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NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Davos, Switzerland, that the annual World Economic Forum got under way today amid concern over a downturn in the U.S. economy. This year's event did not draw as many top leaders to Davos as last year's 30th anniversary meeting. The Bush administration -- in the midst of confirmation hearings -- sent no senior official to Davos. Swiss police have mounted a huge security operation to prevent the kind of "anti-globalization" protests that have surrounded recent meetings of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that, while financier Marc Rich's pardon didn't go through the usual channels at the Justice Department, one top official, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, was informed. Another issue about Rich's citizenship has also arisen. At one time he renounced his citizenship, but the State Department maintains he is still a U.S. citizen. If so, the multimillionaire could owe U.S. income taxes on earnings during 17-years of exile in Switzerland. That could sway his decision on whether to return to the U.S.

The fate of financially troubled Amtrak could depend on the success of Acela Express, its new high-speed train. NPR's Jack Speer reports that the long-delayed train took a group of VIPs on an inaugural run today from Washington to Boston. The train reaches a top speed of 150 miles per hour, but it's still slower than bullet trains in Europe and Japan. Acela tickets aren't cheap, and Amtrak faces a major challenge in persuading people who travel between major citieis by car or air shuttle, to opt for the train.

Babu Chhiri Sherpa, a guide well known to climbers of Mount Everest has fallen to his death. Noah Adams talks with Heidi Howkins, a mountaineer and author of the book K2: One Woman's Quest for the Summit. Howkins was on a climb with Babu Chhiri when he broke the record for the longest stay at the top of Mt. Everest without bottled oxygen. Babu Chhiri also set a record for the fastest climb of Mount Everest -- 16 hours and 56 minutes. (4:00) K2: One Woman's Quest for the Summit, by Heidi Howkins, is published by National Geographic Adventure Press.

In the final part of her month long series on money, NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on the question of money in marriage and divorce. She focuses on a highly publicized divorce case involving a stay-at-home mother, whose husband was a top level corporate executive. The net worth of Gary and Lorna Wendt was $100 million in 1995, when he filed for divorce. She contested a settlement of 10 million dollars and was then awarded $20 million, plus $250,000 per year in alimony for life. (7:36) (Lorna Wendt is founder of www.equalityinmarriage.or

Detectives Max and Miranda discover suspicious transactions and illicit love affairs in the world of top-flight football while defending a famous Real Mallorca football player from death threats.

Height should not be a problem for an outdoor tree, but the maintenance vehicles in Bailiff Bridge aren't high enough to decorate the top. Lights go just one-third of the way up.

Recent studies by three South Florida universities and the University of Alabama show six of the nation’s top 25 most overvalued housing markets are in the Sunshine State.

Every three years, the world's top bakers round up their best recipes and their rolling pins and head to Paris for an Olympic-style competition. U.S. team members offer insights on their preparation.

Intrigued? It's a vanilla milkshake loaded with chunks of spicy chicken, celery, carrots and hot sauce. You can choose to have your milkshake specially topped with ranch or bleu cheese.

The federal government recently sold 155 acres on the top of a landmark mountain in Crested Butte, Colo., for just $5 per acre under the terms of an 1872 mining law. Many are calling for the overhaul of an antiquated law that lets mining interests buy prime real estate at dirt-cheap prices, without owing the federal government or taxpayers a penny in royalties. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports.

At 21,450 pages — think 15 copies of War and Peace stacked on top of each other — One Piece includes every panel of the long-running Japanese comic of the same name.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw’s top aide, Frank DeMario, told county commissioners at a recent budget meeting that the sheriff does not think it is necessary to equip deputies with the potentially lifesaving medication.

Congress gets back in session this week, and its to-do list reads like a rundown of some of President Obama's top priorities: a major climate change bill, universal health care legislation. And while lawmakers were away on a Memorial Day recess, the president added one more big task: confirming his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

Top Chef's Carla Hall and Hell's Kitchen's Rock Harper helped pick our winning garlic recipe — and it's hot stuff. Warning: This recipe isn't for the faint of heart — or stomach!

The shootings at Virginia Tech have prompted the postponement of a much anticipated Senate hearing with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The nation's top law enforcement official is under pressure to explain his role in the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

Rodney Saulsberry has been a top talent in the closely-knit voice-over industry for many years, doing everything from Alpo commercials to animated TV series. He shares some of the secrets of the trade in his new book, You Can Bank on Your Voice.

With a yellow background and a black banner on top, some Kansans say it looks too much like New York's plates — or the University of Missouri's colors. Gov. Kelly says it's back to the drawing board.

Someone just spent a record-setting $2.7 million for a bottle of Macallan at an auction. It was bottled in 1986 after 60 years of aging — it was a small batch for top customers.

Last week the world's top two emitters, China and the U.S., announced new steps to reduce global emissions of methane, a potent and sometimes overlooked greenhouse gas.