From NPR news in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The Environment Protection Agency is proposing new rules to clean up gasoline in order to reduce air pollution. NPR's Richard Harris reports the changes would require the nation to meet California's current standard.

 

　　The new rule would reduce amount of sulfur in gasoline that would let catalytic converters run better, so cars would produce less of the chemicals that produce smog. Bill Becker, at the National Association of Clean Air Agencies is all for it.

 

　　"It will reduce ozone and other air pollution emissions by close to 30% over the next 20 years. " The oil industry complains that the rule would require $10 billion in refinery upgrades. Petra Kelly is at the American Petroleum Institute.

 

　　" That last little bits in dregs of sulfur to get out of the fuel is extraordinary cost-intensive."

 

　　He says it will cost consumers much more than a penny a gallon which is the government estimate. The rules if enacted would kick in with a  2017 model here. Richard Harris, NPR news.

 

　　Two more marine female officers have tried and failed to pass a grueling infantry course. NPR's Tom Bowman reports they are the second pair of women to attempt course required for all marine officers to lead ground combat units.

 

　　The marine courses the two women washed out on the first training event in an obstacle course that includes climbing over walls and climbing ropes. Their names will not release since they are volunteers for a study about how women will fare in a 12-week course. About 20% of male marines also fail to pass the course. Last fall, the first 2 women ever to take part in infantry officer course also failed, one washed out the first day, the second lasted nearly two weeks before suffering a stress fracture in her leg. In January, the Pentagon lifted the ban on women serving in ground combat jobs. Now, the military is trying to determine their physical requirements for both male and female troops. Tom Bowman, NPR news, Washington.

 

　　Workers and thousands of New York city businesses may receive paid sick leave if the city council get its way. Council speaker Christine Queen says the measure affecting companies that employ at least 20 workers is right thing, but she also notes the bill depends on how the economy is faring. "If the economy unexpectedly worsens, the bill would be delayed from taking effect until the conditions improve. "

 

　　Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the measure is shortsighted and he will veto it.

 

　　St.Peter's Basilica at Vatican fills with the voice of a choir as Rome Catholics observe good Friday during passion of Christ mass just weeks into his Papacy, Pope Francis presided. Christians worldwide  are observing rituals marking the biblical crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem. Nuns prayed along with hundreds of other pilgrims in a procession.

 

　　US markets were closed for this Good Friday.

 

　　This is NPR.

 

　　Descendants of composer Felix Mendelssohn's family are demanding that the German state of Bavaria return a painting by Pablo Picasso. As NPR's Joel Rose reports a lawsuit claims the painting was looted by the Nazis.

 

　　The painting in question is Picasso's Madame Soler in early 1930s, it belonged to Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, a wealthy Jewish banker in Berlin. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's heirs say he was forced by Nazi government to transfer the painting to an art dealer in 1934, a claim the government of Bovaria denies. It bought the painting in 1964, it's still on display at a Museum in Munich. The family filed a lawsuit in New York demanding the return of the painting or $100 million. This is not the first time Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's heirs have sued to recover allegedly looted Picassoes from prominent museum collections. An earlier lawsuit ended in a settlement in 2009. Joel Rose, NPR news, New York.

 

　　Cyprus is lifting its restriction on domestic debit and credit card transactions as it gradually loosens some of the controls it recently imposed to prevent a run on banks. It would still  unclear Cypriots were still prevented from cashing checks or limited in how many euros they can carry outside the country. On Monday, the Mediterranean island nation forged a deal to secure an international bailout, it would require Cypriots though to shrink its banking system.

 

　　Nearly half of US states are reporting declines in their unemployment rates including those areas hit hardest by the recession, however, the Labor Department says jobs rates rose in a dozen states while 16 others saw no change from January to February.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR news, in Washington.