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NPR's John McChesney reports that Visa and Mastercard have agreed on a single technical standard that they say will allow for secure purchases over the Internet. The two credit card giants had been pursuing different systems with conflicting security specifications. Today's announcement means banks and consumers will not have to worry about choosing one system over the other.

MasterCard International reported Friday that 40 million credit card numbers may have been stolen. Merchants bear the brunt of fraudulent transactions. Credit card companies charge the merchants for the stolen services or merchandise and for additional fees.

Communities along Florida's west coast are bracing for a life-threatening storm. Many residents are taking Milton very seriously, heeding calls to evacuate to higher ground. Others are staying put.

SYRIA - Hopes for an early breakthrough in the Israeli-Syrian Peace Talks have faded but slow movement forward continues. NPR's Ted Clark reports. -b- 16. CREDIT CARD SECURITY - NPR's John McChesney reports that Visa and Mastercard have agreed on a single technical standard that they say will allow for secure purchases over the Internet. The two credit card giants had been pursuing different systems with conflicting security specifications. Today's announcement means banks and consumers will not have to worry about choosing one system over the other.

Lawyers for some of the nation's largest retailers say Visa and MasterCard illegally thwarted for years the growth of debit-card networks, The Wall Street Journal reports. The allegations stem from recently unsealed court documents from a class-action suit that includes Wal-Mart and Sears. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

It was announced today - "the electronic cash" of the future. Citibank, Chase Manhattan, Mastercard and Visa announced a joint project...The idea being-- a consumer loads the amount money onto a plastic card... much like a Metro or phone card or debit card.. let's say $100. This card would be accepted in lieu of cash at places like the dry cleaners or in a taxicab. The difference between this and a debit card? It's quicker to process. There will be a test run by year's end in New York, city. Robert Siegel talks with Henry Lichstein (Lick-stine), the vice-president for advanced technology at Citibank, about this "cash of the future."

Companies including PayPal and Apple are competing to convince merchants and consumers to use their swipe-and-go mobile payment systems. Credit card breaches may speed up the use of digital wallets.

The fees merchants pay for accepting credit cards are much higher in the U.S. than in Europe. Ice cream shop owner Victor Garcia, for example, paid more than $25,000 in swipe fees last year.

Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Visa have all announced that they are limiting policies requiring you to make your mark. They say advances in technology make fraud less likely.