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Before John Glenn orbited the Earth, a small group of female pilots underwent secret testing for spaceflight. Known as the Mercury 13, they didn't make it into space. But the women are being honored for paving the way for future female astronauts.

President Bush warns Congress not to contest his authority to prosecute the war in Iraq as he sees fit. Speaking at an hourlong news conference at the White House, the president also touted the latest agreement with North Korea, meant to limit its nuclear weapons program.

President Obama may not have cleaned up the oil spill yet -- but on Wednesday he succeeded in extracting a big financial commitment from BP. After a four hour meeting with BP executives at the White House, the oil giant agreed to put $20 billion in an escrow fund to pay the claims of Gulf residents hurt by the spill.

Apple plans to hold a press conference Friday to discuss the latest iPhone amid complaints that if users hold the phone over a certain spot, signal strength is drastically reduced. Consumer Reports magazine has refused to endorse the phone until the problem gets fixed.

Mockingjay Part 1, the newest installment in the Hunger Games movie franchise will likely top the box office this weekend. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Bloomberg View's Stephen Carter.

Harvard University has decided to stop offering its "early action" round of applications. The university fears that the system gives wealthy students an advantage in the admissions process.

Gunmen in Mumbai are thought to still be holding a number of foreign hostages. Indian commandos have been trading fire with the attackers. On Wednesday, gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenades fanned out across Mumbai and attacked popular tourist sites, including the city's top two luxury hotels.

Pakistanis vote in a parliamentary election Monday, ending a campaign that has been overshadowed by violence — including the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. The vote could empower a new civilian government. But many say they believe the country's army will not go away quietly.

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration have recommend that drugs Serevent and Foradil no longer be used for asthma. Top-selling Advair was not affected by the recommendation.

The Colombian military on Wednesday freed 15 people held by the FARC rebel group. The hostages include Ingrid Betancourt, who was running for president when the FARC kidnapped her six years ago, and three American military contractors. Carolina Barco Isakson, Colombia's ambassador to the U.S., talks about the rescue operation.