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NPR's Ina Jaffe reports on the testimony in the punitive damages phase of the OJ Simpson civil trial. Lawyers for both sides wrapped up testimony today over how much money OJ Simpson has available to pay punitive damages, on top of the 8.5 million dollars in compensatory damages already awarded to the families of the victims . Witnesses for the plaintiffs contend that Simpson will be able to earn millions of dollars from autograph signings and book deals. But Simpson's lawyers say he is already broke and can't be expected to pay more.

U.S. officials disclose they're holding a man they believe to be al Qaeda's top operative in the Persian Gulf region. Authorities say Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is suspected of planning the U.S.S. Cole attack in Yemen, was arrested "in recent weeks" and is being held at an undisclosed location. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

Pianist Chuck Leavell made a name for himself as a rock 'n' roll musician and pianist-for-hire for top bands like the Rolling Stones and Blues Traveler. When he's not on tour, Leavell tends to his other passion -- he's an award-winning tree farmer. Morning Edition host Bob Edwards talks with Leavell about how this rock musician became interested in tree farming.

The hostility that has characterized the China-Taiwan relationship for the past year seems to have abated. NPR's Rob Gifford tells Noah Adams that this week Taiwan allowed the first legal direct shipping from Taiwanese-held islands to mainland China. And Taiwan's top policymaker indicated China might be more flexible than in the past on the issue of one China. China always has insisted that Taiwan accept the concept of one China, including Taiwan, with Beijing as the capital. But in an interview yesterday, a high-level official indicated Beijing might consider a broader definition of what constitutes one China.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Davos, Switzerland, that the annual World Economic Forum got under way today amid concern over a downturn in the U.S. economy. This year's event did not draw as many top leaders to Davos as last year's 30th anniversary meeting. The Bush administration -- in the midst of confirmation hearings -- sent no senior official to Davos. Swiss police have mounted a huge security operation to prevent the kind of "anti-globalization" protests that have surrounded recent meetings of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that, while financier Marc Rich's pardon didn't go through the usual channels at the Justice Department, one top official, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, was informed. Another issue about Rich's citizenship has also arisen. At one time he renounced his citizenship, but the State Department maintains he is still a U.S. citizen. If so, the multimillionaire could owe U.S. income taxes on earnings during 17-years of exile in Switzerland. That could sway his decision on whether to return to the U.S.

The fate of financially troubled Amtrak could depend on the success of Acela Express, its new high-speed train. NPR's Jack Speer reports that the long-delayed train took a group of VIPs on an inaugural run today from Washington to Boston. The train reaches a top speed of 150 miles per hour, but it's still slower than bullet trains in Europe and Japan. Acela tickets aren't cheap, and Amtrak faces a major challenge in persuading people who travel between major citieis by car or air shuttle, to opt for the train.

In the final part of her month long series on money, NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on the question of money in marriage and divorce. She focuses on a highly publicized divorce case involving a stay-at-home mother, whose husband was a top level corporate executive. The net worth of Gary and Lorna Wendt was $100 million in 1995, when he filed for divorce. She contested a settlement of 10 million dollars and was then awarded $20 million, plus $250,000 per year in alimony for life. (7:36) (Lorna Wendt is founder of www.equalityinmarriage.or

Height should not be a problem for an outdoor tree, but the maintenance vehicles in Bailiff Bridge aren't high enough to decorate the top. Lights go just one-third of the way up.

Kansas Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer will get the top political job in Kansas when his boss, Gov. Sam Brownback, leaves office in the next few weeks.