NPR Topics: News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 NPR news, audio, and news podcasts. Coverage of breaking stories, national and world news, politics, business, science, technology, and extended coverage of major national and world events. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:25:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 Gigantic Cruise Ship Buoys Company's Hopes We're headed into the year's biggest travel week, and there's not much bigger than what's sitting in the port of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., right now. It's called the Oasis of the Seas, and it's the largest cruise ship ever built — five times the size of the Titanic, with a price tag of $1.5 billion. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120666381&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120666381&ft=1&f=1001 We're headed into the year's biggest travel week, and there's not much bigger than what's sitting in the port of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., right now. It's called the Oasis of the Seas, and it's the largest cruise ship ever built — five times the size of the Titanic, with a price tag of $1.5 billion.

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]]> Democrats At Odds Over Health Bill Some moderates threatened Sunday to scuttle legislation if their demands aren't met, while more liberal members warned their party leaders not to bend. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667041&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667041&ft=1&f=1001 Some moderates threatened Sunday to scuttle legislation if their demands aren't met, while more liberal members warned their party leaders not to bend.

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]]> 400-Pound Car Bomb Found In Belfast Irish Republican Army dissidents left a 400-pound car bomb outside police reform headquarters in Belfast but the homemade device failed to detonate, Northern Ireland's police commander said Sunday. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120663492&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120663492&ft=1&f=1001 Irish Republican Army dissidents left a 400-pound car bomb outside police reform headquarters in Belfast but the homemade device failed to detonate, Northern Ireland's police commander said Sunday.

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]]> China Coal Mine Blast Death Toll Jumps To 87 Rescuers worked in frigid cold to reach 21 miners trapped underground Sunday as the death toll from a huge gas explosion in a northern Chinese mine jumped to 87 — the deadliest blast to hit the beleaguered industry in nearly two years. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:06:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661675&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661675&ft=1&f=1001 Rescuers worked in frigid cold to reach 21 miners trapped underground Sunday as the death toll from a huge gas explosion in a northern Chinese mine jumped to 87 — the deadliest blast to hit the beleaguered industry in nearly two years.

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]]> Jackson Moonwalk Glove Sells For $350K In NYC The shimmering, white glove Michael Jackson wore when he premiered his trademark moonwalk dance in 1983 was auctioned off for $350,000 — plus tax — on Saturday. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:04:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661599&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661599&ft=1&f=1001 The shimmering, white glove Michael Jackson wore when he premiered his trademark moonwalk dance in 1983 was auctioned off for $350,000 — plus tax — on Saturday.

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]]> Fort Hood Suspect Ordered Held Until Court-Martial The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood will be confined until his military trial, initially staying in a hospital where he is recovering from gunshot wounds, his attorney said Saturday. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661553&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661553&ft=1&f=1001 The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood will be confined until his military trial, initially staying in a hospital where he is recovering from gunshot wounds, his attorney said Saturday.

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]]> Senate Health Bill Clears Crucial Hurdle Saturday night, while you might have been out to dinner, or at the movies, Senate Democrats were sweating out whether they had enough votes to clear their health overhaul bill over its first hurdle on the Senate floor. NPR's Julie Rovner spent her evening with them, and filed this report. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661973&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661973&ft=1&f=1001 Saturday night, while you might have been out to dinner, or at the movies, Senate Democrats were sweating out whether they had enough votes to clear their health overhaul bill over its first hurdle on the Senate floor. NPR's Julie Rovner spent her evening with them, and filed this report.

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]]> Obama Deploys Financial Fraud Task Force - The Obama Administration has launched the Financial Fraud Task Force to investigate issues related to the economic crisis. The Department of Justice will lead the task force's efforts to combat fraud in such areas as mortgage lending, stimulus spending and the government's bailout of the financial sector. Host Liane Hansen talks with Department of Justice Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, who will be one of the leaders of the task force. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661977&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661977&ft=1&f=1001 - The Obama Administration has launched the Financial Fraud Task Force to investigate issues related to the economic crisis. The Department of Justice will lead the task force's efforts to combat fraud in such areas as mortgage lending, stimulus spending and the government's bailout of the financial sector. Host Liane Hansen talks with Department of Justice Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, who will be one of the leaders of the task force.

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]]> Billionaire's Arrest Prompts Hedge Fund Scandal Billionaire investor Raj Rajaratnam was arrested last month and charged with running the biggest insider trading scheme involving a hedge fund. Twenty people from across corporate America have now been charged or arrested in connection with the case, and the scandal now involves some of the country's best-known companies. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Joanna Chung, U.S. financial correspondent for the <em>Financial Times</em>. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661981&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661981&ft=1&f=1001 Billionaire investor Raj Rajaratnam was arrested last month and charged with running the biggest insider trading scheme involving a hedge fund. Twenty people from across corporate America have now been charged or arrested in connection with the case, and the scandal now involves some of the country's best-known companies. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Joanna Chung, U.S. financial correspondent for the Financial Times.

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]]> As Races Blend, Political Groups Face A Recount Barack Obama's presidential campaign was one of several successful, modern-day political campaigns to break through racial barriers. Is this an indication that America is experiencing a shift toward political colorblindness? Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661987&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661987&ft=1&f=1001 Barack Obama's presidential campaign was one of several successful, modern-day political campaigns to break through racial barriers. Is this an indication that America is experiencing a shift toward political colorblindness?

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]]> Shackleton's Whisky Is Returning From Antarctic A team of New Zealand conservators is planning to unearth two crates of Scotch whisky belonging to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. The crates have been trapped under the Antarctic ice for a century. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Alistair Fastier, of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, who will be leading the expedition. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661991&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661991&ft=1&f=1001 A team of New Zealand conservators is planning to unearth two crates of Scotch whisky belonging to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. The crates have been trapped under the Antarctic ice for a century. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Alistair Fastier, of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, who will be leading the expedition.

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]]> Commuter Rail Collisions Spur Takeover Talk Nine people were killed in a Metro train crash in Washington, D.C., this summer. The growing number of commuter rail collisions is one of the reasons the Obama administration proposed this week that the federal government take over safety regulation of the country's subway and light rail systems. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661995&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661995&ft=1&f=1001 Nine people were killed in a Metro train crash in Washington, D.C., this summer. The growing number of commuter rail collisions is one of the reasons the Obama administration proposed this week that the federal government take over safety regulation of the country's subway and light rail systems. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

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]]> How Safe Are Our Roads? Highway safety has improved through better vehicle technology, smarter road designs and reformed behaviors, such as reduced drunken driving. But fatalities are still high: In 2008, more than 37,000 people were killed in crashes involving motor vehicles. This week, as the holiday travel season begins, NPR will explore these issues. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:49:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120593843&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120593843&ft=1&f=1001 Highway safety has improved through better vehicle technology, smarter road designs and reformed behaviors, such as reduced drunken driving. But fatalities are still high: In 2008, more than 37,000 people were killed in crashes involving motor vehicles. This week, as the holiday travel season begins, NPR will explore these issues.

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]]> Setbacks Stall Finish Of China's Massive Dam Project The massive reservoir behind China's Three Gorges Dam was supposed to be filled to capacity this month. But landslides on the reservoir and water shortages downstream have delayed the process. Questions have been raised about the dam, which is the world's largest hydropower project, and what it might mean for the Yangtze River. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120291176&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120291176&ft=1&f=1001 The massive reservoir behind China's Three Gorges Dam was supposed to be filled to capacity this month. But landslides on the reservoir and water shortages downstream have delayed the process. Questions have been raised about the dam, which is the world's largest hydropower project, and what it might mean for the Yangtze River.

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]]> Berry Bad: Threat To Trees Lurks On Holiday Tables Its alluring crimson fruit makes it an enduring star of the Thanksgiving centerpiece, but Asiatic bittersweet is strangling trees across New England. In many states, it's illegal to collect or move the invasive vine. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120586883&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120586883&ft=1&f=1001 Its alluring crimson fruit makes it an enduring star of the Thanksgiving centerpiece, but Asiatic bittersweet is strangling trees across New England. In many states, it's illegal to collect or move the invasive vine.

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