Search results for

NPR's Jack Speer reports the nation's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter. The nation's gross domestic product, or GDP, expanded at a 2 percent annual rate, according to the Commerce Department. Most economists expected the economy to grow no faster than 1 percent in the first quarter. Analysts said the economy was helped along by strong consumer spending and a narrower trade gap.

NPR's Kenneth Walker in Johannesburg reports long-simmering differences within South Africa's ruling party burst into the open this week with allegations that three prominent members of the party were plotting to oust President Thabo Mbeki.

The trial of Thomas Blanton Jr., a suspect in the 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed four black girls, continues. Scott speaks with NPR's Debbie Elliott.

Scott talks with Michael Dombeck, retired Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Mr. Dombeck stepped down at the end of March as the Bush administration reviewed the conservation policies he created under former President Clinton.

Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Sylvia Brownrigg called, Pages for You. (1:30) The book is published by Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Finance ministers and bankers are gathered in Washington this weekend for a meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. They will need to address several difficult issues including a slowdown in global growth and financial crises in two big emerging markets. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

Scott talks to Hans Rockenwagner, chef and owner of Rockenwagner's Restaurants in Santa Monica and Venice, California about the annual frenzy in Germany over the delicacy known as white asparagus.

Actor GREG KINNEAR. His newest film is Someone Like You. He plays a soap opera star in the film Nurse Betty which is now out on video. Kinnear's other films include As Good As It Gets (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award) and Sabrina. Kinnear got his start as host and executive producer of "Talk Soup" on E! Entertainment. Later he hosted his own late-night talk show, Later with Greg Kinnear.

Film critic HENRY SHEEHAN reviews "Town & Country."

Linda Wertheimer talks sports with Stefan Fatsis of the Wall Street Journal. This weeks topic: the internationalization of sports. Earlier this month, a Japanese-born pitcher faced a Japanese-born hitter -- the first time ever in Major League Baseball. The presence of foreign athletes can also be felt in other sports, including hockey and pro-basketball. Stefan says with all the focus on money in sports, this development is refreshing and exciting.