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NASA and its Russian counterpart have been quietly sparring over an American businessman named Dennis Tito. Tito is paying the Russians a reported $20 million for a ride into space. Russia plans to take him to the international space station. NASA doesn't like that idea. NPR's Larry Abramson reports on the first official response by NASA to Russian determination to send Tito to the station.

Critic Tom Manoff reviews Mikhail Pletnev, Live at Carnegie Hall. Manoff says Pletnev looks for the musical essence in every piece he plays, and probes the piano for every inch of sound and color, as if it were an orchestra. The electricity of the concert hall that night is very present on the recording. The audience responded with five encores, which are included on an extra disc with this release. The label is Deutsche Grammophon, copyright 2001.

Host Bob Edwards talks with NPR's Andy Bowers about the testimony of Captain Scott Waddle of the USS Greeneville. The Naval Court of Inquiry into the fatal submarine accident with a Japanese fishing boat ended yesterday.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on the reaction among investors to the FederalReserve's cut of interest rates by only a half of a percentage point. Some had expected a more aggressive, three-quarter percent cut.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports that the Chinese government has arrested a computer analyst who is based in the U.S. The Chinese-born professor at the American University in Washington, D.C., who was traveling in China, is being charged with endangering national security.

NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports on a recent study of a synthetic version of estrogen that is thought to help post-menopausal women fight osteoporosis. The study suggests it may not be as effective as many researchers previously thought.

NPR's Martin Kaste reports on the newly appointed Argentine Economics Minister, Domingo Cavallo. Cavallo gave the Argentine economy a much-needed boost ten years ago when inflation rates were sky-high. Many hope he'll do the same for the struggling economy this time around.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez continues the series on literacy on Morning Edition with a visit to an Ohio school where students and teachers take standardized tests this month. Some educators complain that classroom curriculum focuses entirely on preparing students for performance tests, rather than developing critical thinking skills.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that suggests pregnant women may be particularly vulnerable to some kinds of violence. Researchers found pregnant women in Maryland were twice as likely to be victims of homicide, and that murder was the leading cause of death for expecting mothers. The study did not say why pregnant women are so often the targets of violent attacks, but some experts are now calling on doctors to be more diligent in identifying and reporting signs of domestic violence, especially when it involves a pregnant woman.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports from the Pentagon that the United States is not considering sending troops to Macedonia or increasing its deployment in neighboring Kosovo. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discussed the crisis today with his British counterpart, Geoffrey Hoon. Gjelten reports that the Bush administration seems unprepared for this latest Balkan crisis.