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NPR's Michele Kelemen reports that President Vladimir Putin is meeting with 21 Russian businessmen today in an effort to ease rising tensions caused by legal cases against big companies. The criminal tax investigations into some of Russia's top business tycoons, is making them unhappy. They accuse the government of singling them out.

Akiva Eldar, a political analyst for the newspaper Ha'aretz, joins Robert by phone from Jerusalem to talk about the Middle East peace process. A top Israeli negotiator returned today from a visit to Egypt, and signaled that Israel wants to "build on progress" made at the recent Camp David accords. Palestinians are also showing signs of flexibility in their positions, including the September 13 deadline for an independent Palestinian state.

At each Olympics, the winner of the 100 meters becomes known as the fastest man in the world. The race lasts a tad over 9 seconds, but it requires tremendous physical and mental preparation. It's not unusual for an elite sprinter to engage a scientist to analyze the biomechanics of his gait. But as NPR's Tom Goldman reports, at race time simplicity is best. Top runners say they are able to clear their minds of extraneous thoughts during their races.

Berlin's top playboy -- one Rolf Eden -- is finally ready to retire at age 72. Eden has been a fixture on the German party scene since he opened Berlin's first post-World War II night club. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

The South Korean president-elect sends an official to Washington, D.C., amid heightening tensions over North Korea's suspected nuclear program. The envoy is expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top officials. Hyun-Sung Khang reports.

Top U.N. nuclear monitor Mohamed ElBaradei increases pressure on Iraq to divulge information about weapons programs, saying Baghdad must answer questions about the 12,000-page report it gave the United Nations. NPR's Lawrence Sheets reports.

After 27 years of mostly losing seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders 48 to 21 in the Super Bowl. The favored Raiders came into the game with the league's top-ranked offense. NPR's Tom Goldman reports.

Jazz percussionist Mongo Santamaria dies on Feb. 1 at 85. Santamaria scored a Top-10 hit with his version of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk classic "Watermelon Man" in 1963. He also wrote the song "Afro Blue," later performed and made famous by John Coltrane. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has a remembrance.

NPR's Michele Norris talks with NPR's Anne Garrels in Baghdad about Iraq's response to Secretary of State Powell's presentation at the Security Council today. Two of Saddam Hussein's top advisers were made available to reporters in the Iraqi capital shortly after Secretary Powell completed his presentation.

President-elect George W. Bush met today in Austin with top leaders from both parties on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The group talked about the Bush administration's plans for re-energizing the nation's military. As a candidate for president, Bush said military morale could be improved with higher pay and a redefined mission. NPR's Steve Inskeep has this story.