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Ancel Martinez of member station KQED reports from San Francisco about the legal limbo faced by marijuana growers and dealers after the passage of proposition 215 last year. The law is supposed to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, but it is very vague defining how the drug can be bought and sold.

NPR's Joe Palca reports on a directive issued today by President Clinton that immediately prohibits any use of government funds for human cloning. The action was pre-emptive as there are no federal projects currently underway to develop human cloning techniques. But some scientists say that the ban could have a negative effect over time if it inhibits scientific inquiry into the medical applications of cloning techniques.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Tirana on the leading opposition figure, Socialist Fatos Nano, who is now calling for calm and public support for the multi-party unification government. Nano, just freed from jail last week and pardoned by President Berisha, made his call as calm was maintained for the second day in the Albanian capital...despite continued armed anarchy in the Albanian south.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Tel Aviv on the suicide bomber who walked into a crowded cafe and blew himself up, killing three Israelis and wounding dozens. The suicide bombing was the first in a year, even as the Middle East peace process has turned acrimonious as a result of Israel's decision to build a new housing settlement on disputed land in East Jerusalem.

- As El Salvador prepares to hold congressional and local elections tomorrow, the leftwing National Liberation Front -- now a political party after fighting a guerrilla war for five years -- is poised to win a sizeable chunk of the vote from the ruling ARENA Party. Reporter Mike Lanchin profiles one of the more interesting candidates for Congress, a charismatic former guerrilla leader named Maria Navarette (nava-RET-tay).

Jon Miller reports from Lima on the emotional strain the three-month hostage standoff has created for the families of the hostages being held in the Japanese ambassador's residence. The wife of one hostage, the Bolivian ambassador to Peru, talks about how hard it's been, the brief letters she and her husband are allowed to exchange, and her efforts to remain strong for her family.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports from Moscow that President Boris Yeltsin has ordered his entire cabinet to resign, except for the top two men. Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin and his deputy Anatoly Chubais will stay on to form a new government. Giving control to Chernomyrdin and Chubais is seen as an attempt by Yeltsin to gain control of the Russian economy and push for economic reforms begun in the early 90's.

Carolyn Jack reports from Toronto on the growing exodus of English-speaking people from the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec. Ever since Quebec nearly voted to break away from Canada in October 1995, Anglophones have been choosing to move to other parts of Canada. Those who leave say they can no longer tolerate living under Quebec's independence-minded government.

A panel headed by Republican Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee is preparing to investigate allegations of improper fundraising by the Democratic National Committee. NPR's Peter Overby reports on whether Thompson's approach to the investigation is more likely to resemble the Watergate or Whitewater hearings. The process could be crucial to President Clinton's second term, pending campaign finance legislation, and Thompson's political future. He is being touted as a possible presidential candidate.

NPR's Mark Roberts profiles Stephen Jones, the defense attorney for Timothy McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombing trial. In this report Jones explains why he took the case. Some tell Roberts that Jones is just a well prepared defense attorney who has a penchant for representing underdogs. Others, especially families of victims of the bombing, describe him as a media hound seeking notoriety. -b-