6:34am

Thu March 1, 2012
Business

Virgin Atlantic Hires Whispering Coach

The airline hired the coach to train its flight attendants to speak in hushed tones while serving passengers. Crews will be trained on tone and volume. The low tones are reserved for Virgin's new upper class dream suite.

6:30am

Thu March 1, 2012
The Two-Way

Two More Americans Killed In Afghanistan

Credit AFP/Getty Images
  • NPR's Tom Bowman, on 'Morning Edition'

Two more American military personnel were killed in Southern Afghanistan today when, officials believe, an Afghan civilian grabbed a weapon from an Afghan soldier and opened fire, NPR's Quil Lawrence reports from Kabul. At least one other attacker may also have been involved.

Quil adds that "we don't know yet whether this attack is linked to the Quran burnings, which set off so much violence — including the killing of four U.S. servicemen in the week that followed."

Read more

6:18am

Thu March 1, 2012
Around the Nation

Even In Court, A Wallet Must Be Monitored

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. A suspect in Iowa will not have to go far to find a jury of his peers. Jury selection was underway in a court in Waterloo when a potential juror left her wallet on a bench. She returned from a break and found cash missing. Witnesses and security cameras in the court led authorities to a suspect. The man was another potential jury member. Police arranged a court date for him in the same legal system he had been serving a short time before. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Business

Bernanke: Economic Growth Is Uneven, Modest

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with a prognosis from Ben Bernanke.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is back on Capitol Hill today, for a second day of testimony. He's speaking to Senators one day after he told House members that the economic recovery is, quote, "uneven and modest." He showed no sign of what his predecessor once called irrational exuberance.

Read more

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Asia

Race For Hong Kong's Next Leader Heats Up

Later this month, an election will be held to select Hong Kong's next chief executive. The race has been tarnished with accusations of extra-marital affairs and conflicts of interest. As the local press puts it: Beijing has lost control of the puppet strings.

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Around the Nation

Residents Try To Recover From Midwest Storms

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We're going next to the town of Harrisburg, Illinois, one of many Midwestern towns struck by tornados. Harrisburg suffered the most of those towns. The tornado killed six people, with winds of up to 170 miles per hour. NPR's Cheryl Corley is there.

Read more

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Politics

Congress Works To Mend Economy, Approval Ratings

House Majority leader Eric Cantor is pushing a package of small business bills that also has the support of President Obama. The rare instance of cooperation could mark a change in strategy for the House following historically low approval numbers for Congress and rising poll numbers for the president.

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Middle East

Syria Continues Crushing Offensive In Homs

Originally published on Thu March 1, 2012 11:18 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Read more

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Law

Georgia, Ala. Immigration Laws Challenged In Court

A federal appeals court hears arguments Thursday in legal challenges to tough new state immigration laws in Alabama and Georgia. The Justice Department and civil rights groups have sued. At issue are both civil rights violations, and whether states can constitutionally engage in immigration enforcement.

3:00am

Thu March 1, 2012
Election 2012

Santorum Pounces On Romney's Views On Religious Freedom

Campaigning in Tennessee Wednesday, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum's camp took the opportunity to slam rival Mitt Romney for having a "liberal Record" on freedom of religion. At Nashville's Belmont University, Santorum spoke about his own views of religious freedom.

Pages