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- Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Richard Haas about the Iraqi army's attack on a Kurdish-held city in Northern Iraq. The north of the country has been controlled by Kurdish forces since the end of the Gulf War. An unconfirmed report says Iranian forces have also moved into northern Iraq. President Clinton has placed U-S forces in the area on high alert.

Poets, philosophers and others have long been intrigued by the concept of consciousness. But in recent years, neuroscientists have begun trying to tackle the subject. Researchers are trying to define 'consciousness,' and determine exactly how brain cells and connections between different parts of the brain produce this awareness. NPR's Joe Palca reports as part of our 'How the Brain Works' series.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports on NationsBank's new minority lending program, which is attracting affluent African-Americans. The bank started the program after being accused of racist lending practices. Now, some small black-owned banks say NationsBank is taking away their best customers.

NPR's David Welna reports from Managua that one of the big issues in tomorrow's presidential elections in Nicaragua is land confiscation. The Sandanista regime seized a considerable amount of private property when it was in power in the 1980's, and many of those who lost property are demanding it back. Former Sandanista leader Daniel Ortega, who's running in tomorrow's election, is himself living in a confiscated villa.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that a jury in Brooklyn has ordered computer maker Digital Equipment to pay nearly $6 million to three women who suffered disabling injuries from working on Digital's computer keyboards. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say this is the first time such a suit has succeeded. Digital says it will appeal the decision.

NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports from London where the international community is meeting to measure progress on the Dayton Peace Accord on Bosnia signed a year ago. Western leaders warned the leaders of the former Yugoslavia to get their act together and play by the rules or risk losing aid. The Serbian leadership also was criticized for the deteriorating situation.

NPR's David Welna reports from Managua that former Sandinista strongman Daniel Ortega seems to have failed to make a democratic comeback. With the votes from Sunday's national elections still being tallied, Ortega's conservative opponent, Arnoldo Aleman, has taken a early lead and claimed victory.

NPR's Mark Roberts reports on a decision by the judge in the Oklahoma City bombing trial of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols to split the trial in two. Lawyers for Nichols had requested a separate trial, fearing that their client would suffer if associated with McVeigh by a single jury. McVeigh will now be tried separately...and his trial will be conducted first.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that a year after an assassin's bullets struck down Yitzhak Rabin, the first native-born Israeli Prime Minister, the shots that killed him still reverberate through the psyche of Israel. The shock of the crime has not brought people together; a year after the killing, Israelis remain divided over Rabin's legacy of trying to make peace with the Palestinians.

Russian President Boris Yeltsin returned to his office at the Kremlin today. It's the first time Yeltsin has come to work since his heart bypass surgery November fifth. NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the problems stacked up on Yeltsin's desk.