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The Two-Way
7:50 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Boxer Hector 'Macho' Camacho Shot; 'Prognosis Is Not Good'

Credit Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
March 1, 1997: Hector "Macho" Camacho watches as "Sugar" Ray Leonard falls to the canvas during action in the fifth round of their fight.

"Former world boxing champion Hector 'Macho"' Camacho went into cardiac arrest Wednesday morning but was stabilized by doctors after being shot in the face Tuesday outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico," ESPN reports.

It adds that:

"The situation with 'Macho' is very delicate," Centro Medico director Dr. Ernesto Torres told reporters during a 7 a.m. media briefing on Wednesday. "The prognosis is not good."

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Middle East
7:49 am
Wed November 21, 2012

In Cairo, Efforts To Reach Mideast Cease-Fire

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:55 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Let's turn now to the urgent diplomatic efforts underway. Secretary of State Clinton is now in Cairo, meeting with Egyptian leaders in efforts to reach a ceasefire. NPR's Leila Fadel joins us from Cairo to discuss the latest.

Good morning.

LEILA FADEL, BYLINE: Good morning.

MONTAGNE: So what do you know about what's happening on the diplomatic front today there in Cairo?

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The Two-Way
7:21 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Crazy, But True: One Guy Scores 138 Points, Breaking NCAA Hoops Record

Credit Cory Hall/Grinnell College / AP
Going for the record: Grinnell College's Jack Taylor during Tuesday night's game, in which he scored 138 points.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 9:20 am

We are not making this up:

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The Two-Way
6:49 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Jobless Claims Drop; But Superstorm Sandy's Effects Still Being Felt

Credit Mike Segar / Reuters /Landov
The scene at a career fair last month in New York City.

There were 410,000 first-time claims for unemployment insurance last week, down 41,000 from the level of the week before — when the number of applications soared because of the lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy.

The Employment and Training Administration just released the latest figure. At 410,000, claims were still running at a pace above the pre-Sandy range of 350,000 to 400,000 a week.

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The Two-Way
6:19 am
Wed November 21, 2012

In Congo, Rebels Take Key City

Credit Phil Moore / AFP/Getty Images
A M23 rebel in the streets of Goma.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:29 am

After some of the worst fighting in recent years in a country where war is all-too common, rebel forces have taken control of the "strategic eastern city of Goma" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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The Two-Way
5:44 am
Wed November 21, 2012

India Executes Mumbai Attack Gunman

Credit Sebastian D'Souza / AP
Nov. 26, 2008: Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, during the attack, in Mumbai's Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station. He was executed today.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 10:42 am

Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman from the three-day attack on Mumbai in November 2008 that killed more than 160 people, has been hanged in India.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from New Delhi that the execution took place in secret inside a high-security jail in the Indian city of Pune, just days before the anniversary of the Mumbai siege:

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Animals
5:42 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Obama To Pardon 2 Thanksgiving Turkeys

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. As the story goes, pardoning a turkey dates back to Lincoln, when his young son Tad begged his father to let the White House Thanksgiving meal live. Today, President Obama pardons two turkeys - Cobbler and Gobbler. Ahead of their big moment, the birds have been staying at the swanky W hotel, nibbling on organic meals prepared by the hotel's chef. And once pardoned, the turkeys will retire to Mount Vernon. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

Around the Nation
5:35 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Want Hot Fudge With Your Turkey Ice Cream?

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Linda Wertheimer with a Thanksgiving dessert that goes way past pumpkin pie a la mode. An Arizona ice cream shop is creating an entire Thanksgiving dinner in ice cream form. Scooptacular is offering sweet potato ice cream, also cranberry. And for the adventurous, corn and even turkey by the scoop. Can you get hot fudge with that? Would you want hot fudge with that? It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

The Two-Way
5:14 am
Wed November 21, 2012

No Peace: Bomb Rips Apart Bus In Tel Aviv; Israel Continues Strikes On Gaza

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:58 am

After a week of bloodshed, Israel and fighters in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip agreed to "hold fire" beginning at 2 p.m. ET today, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced at a joint news conference this afternoon with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Egypt had been trying to broker a truce to end the exchange of rockets and air strikes between Israel and militants in Gaza.

We'll post more on the agreement, which was announced at 12:35 p.m. ET., as the story develops.

Update at 5:55 p.m. ET. 'A Tenuous Nature':

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Three Books...
5:03 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Bend Sinister: Three Tales Of Gothic Terror

Credit iStockphoto.com

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 10:53 am

Three figures, each more monster than man, cast long shadows over the 19th century gothic novel: a vampiric count, seeking new hunting grounds; a wanderer, cornered after a lifetime spent avoiding damnation; and a sinister, drug-addicted uncle, intent upon securing a wealthy estate even if it means murdering a niece to do so. These three works — Charles Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer, Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker's Dracula — represent the cornerstones of the Anglo-Irish gothic tradition.

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Book Reviews
5:03 am
Wed November 21, 2012

In 'Titian,' New Perspective On An Italian Master

He may not have a Ninja Turtle named after him, but Tiziano Vecellio of Venice — Titian, to English speakers — has a claim to being the most enduringly influential painter of the Renaissance, even more than his Roman contemporaries Michelangelo and Raphael. Something about him drives his fans to excess. Peter Paul Rubens painted nearly two-dozen copies of Titian's work; Anthony van Dyck bought 19 Titians for his own collection. Velazquez and Rembrandt worshipped him.

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Africa
4:33 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Congolese Rebels Control Eastern City Of Goma

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Tens of thousands of people have fled days of fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo, as a rebel militia took control of a key regional capital, Goma. UN peacekeepers apparently stood by as the rebels entered the city, which is at the heart of the mineral rich east of the country. It has often been the focus of rebel attacks, but this marks the first time in a decade the Congolese government has lost control of the city. To learn more, we reached NPR's John Burnett, who is on the outskirts of Goma at the Rwanda-Congo border.

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Around the Nation
4:02 am
Wed November 21, 2012

'We Didn't Do Enough' To Protect S.C. Tax Records

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Here is a story that's has people in South Carolina on edge. Foreign hackers recently broke into the state's Department of Revenue and stole the records of 3.8 million individual taxpayers and nearly three-quarters of a million businesses. The breach affects everyone who filed an electronic tax return in South Carolina going back to 1998. NPR's Kathy Lohr has the story.

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Business
3:57 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Day Travelers Take Flight

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Between the lines and the crowds and the dashes to gates, airports are busy places. Atlanta's airport is one of the busiest in the world, especially during Thanksgiving, which is the busiest holiday for travel. Charles Edwards of member station WABE braved the city's airport to bring us this story.

CHARLES EDWARDS, BYLINE: So far this week, security lines inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have been long. But, they're moving.

(SOUNDBITE OF CROWD CHATTER)

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Middle East
3:54 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Rocket, Missile Attacks Persist In Gaza Strip

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:55 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And I'm Linda Wertheimer.

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Middle East
3:49 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Clinton Joins Diplomatic Push To End Gaza Violence

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:56 am

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the Middle East to push for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. She has met separately with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders. Cairo is her final destination, where she'll be meeting with Egypt's president who stands at the center of negotiations.

Business
3:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Business News

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with a costly misstep by HP.

The California-based technology giant is writing down an $8.8 billion loss. CEO Meg Whitman says much of that comes from new revelations about Autonomy, a software company HP bought last year. She says the company lied about the state of its finances. HP plans to sue, and has asked authorities in both the U.S. and the U.K. to investigate. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

Health Care
3:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Fixing Health Care Waste Would Trip Deficit

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

In Washington, lawmakers are trying to work out a deal to keep the economy from going over the fiscal cliff. Many economists predict those automatic tax hikes combined with deep spending cuts set to go into effect on New Year's Day would throw the economy back into recession.

A group of top CEOs has been urging lawmakers to reach a deal to keep that from happening. Mark Bertolini is one of them. He's CEO of the health insurer Aetna and he said tax increases are as important as spending cuts. We called him to talk more.

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Business
3:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Feds: Hedge Fund Benefited From Insider Trading

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And I'm Linda Wertheimer.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have brought charges in what they are calling the biggest insider trading case ever. A former hedge fund employee made about a quarter billion dollars for the fund after allegedly getting a sneak preview of clinical trial data for a new drug.

NPR's Ailsa Chang reports prosecutors believe this may lead them to even bigger cases.

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Business
3:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

The Last Word In Business

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And today's last word in business is: retro gift.

This holiday season Furby is making a comeback. That's the fuzzy owl-like creature that learns to speak. In his first incarnation back in the '90s 40 million Furbys were sold.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

To reach those numbers again, the 21st century version has some updates - like LCD screens for eyes. They dilate to display graphics like rainbows, love-hearts or diamonds.

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Business
3:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Shops, Buyers Slow To Return To South Street Seaport

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

As the holiday season takes hold in New York City, shoppers are heading to FAO Schwartz near Central Park for toys, and to Macy's on 34th Street for clothes or cookware. They shouldn't have a problem, Midtown Manhattan was largely unaffected by Hurricane Sandy. One major tourist attraction in lower Manhattan wasn't so lucky.

Dan Tucker, of member station WNYC, has this report from the historic South Street Seaport.

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Afghanistan
2:13 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Afghans Wary Of Pakistan's Overture To Taliban

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Afghan officials welcomed the release of Taliban prisoners by Pakistan in an attempt to jump-start a shaky peace process with the militant group. But many Afghans are wondering about the timing and the motive. They say mistrust born of decades of duplicity won't vanish with a few declarations or small gestures.

Secretary-General of the Afghan High Peace Council Mohammad Stanekzai was part of the delegation that recently traveled to Pakistan to discuss how the countries can cooperate and bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

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Afghanistan
1:58 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Prisoner Release Shifts Pakistan's Afghan Policy

Originally published on Thu November 22, 2012 10:06 am

There has been a small but potentially important breakthrough in the faltering Afghan peace process. In what is considered a good-faith gesture, Pakistan last week released at least nine Afghan Taliban prisoners. The move is seen as part of an emerging new strategy by Pakistan as it eyes the looming drawdown of U.S. and Western troops in Afghanistan.

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Shots - Health News
1:36 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Patients With Online Access To Doctors May Make More Office Visits

Credit iStockphoto.com
New research suggests that doctors who communicate online with their patients may not see a drop in office visits.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Uncle Sam wants you to email your doctor. A federal law passed in 2009 says that physicians have to start offering their patients online communication, or Medicare will start docking how much it pays them in the future.

Some patients hope that having online access to their doctors will mean they can cut down on how often they have to go to the doctor's office. But fresh research suggests that patients with online access actually schedule more office visits.

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Business
1:34 am
Wed November 21, 2012

To Lure Shoppers, Wal-Mart Tries Same-Day Delivery

Credit Paul Sakuma / AP
Like many other brick-and-mortar retailers, Wal-Mart is trying to attract shoppers increasingly accustomed to online shopping. In one experiment, it's offering same-day delivery in four select markets.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 9:07 am

With the holiday shopping season shifting into high gear, retailers are doing everything they can to win consumer dollars. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is trying out one new strategy this season: same-day delivery. In a few select markets, it's joining online retail giant Amazon and eBay's "Now" service in offering super-quick delivery, straight to your door.

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The Salt
1:33 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Why Greek Yogurt Makers Want Whey To Go Away

Originally published on Mon November 26, 2012 11:45 am

A few months ago, I let you in on a little secret about Greek yogurt. Not all of this extra-thick, protein-rich yogurt is made the old-style way, by straining liquid out of it it. Some companies are creating that rich taste by adding thickeners, such as powdered protein and starch.

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All Tech Considered
1:20 am
Wed November 21, 2012

For Holiday Road Trips, Apps That Promise Diversions For Kids

Credit NPR
Apps that can keep kids entertained during long road trips include (from left) Waze, Story Dice, Mobbles, Cobypic, and Postcard on the Run.

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 8:29 am

Thanksgiving is Thursday, and that means more than 43 million Americans will be on the road, driving to family gatherings. For many parents, the crowded roads can bring another challenge: Keeping a 9-year-old entertained along the way. And sometimes, DVDs are not enough. These days, kids love to tinker with smartphones and tablets, as well.

With that in mind, NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with an actual 9-year-old, Jane Frauenfelder, and her father, Mark. Together, they host the podcast Apps for Kids.

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The Salt
1:19 am
Wed November 21, 2012

Comfort And Joy: Making The 'Morning Edition' Julia Child Thanksgiving

Originally published on Wed November 21, 2012 7:49 am

Like many of us who consider ourselves food adventurers most of the year, when it comes to Thanksgiving, we just want the turkey and mashed potatoes we grew up with. Well, OK, maybe just a teensy bit better than what we grew up with, but along the same lines.

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Planet Money
1:18 am
Wed November 21, 2012

How The Government Set Up A Fake Bank To Launder Drug Money

Originally published on Tue November 27, 2012 11:18 am

In the early 1990s, Colombian drug cartels had a problem: They had more money than they knew what to do with.

"They were having a very difficult time with just the logistics of laundering millions and millions and millions of dollars every week," says Skip Latson, who worked for the DEA at the time.

So Latson and Bill Bruton, who was a special agent with the IRS, hatched a plan: They'd create a fake, offshore bank catering to the needs of the drug cartel.

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