Accessibility links
News: U.S. and World News Headlines NPR news, audio, and podcasts. Coverage of breaking stories, national and world news, politics, business, science, technology, and extended coverage of major national and world events.

News

Wednesday

Striving For A Safer Table Saw

Making the Case for a Safer Table Saw

Table-saw accidents send more than 60,000 people to seek medical treatment every year, according to federal estimates. In an effort to get the power-tool industry to adopt safer technology, SawStop inventor Steven Gass visited the Consumer Product Safety Commission near Washington recently.

Making the Case for a Safer Table Saw

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5441114/5441158" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Mongolia's Nomads Face Difficult Transition

Mongolia's harsh climate and its recent transition to a market economy have made it difficult for some herders to maintain their traditional way of life. They are being encouraged to work together in cooperatives, but the nomads have to learn to trust each other first.

Mongolia's Nomads Face Difficult Transition

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5440921/5441000" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

If Deported, Accused Smuggler May Face Death in China

Lai Changxing is an accused smuggler who faces extradition from Canada back to his native China for trial. Lai, who fled China in 1999, is accused of overseeing a massive o smuggling operation. But Canadian courts could refuse to return Lai to China; Canada has no death penalty, while China does.

If Deported, Accused Smuggler May Face Death in China

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442742/5442743" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

Barbaro Stabilizes, but His Future Is Uncertain

Dr. Dean Richardson, the horse surgeon that operated on Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro after his devastating injury in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, has been optimistic about Barbaro's progress in the past week but says he is still wary of his future as a stud. Breeding Barbaro in the future would require that he mount mares using his injured hind leg. Melissa Block talks with Richardson.

Barbaro Stabilizes, but His Future Is Uncertain

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442730/5442731" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Religion

Federal Religious Discrimination Lawyer Criticized

In 2003, The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division created a position called the Special Counsel for Religious Discrimination. Eric Treene, who has held the job since it was created, identifies religious discrimination cases and brings lawsuits. But some critics say Treene is too involved in the public sphere.

Federal Religious Discrimination Lawyer Criticized

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442769/5442770" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Middle East

In Policy Shift, U.S. May Meet with Iranians

The Bush administration is shifting gears on its policy with Iran. The United States now says it will hold face-to-face talks with Iranian and European officials if Iran suspends nuclear activities suspected of being part of a weapons program. President Bush says he wants to take a leadership role in resolving the issue.

In Policy Shift, U.S. May Meet with Iranians

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442754/5442755" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Suffering Persists After Zimbabwe Razing Campaign

As Zimbabwe's economy collapses under 1,000 percent inflation, many of the people uprooted by a slum-clearance campaign last year remain homeless and unemployed. Human-rights activists in the Southern African nation say the country is on the verge of social upheaval.

Suffering Persists After Zimbabwe Razing Campaign

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442429/5442853" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Rice: U.S. Will Talk to Iran if Enrichment Ends

In a significant switch from its earlier hard-line position, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the Bush administration would be open to multilateral talks with Iranian leaders -- but only if that nation gives up its plans to enrich uranium. Alex Chadwick speaks with Michele Kelemen about Rice's remarks.

Rice: U.S. Will Talk to Iran if Enrichment Ends

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5441939/5441940" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Impact of War

Post-Traumatic Stress Treatment Costs Soar

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has watched the amount of money paid to cover treatment for claims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rise significantly in the last five years. Some researchers believe veterans who aren't eligible for PTSD compensation are claiming disability. But efforts to redefine PTSD is alarming some veterans' advocates.

Post-Traumatic Stress Treatment Costs Soar

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5441927/5441928" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National

Golfer John Daly, 'In and Out of the Rough'

How does one man rack up $50 million in gambling loses? Pro golfer John Daly says he did, and became notorious for his fast living in the normally tame world of golf. He recounts his adventures in a new memoir, My Life In and Out of the Rough.

Golfer John Daly, 'In and Out of the Rough'

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5441945/5441946" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

U.S. Makes Overture to Iran on Nuclear Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States is ready to join in direct talks with Iran about that country's nuclear program. But Iran must first halt uranium enrichment before talks can begin. The United States has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979 and sent the message through the Swiss ambassador to the U.S. Steve Inskeep talks to Matthew Bunn of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

U.S. Makes Overture to Iran on Nuclear Talks

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5441756/5441971" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Investigating the Haditha Killings

What Happened at Haditha?

In November, U.S. Marines allegedly killed two dozen Iraqis, including women and children. Most, if not all, were unarmed. Military sources claim that evidence shows there were mitigating circumstances. Iraqi eyewitnesses claim that the Marines simply went on a rampage. Guests explore the investigation into the Haditha deaths and talk about how the military conducts these kinds of inquiries.

What Happened at Haditha?

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5442144/5442145" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript