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Actress Lynne Thigpen dies at her Los Angeles home this week. The cause of death is not immediately known. She was 54. Born and raised in Joliet, Ill., she distinguished herself on the stage -- winning a Tony for An American Daughter -- and in film and television appearances. Most recently she was a co-star of the CBS drama The District.

British actor Alan Bates has died of cancer at the age of 69. Bates starred in such films as Zorba the Greek, The Fixer and Georgy Girl. He was also a renowned Shakespearean actor who went on to win a Tony Award in 2002 for his role in Fortune's Fool on Broadway. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Singer and actress Kelli O'Hara has received three Tony nominations in as many years. She currently stars in the crowd-pleasing revival of South Pacific.

A British parliamentary committee concludes Prime Minister Tony Blair's government did not deliberately exaggerate Iraq's weapons capabilities to make its case for war. But the panel says British Defense Minister Geoff Hoon may have failed to disclose disagreements within his own ministry over the government's Iraq assessments. Hear NPR's Guy Raz.

The third part of our series, "America Seen Through European Eyes," turns to Italy. The government of Silvio Berlusconi -- along with Tony Blair's Britain -- was one of a handful that wholeheartedly supported the Bush Adminstration in the war in Iraq. But the Italian people were overwhelmingly opposed. NPR's Syvlia Poggioli explains how these contrasting positions reflect Italy's longstanding duality toward the United States.

A report on the quality of Britain's pre-war intelligence on Iraq has found "serious flaws" and no evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction ready for use. The inquiry also concluded that Prime Minister Tony Blair did not deliberately distort intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. Susan Chislett reports.

Set in the 17th century, Toni Morrison's new novel A Mercy is the story of a slave girl whose mother gives her away to a stranger in a desperate attempt to secure her a better future. Maureen Corrigan hails the book as a prequel (of sorts) to Morrison's earlier novel Beloved.

Once British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced he would be stepping down in June, the ruling Labor Party began the process of finding a successor. But there is little suspense about the process; Finance Minister Gordon Brown is the sole legitimate candidate.

Doctors told Toni and Jim Hoy their young son needed intensive, specialized care away from home — institutional services that cost at least $100,000 a year. Insurance wouldn't cover the cost.

They sit behind a console that looks like the bridge of a spaceship and use complicated technology to bring words from the actors mouth to the audience's ears.