3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Middle East

No Let Up In Gaza-Israel Violence

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And we're also reporting on violence on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The attacks stretched the weekend into today. Israeli airstrikes killed three more people today in Gaza - that Palestinian-held area - bringing the total to 21.

As Israelis have been bombing, Palestinians have been firing rockets into Israel. And NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro is following this story.

And Lourdes, what's the latest?

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3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Business

The Last Word In Business

Originally published on Mon March 12, 2012 8:51 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And today's last word in business is: raise the Red Flag.

We mentioned China's trade deficit earlier. This may be a small stab at turning it around. Beijing is telling government departments they should stop buying Audis, and should instead drive the Red Flag, China's version of the luxury sedan. It was used to shuttle around Communist luminaries like Chairman Mao, but was phased out a couple of years ago as a gas guzzler.

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3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Sports

Selection Sunday: Kentucky Consider Top Team

The No. 1 seeds in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament are: Kentucky, Syracuse, North Carolina and Michigan State. Of the field of 68 teams, Kentucky is considered the best.

3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Around the Nation

Indiana School Teaches Test Prep As Literary Genre

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

In this country, many American kids are preparing for standardized tests. They're among the rites of spring and they cause a lot of stress. One Indiana school tries to manage that stress by obsessing over the test a little less. Rather than teaching every single thing on the test, they just teach how to take one. Here's Kyle Stokes of NPR member station WFIU.

KYLE STOKES, BYLINE: Quick - name the literary genres you learned about in school.

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3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Business

Business News

China is buying more abroad than it sells. February marked the largest trade deficit for China in at least a decade. Imports outpaced exports by $31.5 billion.

3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Sports

Small Screen Users Increase For Big Dance

During March Madness, there's no shortage of options to watch basketball games. Fans can watch on their TVs at home or stream it on a computer at work. But the hot ticket this year is streaming it on a smartphone.

3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
Television

Bravo's Lates Reality Show: 'Shahs Of Sunset'

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

For all the difficult relations the United States has with Iran, the two countries share many ties, including millions of Iranian-Americans. Ryan Seacrest and Bravo make them the focus of a new reality show called "The Shahs of Sunset." It examines the lavish lifestyles of some in Southern California's Iranian-American community. Amy Walters reports.

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3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
NPR Story

U.S. Soldier Accused Of Killing 16 Afghan Villagers

Originally published on Mon March 12, 2012 8:51 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

This ranks among the more dismaying moments in a decade-long war. Americans have worked for years to position themselves as protectors of Afghans against murderous insurgents, and then yesterday a U.S. Army sergeant surrendered after a shooting rampage that left well over a dozen people dead. The list of those killed includes women and children, and the motive for the suspect remains unclear.

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3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
NPR Story

BP Settlement Lacks Enthusiasm Along Gulf Coast

Residents of the Gulf Coast are warily evaluating the BP settlement deal in the Deepwater Horizon case. Some were hurt during clean-up of the oil spill, others lost their businesses and still others lost family in the rig explosion. But they are coming to different conclusions about whether the deal is a good one.

3:00am

Mon March 12, 2012
NPR Story

Santorum, Gingrich Eye Southern Primary Victories

Mississippi and Alabama hold Republican primaries Tuesday. The two Southern contests are crucial for former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

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