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Linda Wertheimer speaks with Tim Wirth, Undersecretary for Global Affair at the State Department, about the decision to put environmental issues at the top of the department's diplomatic agenda. Wirth says that cleaning up the environment and controlling population growth around the world are prudent political and economic policies.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports on today's staff shake-up at the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal on Rwanda. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan fired two top tribunal officials following a U.N. report that the court was riddled with mismanagement and financial waste.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the Clinton administration is under pressure to "decertify" Mexico's anti-narcotics program because of alleged links between drug traffickers and Mexico's top narcotics officials. The President must make a decision by Saturday. Congress requires yearly certification as a condition for continuing U.S. financial aid.

As Secretary of State, Retired General Colin Powell will shift from being an advocate for the military to becoming the nation's top diplomat. NPR's Tom Gjelten looks at Powell's past recommendations as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about military intervention in hot spots around the world.

Commentator Marion Winik has thoughts on those traditional holiday letters so many people feel they must write at this time of year, and a few suggestions. For instance, drop the "Dear Everyone" and replace it with a real headline. Instead of anecdotes, try one good paragraph. Maybe include a top ten list or a haiku.

These days we live in informal times. First names are in, and formal titles are going the way of the top hat. Commentator Elissa Ely isn't sure she likes the change.

The New York Times reports that the Bush administration has created a hit list of top al Qaeda operatives, authorizing the CIA to use lethal force. NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says this bends the longstanding executive order prohibiting assassination.

NPR's Guy Raz in Berlin reports on the growing popularity of Germany's ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens. Even though the Greens are the junior partner in the coalition, the party has managed to make the environment a top policy priority.

Host Bob Edwards talks with commentator John Feinstein about the Australian Open. This year the tennis tournament saw surprise winners in both the men's and women's brackets. Jennifer Capriati easily beat top-seeded Martina Hingis and Andre Aggasi defeated Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Unemployment benefits expire for nearly 800,000 Americans as a congressional logjam holds up a possible extension. The new Congress, which meets in January, is expected to take up the issue as a top priority. NPR's David Molpus reports.