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

 

　　Law enforcement officials tell NPR that the mystery man known as Misha who was tied to the Boston Marathon bombing suspects is not believed to have played a part in the attacks. But as NPR's Dina Temple-Raston explains officials are investigating as many as a dozen people.

 

　　Officials say they have spoken with the man known as Misha while he knew Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the bombing suspects. He doesn't appear to have radicalised Tamerlan Tsarnaev. They said that Misha had not had contacted the Tsarnaev for years and he is cooperating completely with the investigation. Officials say that the inquiry is broadening. Investigators are looking at a dozen people they think have helped the Tsarnaev brothers either before or after the bombings. Among them, two students from Kazakhstan who were arrested in New Bedford soon after the attacks. They are now being held on immigration violations. Dina Temple-Raston, NPR News.

 

　　The administration is declining the comment on a report alleging that Afghanistan received tens of millions of dollars in secret CIA payments during the last ten years. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is confirming his government received payments for medical housing and other needs though he wouldn't say how much.

 

　　The New York Times quotes Karzai's former aide Khalil Roman saying the CIA sent suitcases, backpacks and plastic shopping bags full of cash every month to the Afghan National Security Council.

 

　　A U.S. civilian cargo plane has crashed in Afghanistan. NATO says all seven members are dead, even though the Taliban is claiming responsibility, the alliance says there was no sign of insurgent activity in the area at the time.

 

　　The head of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon is appealing to Syria to allow a team of experts to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports the secretary general met with the UN team in New York today.

 

　　Ban Ki-moon says the team led by a Swedish chemical expert has been gathering and analysing available evidence, but he says the investigators need to go to Syria to establish the facts.

 

　　A credible and comprehensive inquiry requires full access to the sites where chemical weapons are alleged to have been used.

 

　　He says he takes seriously a U.S. intelligence report on limited chemical weapons used by Syria. The U.S. has also been calling on Syria to allow in UN investigators. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

 

　　President Obama selecting Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx to be his next transportation secretary. The nominee requires Senate confirmation.

 

　　The Mississippi man charged with making and possessing the toxic ricin for uses of weapon, has made his first appearance in federal court since he was arrested Saturday. The FBI picked up James Dutschke at his home as part of their investigation into ricin-laced letters that were addressed to a number of high profile figures, including President Obama.

 

　　This is NPR News.

 

　　NBA center, Jason Collins has announced he is gay. The veteran of six different NBA teams came out in the pages of Sports Illustrated, making him the first male athlete on a major North American team sport to make such an announcement while still playing. We've got details from NPR's Mike Pesca.

 

　　Collins, 34, says that he surprised his twin brother NBA player Jarron with his announcement, but other family members confirmed they'd long suspected when Jason began coming out process two years ago. So far the reaction from NBA players, such as, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and Earl Watson and NBA Commissioner David Stern have been positive. Collins who's currently a free agent attended Stanford University with Chelsea Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton issued a statement supporting Collins and White House Spokesman, Jay Carney, also issued words of support. Mike Pesca, NPR News.

 

　　Alabama lost latest legal battle to reinstate parts of a strict immigration law that had been widely controversial. U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal appeals court ruling that block sections of line, including one that made it a crime to harbor undocumented immigrants. The Appeals Court had found that the immigration law should mainly come under the preview of the federal government.

 

　　Heavy machinery now being used to dig through the wreckage of a collapsed factory in Bangladesh where the search for survivors is over. At least 380 people died in Dahka when the vast building housing thousands of garment workers caved in last week. Local authorities blamed the collapse on shoddy construction. The building's owner has been arrested.

 

　　Before the closing bell, the Dow was up 106 points at 14,819.

 

　　This is NPR News.