Search results for

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Davos, Switzerland, that the annual World Economic Forum got under way today amid concern over a downturn in the U.S. economy. This year's event did not draw as many top leaders to Davos as last year's 30th anniversary meeting. The Bush administration -- in the midst of confirmation hearings -- sent no senior official to Davos. Swiss police have mounted a huge security operation to prevent the kind of "anti-globalization" protests that have surrounded recent meetings of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that, while financier Marc Rich's pardon didn't go through the usual channels at the Justice Department, one top official, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, was informed. Another issue about Rich's citizenship has also arisen. At one time he renounced his citizenship, but the State Department maintains he is still a U.S. citizen. If so, the multimillionaire could owe U.S. income taxes on earnings during 17-years of exile in Switzerland. That could sway his decision on whether to return to the U.S.

The fate of financially troubled Amtrak could depend on the success of Acela Express, its new high-speed train. NPR's Jack Speer reports that the long-delayed train took a group of VIPs on an inaugural run today from Washington to Boston. The train reaches a top speed of 150 miles per hour, but it's still slower than bullet trains in Europe and Japan. Acela tickets aren't cheap, and Amtrak faces a major challenge in persuading people who travel between major citieis by car or air shuttle, to opt for the train.

Every three years, the world's top bakers round up their best recipes and their rolling pins and head to Paris for an Olympic-style competition. U.S. team members offer insights on their preparation.

Intrigued? It's a vanilla milkshake loaded with chunks of spicy chicken, celery, carrots and hot sauce. You can choose to have your milkshake specially topped with ranch or bleu cheese.

Two-time Grammy-winner India.Arie calls her music an expression of her way of life. Her third studio album came out June 27 and jumped to the top spot on the Billboard chart. She performs live from NPR's studio 4A.

Jack Coughlin, a gunnery sergeant in the Marines, is the author of the new book Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper. He grew up in a wealthy Boston suburb and joined the Marines at age 19, spending the next 20 years behind the scope of a long-range rifle as a sniper. He has more than 60 confirmed kills, 38 of which took place during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

When he was President Bush's top budget advisor, Mitch Daniels had a reputation as a tax-cutter. But since becoming Indiana's governor, he has proposed a tax increase to help solve the state's budget troubles.

In the 1990s, Bobby Valentino was part of the teen vocal group Mista. Now he's gone solo, with a self-titled CD and a single, "Slow Down," that's already topped the R&B charts. Ed Gordon talks with Valentino about his burgeoning career and his soulful influences.

Rita Coolidge's 1977 solo album, Anytime Anywhere, sold millions of copies. Three singles made the top of the charts, including "We're All Alone." Nearly three decades later, Coolidge sings the same tune on a new CD of jazz standards.