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One of Iraq's top foreign ministry officials, Bassam Kubba, died Saturday after being shot by unknown gunmen in Baghdad. He is the first member of Iraq's two-week-old interim government to be killed. Kubba worked through the ranks of the foreign ministry under Saddam Hussein and became ambassador to China. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

To recap our top story, hosts Madeleine Brand and Mike Pesca discuss the latest news about the presentation of the Iraq Study Group report today.

The list of the top-performing college endowments came out Thursday. Yale University's investments have beaten the S&P 500's performance for the last five years. Marketplace's Steve Tripoli explains how college endowments work and how schools like Yale manage to beat the market year after year.

Karl Rove, President Bush's top political adviser, plays a pivotal role in both policy and politics. He has gotten credit for the Republican victories in the midterm elections and for the president's high popularity ratings. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Pianist and Singer Hadda Brooks, known as "Queen of the Boogie," died last week at the age of 86. Brooks rose to fame in 1945 with the song, "Swingin' the Boogie." The song also helped launch the top West Coast rhythm and blues label, Modern Records. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

NPR's Phillip Davis reports on an exhibition in Miami that is trying to take a fresh look at Christmas music. Sound artist Christian Marclay has challenged some of the city's top DJ's to take his collection of Christmas music and remix the material into sonic and artistic collages. The exhibit is called "The Sounds of Christmas" at Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art.

South Koreans are voting in presidential elections, and an unexpected issue surfaces to dominate election campaigning: South Korea's relationship with the United States. Both top contenders have tapped into growing anti-American sentiment. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

China's top arms control official is quoted in the official press as opposing President Bush's move to launch a U.S. missile-defense network in 2004. China is afraid the missile shield will be used to protect rival Taiwan. NPR's Rob Gifford reports.

Linda talks with Paul Burka, Executive Editor of the Texas Monthly, about people from President-elect Bush's inner circle in Austin who will be joining him in Washington. Burka talks about Bush's top White House adviser, Karen Hughes; senior White House adviser Karl Rove; and Bush's choice for Federal Emergency Management Agency director, Joe Allbaugh.

The nation's top intelligence chiefs warn a Senate panel that another al Qaeda attack in the United States remains a serious threat. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross reacts to safety recommendations issued Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. Hear from NPR's David Welna, NPR's Lynn Neary and Carol Hall of the American Red Cross.