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Ted Clark reports on growing U.S. concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies encouraging new Jewish settlement in occupied Arab lands are a direct threat to a long term peace between Israelis and Palestinians as envisaged in the Oslo peace accords. While Netanyahu's rhetoric continues to endorse the peace process, U.S. officials worry that his acts are increasingly an obstacle to the success of that process.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the campaign for president in the Republic of Chechnya. It's part of a peace deal that ended twenty-one months of bitter fighting as Chechens sought to break away from Russia. Two of the leading candidates are folk heroes. One was a Rebel commander in the Chechen conflict; the other is a Separatist leader who was reportedly killed last spring. Many Chechens believe this candidate is actually in hiding, and would return to claim his presidential seat if elected.

In Belgrade, demonstrators haven't been able to convince Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to change his decision about annulling the results of municipal elections that were held in November. But, they continue to march in the streets of Belgrade and their protest is gaining international support. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports that European countries...along with the United States...are beginning to look beyond the Milosevic regime.

Most Americans favor letting doctors help the terminally ill hasten their death -- particularly the young, who don't always understand what it's like for an old person dealing with a disabling illness. NPR's Wendy Schmelzer reports that a new survey of the elderly who are sick or depressed shows they are not having suicidal thoughts. Neither are the poor, the poorly educated and minorities who don't always feel in control of their health care. Most oppose assisted suicide.

The BBC's Jane Standley reports from Tanzania on the latest movements of hundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees. Tanzania has told the half-million Rwandans in camps there that they should go home by the end of the month. That had prompted many of the refugees to leave their camps and head away from Rwanda, but today large numbers headed back toward the camps. Tanzanian authorities insist it is safe for the refugees to return to Rwanda; many of the Hutu refugees fear retribution for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, carried out against Tutsis.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome on today's meeting in the Vatican between Pope John Paul the Second and Cuba's Fidel Castro. The Pope accepted what was called "an unconditional invitation" from Castro to visit Cuba. NO date has been set, but a Vatican spokesman said the trip will be sometime next year. Cuba is the only Latin American country Pope John Paul has not visited.

NPR's Vicky Que reports on Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler's decision to resign his position. The Clinton Administration had asked him to stay through the President's second term, but Kessler decided to step down. Kessler, a pediatrician and an attorney, was the object of widespread acclaim for his pressure on President Clinton to tackle the powerful tobacco industry...but had come under some fire in recent days regarding his expense accounts.

House Republicans unanimously re-nominated Newt Gingrich as House Speaker today, despite unresolved allegations of improper campaign finance activities by the Georgia Congressman. In his acceptance speech, Gingrich promised to work with President Clinton, and said the 105th Congress would be the "implementation Congress". The Republicans also re-elected Dick Armey of Texas as majority leader, as well as the rest of Gingrich's leadership team. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

NPR's Elaine Korry reports on efforts by Odwallah Inc., a growing natural foods company, to recover from the fallout from a recent outbreak of E.coli bacteria in its products. One child died and 50 more were made sick by E.coli bacteria in apple juice sold by Odwallah. Now the company is hoping its reputation as a maker of wholesome food can save the company, but Odwallah has to get through a raft of lawsuits and a drop in its stock price first.

NPR's Ann Cooper reports from the Zaire-Rwanda border on the heated dispute over how many Rwandan refugees remain in Zaire. The United States says there are fewer than two hundred thousand, while the United Nations refugee agency insists there are closer to seven hundred thousand. The argument is raging as the U-S and other nations discuss whether to dispatch a multinational military force to Zaire to help get aid to the stranded refugees.