NPR 2012-04-12

 Attorney General Eric Holder 1 says the Justice Department is conducting a thorough investigation 2 into the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. NPR's Craig Windham reports no charges have been filed so far against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who says he shot Martin in self-defense.

 
Holder called Martin a young man whose future has been lost to the ages, and he said the department is intent on preventing such killings 3.
 
“We will examine the facts and the law. If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action.”
 
One of Zimmerman's former lawyers Hal Uhrig tells NBC that Zimmerman is suffering from high levels of stress because he’s under intense public scrutiny 4.  
 
“He is not a bad guy. He may just be an emotionally beat down guy by this process.”
 
The special prosecutor 5 looking into Martin's death is expected to have an announcement about the case shortly. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.
 
A news conference is scheduled for 6 p.m. today in Jacksonville, Florida. A new study finds the number of people living with dementia worldwide will triple by 2050 from nearly 36 million to more than 115 million. Lisa Schlein reports the World Health Organization says most of these cases will be in low- and middle-income countries.
 
Dementia is increasing because people are living longer. Alzheimer accounts for 70% of the cases. Expert Mark Waltman calls the statistics frightening.
 
“There is a new case now in every four seconds, a new case of dementia in the world. Only ten years ago, it was calculated at one in seven seconds, so it's speeding up.”
 
Waltman says action must be taken to stop this epidemic 6, and yet WHO reports only eight nations have programs to address dementia. The United States is currently developing a plan. WHO reports more than 600 billion dollars a year is spent in treating and caring for people with dementia. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Schlein in Geneva.
 
There’s some encouraging news about US business conditions from the Federal Reserve. A survey indicates that each of the Fed's 12 bank districts grew at a modest to moderate pace from mid-February through the beginning of this month, noting that hiring was steady or increased in most of the country. While businesses express concerns about rising gas prices, retail 7 sales were up almost uniformly and job gains occurred in manufacturing, shipping 8, information technology and professional business services.
 
Bargain hunters lifted European stock prices today, with Italian banks leading gainers across the region. On Wall Street, traders are making up for ground lost in previous days, sending stocks to major gains. A good earnings 9 report from Alcoa boosted optimism. At this hour, the Dow was up 107 at 12,821.
 
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North Korea has fueled its long-range rocket in preparation for what appears to be an imminent 10 launch. The US, Japan, Britain and others warned the launch would violate UN resolutions. NPR's Louisa Lim reports this comes as the country's young leader has been named to a top Communist Party post.
 
North Korea's new young leader Kim Jong-un has been named the first secretary of the ruling Workers' Party. This formalizes as he’s sent to the top post. It comes as the country prepares for a long-range rocket launch despite international condemnation 11. Foreign journalists were today taken to the satellite command center outside Pyongyang. There, an official told them that fuel has already been injected into the three-stage rocket, which is due to be launched sometime between Thursday and Monday. North Korea insists that carrying a satellite is for peaceful purposes only. The US believes the launch violates UN Security Council resolutions, and it's vowed 12 to take appropriate action at the UN if North Korea goes ahead. Louisa Lim, NPR News, Seoul.
 
There’s been no recall, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expanding an investigation into fires in Jeep Wrangler 13 models from the years 2007 to 2012. There have been some injuries and some property damage in 23 documented Wrangler fires.
 
Around the Indian Ocean earlier today, nations were on alert after an 8.6-magnitude earthquake about 270 miles from Indonesia's Aceh province. No deadly waves or serious damage were reported. All alerts have expired. 
 
I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.