Search results for

China's growing political and economic might is a matter of great interest to the nations that surround it. India -- the other Asian giant -- went to war with China and had a tense relationship with it in the last half of the 20th century. But as NPR's Michael Sullivan reports, tensions seem to be subsiding -- at least for now -- as both countries focus on expanding their economies.

U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says he supports a prominent Shiite cleric's calls for direct elections for an interim authority in Iraq. The cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, wants elections before the transfer of power the U.S. wants to occur on July 1. U.N. officials say elections by that date are unlikely, though they could occur late this year or early next year. Hear NPR's Deborah Amos.

The White House makes more than 300 pages of documents available to the news media in an effort to answer questions about whether President Bush fulfilled his National Guard service during the Vietnam War. It's presented as the complete record of the president's service, but there are few specifics to place Bush at an Alabama air base in 1972 and 1973. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Massachusetts lawmakers consider amending the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Supporters of the proposed ban differ on how it should be enacted as opponents protest what they call an attack on civil rights. The debate has attracted thousands of demonstrators at Boston's old Statehouse. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Tovia Smith.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry awaits results of the Wisconsin primary, with 72 delegates at stake. Kerry faces a strong challenge from rival Sen. John Edwards. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Scott Horsley.

As China opens up its markets to foreign goods, it's starting to have increasingly more in common with South Korea than its supposed brother in the North. And as NPR's Rob Gifford reports, South Koreans are eager to trade with China. But some worry that South Korea's economic infatuation with its neighbor is blinding it to the possible dangers of an emergent China.

The Federal Election Commission imposed new limits on non-party political groups that want to use large donations to influence this fall's elections. NPR's Peter Overby reports Republican leaders and campaign reformists say all money raised by groups independent of party candidates should be off limits.

NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports on campaigning in Delaware, one of seven states to hold primaries or caucuses on Tuesday.

President Bush reportedly plans to endorse an investigation into intelligence failures regarding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The president previously declined to endorse calls by former chief U.S. weapons inspector David Kay for an independent inquiry. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and NPR's Don Gonyea.

President Bush's decision to create another panel to investigate pre-war intelligence on Iraq angers many in the intelligence community. Intelligence experts say much of the information provided on Iraq was accurate, and accuse the Bush administration of spinning data to support the case for war. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.