests and lawyers and judges because he says all see the law as a means in which people can be educated to perceive what is good and to strive for it. The name "Red Mass" dates back centuries and refers to the red vestments worn by the priests who lead the prayers for guidance for those who seek justice.