Feb 22nd, 2007 · Hisham Nitar's semi-autobiographical debut novel In the Country of Men was short-listed for the 2006 Mann Booker Prize. Matar was born in New York City in 1970 to Libyan parents and spent his childhood in Tripoli, Libya, and later in Cairo, Egypt. He has lived in Great Britain since 1986. Matar's father, a critic of the Libyan regime, was arrested in 1990. Matar has been unable to find out what happened to him.
Jan 16th, 2007 · Pianist, singer and songwriter Bruce Hornsby has sold more than 10 million records since releasing his multi-platinum debut in 1986. That album generated three Top 20 hits, and it laid the groundwork for a wildly diverse career encompassing jazz, pop, classical, bluegrass, folk, rock and Vaudeville.
Dec 25th, 2006 · Ravneet "Ruby" Kaur came to the United States in 1986 when she was 6 years old. Civil unrest had engulfed the state of Punjab, India, and her family, religious Sikhs, decided to stay in the United States. Ruby has worked as a nurse and is now in her second year at UCLA medical school.
Nov 1st, 2006 · In 1986, Congress passed a tough new law called "the Anti-Drug Abuse Act." The measure created new minimum sentences that are much harsher for crimes involving crack cocaine than powder cocaine. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that the drug law has devastated African-American and low-income communities. The group recently issued a critical report titled Cracks in the System: Twenty Years of the Unjust Federal Crack Cocaine Law.
Jun 30th, 2006 · Every once in a while, Performance Today plays a piece that just grabs people. That happened this week with "Orawa" by Wojciech Kilar, so heres a reprise of that performance. An exciting piece written in 1986, it's minimalism, but with momentum that builds to a thrilling climax.
Apr 11th, 2006 · Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) is a co-sponsor of the House Immigration bill that would make illegal immigration a felony -- and which sparked controversy and protests. Lungren, who worked on the 1986 immigration bill, is a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Robert Siegel talks with Lungren.
Apr 5th, 2006 · In 1986, Congress passed a sweeping law meant to end illegal immigration. Although many now consider the Immigration Reform and Control Act a failure, Congress is revisiting many of its provisions in the current immigration debate. Renee Montagne talks with Louis DeSipio, associate professor of Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California at Irvine.
Feb 24th, 2006 · The Philippine government has canceled a commemoration of the 1986 ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, fearing anti-government violence. A state of emergency is also in effect because of a reported coup plot. Steve Inskeep talks to Marites Vitug, editor of the Philippine magazine Newsbreak.