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Composers seem to equate villainy with the bass voice. All the better for Samuel Ramey, whose resonant low tones have thrilled opera audiences worldwide as he plays libertines, devils and scoundrels.

Hundreds of civilians in Sri Lanka have been killed recently. Aid officials believe many were victims of shelling by the Sri Lankan army fighting against the Tamil Tigers, who are using civilians as human shields. The Sri Lankan government is ignoring international appeals for a pause in the fighting. The military has its sights set on one man.

The 2009 Social Security and Medicare Trustees report released Tuesday showed the funds will be exhausted a couple of years sooner than expected. That's largely because high unemployment rates mean a lower level of payroll tax receipts being paid in to both programs. David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal talks with Steve Inskeep about the financial future of the programs.

Idan Raichel has made his name by mixing cinematic Israeli pop with the sounds of his country's immigrant community. His latest album reaches even farther afield, with singers from Colombia, Rwanda and the Cape Verde Islands.

The singer-songwriter with the weathered but vulnerable delivery has been touring and recording since his 1980 hit, "Romeo's Tune." With a new album out called The Place and the Time, he visited NPR headquarters for a solo performance and interview.

The Labor Department reported Friday that the pace of layoffs slowed in April. Employers cut 539,000 jobs — the fewest in six months. However, the unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent.

The federal government has ordered some of the nation's largest banks to raise a total of $75 billion. The Treasury Department revealed the results of its so called "stress tests" to assess the health of the financial system. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and others will be required to raise more capital.

The nation's 19 largest banks have gotten the final results from the government's stress tests. Some banks were told they need to raise more capital in order to be considered healthy. The results are scheduled to be released to the public Thursday.

The Boston Globe and its largest union say they plan to talk some more but negotiations have reached an impasse, largely over lifetime job guarantees. The 137-year-old newspaper says the guarantees have to end for it to survive. The Globe's owner, the New York Times Co., struck agreements with six of seven unions in an effort to cut $20 million in annual costs.

The swine flu virus has spread to at least 20 countries. Experts are now worried that pigs may start to get infected by humans with the virus. Top health officials are expecting a flu pandemic.