Chavez Celebrates Venezuela’s Independence Day

The president returned from Cuba after receiving medical treatment.

What is Ailing Hugo Chavez?

The opposition candidates are positioning themselves for a possible power vacuum.

China torn on smoking issue

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China’s government this week announced an expanded ban on indoor smoking in public spaces, but without clear penalties for those who break the rules. That may be because the government is unclear whether it really wants its people to kick the habit. Tobacco is China’s number one source of tax revenue, but it also prematurely kills more than a million Chinese a year. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports from Beijing. Download MP3

Closer to solving the Tasmanian Devil cancer mystery

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As we’ve reported on before, Tasmanian devils could be wiped out by a rare – and mysterious – form of cancer. Scientists have now made progress in solving that mystery, and host Jeb Sharp speaks with one of them. Download MP3

• Listen to the previous story
• Breakthrough in Tasmanian devil facial cancer fight

Randy Brecker

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If you know jazz-funk from the 1970s, you know this band: The Brecker Brothers. Both Brecker brothers — Randy on trumpet, Mike on tenor sax — made big names for themselves.

Cancer transferred from mother to fetus

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A 28 year-old woman in Japan has helped scientists to answer an important medical question. The woman had cancer and that cancer was transferred to her baby. It’s the first conclusive case that scientist have studied where cancer was passed from pregnant mother to child. Doctor Anthony Ford is with the Institute of Cancer Research. He was on the team of scientists studying his case. We speak with Dr. Ford. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• The Institute of Cancer Research

Tasmanian Devil on the Brink of Extinction

A deadly cancer is threatening to wipe out Tasmania’s most famous resident — the Tasmanian devil. Reporter Jake Warga has the story. Listen