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The Torch
9:12 am
Sun July 29, 2012

The Olympics' Salahi Moment: Mystery Woman Gatecrashes Opening Ceremony

Credit Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images
(FILES) A file picture taken on Friday shows a woman (2nd L), reportedly a student from Bangalore and an Olympic volunteer, walking next to India's flagbearer Sushil Kumar.

The Olympics have officially had a "Salahi moment." Remember, the White House gatecrashers? Well, on Friday during the opening ceremony, a young woman wearing a red jacket and turquoise pants was seen walking with the Indian delegation into Olympic stadium. Not only that, but she was walking alongside the flag bearer.

The only problem? No one knew who she was.

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The Torch
8:27 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Will U.S. Keep Its Grip On Olympic Basketball?

Credit Rob Carr / Getty Images
Kobe Bryant #10 of United States shoots the ball against Mickael Gelabale #15 of France during their Men's Basketball Game on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Basketball Arena on Sunday.

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:37 am

Update at 11:28 a.m. An Easy Win:

With the help of a generous LeBron James, assisting more than he scored, the United States breezed through France 98 to 71.

It wasn't a flashy win, but it showed U.S. dominance.

During an interview after the game, Kevin Durant was asked how the team chooses which of the All Stars gets to a take a shot.

"We don't care who scores," he said.

Our Original Post Continues:

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The Torch
7:10 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Let's Catch Up: In Skeet, Kimberly Rhode Breaks Olympic Record During Qualifier

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 7:41 am

Good morning! While you were sleeping, American Kimberly Rhode broke the Olympic record when she missed only one of 75 targets during the qualifying round of women's skeet shooting.

(UPDATE at 9:20 a.m. ET. Rhode has won the gold.)

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Sports
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Olympic Medal Feats Outside Of The Pool

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:58 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

It is time now for sports - or maybe this week we should say sport.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG)

SPANDAU BALLET: (Singing) Gold, gold always believe in your soul...

GREENE: This means it is time to talk to NPR's Mike Pesca, who is across the pond at the Olympics. Hey, Mike.

MIKE PESCA, BYLINE: Hi.

GREENE: You like this new music? Usually, we say...

PESCA: Spandau from the '80s?

GREENE: Yeah, you got it. So, you're starting to call it sport - that's how people in Britain refer to sports, right?

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Politics
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Romney In Israel After Rocky Start To Foreign Tour

Originally published on Sun August 5, 2012 11:57 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm David Greene.

Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, is in Israel today. He spent the morning meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials, and he paid a visit to the historic Wailing Wall. Romney, just a few minutes ago, wrapped up a speech near the Old City in Jerusalem. And in it he talked of his commitment to stand side by side with the Israeli government on Iran.

(SOUNDBITE OF SPEECH)

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Sports
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Is Swimming Superstar Passing The Torch?

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:58 am

Saturday, expectations were sky-high for Michael Phelps, who already has the biggest gold medal haul in Olympic history. There was a much-anticipated showdown with swimming teammate Ryan Lochte, which turned out to be no showdown at all. The expectations continue Sunday at the Olympic Aquatics Center, as NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

Sports
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Major Baseball Dreams In The Minor Leagues

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:58 am

While Major League baseball is big and epic, there's something magical about sitting in a small stadium. Guest host David Greene reports on the progress of Minor League Baseball player Tyler Saladino at one of his team's away games. Saladino is an infielder for Alabama's Birmingham Barons.

Economy
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Business In A Slump: Scraping By Three Years Later

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:58 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

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Middle East
5:38 am
Sun July 29, 2012

What To Expect In Egyptian President's First 100 Days

Originally published on Sun August 5, 2012 11:57 am

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

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Afghanistan
4:09 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Disarming Afghan IEDs: Big Job, Too Few Trained

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 9:58 am

Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, remain one of the biggest killers in Afghanistan. As NATO forces prepare to withdraw from the country, Afghans are learning the special skills needed to find and disarm these deadly weapons.

The training area near the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif is a large expanse of dirt and gravel, dotted with a few beat-up old taxis and scattered bunkers.

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Election 2012
3:59 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Does Sen. Thune Have The Right Stuff For Romney?

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Mitt Romney gets a kick out of South Dakota Sen. John Thune's comments during a January rally in Dubuque, Iowa.

Originally published on Mon July 30, 2012 9:47 am

Mike Lee is one of the most conservative members of the Senate. The freshman Utah Republican was elected with strong Tea Party backing and, like Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, he's a man of the West.

Mention the possibility that Thune, 51, might team up with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and Lee's eyes light up: "I love John," he says. "He's articulate, passionate, collegial. I mean ... I think he'd be great."

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Europe
3:58 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Spain's Crisis Pushes Educated Into 'Economic Exile'

Credit Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP/Getty Images
Government employees demonstrate against the Spanish government's austerity measures in Madrid, on Friday. The economic situation has forced some Spaniards to leave the country for work.

Originally published on Sun July 29, 2012 7:48 pm

In Spain, the growing crisis — debt, austerity and joblessness — has prompted more people to vote with their feet. In the first six months of 2012, emigration from Spain is up more than 44 percent from the same period last year.

The Spanish government denies it, but the "brain drain" has become something of a flood with more and more educated, skilled Spaniards moving abroad.

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Politics
3:57 am
Sun July 29, 2012

Forget The Debt Ceiling? The 'Avalanche' Is Coming

Credit iStockphoto.com
If Congress doesn't make a deal before January, massive spending cuts will go into effect automatically in 2013.

Originally published on Thu August 2, 2012 12:21 pm

In August, lawmakers will be heading home to their districts for the month's recess. Last summer, things weren't quite so calm.

A year ago at this time, Congress was in a nasty and protracted battle over whether to raise the debt ceiling. If they didn't make a decision, the government was going to go into default. It's a fight that cost Congress its already waning public support, and cost American taxpayers $1.3 billion.

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The Torch
3:24 pm
Sat July 28, 2012

Sunday, Day 3 Of The London 2012 Games: What's On Tap

Credit Jack Guez / AFP/Getty Images
Satoshi Shimizu (left) of Japan celebrates his 10-9 points decision over Isaac Dogboe of Ghana, in their Round of 32 bantamweight bout at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The first full day of competition brought many close finishes in London.

The first full day of Olympic competition brought moments of tense excitement, in the pool and on the archery course, among other places. At the time of this post, China leads the overall medal count, with 6, followed by Italy and the United States, with 5. Four of China's medals are gold.

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Religion
2:53 pm
Sat July 28, 2012

U.S. Still Religious, But Trust In Institutions Wanes

Credit Michael Conroy / AP
The cross on the steeple of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Henryville, Ind. A recent Gallup poll says only 44 percent of Americans have "great confidence" in organized religion.

Originally published on Sat July 28, 2012 5:05 pm

Something is happening when it comes to religion in America.

Though more Americans go to church or believe in God than their counterparts in virtually every other Western country, fewer Americans now trust religious institutions. A recent Gallup poll showed that just 44 percent of Americans have a great deal of confidence in "the church or organized religion."

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