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NPR's David Welna reports on the tensions in Nicaragua growing out of a dispute over the results of last month's presidential election. Even though Nicaragua's electoral council today finally confirmed the victory of the conservative former mayor of Managua, Sandinista candidate Daniel Ortega refuses to concede, saying there was fraud. The conflict is making the business community and foreign investors increasingly nervous.

The corporate battle for control of the Conrail railroad moved to federal court in Philadelphia today. Conrail agreed to a merger with CSX last month, but another railroad, Norfolk Southern, quickly countered with a higher bid. Whoever wins the merger fight will have a dominant position in the eastern United States. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports that many Conrail workers are worried that their jobs will be lost when the merger goes through.

In Hong Kong, a community theatre group transforms the British tradition of the Christmas pantomime -- a satirical musical comedy -- into a slapstick critique of the colony's politics. NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports on this year's performance, the last before China takes over. Chinese control of the island may bring a less permissive atmosphere. Will the pantomime of the future have the same sharp bite as today's?

China wants to join the World Trade Organization. Vicky O'Hara reports on the dilemma this poses: China's huge economy and rapidly expanding exports would make it an important addition to the WTO, but its economic practices are at odds with the organizations free-trade ethos. The Clinton administration faces a tricky political situation in deciding whether or not to support China's bid for entry.

NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports on what appears to be a split vote on six Congressional House seats up for grabs this election. The state was seen as a bellwether for the conservative shift in 1994, when six seats flipped from Democratic to Republican. The margin was narrow in 1994, however, and this year's readjustment may indicate that 1994 wasn't such a strong rightward swing.

Bob Dole's campaign bus rolled through a rainy New Jersey today. Attempting to capitalize on what aides characterize a strong showing in the first presidential debate, the Republican nominee hopes his tax cut plan and focus on trust will appeal to the state's swing voters. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

Russia is angry over the White House's decision to block the sale of ultra-fast supercomuters to Moscow. The Russians say they need the technology to conduct virtual nuclear tests so that they won't have to conduct real nuclear testing, which is forbidden under September's nuclear test ban treaty. NPR's Andy Bowers reports the decision demonstrates the lingering distrust surrounding the nuclear arms race.

NPR'S Wendy Kaufman reports that Boeing and McDonnell Douglass have expressed confidence that the merger they announced yesterday will be approved by federal regulators. Experts agree, since the Pentagon has been driving much of the consolidation in aerospace, and they predict that odds the federal government will find a way to sign off on the proposed merger. But final approval is far from a sure thing.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that Islam is making a resurgence in the countries of Central Asia. When many of these regions were controlled by the Soviet Union, mosques were closed and religious education curtailed. But now that independence has been achieved, there's been intense interest in recapturing the Islamic heritage of the Central Asian states.

NPR's Ted Clark reports on the resignation of Secretary of State Warren Christopher and the expected departure of many on his foreign policy team. Who President Clinton picks to succeed Christopher will indicate whether Clinton's second term will follow the same tenuous foreign policy...or whether there will be new initiatives in Bosnia, the Middle East, Russia and China...and in the area of international peacekeeping.