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 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -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 College Graduates Struggle To Repay Loans The abysmal job market is making it hard for some to start making student loan payments, which come due this month for May graduates. A new law could ease the pain for some: It limits monthly payments to 15 percent of a graduate's income. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120455239&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120455239&ft=1&f=1001 The abysmal job market is making it hard for some to start making student loan payments, which come due this month for May graduates. A new law could ease the pain for some: It limits monthly payments to 15 percent of a graduate's income.

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]]> Health Care Overhaul Advances, But Not Without A Fight In a rare Saturday session, the Senate cleared the way to take up debate on sweeping changes to overhaul the nation's Health Care system. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with NPR's Congressional Correspondent David Welna about what obstacles lay ahead with the health care bill. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:47:38 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120687227&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120687227&ft=1&f=1001 In a rare Saturday session, the Senate cleared the way to take up debate on sweeping changes to overhaul the nation's Health Care system. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with NPR's Congressional Correspondent David Welna about what obstacles lay ahead with the health care bill.

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]]> Uncertain Consumer Outlook Clouds Holiday Hiring Each holiday season, thousands of people find temporary jobs helping retail companies meet the demands of the busiest shopping period of the year. This year, many companies are being cautious about additional hiring because consumers are expected to spend only slightly more than last year. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120684002&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120684002&ft=1&f=1001 Each holiday season, thousands of people find temporary jobs helping retail companies meet the demands of the busiest shopping period of the year. This year, many companies are being cautious about additional hiring because consumers are expected to spend only slightly more than last year.

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]]> Tax Credit Helps Boost Home Sales 10.1 Percent Home resales far exceeded expectations last month, surging 10.1 percent to the highest level in 2 1/2 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit. Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million in October. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120682044&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120682044&ft=1&f=1001 Home resales far exceeded expectations last month, surging 10.1 percent to the highest level in 2 1/2 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit. Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million in October.

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]]> Survey: Job Losses To Bottom Out In 1st Quarter Economists expect the joblessness that has weighed down the nation's economic recovery will start to slowly abate in 2010, but they predict consumers will continue to keep a tight rein on spending, according to a new survey. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120680389&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120680389&ft=1&f=1001 Economists expect the joblessness that has weighed down the nation's economic recovery will start to slowly abate in 2010, but they predict consumers will continue to keep a tight rein on spending, according to a new survey.

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]]> Gunmen Kill 21 In Philippines Over Political Rivalry Philippine troops found 21 bodies in the country's restive south after dozens of gunmen on Monday hijacked a convoy of politicians and supporters filing their nominations for next year's elections, officials said. The identities of the gunmen were unclear but victims' relatives blamed political rivals. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:13:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120677161&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120677161&ft=1&f=1001 Philippine troops found 21 bodies in the country's restive south after dozens of gunmen on Monday hijacked a convoy of politicians and supporters filing their nominations for next year's elections, officials said. The identities of the gunmen were unclear but victims' relatives blamed political rivals.

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]]> Reality TV, Iraqi Style: Giving Leaders An Earful One of the most popular programs on Iraqi TV these days is <em>Hotline,</em> a call-in show that allows viewers to take their problems directly to the highest government officials. It offers an unprecedented chance for ordinary Iraqis to confront their government. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120571496&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120571496&ft=1&f=1001 One of the most popular programs on Iraqi TV these days is Hotline, a call-in show that allows viewers to take their problems directly to the highest government officials. It offers an unprecedented chance for ordinary Iraqis to confront their government.

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]]> Unexploded Bomb May Shatter N. Ireland Peace In Northern Ireland, a 400-pound car bomb failed to detonate over the weekend. It was placed outside police headquarters in Belfast, and that has residents wondering if dissident factions of the IRA are intent on stepping up violence. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676389&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676389&ft=1&f=1001 In Northern Ireland, a 400-pound car bomb failed to detonate over the weekend. It was placed outside police headquarters in Belfast, and that has residents wondering if dissident factions of the IRA are intent on stepping up violence.

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]]> How Crash Tests Help Bring Traffic Deaths Down Thanksgiving is just days away, and for many Americans, that means taking to the highways. This week, NPR looks at ways to improve road safety. Today: the testing and technologies that are making vehicles safer. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:10:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120628434&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120628434&ft=1&f=1001 Thanksgiving is just days away, and for many Americans, that means taking to the highways. This week, NPR looks at ways to improve road safety. Today: the testing and technologies that are making vehicles safer.

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]]> Small Business Stays 'Attached' To Laid-Off Workers A Charlotte, N.C., construction firm is among an increasing number of small companies trying a strategy that makes the firing process a bit gentler. It's called "attached unemployment," a kind of temporary layoff aimed at softening the blow of job cuts. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120618600&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120618600&ft=1&f=1001 A Charlotte, N.C., construction firm is among an increasing number of small companies trying a strategy that makes the firing process a bit gentler. It's called "attached unemployment," a kind of temporary layoff aimed at softening the blow of job cuts.

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]]> Furor Over Israeli Soldiers' Support For Settlements Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has denounced the actions of some Israeli soldiers who support Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Some Israelis say the soldiers are heros. Palestinians demand Israel freeze all settlement activity as a condition for restarting peace talks. The international community views the settlements as illegal. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676303&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120676303&ft=1&f=1001 Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has denounced the actions of some Israeli soldiers who support Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Some Israelis say the soldiers are heros. Palestinians demand Israel freeze all settlement activity as a condition for restarting peace talks. The international community views the settlements as illegal.

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]]> Genetic Testing Reveals Devastating Illness Journalist Charles Sabine watched his father die from the degenerative illness Huntington's disease. After watching his brother struggle with the disease for years, Sabine decided to be tested. "Nothing that I've experienced compares with that test in terms of the terror that it inflicted on me," he says. Sabine says his young daughter does not have the Huntington's gene. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120610850&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120610850&ft=1&f=1001 Journalist Charles Sabine watched his father die from the degenerative illness Huntington's disease. After watching his brother struggle with the disease for years, Sabine decided to be tested. "Nothing that I've experienced compares with that test in terms of the terror that it inflicted on me," he says. Sabine says his young daughter does not have the Huntington's gene.

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]]> When Your Boss Wants Your DNA The University of Akron said it could ask new workers for a DNA sample to run background checks. But an anti-discrimination law that went into full effect Nov. 21 prevents employers from requiring workers to share genetic information. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587756&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587756&ft=1&f=1001 The University of Akron said it could ask new workers for a DNA sample to run background checks. But an anti-discrimination law that went into full effect Nov. 21 prevents employers from requiring workers to share genetic information.

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]]> 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 &mdash; 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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