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7:35am

Wed February 8, 2012
The Two-Way

Santorum's Wins: Huge? Meaningless? In Between?

Credit Whitney Curtis / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum celebrated his victories at a rally in St. Charles, Mo.

Last night "belonged to Rick Santorum, who went three-for-three in Tuesday's Republican contests," as Eyder wrote on It's All Politics very early this morning.

The former Pennsylvania senator took first place in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.

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7:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Around the Nation

Maine Film Festival Shows Off Mustaches

Trophy categories include Best 'Stache Growth Story and Best 'Stache Shaving Story. It is an international film festival and founder Nick Callanan says submissions are coming in from three continents.

7:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
The Two-Way

Report: Pentagon 'Beginning Review Of Syria Options'

Originally published on Wed February 8, 2012 8:36 am

Credit AP
A Syrian rebel stands guard at a street in Idlib, Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012.

As the U.S. continues to search for diplomatic solution to the crisis in Syria, "the Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command have begun a preliminary internal review of U.S. military capabilities," CNN is reporting.

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6:52am

Wed February 8, 2012
Around the Nation

Trump Chosen To Revamp Historic Old Post Office

Donald Trump won't be living in the White House, but his brand will be a few blocks away. The Obama administration has chosen Trump to redevelop the Old Post Office. His company plans to build a luxury hotel in that stone Victorian landmark in Washington, D.C.

5:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Middle East

5 Reasons Why Israel Might Bomb Iran, Or Not

Originally published on Sun February 12, 2012 9:22 am

Will Israel bomb Iran or not?

Israel says it hasn't decided. But top Israeli figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, suggest that the country will have to make a choice soon.

Israel believes Iran will soon have the capacity to make a nuclear weapon. Not everyone shares this assessment, and Iran insists its program is only for civilian purposes.

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
NPR Story

Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 GOP Nominating Contests

Originally published on Wed February 8, 2012 5:08 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Good morning, I'm Renee Montagne.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Good morning.

Several factors may affect your thinking as you decide how important last night's voting was. Turnout was low, and no convention delegates were awarded as Missouri held a primary, and Minnesota and Colorado held caucuses.

MONTAGNE: Then again, nobody awarded delegates when Iowa voted, either. The fact is, people voted, and Rick Santorum won all three states.

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
NPR Story

TV's King: Web Fails To Dominate Election Coverage

Newt Gingrich has made it clear his GOP presidential aspirations also depend on running a national media race on cable TV and in major newspapers. A study from the Pew Research Center shows the promise that "new media" will dominate the nominating process isn't coming true. The research shows more Americans rely primarily on cable news, and very few on Twitter.

4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
NPR Story

Unrest Reaches Syrian Capital Damascus

As Western nations increasingly push to end the violence in Syria, tension has reached the capital Damascus. Last June, a woman there who blogs under the pseudonym "Jasmine Roman," described Damascus as a city removed from the demonstrations that were taking place elsewhere in the country. Renee Montagne talks with her again, to see how things have changed 11 months after the anti-government uprising began in Syria.

4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Asia

Young People Get India Interested In Coffee

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Starbucks last week announced a plan to open stores in India by the end of the year. Let's follow up on that. This move might certify India as a rising coffee-drinking power, but it also signals a cultural change in a country that is devoted to tea. Elliot Hannon reports from New Delhi.

ELLIOT HANNON, BYLINE: The sound of a barista hard at work may be a familiar one in the U.S. or in Europe.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Cappucino would be fine, ma'am?

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Sports

Why Saber Fencers Are A Kin To Punk Rockers

Originally published on Wed February 8, 2012 4:18 pm

There are three weapons in fencing: epee, foil and sabre. Mariel Zagunis is the best woman in sabre — she won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008.

To understand the world of Zagunis' weapon of choice, it may be more apt to consult the Sex Pistols rather than a fencing historian. That's because sabre fencers, Zagunis says, are the "punk rockers" of her sport.

"You have to be more aggressive and explosive and kind of crazy," she says. "I think that kind of plays into our personality."

Lesson For A Champion

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Business

Business News

Transcript

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with investors hopeful again.

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Election 2012

Tuesday's GOP Contests Set Romney's Campaign Back

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney had expected to win at least one nominating contest Tuesday. Instead, rival Rick Santorum swept the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses plus the non-binding primary in in Missouri.

4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Middle East

Talk Of War Against Iran Heats Up

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Syria's turmoil has overshadowed but not stopped talk about war in another country - Iran. The usual scenario is that Israel might strike Iranian nuclear facilities, with or without the approval of the United States. In The Daily Beast, historian Niall Ferguson dismissed concerns about a strike. In the Washington Post, David Ignatius wrote that U.S. officials oppose an Israeli strike but think it may come in the spring.

We put some basic questions to Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Business

The Last Word In Business

Some British companies are fuming over where the tickets for this summer's London Olympic games are being printed. Specialty printer Weldon, Williams and Lick in Fort Smith, Arkansas, won the contract.

4:00am

Wed February 8, 2012
Business

To Get Bailout, Greece Must Reduce Minimum Wage

Originally published on Wed February 8, 2012 6:42 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The deal Greek officials are working on includes several more painful concessions. Among them, reducing the minimum wage.

Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens on how strong unions secured those wages and why some economists say those guarantees have to go.

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: The minimum wage in Greece is about one $1,000 a month before taxes. International lenders say it must be reduced to about $780 a month to make the Greek economy more competitive.

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1:48am

Wed February 8, 2012
The Two-Way

Rick Santorum Has Big Night; Sweeps All Three GOP Contests

Just for the record: Rick Santorum won all three non-binding primaries on Tuesday. The former Pennsylvania senator took the caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and won the "beauty contest" in Missouri.

We live blogged the action over at It's All Politics. Look there for analysis in the morning.

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1:43am

Wed February 8, 2012
Religion

Milestone At University Of Michigan: Muslim Chaplain

Originally published on Wed February 8, 2012 1:19 pm

Although the population of Muslim students is growing, there are only about 30 Muslim chaplains at colleges across the country. This semester, the University of Michigan became the first public university with an endowed position for a Muslim chaplain.

"Muslims need to rely on somebody through times of hardship," says Mohammed Tayssir Safi, who was recently hired for the chaplaincy. The university has an estimated 850 Muslim students on campus.

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1:41am

Wed February 8, 2012
All Tech Considered

Facebook: Lots Of Friends, But Stock Offering Has Risks

Credit Saeed Khan / AFP/Getty Images
Analysts say that to succeed, Facebook needs to figure out how to sell ads on mobile platforms.

When a company files to go public it has to lay out in black and white the biggest risks that face the firm. What could kill it? What could undermine its business? Wipe out all its investors' money? Executives are required to reveal this by law.

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1:39am

Wed February 8, 2012
Europe

Case In Britain Echoes Dilemma At Guantanamo

Credit AP
Omar Othman, better known as Abu Qatada, is seen at his North London home in October 2001. A British court ruled Monday that he should be released on bail. Although he was never charged with a crime, British officials say he's a "dangerous" supporter of radical Islam.

A legal case in Britain involving a radical cleric has raised new questions about whether authorities can hold a suspected terrorist forever. An immigration judge ruled Monday that a longtime terrorism suspect and detainee in the U.K. should be released on bail.

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12:01am

Wed February 8, 2012
Europe

Labor Law Changes May Offer Relief For Spain's Youth

For his age group, Spaniard Miguel Viada is one of the lucky ones. The 25-year-old has a temp job, at the help desk of a tech company in Madrid. But three out of his four roommates are unemployed.

They spend hours on the computer, sending out resumes, he says.

"It's impossible. They find jobs, but for one month, or something like that. And not in very good places or situations," says Viada, who has a master's degree.

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