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Top Fannie Mae executives defend the company's accounting practices in Congress. CEO Franklin Raines denied allegations the company had manipulated its books, telling lawmakers the controversy at the mortgage giant stems from different ways to interpret complex accounting rules. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

Given the proliferation of year-end Top 10 lists, it seems natural that Shadow Classics — which gives shelter to under-appreciated music — would feature its own list of 2006 recordings likely to become Shadow Classics down the line. Don't let these gems go unnoticed.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been charged on eight counts, including perjury, after explicit text messages contradicted his sworn denials of an affair with a top aide. Kilpatrick refuses to step down and says he expects to be exonerated. Detroit Public Radio's Noah Ovshinsky reports.

The Bush administration says it will not reward North Korea's threatening behavior, yet a top U.S. envoy holds out hope that some form of U.S. assistance for North Korea might be forthcoming if the North drops its nuclear weapons development. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

Conditions are worsening in Myanmar as hungry survivors wait among the dead for help after a huge cyclone hit the Southeast Asian nation over the weekend. The top U.S. diplomat in the country is predicting that the death toll could rise as high as 100,000, from the official tally of 22,500.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans to give up his seat, one week after one of the Texas Republican's top aides pleaded guilty in the corruption investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In addition to a tough battle for re-election, DeLay is facing corruption charges in Texas.

In the 1990s, Bobby Valentino was part of the teen vocal group Mista. Now he's gone solo, with a self-titled CD and a single, "Slow Down," that's already topped the R&B charts. Ed Gordon talks with Valentino about his burgeoning career and his soulful influences.

Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with open war after accusing Israelis of killing one of its top commanders. "Zionists, if you want this type of open war then let the whole world hear: let it be an open war," Nasrallah told mourners at the funeral of Imad Mughniyeh.

In his new book Tip and the Gipper, MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews reflects on his time as a top aide to Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill during Ronald Reagan's presidency. He compares O'Neill and Reagan's unlikely friendship to today's approach of "government by tantrum."

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, spent Wednesday pitching President Obama's revised Afghan strategy to his troops and Afghan officials. McChrystal acknowledged it's going to take more than words to persuade Afghans that Obama's new strategy can bring peace.

Bieber's current single, "Baby," from his chart-topping album My World 2.0, is a slickly peppy bit of pop-soul that wears its freshly broken heart on its sleeve. Along the way, it neatly accomplishes the trick of tugging at the sympathies of Bieber's most besotted fans.

The latest movie from the Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, L'Enfant, is heading to U.S. shores. It won the top prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Like the brothers' previous work, it was shot in their hometown, a former industrial powerhouse that has fallen on hard times.

New dietary advice is on its way. A panel of top experts — appointed by the federal government — is expected to update recommendations on what we should be eating. And one thing on the mind of the panel is dietary cholesterol. Americans have been told for decades to limit cholesterol-rich foods, but advice may be changing.

Since it opened in 1989 overlooking the Boston skyline and the Charles River, Sculler's Jazz Club has been home to top-rated and up-and-coming artists. JazzSet reprises sets from two remarkable women who are bright sparks for the future of jazz: Kate McGarry and Esperanza Spalding.

NPR reviewer Tom Moon looks at the nominees in the top categories for this year's Grammy Awards and finds little for music lovers but plenty for the music business. Moon says viewers should expect few if any surprises in the annual ceremony, from a list of artists who simply sold the most records.

The U.N. protested Israeli fire on its warehouse in Gaza. Israel said Hamas militants were launching rockets from the U.N. compound. Israel also killed a top Hamas leader in its operations in the Gaza Strip. And there was speculation that Israel and Hamas are close to an agreement on a cease-fire.

Hamas freed two hostages on Monday, the Red Cross said. About 220 people remain hostages in Gaza. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli airstrikes, Gaza officials said.

The U.S. won its first Olympic gold in 46 years in a 2-1 overtime thriller over rival Canada. A brilliant performance by U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck saved the Americans' chances.

Last year, private-equity firm Lone Star Funds bought up nearly $6.7 billion of Merrill Lynch's credit debt obligations at 22 cents on the dollar. Could that be the private model the Treasury Department wants others to duplicate? Simon Johnson, a professor at MIT and a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, offers his insight.

Noah Adams talks with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, who's happily playing the blues at 72. He has a new album out called Long Way Home. Gatemouth is on the album by some new and old friends like Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Ry Cooder and Maria Maldon. [GITANES JAZZ PRODUCTIONS] (6:00) (IN S