NPR Topics: News

Massachusetts Steps Forward On Health Coverage

In the most closely watched health care experiment in the United States, Massachusetts is requiring nearly all of its citizens to have insurance. Support remains strong for the program, and the number of uninsured has dropped by half.

Bush Drops Opposition To Housing Rescue Bill

President Bush reversed his stance on a congressional plan to help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac weather the mortgage crisis and to provide struggling homeowners with more affordable loans. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the president had decided it was not the time for a veto fight.

Serbian Leader Arrested On Charges Of War Crimes

After living as a fugitive for more than a decade, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was arrested Monday on charges related to genocide and war crimes during the Bosnian war. U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke discusses a meeting he had with Karadzic years ago.

Hurricane Dolly Comes Ashore In South Texas

Hurricane Dolly lashed the Texas coast on Wednesday, coming ashore near South Padre Island with maximum sustained winds of nearly 100 mph.

China Looks To Row Away With Most Gold Medals

To win the race for gold at this summer's Olympics, China has been looking to sports where the medals are plentiful. Many of these sports, like rowing, are not China's traditional strong suits.

Anglicans Boycott Meeting, Split Over Women, Gays

Leaders of the world's Anglicans are meeting in London amid speculation that the church might split. Conservatives argue that there is no place for practicing homosexuals in the church.

Karadzic's Dual Life: War Fugitive, New Age Mystic

Since the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the media in Belgrade are filled with details of how he lived on the run for more than a decade. The former Bosnian Serb leader wanted for war crimes was passing himself off as a New Age mystic.

McCain Talks Iraq, Energy Costs In New Hampshire

As Barack Obama makes headlines overseas, his presidential rival, John McCain, returned to New Hampshire on Tuesday. It's the site of his primary victory, and he used the visit to criticize the Illinois senator on foreign policy.

Financial Stocks Lift Despite Bad Earnings

Wachovia announced multibillion-dollar losses related to the mortgage crisis Tuesday. But instead of upsetting investors, the news helped lift financial stocks and the rest of the market.

Study On Viagra For Depressed Women Scrutinized

A new study suggests that Viagra may help women who experience sexual dysfunction as a side effect of drug treatment for depression. Some researchers doubt the study's findings and say more work needs to be done.

Germans Look To Obama To Fix Strained U.S. Ties

Barack Obama is expected to be received with the kind of religious fervor usually reserved for the Pope when he arrives in Germany on Thursday. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is seen by most Germans as a potential savior of Germany's close relationship with America.

'Dean of Baseball' Jerome Holtzman Dies

Jerome Holtzman, who wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune and became Major League Baseball's first ever historian, has died. He created the "save" — a relief pitching statistic that many say changed the game — and was known as the "Dean of Baseball."

Housing Bill Calls For New Fannie-Freddie Regulator

Congress is expected to vote this week on legislation that addresses the home foreclosure crisis and provides financial aid to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The struggling firms are currently regulated by a division of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The bill would establish a new, independent regulator.

Obama Meets Warmth, Skepticism In Mideast

Barack Obama is in Israel and the Palestinian territories Wednesday. The Democratic presidential candidate meets with senior officials of the Israeli government and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Obama is greeted warmly but with some skepticism by Israelis and Palestinians.

Sen. Dodd: Fannie, Freddie 'Too Big To Fail'

The rescue plan for giant mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promises credit and possible stock purchases. It might cost the U.S. nothing — or it might cost $25 billion. Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd says balancing investor confidence and taxpayer exposure is a fine line, but "doing nothing is not an option."