Neda Was 'Full Of Joy'; Obama News Conference Coming Up

Good morning.

Lots of eyes are on the White House today, where President Barack Obama will hold a news conference at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Weather permitting, he'll meet with reporters in the Rose Garden.

Among the questions the president is due to be asked: Has he been hard enough on the government of Iran and has he given protesters there enough support? What should the U.S. do now to put more pressure on North Korea? When are the billions spent to stimulate the economy going to start producing jobs?

We'll be live-blogging the news conference. NPR News will be broadcasting it. And it will all certainly be on the TV cable news networks. Check back with us when the time draws near.

As for the stories making headlines this morning, they include:

— Los Angeles Times — Neda Was 'Full Of Joy': In Tehran, reporter Borzou Daragahi spoke with those who knew Neda Agha-Soltan, 26, who "was shot dead Saturday evening near the scene of clashes between pro-government militias and demonstrators who allege rampant vote fraud in the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The jittery cellphone footage of her bleeding on the street has turned 'Neda' into an international symbol of the protest movement that erupted after the June 12 balloting. ... To those who knew and loved Agha-Soltan, she was far more than an icon. She was a daughter, sister and friend, a music and travel lover, a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. 'She was a person full of joy,' said her music teacher and close friend Hamid Panahi, who was among the mourners at her family home Sunday, awaiting word about her burial. 'She was a beam of light. I'm so sorry. I was so hopeful for this woman.' "

— Morning Edition — Iran's Governing Council Won't Annul Election: NPR's Mike Shuster reports that the Guardian Council, the body that is dominated by clerics and oversees elections, has announced the disputed presidential election will not be annulled:

Also on Morning Edition: "Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is thought to be exercising influence from behind the scenes in the aftermath of the country's disputed presidential elections. Journalist Robin Wright talks with Renee Montagne about Rafsanjani":

— Reuters — Defeated Candidate Calls For Mourning Ceremonies: "Iran's defeated moderate candidate Mehdi Karoubi has called on Iranians to hold mourning ceremonies on Thursday for killed protesters, an aide told Reuters on Tuesday. 'Karoubi calls on Iranians around the country to hold ceremonies on Thursday to remember those (killed) at protests,' said Issa Saharkhiz. ... 'Karoubi wants a new election. He is in talks with (defeated candidate Mir Hossein) Mousavi to issue a joint statement on their demand,' Saharkhiz said."

Related post by The Guardian: "Mousavi is also calling on his supporters to join the rally."

— The Washington Post — Signal Failure And Operator Error Suspected In Metro Crash: "Experts familiar with Metro's operations focused last night on a failure of the signal system and operator error as likely causes of yesterday's fatal Red Line crash." The Associated Press says at least nine people were killed in the crash.

— The New York Times — "Mexican Cartels Lure American Teens As Killers": On the U.S.-Mexico border, "Mexican drug cartels recruit young men from both countries and operate their smuggling and murder-for-hire rings on both sides of the divide, though under slightly different rules of engagement."

— The Wall Street Journal — White House To Kill Spy-Satellite Program: "The Obama administration plans to kill a controversial Bush administration spy satellite program at the Department of Homeland Security, according to officials familiar with the decision.
The program came under fire from its inception two years ago. Democratic lawmakers said it would lead to domestic spying."

Contributing: Chinita Anderson of Morning Edition.