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NPR'S Julie McCarthy reports from London on the continuing campaign of protests against high fuel prices in Britain. Protestors are blockading nine refineries, and panic buying is depleting gasoline supplies at the pump. Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government has told oil companies to get their tankers moving -- and ordered police to protect drivers from intimidation.

in the field of data networking. Three-Com announced yesterday it will buy U.S. Robotics for more than six billion dollars. The new company will retain the Three-Com name, and with projected revenues of five billion dollars a year for its modems and circuit boards, will challenge industry leader Cisco Systems.

More Americans are relying on investments to help them buy a house or to pay the college bills...but most investors can't even distinguish between different kinds of mutual funds. As NPR's Elaine Korry reports, that makes for a rich climate for rogue brokers...and it makes it important for investors to investigate the person who's handling their money.

- NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Jerusalem on a real estate trend in that city which some say could endanger hopes of a lasting peace there. Traditionally, Jewish Israelis have lived on the west side of the city and Palestinians have lived on the east side. But recently a private Jewish group has begun buying properties on the east side and renting them to Jewish families. And critics warn that the trend is only adding to tensions between Arabs and Israelis.

by the resort of Vail to double in size by buying up three nearby mountain ski regions in Colorado, giving it 43 percent of the state ski business. This worries competing resorts as well as skiers who suspect it might mean monopoly pricing.

Commentator Andrei Codrescu tells about his friend's dream of buying a coffee plantation in Costa Rica and making money selling beans on the Web. His friend also wants to use a certain duck that eats raw coffee beans and poops out a better bean. Of course, the friend has no money.

Sixteen-year-old Youth Radio Commentator Rachel Speckman thinks it's ridiculous that she's prevented from buying tickets for R-rated films. She suggests that if she's not considered an adult she shouldn't be paying adult prices at the theater.

NPR's John McChesney examines an online service that's trying to succeed where Napster failed. FullAudio wants to buy the rights from record companies to resell music over the Internet. FullAudio would then give consumers the ability to download the music to their computer, stereo, or even their car radio, and play it until their subscription runs out.

The state of California is spending vast amounts of money to buy electricity. It has already shelled out more than 2-billion-dollars for scarce power on the volatile spot market. And now the state is preparing to borrow a record $10 billion to secure a reliable supply of electricity for the long-term. Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports consumer groups are expressing concern about consolidation in the airline industry. Yesterday, it was reported that American Airlines is in talks to acquire TWA, and could also buy parts of US Airways. Critics say the wave of mergers could leave the country with two or three dominant carriers and could leave many consumers facing higher fares.