April 30, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Report: No Immunity for Lewinsky -- Noah talks with NPR's legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg about a judge's decision stating that Monica Lewinsky did not have a deal granting her immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony about her alleged relations with President Clinton. A dispute between independent counsel Kenneth Starr and Lewinsky's attorneys about whether such a deal existed has held up a grand jury investigation into the matter. It is unclear what Starr will do now. He could try to force Lewinsky's testimony, or prosecute her for perjury. (4:30)

Albright in China -- NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has concluded two days of talks in Beijing, serving as preparation for President Clinton's summit with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in June. Albright pressed the Chinese on the issues of human rights, arms control and trade, while emphasizing cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese, in turn, pressured the U.S. on the one issue of most concern to Beijing: the U.S. relationship with Taiwan. (4:30)

Northern Ireland -- NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports that the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, Sinn Fein, has yet to endorse the Northern Ireland political settlement reached on Good Friday. Today, the IRA issued a statement indicating it will support the agreement -- but with one proviso. The group is refusing to disarm. (2:30)

The Mary Bell Story -- Robert talks with Luke Harding, a reporter for The Guardian, a British newspaper. They discuss the story of Mary Bell. Bell had served time in prison after being convicted of killing two children while she herself was a child. Now, thirty years later, following her release and the creation of a new identity, she has been exposed. She now finds herself on the run from the tabloid media. (5:00)

Penderecki's Metamorphosen -- Robert talks with Anne-Sophie Mutter, a concert violinist. They discuss her new CD, which includes a concerto written specifically for her by composer Krzysztof Penderecki. This item is unavailable due to copyright issues.

United and Delta -- NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on another alliance in the airline industry, this time between United and Delta. This morning, the two airlines announced they will link their flights and their frequent flyer programs and say the arrangement will not need regulatory approval. The Justice Department says it will examine the recent spate of alliances to determine whether they will hurt competition. (2:30)

Dalai Lama's Visit -- Karen Michel reports that the Dalai Lama is facing accusations that he is participating in religious oppression. A group of dissident Tibetan Buddhists claim that his ban on the worship of a deity they revere amounts to religious persecution. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader believes worship of the so-called protector god Dorje Shugden will harm him and the Tibetan cause. The Dalai Lama has dismissed reports of violence against Dorje Shugden worshippers. The Dalai Lama's latest visit to the United States begins tonight in New York. (5:00)

Hubbell Indictment -- This afternoon, a federal grand jury returned a ten-count indictment against former Justice Department official Webster Hubbell, his wife and two friends on tax charges. Hubbell is a friend of President Clinton -- and a former partner of Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Rose Law Firm. Robert talks with NPR's Nina Totenberg about the implications of this indictment and what this development means for the ongoing Whitewater investigation. (4:30)

Israel's 50th Anniversary -- NPR's Eric Weiner reports that half a century after the foundation of their state, Israelis today reflected on their bitter-sweet Golden Anniversary with songs, dances and fireworks. But amidst the celebratory mood in the country, there was also controversy over how to mark the occasion.

Recollections of Israeli Independence -- We'll hear tape of various people remembering the establishment of Israel fifty years ago, taken from a special produced to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Jewish state. (2:30)

Religious Persecution -- NPR's Lynn Neary reports on the lobbying efforts of a group of foreign religious leaders. They've been in Washington for the past two days to campaign against legislation that would impose sanctions against countries found to be practicing religious persecution. The visitors come from some of the accused nations. (5:00)

ATC Mailbag -- Noah and Robert read from listeners' comments. To contact the show, write to All Things Considered Letters, 635 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20001. To contact us via the Internet, the address is atc@npr.org. (4:00)

GDP Report -- The economy grew at a brisk rate in the first quarter, without even a hint of inflationary pressure. The gross domestic product expanded at a 4.2% annual rate, according to the Commerce Department. A separate report on employment costs also showed inflation to be well under control. The financial markets found the reports reassuring. Stocks surged while interest rates came down slightly. NPR's John Ydstie reports. (4:00)

NATO Vote in Senate -- The Senate is debating whether to agree to expand NATO to include Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Supporters say welcoming the former Warsaw Pact countries is a natural outcome of the end of the Cold War. Opponents say it would increase the likelihood of Americans going to war to protect Eastern Europe from Russia. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

AFL-CIO -- NPR's Peter Overby reports that AFL-CIO President John Sweeney appeared today before a House oversight subcommittee to answer questions about the labor federation's alleged role in a scheme to divert union funds to help the candidacy of Teamsters President Ron Carey. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka is being investigated for possibly orchestrating the money shift. The results of that election have since been overturned. Sweeney told the committee he did not believe Trumka would knowingly participate in such an illegal scheme. (3:30)

Red Lights -- We'll hear an excerpt from a news conference held today by Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater designed to call attention to a nationwide problem: the number of people who disregard red lights while driving. Slater calls the practice one of the most dangerous aspects of aggressive driving, saying that a million people are injured annually in crashes involving red light-running -- and more than 8000 people a year are killed because of the practice. (1:30)

Cats and Dogs -- Noah talks to Elizabeth Hess, the author of "Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter." Hess writes about the Columbia-Green Humane Society in Hudson, New York. She says that she thinks of the shelter as a kind of witness protection program for animals that have been mistreated; they are given a safe place, a new name, and eventually a new home. (7:45)