Search results for

U.S. officials say several members of the media and a U.S. serviceman have attempted to ship items from Iraq, including portraits of Saddam Hussein's family and gilded weapons, back to the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says postwar souvenir-hunting is considered theft and illegal under U.S. law. Hear NPR's Eric Niiler.

NPR's Guy Raz in Baghdad reports on U.S. plans to step up the process of forming an interim government in Iraq, to replace the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein. Retired Gen. Jay Garner, the U.S. civil administrator for Iraq, told reporters he will convene another meeting of Iraqis next week to discuss formation of an interim administration.

Fifty years ago this week, a paper in the British science journal Nature described the structure of DNA. This discovery kicked off a revolution in biology that brought with it fear as well as excitement. The ability to tinker with genes raised the specter of monster organisms that might threaten the world. As NPR's Joe Palca reports, back then it was scientists who took the lead in resolving such issues, but today it may not be researchers who get to choose how controversial science progresses.

U.S. forces in Baghdad hope to gather useful information from the capture of one of Saddam Hussein's half-brothers. He once headed Iraq's secret police and ran Iraqi intelligence operations in Europe. Meanwhile, looting continues, and the question many people are asking is "Who's in charge?" Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and NPR's Jackie Northam.

What if the notion that the world's people can be divided biologically along racial lines was proven to be a myth -- a social construct that has no basis in science? A three-part PBS documentary series, Race: The Power of an Illusion, tackles the thorny issue of race, biology and how the legacy of racial preferences still permeate U.S. society, 40 years after the Civil Rights Act. All Things Considered host Michele Norris reports.

American photographer and filmmaker William Klein isn't well known in his native country, in part because he's spent the last half-century in France. But this spring, Americans can acquaint themselves with Klein's work in a flurry of events -- including a new book, two New York City gallery shows, a film retrospective and the re-release of Klein's classic 1974 documentary, Muhammad Ali, the Greatest. David D'Arcy reports.

Some lawyers and economists estimate that Iraq's foreign debt tops $100 billion. Some economists say much of the debt should be forgiven so Iraqis can rebuild their nation all the faster. But creditor-nations likely would balk at sweeping debt forgiveness. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new novel “The Wife”(Scribner) by Meg Wolitzer.

Writer, actor, director, comedian and host of Le Show, Harry Shearer. He's starring in the new folk music mockumentary A Mighty Wind, directed by Christopher Guest, who also directed Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman. Shearer also starred with Guest in the classic heavy metal parody This is Spinal Tap. Shearer's public radio show is now in its 19th year.

The Canadian trio The Be Good Tanyas releases its second album, Chinatown. The album is a rich blend of folk, country, old-timey and new-timey music. Meredith Ochs reviews this new release.