Search results for

Belgium has spent 16 months struggling to form a federal government. Observers say that issue is a microcosm of the financial crisis that has hit the eurozone.

Before this week is over, jurors in Michael Jackson's trial could be deliberating his guilt or innocence. But those 12 people are hardly the only ones in the country who will be talking about Michael Jackson. Just about everybody else is, too. Commentator Jake Halpern is working on a book about fame, and he says that all that attention might be part of Michael Jackson's problems.

Orchestras are looking for ways to attract new and younger audiences to the concert hall. One solution may be "CoCo" -- the Concert Companion. It's a handheld digital device that displays program notes that are synched with the music. NPR's Fred Child reports on tests of the device at this summer's Aspen Music Festival.

While Netanyahu and Arafat met in Washington, Palestinians and Israelis at home have been talking about their leaders in the wake of last week's outbreak of violence in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. From Gaza, NPR's Eric Weiner reports that though Arafat's prestige had been eroded, his standing has risen among Palestinian voters. From Jerusalem, NPR's Linda Gradstein talks to one of Netanyahu's so-called "swing voters" from last May's elections, and finds that she would still vote for Netanyahu today... despite the policies that helped bring about last week's clashes.

NPR'S Eric Weiner reports on Israel announcement today that it will ease the closure of the West Bank and Gaza by allowing a few thousand Palestinians from Gaza to travel to their jobs in Israel. It is the first step in a larger plan to assuage the economic plight of the Palestinians.

President George Bush joined Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders in Red Square Monday morning to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Don Gonyea discusses the ceremonies.

Movie reviewer Bob Mondello talks about impossible movie geography... when an actor turns a corner and ends up in a different city, or the sun sets gently in the East. It's a commentary about how disorienting it all is... inspired by the idiocy of the newly-released film "Murder at 1600."

Oil shale is an idea that was tested a generation ago, then abandoned when the price of crude oil plunged. Now, a self-taught inventor is once again eyeing the vast shale deposits of the Rocky Mountains.

Astronaut Stephen Robinson pulled out two pieces of filler material that were protruding from Space Shuttle Discovery's belly. Robinson was tethered to a boom arm to reach the underside of the craft.

Steve Inskeep talks to Gerald Steinberg, professor of political studies at Bar Ilan University, about the future of Israeli politics as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lies ill after a stroke in Jerusalem. Steinberg says Sharon was a major political figure, and there are no other national names to take his place.

The formerly homeless residents of Emmaus House in Harlem recently buried their spiritual leader, the Rev. David Kirk. Kirk, who died at age 72 last month, believed in empowering the poor to serve the poor.

The House votes in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Thursday's early morning vote is a victory for the Bush administration. House Republicans had trouble keeping rank-and-file members from defecting as many Democrats opposed the accord.