Search results for

NPR's Rob Gifford reports that the second most senior figure in Hong Kong's government has resigned. Anson Chan was appointed by the outgoing British administration, before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. She was known as a ardent supporter of democracy and civil liberties. However, she denies she left her post because of any disagreement with the Beijing-appointed chief executive of Hong Kong.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports that a Chinese government spokesman said Tuesday that Gao Zhan, a U.S.- based academic, had confessed to spying. The husband of the American University professor detained in China denies Chinese accusations that she spied for foreign intelligence agencies. The couple and their son were detained on February 11th, although the husband and son were later released.

NPR's Gerry Hadden reports Mexico's President Vicente Fox has proposed an ambitious plan for economic development in the south of Mexico. NAFTA -- the North American Free Trade Agreement -- has so-far only benefited the northern part of the country. In the south, Fox has proposed building a trade corridor to attract factories and investment. But workers in the south are worried about being exploited. And Zapatista Indians say the plan will disrupt their way of life.

NPR's Brooke Gladstone reports on the information war waged by the Pentagon since the collision between a U.S. Navy surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter jet. The Pentagon released video of previous reconnaissance craft encounters with Chinese fighters. In doing so, they've steered the discussion toward the cause of the crash -- rather than the right of the U.S. plane to conduct its surveillance.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Cumbria in Northern England, the region hardest hit by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Farmers are challenging the government's insistence on slaughtering all animals within two miles of infected sites. With "Keep Out" signs posted throughout the English countryside, the outbreak has caused huge losses in the tourism industry, as well. The government has deployed army troops to help dispose of the animal carcasses that have been piling up.

For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken blood samples from a cross-section of Americans to look for a number of toxic substances. These substances show up in pollutants from industry and in products like cigarettes. NPR's John Nielsen reports some good news; chemicals from second-hand smoke seems to be appearing in blood less frequently. There's worrisome news too; there are lots of other chemicals in our blood about which we know very little.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports from the Hague, where, for the first time today a high-level delegation from Yugoslavia visited the war crimes tribunal. The delegates tried to show that Belgrade is now cooperating with the court. They said they were prepared to send suspects to the tribunal who are not Yugoslav citizens, meaning Bosnian Serbs who have been living in Yugoslavia. The United States Congress has demanded that the new authorities in Belgrade cooperate with the war crimes tribunal by the end of this month or forfeit U.S. aid.

The state of California is waging a bitter battle against power generators that sell electricity to the state. Two lawmakers have filed lawsuits against five of the companies, accusing them of price gouging. Meanwhile, Gov. Gray Davis is preparing for a showdown with power generators next week. But representatives of the power producers say the aggressive tactics may backfire and discourage investors from building needed power plants in California. NPR's Elaine Korry reports.

Phillip Davis reports that NASCAR fans are celebrating the Florida legislature's enactment of a law that makes autopsy photos exempt from public records laws unless a judge releases them. Similar efforts are under way in Georgia, North Carolina and other southern states, following a Florida newspaper's effort to obtain autopsy photos of NASCAR champion racer Dale Earnhardt, who died in a crash Feb. 18 at the Daytona 500. The newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel, said it would challenge the new law as unconstitutional.

Mark Degon of member station WRNI in Providence reports on the controversy surrounding Mayor Vincent Cianci, who's been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for jobs, tax reductions, and city contracts. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Almond says Cianci should resign, but the mayor says he's done nothing wrong and will fight the allegations in court. Cianci is still popular and is widely credited with making Providence a model for urban renewal.