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Lily Tuck's novel of 19th century Paraguay wins the National Book Award for fiction. Tuck, awarded the prize for her novel The News From Paraguay, was one of five New York women authors nominated for the fiction award. Kevin Boyle won the nonfiction prize for Arc of Justice and Jean Valentine's Door in the Mountain won in the poetry category. Hear NPR's Lynn Neary.

President Bush selects Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns to succeed Ann Veneman as secretary of agriculture. Johanns is a popular Republican with lifelong ties to agriculture. Also, John Danforth, U.S. ambassador for the United Nations, resigns. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.

A confidential report commissioned by NASA concludes the agency's plan to use a robot to save the Hubble telescope is highly risky. The report suggests NASA should send up new instruments on a second, bare-bones telescope.

Two of the nation's oldest and best-known retailers -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart -- agree to merge in a deal worth an estimated $11 billion. The proposed merger would create a new entity called Sears Holdings, but will be mainly controlled by Kmart executives. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

With major fighting in Fallujah over, attention now turns to the civilian population. Saa'id Hakki, chairman of the Iraqi Red Crescent, talks about the current humanitarian situation in and around the war-torn city. Hear Hakki and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

A bombing in the northern city of Beiji that targeted a U.S. convoy kills several Iraqis, as fighting continues in Fallujah. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and Alissa Rubin of the Los Angeles Times.

Since anthrax spores sent through the mail killed five people in late 2001, the federal government has boosted spending on biodefense research and pending by billions of dollars. But some experts wonder if this isn't overkill, and whether some new efforts are doing more harm than good. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

Iraq's interim leader works to persuade Iraqi expatriates to participate in January's parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi also met with some Iraqi tribal leaders in the Jordanian capital, hoping to win their support for efforts to end the insurgency. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was at the White House Monday talking to President Bush about his second-term agenda. Frist talks about the president's legislative priorities and how to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Hear Frist and NPR's Juan Williams.

Previous presidents have made trips to Canada relatively soon after being elected, but this is President Bush's first official trip. NPR's Melissa Block talks with Jeffrey Simpson, national affairs columnist with the Globe and Mail about recent relations between the U.S. and Canada.