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The safest bet for a box-office draw is not a superhero, action or sci-fi film — it's computer animation. Franchises like Toy Story, Ice Age and Shrek consistently make billions for their studios, Bob Mondello writes — and that's before DVD and toy sales kick in.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is making a rare visit to Israel, with an entourage of some 300 officials and businessmen. The war in Syria and Iran's suspect nuclear program will figure prominently in Putin's talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

Rhode Island officials are wrestling with the meltdown of a video game company that was meant to bolster the economically depressed state. Former Red Sox star Curt Schilling blames the state for not keeping his company afloat. About 400 workers lost their jobs, and taxpayers are on the hook for close to $100 million.

The science fiction icon, who also wrote such classics as The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes, died Tuesday. Bradbury was known for his futuristic tales — but he never used a computer, or even drove a car.

With the national convention just three months away, state Democrats are reeling from a series of setbacks, including passage of a gay marriage ban and a sex scandal within the organization. But party leaders say they're committed to making the convention a success and keeping the state "blue" in November.

In Egypt, Ahmed Shafiq and the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Morsi, will face each other in a presidential runoff election next month. David Greene talks with NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson about what these results might mean for Egypt's future.

Or: Why Justin Bieber didn't really sell 40,000 tickets in 30 seconds.

Moscow's recent deals with foreign oil companies are designed to maintain Russia as the world's No. 1 oil producer. The biggest deal, with Exxon Mobil, would put billions of dollars toward exploiting vast oil and gas reserves in Russia's Arctic waters.

The Catholic Church has been in the public spotlight a lot this year. The issues of contraception and gay marriage have been part of the presidential campaign and church leaders have weighed in. There have also been new revelations in a case involving leaked Vatican documents, and it may actually be a case where the butler did it. Host Rachel Martin speaks with John Allen, a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.

Host Scott Simon talks sports with ESPN's Howard Bryant about whether this is LeBron James' make-or-break moment and no-hitters in baseball.