Search results for

U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council should be disbanded in favor of a caretaker government that would receive sovereignty from the U.S.-led occupying forces on June 30. Brahimi's plan also calls for Iraqi elections to be held by the end of January 2004. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Anne Garrels.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair meets with President Bush Friday. British officials say Blair hopes to flesh out a role for the United Nations in Iraq's transition. Blair has faced criticism at home for having little influence when it comes to Iraq -- despite Britain's 10,000 troops there. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

President Bush's top getaway, his ranch in Crawford, Texas, is also the place where Laura Bush seems to find the most solace. NPR's Ketzel Levine gets a rare tour of the ranch with the first lady, who discusses her efforts to restore native grasses and plants to the 1,600-acre property. See photos of wildflowers at the Bush ranch.

President George Bush's re-election campaign begins running hard-edged ads against likely Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry with the election eight months away. The Kerry campaign reports that for the next few days it will be running fewer ads and deciding what tactics to pursue next. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Scientists report that they have developed a tiny molecular computer that has the potential to monitor individual cells and release drugs if signs of illness or cancer arise. The innovation, reported in Nature this week, is still being studied, but researchers say it could revolutionize therapy methods. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

There are an estimated 6,000 western private security contractors in Iraq. Often times, the line between defense and offense can blur as contractors are drawn into heavy firefights with insurgents. There's no real authority structure to control these contractors, and some U.S. lawmakers worry that it's setting a dangerous precedent in a war zone. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

The nation's gross domestic product, or value of goods and services, grew at a 4.2 percent annual rate during the first three months of the year, an improvement over the end of 2003 but not as strong as many analysts were expecting. The Commerce Department's prime price index, omitting food and energy, rose 2.3 percent, compared with 1.5 percent in the fourth quarter. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

U.S. Marines begin pulling back from their positions in Fallujah, a day after negotiating an end to the U.S. siege of the Iraqi city. The Marines will turn over security to an Iraqi unit led by one of Saddam Hussein's former generals. The Marines will remain positioned outside Fallujah. Hear NPR's Philip Reeves.

Scientists have developed a new type of refrigeration system for Ben and Jerry's. It chills ice cream using sound waves, rather than with gases that may contribute to climate change. The "thermo-acoustic" chiller is a pricey prototype, but its creators hope the device can be produced for the commercial market. NPR's Robert Smith reports.

U.S. troops in Iraq have some tasks that aren't in line with traditional warfare -- establishing checkpoints and searching for improvised explosive devices. These often require soldiers to be out in the open and vulnerable. NPR's Anne Garrels profiles the soldiers who protect their fellow soldiers: snipers.