Africa
1:53 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Despite Critics, Gambia Plans Dozens Of Executions

Credit Simon Maina / AFP/Getty Images
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh says all 47 death-row inmates will be executed by mid-September. Nine were killed this week by firing squad. Gambia's human rights record has frequently come under criticism during the 18 years of rule by Jammeh, shown here attending the African Union summit last month in Ethiopia.

Originally published on Wed August 29, 2012 8:16 pm

There is growing international criticism over plans by Gambia's hard-line president to execute all of the country's death-row inmates within the next couple of weeks.

Gambia's leader, President Yahya Jammeh, has long faced criticism for his human rights record. In a recent speech marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, the president vowed to put to death all prisoners facing the death penalty by mid-September, as a way to curb crime.

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The Two-Way
1:34 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Paralympics Set To Begin In London, Near 'Spiritual Home' Of Games

Credit LOCOG / Getty Images
A team of torchbearers brings the Paralympic flame through Piccadilly Circus as the torch heads across London to the Olympic Stadium. The Paralympic Games' opening ceremony will be held Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Originally published on Thu August 30, 2012 3:23 pm

Participation Nation
1:33 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Reuniting Siblings In Lincoln, Neb.

Credit Courtesy of CCU
Canoeing at Camp Catch-Up.

Camp Catch-Up, hosted by the publicly and privately supported Nebraska Children & Families Foundation, enables children separated by foster care and adoption to spend a fun-filled weekend with their brothers and sisters — at no cost to the families.

Whether campers haven't seen their siblings in a week or a year, they bond at camp as only siblings can, through activities structured to bring them together.

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It's All Politics
1:04 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Is Clint Eastwood Going To Make Mitt Romney's Day?

Credit Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for AFI
Clint Eastwood.

Originally published on Wed August 29, 2012 1:31 pm

Thanks to Townhall.com's Guy Benson, one of the hotter stories of the morning here in Tampa seems to be that actor/director/American icon Clint Eastwood is reportedly coming to the Republican National Convention and may be the "to be announced" speaker on Thursday night's schedule.

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Author Interviews
12:40 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Victor LaValle On Mental Illness, Monsters And Survival

Credit E. Robateu / Random House
Victor LaValle is also the author of Slapboxing with Jesus, The Ecstatic and Big Machine.

Originally published on Wed August 29, 2012 1:58 pm

In Victor LaValle's new novel, The Devil in Silver, a man is mistakenly committed to a mental hospital where a buffalo-headed monster stalks patients at night.

The plausibility of a monster roaming the hospital's halls made sense, says LaValle, who has a personal connection to the mentally ill.

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The Two-Way
12:37 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

VIDEO: Hurricane Isaac As Seen From The International Space Station

Credit NASA Earth Observatory
Isaac at night.

Originally published on Wed August 29, 2012 12:55 pm

U.S.
12:08 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

FEMA's Fugate On Isaac's Progress, Response

Originally published on Thu August 30, 2012 4:04 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Good morning.

We've been hearing, all morning, reports of Hurricane Isaac coming ashore along the gulf coast, and we're going, now, to Craig Fugate. He is the FEMA Administrator, the Federal Emergency Management Agency - and he is spending the morning on the gulf coast. Mr. Fugate, where are you now?

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Monkey See
12:03 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Entirely Real Photos: Model Or Headless Disney Mascot?

Originally published on Wed August 29, 2012 12:49 pm

This is a model walking during a Maria Sofia Bahlner fashion show from what I am told is the "Swedish School Of Textiles," during Mercedes-Benz Stockholm Fashion Week.

This is undoubtedly an example of avant-garde design, fashion as art, exploration of textile possibilities ... I have no doubt, it is artistically driven.

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Wisdom Watch
12:03 pm
Wed August 29, 2012

Brooklyn Mack, From Ball Player To Ballet Star

Brooklyn Mack used to dream of becoming a football player. He took up ballet, at age 12, to beef up his athleticism — and he never turned back. Earlier this summer, Mack became the first African-American man to win gold at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. Mack speaks with host Michel Martin about his life and his career.

Election 2012
11:51 am
Wed August 29, 2012

GOP Platform Aims To Garner Female Votes

In her convention speech, Ann Romney talked about the role of women in America. Host Michel Martin caught up with Rep. Marsha Blackburn before the speech. Blackburn says the concerns of women voters were key in drafting the Republican platform. She co-chairs the GOP platform committee, and heads the Women's Policy Committee in the House.

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