Search results for

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews recordings by two countertenors: a collection of religious music for solo voice by Vivaldi performed by German born Andreas Scholl (on Decca) and Serenade (Virgin Classics) by American David Daniels.

On the banks of the Skykomish River in Monroe, Washington today, Republican Presidential nominee George W. Bush announced a $5 billion environmental initiative. Bush said the program was needed to improve maintenance and resource protection in the National Park System. Aides hope the event will get the campaign back on message after days of distraction. Andy Bowers, of NPR News, is with the Bush campaign.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr notes that, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it is dangerous and addictive, the US House of Representatives voted today to aid the export of tobacco.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports the International Olympic Committee has said it would like to broaden its base and add more women to the organization. As the IOC concluded three days of meetings in Sydney, Australia today, it added fourteen new members, all of them male. The nominees were put forth by National Olympic Committees and international sports federations, which are not under IOC control. Some women complain that having few females on the IOC results in inattention to their issues of concern; notably refusal by some nations to allow women to join Olympic teams.

The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human rights, Mary Robinson, and former president of Ireland. She'll discuss the murders last week of three UN human rights workers in West Timor.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that anti-globalization demonstrators in Melbourne, Australia have declared their three-day effort a success, even though they failed to shut down a conference of the World Economic Forum, a gathering of international business leaders. Organizers of the protests say globalization, as exemplified by the World Economic Forum, benefits only a few of the wealthiest corporations, while harming the environment, destroying local cultures and increasing poverty. The protesters in Melbourne were well-prepared and well-equipped. They used walkie-talkies to monitor police movements, loudspeakers to direct protesters and they'd even set up first aid and legal aid stations.

Guest film critic Henry Sheehan reviews the new film Almost Famous.

Commentator Russell Roberts talks about the recent use of subliminal advertising in a Republican National Committee commercial. He says the technique isn't usually successful, so why not just call the Democrats vermin to their faces?

Host Bob Edwards talks to Steve Salzburg, professor of law at George Washington University about the case of Wen Ho Lee. He says it's not unusual for the government to charge a suspect with additional felony counts in certain sensitive cases.

The Senate has been trying for several weeks to complete action on a bill granting permanent normal trade status to China. But several senators have resisted the bill, trying to attach amendments that would require various changes in Chinese policy. One such effort was directed at China's foreign arms sales, which have furthered efforts by other countries to develop weapons of mass destruction. But today, the Senate voted not to attach any weapons sales provisions to the trade bill. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.