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South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, chooses Jacob Zuma as its new leader, rejecting South African President Thabo Mbeki. That puts Zuma, a controversial politician, in a position to become or select the country's next president when Mbeki's term ends in 2009.

A political suspense thriller is unfolding in Kenya. No fewer than nine candidates are running for president, but from nearly every angle, it is a two-man race between Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The goal of her unannounced visit is to urge reconciliation among Kurds, Arabs and Turks in the oil-rich region 150 miles south of Baghdad.

Can endorsements help a campaign? Hillary Clinton is in a three-way dogfight in Iowa, and John McCain is struggling to revive his campaign, which is flagging in Iowa. Both candidates were endorsed by the Des Moines Register over the weekend. In addition to the Iowa paper's endorsement, McCain got a nod Monday from Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut — the 2000 Democratic vice-presidential nominee. That endorsement might not help McCain in Iowa but could help win over independents in New Hampshire.

The Senate passed a $286-billion farm bill on Friday expanding grower subsidies and food stamps. An earlier version of the bill contained a bipartisan amendment designed to scale back the nation's federal crop insurance program, which critics have called one of the government's most inefficient programs.

A trio of independent booksellers have mostly novels and food books on their minds this holiday season. The titles they've picked range from An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England to a new translation of War and Peace.

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball finds a "serious drug culture" in the sport. His report names several high-profile players linked to doping.

Some of Major League Baseball's prominent active and former players will be linked to the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs. They will be named in a 300-page report based on former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigation on doping in baseball.

The week of Thanksgiving, NPR Music producer Stephen Thompson completed a daunting task: He listened to nothing but new holiday CDs for an entire 18-hour drive. The trip yielded prizes and punishments, and even a minor Christmas miracle.

A car bombing near the presidential palace in Beirut on Wednesday killed a top Lebanese army officer. The victim was widely expected to succeed army Chief of Staff Michel Suleiman, who has emerged as the consensus candidate for president after months of political deadlock.