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NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from Kabul on the plight of women in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago Taleban leaders in Afghanistan issued an edict banning women from working for foreign aid agencies. The ban is the latest action by the Taleban to curtail the activities of women under its interpretation of Islamic law.

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports that a study released today by the RAND Corporation concludes that public school students have greatly improved their academic test scores since 1990. The study shows that one major reason for the gains is smaller class sizes.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports on efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to stabilize his political career after the collapse of the Camp David summit. Today Israeli and Palestinian negotiators announced their plan to resume the peace talks on Sunday.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports that the House of Representatives passed another tax cut yesterday. The measure decreases the amount of social security income that is subject to taxation. Critics of the Republican-led move say this and other recent tax cuts could lead to budget deficits in the future.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports that Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would prevent parents from testifying in court against their children. The legislation would give the parent-child relationship the same confidential or privileged status as that between a husband and wife or a patient and their doctor.

The American Medical Association's recent moves on Capitol Hill -- like its advertising campaign targeting vulnerable Republican senate seats -- have demonstrated little love for the Republicans on whom they once relied. NPR's Julie Rovner reports on the growing rift between the AMA and the GOP.

NPR's Ted Clark reports the Camp David summit is now in its seventh day, and US officials say the pace of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations has accelerated. In an interview published Monday, President Clinton said he was more optimistic than when the summit began, but added that he does not know if an agreement is possible.

NPR's Joe Palca reports from Madison, Wisconsin on an annual scientific conference held by the Society for the Study of Reproduction. One contraceptive strategy aimed at women appears promising, but some at the conference are concerned that not enough strategies address concerns about sexually transmitted diseases.

NPR's Wendy Schmelzer reports that even young men need to worry about their cholesterol levels. A study in this week's Journal of The American Medical Association finds that men who had high cholesterol in their 20s and 30s were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease later in life.

NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports from Lima on today's swearing-in of Peru's controversial President Alberto Fujimori. There were some clashes between police and thousands of opposition supporters demonstrating against Fujimori, who won re-election to an unprecedented third term in May. International observers derided the election as unfair.