Linda Wertheimer http://wkar.org en Venezuela, World Leaders Mourn Hugo Chavez http://wkar.org/post/venezuela-world-leaders-mourn-hugo-chavez Transcript <p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>Leader from around the world have arrived in Venezuela to pay their final respects to President Hugo Chavez, who used his country's oil wealth to put in place his vision of socialism during 14 years in power. And this larger-than-life leader presumably will continue to inspire his followers. The Venezuelan government plans to embalm his body and keep it on display in a glass coffin.<p>NPR's Juan Forero is in Caracas following events there. He joins us now. Juan, it sounds like this funeral is an extraordinary event. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:50:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer and Juan Forero 32382 at http://wkar.org Talks On Iran's Nuclear Program To Resume In April http://wkar.org/post/talks-irans-nuclear-program-resume-april Transcript <p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>Iran now says compromise on its nuclear program may be possible. Of course, that comes with a number of ifs. Tehran says that's if international negotiators continue to take what it calls a more realistic approach. The big question, Western officials say, is whether Iran is willing to curb its nuclear activities. That is the message, after a two-day meeting between Iran and six world powers. NPR's Peter Kenyon joins us from Almaty, Kazakhstan where the talks just concluded.<p>Peter, on the surface this sounds like progress. Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:13:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 31823 at http://wkar.org Is The Call For Universal Pre-Kindergaren Warranted? http://wkar.org/post/call-universal-pre-kindergaren-warranted Enthusiasm for universal Pre-K education is at an all-time high, and President Obama wants to massively increase the ranks of young children in schools and early learning centers. Some studies have shown significant and long-lasting benefits of early stimulation for children. Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:34:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 31314 at http://wkar.org North Korea Admits It Carried Out Nuclear Test http://wkar.org/post/north-korea-admits-it-carried-out-nuclear-test North Korea confirmed on Tuesday that it had successfully conducted a third nuclear test. It's an important step toward North Korea's goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile that could reach United States. Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:47:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 30987 at http://wkar.org Politics In The News http://wkar.org/post/politics-news-19 Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.<p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>And I'm Linda Wertheimer.<p>President Obama is traveling in Asia this week, reasserting his foreign policy role after months of focus on his re-election bid. But even as the president works to shore up relationships around the world, Republican members of Congress continue to challenge the administration's handling of the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:49:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 27121 at http://wkar.org China Charges Bo Xilai's Wife In British Man's Killing http://wkar.org/post/china-charges-bo-xilais-wife-british-mans-killing Transcript <p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>China announced today that it is prosecuting the wife of a disgraced party official for the murder of a British man. It's the latest sensational twist in the country's biggest political scandal in decades. NPR's Louisa Lim joins us now from Beijing. Louisa, could you bring us up to speed on this scandal and what the latest news is?<p>LOUISA LIM, BYLINE: Yes, Linda. Well, today we had this sudden announcement by the Xinhua news agency that Gu Kailai, the wife of this disgraced official Bo Xilai has recently been prosecuted for intentional homicide. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:35:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 21157 at http://wkar.org Dark Doings Among The D.C. Monuments http://wkar.org/post/dark-doings-among-dc-monuments In Washington, D.C., the glittering marble of public buildings and monuments can conceal the darkest of deeds. And in the crime novels of Mike Lawson, they do.<p>"When I started writing, the very first decision I made was, I wanted the book set in D.C.," says Lawson, who recently published his seventh Washington-based thriller, <em>House Blood</em>. "That was before I had a character, or anything else."<p>And he had a reason.<p>"It's a target-rich environment for a writer," Lawson says. Mon, 09 Jul 2012 07:03:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 20203 at http://wkar.org Dark Doings Among The D.C. Monuments Physicists Find Evidence Of New Subatomic Particle http://wkar.org/post/physicists-find-evidence-new-subatomic-particle Scientists in Switzerland unveiled the results in their search for a subatomic particle that is believed to be key to the formation of stars, planets and eventually life after the Big Bang. Many questions remain about the exact nature of this particle. Wed, 04 Jul 2012 09:08:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 20030 at http://wkar.org 100 Meter Runoff Canceled, Tarmoh Pulls Out Of Race http://wkar.org/post/100-meter-runoff-canceled-tarmoh-pulls-out-race A planned runoff in the 100 meters between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh was canceled at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., Monday. Tarmoh decided not to race. The two had tied for third place in the women's 100. Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:36:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 19968 at http://wkar.org Democrats, GOP Say Health Ruling Works For Them http://wkar.org/post/democrats-gop-say-health-ruling-works-them Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm Renee Montagne.<p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>And I'm Linda Wertheimer.<p>Members of Congress have left town for the Fourth of July recess, but Washington is still reacting to the Supreme Court decision upholding President Obama's health care law. Each party is looking for ways to use the decision to its advantage in the fall campaign. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:23:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 19910 at http://wkar.org European Leaders Grapple With Eurozone Rescue http://wkar.org/post/european-leaders-grapple-eurozone-rescue European Union leaders meet in Brussels for their latest summit aimed at saving the eurozone from financial meltdown. The top-level meeting will pit German chancellor Angela Merkel against her increasingly unified partners, France, Italy and Spain, which are determined to win concessions from Europe's economic powerhouse. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:38:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 19697 at http://wkar.org College Football Bowl Games Cap 2011 Season http://wkar.org/post/college-football-bowl-games-cap-2011-season College football bowl games began last month but the big games are being played in the new year. There were six games played Monday including the Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. Michigan and Virginia Tech meet Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:26:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3750 at http://wkar.org Google Searches Are A Window Into Our Culture http://wkar.org/post/google-searches-are-window-our-culture Millions of people are searching for things every day on Google. The people at the giant search engine realized that if they tracked those searches, the patterns can tell us about what's happening with people's lives. Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:43:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3702 at http://wkar.org Egyptian Military Raids Foreign-Funded NGO Offices http://wkar.org/post/egyptian-military-raids-foreign-funded-ngo-offices The State Department is calling on Egyptian authorities to stop the harassment of non-governmental organizations. Egyptian security forces earlier raided the offices of 17 NGOs. The military claims some of them were operating without permits. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:06:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3596 at http://wkar.org NBA Stars Didn't Disappoint In Season Openers http://wkar.org/post/nba-stars-didnt-disappoint-season-openers Perhaps more than any other major professional sports league in this country, the National Basketball Association is star-driven. A Christmas slate of season-opening games featured the electric play of the league's Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, the NBA's top scorer Kevin Durant and LeBron James, too. Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:26:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3380 at http://wkar.org What's Behind House GOP's Payroll Tax Reversal? http://wkar.org/post/whats-behind-house-gops-payroll-tax-reversal Three days of intense pressure persuaded House Republicans to give in and approve a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment compensation benefits. Linda Wertheimer talks to NPR's Tamara Keith about the reversal by GOP leaders in the House. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:50:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3294 at http://wkar.org NBA Kicksoff Shortened Season On Christmas Day http://wkar.org/post/nba-kicksoff-shortened-season-christmas-day Men's professional basketball was on a long break because of the lockout. But on Christmas Day, the NBA season begins with a five-game package featuring exciting teams and glittering superstars. There's a rematch between defending champion Dallas and everyone's favorite team to hate — the Miam Heat. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3277 at http://wkar.org U.S. Admits To Some Mistakes In Deadly Pakistan Raid http://wkar.org/post/us-admits-some-mistakes-deadly-pakistan-raid Transcript <p>LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST: <p>The United States has admitted that NATO forces made mistakes that led to the deaths of two dozen Pakistani soldiers. The incident happened along the Afghan-Pakistan border in November. Pakistan had claimed the U.S. purposely attacked its troops and the incident contributed to a spiraling deterioration in relations between the two allies. Now, according to the Pentagon's investigation, the United States admits some responsibility for the deadly raid. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3226 at http://wkar.org Hundreds Killed In Bloody Month For Syrian Uprising http://wkar.org/post/hundreds-killed-bloody-month-syrian-uprising The fight between Syria's government and anti-government forces continues. Activists and groups that monitor the country say recently hundreds of people have been killed in the villages and towns near the Turkish border as the Syrian government mounts an offensive on anti-government forces. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 3215 at http://wkar.org 23 European Countries Sign On To Fiscal Pact http://wkar.org/post/23-european-countries-sign-fiscal-pact After meeting Friday in Brussels until the early morning hours, most European leaders agreed to a plan to move ahead with more budget discipline. Are world financial markets likely to see the talks as a failure or as progress? Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000 Linda Wertheimer 2537 at http://wkar.org