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NPR's Tom Gjelten reports President Clinton will head to Colombia tomorrow on a one-day trip highlighting the new billion-dollar US-Colombian program to fight the drug trade. The visit comes at a time when Colombians are despairing over the problems they face, and Colombian leaders say their people need to be encouraged. Critics of the President's trip say it is poorly timed, given the unsatisfactory efforts of Colombian government. The Clinton Administration last week waived requirements that the Colombian government show human rights improvements before receiving additional US aid.

In France, protests over the high cost of gasoline have blocked transportation routes and forced gas stations around the country to hang "empty" signs, turning customers away. French truckers and farmers are decrying a forty-percent increase in gas prices in the past year, and demanding a cut in taxes that contribute to the high price of gas there. There are talks between the protesting groups and the government to reduce the gas taxes. Linda talks with reporter Jim Bitterman, who is in Paris.

NPR's Jack Speer reports the Federal Trade Commission has given the auto industry a green light on its plan to set up a massive online marketplace for buying auto parts. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, and Nissan as well as more than a dozen parts suppliers are involved. The FTC had been concerned that such an alliance among competitors could lead to collusion and price signaling, but approved the plan in a unanimous vote.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports that gasoline prices in the Midwest have dropped dramatically this month. In June, prices in Chicago and throughout the Midwest skyrocketed past $2 per gallon. Now, costs have dropped to as low as $1.27 in Indiana, and other states are close behind. Last month's rise led to investigations into claims of price fixing and the 0suspensions of gas taxes in several states. Oil producers attribute the drop in gas prices to fixing a pipeline problem that had limited its ability to deliver the fuel.

NPR's Joshua Levs reports from member station WABE in Atlanta on To Conserve a Legacy a new traveling exhibition of African-American artwork. For years, black colleges and universities collected many paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs from students, teachers, or independent artists. Together, two hundred of these works chronicle the expression of blacks during different times in the nation's history. The exhibit is currently in Atlanta, and is scheduled to go to Durham, North Carolina, Nashville, and Norfolk, Virginia.

Amazon.com just turned five years old and the company may have reached a pivotal moment. As NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports, the Internet pioneer has experienced phenomenal growth, gaining some 20-million customers. But it has piled up lots of debt, is struggling to control its massive inventory, and still hasn't earned a dime. Some analysts say Amazon could run out of cash as early as next year. Amazon boosters disagree and insist the company is on the path to profitability.

NPR's Ted Clark reports from Camp David that the morning after the summit nearly collapsed, Israeli Prime Minister Barak and Palestinian leader Arafat and their delegations resumed talks today after a late start to catch up on sleep from the marathon talks that had been mediated by President Clinton. With Clinton flying off to Okinawa,. Secretary Albright will continue the mediating effort and talks are expected to continue at same level of intensity until the president returns Sunday or Monday.

Despite the fact that he made many movies in France, Jules Dassin was not a French filmmaker. He was an American who made movies abroad because he was blacklisted here. Rififi is a classic caper film - it inspired Kubrick and Tarantino. It's being re-released in theaters for the first time in more than 40 years - starting a national tour in New York today. You might also know some of Dassin's other films: The Naked City, Never on Sunday, Topkapi. David D'Arcy reports.

Veta Christy of Peach State Public Radio reports from Atlanta on a new paging system that's being installed on school buses and alerts school children in the morning, when their bus is within a few minutes of picking them up. It's called the Bus Pal, and sends a signal from the bus to a pager in the home, alerting them that the bus is approaching. It also alerts parents or caregivers, when students are about to be dropped off after school.

NPR's Tovia Smith reports from Lowell, Massachusetts, that some Cambodian-Americans have mixed feelings today about the death of former Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. Many were relieved to hear news of the death of the man responsible for the killing of more than a million people between 1975 and 1979. But many also were saddened to lose the opportunity to see Pol Pot brought to justice for his crimes.