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Africa
11:30 am
Tue November 6, 2012

All Aboard South Africa's High-Speed Train

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 5:37 pm

Public transit in South Africa can be a bit of a nightmare. Many South Africans have had to depend on the ubiquitous taxivans, which are often overcrowded, dirty and driven recklessly.

But the continent's first rapid rail service, built to ease traffic congestion in South Africa's economic heart, is changing that.

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The Two-Way
11:30 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Russia's Putin Sacks Defense Minister Amid Real Estate Scandal

Credit Andrey Smirnov / AFP/Getty Images
A Russian Army officer walks past Defence Ministry offices in Moscow, on Tuesday. Putin fired defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov over a corruption scandal, the most dramatic change to the government since he returned to the Kremlin for a third term.

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 11:35 am

Russian President Vladimir Putin today fired his defense minister, who is embroiled in a real estate corruption scandal.

The New York Times reports:

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Movies
10:55 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Cast Your Ballot For Your Favorite Election Movies

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 12:26 pm

Talk of the Nation's favorite film buff Murray Horwitz lobbies for his picks for the best Election Day movies of all time. From Reese Witherspoon's Tracy Flick running for student council president in Election, to Chris Rock playing a fictional first black president in Head of State, cast your vote.

Election 2012
10:55 am
Tue November 6, 2012

If You Voted Election Day, Tell Us What You Saw

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 12:25 pm

The most expensive election in U.S. history could be decided by one a tight margin. As results begin to roll in, all eyes are on Ohio, Florida and other swing states that are still too close to call. And both campaigns have lawyers at the ready in case of recounts or problems at polling places.

History
10:55 am
Tue November 6, 2012

History's Best Victory And Concession Speeches

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 12:25 pm

The candidates' speechwriters are busy crafting two different sets of remarks for two different outcomes: A victory speech and a concession speech. Former Clinton White House speech writer Paul Glastris and former Reagan White House speech writer Peter Robinson talk about the art of the speech.

Author Interviews
10:25 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Oliver Sacks, Exploring How Hallucinations Happen

Originally published on Thu November 8, 2012 9:58 am

In Oliver Sacks' book The Mind's Eye, the neurologist included an interesting footnote in a chapter about losing vision in one eye because of cancer that said: "In the '60s, during a period of experimenting with large doses of amphetamines, I experienced a different sort of vivid mental imagery."

He expands on this footnote in his new book, Hallucinations, where he writes about various types of hallucinations — visions triggered by grief, brain injury, migraines, medications and neurological disorders.

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Shots - Health News
10:23 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Drug-Resistant Malaria On The Rise In Southeast Asia

For malaria in Southeast Asia, there's good news and bad news right now. Overall, the number of cases is down, but there's a growing problem of drug resistance in the cases that do crop up.

Researchers worry that superstrains of the parasite — strains immune to the most common medications — could wipe out the recent progress against malaria.

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The Salt
9:41 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Ready-To-Eat Meals Feed Thousands In Wake Of Superstorm Sandy

Credit John Minchillo / AP
A young woman helps bag ready-to-eat meals for distribution to the residents of the Lower East Side who remain without power due to Superstorm Sandy on Friday.

When we think of ready-to-eat meals, we usually think of those packets of nutrient-dense soldiers' rations, like the Army sandwich that stays fresh for two years. These pouches of food are typically deployed in the field, and are consequently designed to withstand the abuses of temperature and time that would destroy fresh fare.

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It's All Politics
9:30 am
Tue November 6, 2012

Voting Issues: Long Lines In Florida, Confusion In New Jersey

Credit Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images
Voters line up to cast a ballot in Crawfordville, Fla.

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 1:18 pm

As the voting day has progressed, we've seen some reports of irregularities.. Throughout the day, we'll be surveying our reporters and other news organizations and keep track of significant irregularities in this post.

So far, the big problem has been long lines. Some voters have had to wait hours in line to cast their ballot in battleground states like Florida and Virginia and those affected by Superstorm Sandy like New York.

We'll start with Florida:

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Election 2012
9:18 am
Tue November 6, 2012

In Nev., Unpredictable Polling, Lots Of Independents

Originally published on Tue November 6, 2012 10:16 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Here we are on election morning, and in the swing state of Nevada, most of the work is already done. Most of the ballots were cast in early voting. Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston has been keeping close track of the tallies. He's on the line.

Welcome to the program, sir.

JON RALSTON: Hi, Steve.

INSKEEP: So, in recent days, what have you been seeing?

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