Search results for

On Saturday, finance ministers from eight of the world's wealthiest nations formally agreed to cancel the debt owed to international agencies by 18 of the world's poorest countries -- most of them in Africa. The total owed by those nations is at least $40 billion. Salih Booker, executive director of the advocacy group Africa Action, describes the ways the debt-relief deal may help the continent's neediest citizens.

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic Party, has once again made news. And, once again, it's because of something he has said. His colorful description of Republicans may have caused some Democratic leaders to wince. But party support outside of Washington, D.C., remains strong.

Former prosecutor Jeff Chamberlain gave up his briefcase five years ago for a life in baseball. He shares stories of his new life as an umpire in a semi-pro league.

The G8 group of industrialized nations wipes out $40 billion in debt owed by 18 poor nations. Most are in sub-Saharan Africa. Some observers say much bigger steps are still needed. British officials will push for a larger effort at G8 talks in Scotland, coming in July.

John Thune, the freshman senator from South Dakota became a hero in the Republican Party last year when he toppled Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. Thune said that, as an ally of President Bush, he would make things happen for South Dakotans. But the Pentagon's decision to close Ellsworth Air Force Base has put him on the defensive.

Stephen Mansfield, author of the book The Faith of the American Soldier, reads an open letter to Cindy Sheehan. He says that he does not want to detract from her grief, but he fears that she is detracting from the heroic death of her son by her demonstration in Crawford, Texas.

The panel that oversaw NASA's effort to relaunch the space shuttle after the Columbia disaster issues its final report, giving NASA high marks. Still, critics outline problems with the agency's ability to manage the safety and reliability of the shuttle.

As a new, more restrictive bankruptcy bill comes closer to becoming law, our commentator points out there are other ways Congress could reduce individual bankruptcy filings. Capping interest rates, a health insurance overhaul and better consumer education could also have an effect. Liz Pulliam Weston is a personal finance adviser and author of the book Your Credit Score.

General Motors is still the world's largest car manufacturer, despite losses of more than $1 billion in the first quarter of 2005. GM is unlikely to declare bankruptcy anytime soon. But it still has to turn itself around -- and it can't depend on Washington to bail it out. This report is the second in a series on the U.S. auto industry.

The Washington Nationals play their home opener Thursday night at RFK Stadium. It will be the first regular season pro baseball game in the nation's capital in 34 years. Melissa Block talks with Tom Boswell of the Washington Post.