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NPR's Ted Clark reports that the United Nations Security Council today broke a deadlock and selected Kofi Annan (KO-fee ah-NAHN) of Ghana to be the next U-N secretary general. Annan will succeed Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was blocked from a second term by the United States. For the past several days France had objected to Annan, but Paris joined the rest of the Security Council today in backing the Ghanaian, who currently is head of UN peacekeeping operations.

Rbert talks to Barton Gellman, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the Washington Post , about the decline in popularity of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In the six months since Netanyahu took office, there have been events that led to questions about Netanyahu's effectiveness...such as the violent response to the Israeli government's opening of a tourist tunnel and the inability of the government to negotiate a plan for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Hebron. At home and abroad, confidence in Netanyahu's effectiveness as a leader has waned.

Noah talks with Bart Hopkin about his CD and book set entitled "Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones", devoted to experimental musical instruments. Some sounds are generated with readily available objects - like flowerpots and junk metal; others are more complex inventions. Hopkin takes us on a tour of some of the wonderful and surprising sounds that are included on the CD.

- NPR's Don Gonyea reports that teamster President Ron Carey declared victory today in his bid for a second five-year term, confident that his slim lead over James P Hoffa, the son of labor legend Jimmie Hoffa, would hold.

Human rights groups are urging American Christmas shoppers not to buy toys manufactured in China. The so-called "toycott" has been attempted before, but was not very successful. This year, the effort faces two more obstacles: the Clinton administration's delinking of the issues of trade and human rights... and the large number of Chinese-made goods available. NPR's Paul Miller has a report.

The timberwolf has made a remarkable comeback in the continental United States in recent years, and is expected to come off the Endangered Species list in the near future. Now, the states which have substantial timberwolf populations are finding problems in managing their wolves, and balancing the need for protecting the animals with the need to control the numbers of wolves has proven to be very controversial. Catherine Winter of Minnesota Public Radio reports.

Commentator Bill Harley marvels at the recently discovered plant -- the world's oldest. He saves it's amazing that humans haven't gotten to it. He says it survived because its boring. It reminds him of the back of his refridgerator.

Maria Martin reports from Guatemala that the historic peace accord promises full legal and social rights for the nation's long-repressed Mayan Indian majority. The hope this has inspired in the Mayas is especially strong in Quezaltenango, Guatemala's second-largest city. It's the first major Guatemalan city to have a Mayan mayor and a Mayan majority on its city council. The mayor's efforts to improve services are beginning to win over non-Mayans.

NPR's Joe Neel reports on San Francisco's efforts to get dramatic new AIDS treatments -- which often require complicated regimens -- to people whose street lives don't lend themselves to routine: the homeless, drug users, and the mentally ill.

- Federal investigators don't know the exact cause of the TWA crash, but they say they know enough to call for changes in the way airlines operate their large aircraft and in the way those jetliners are built. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that big changes are instore for the airline industry if the recommendations are implemented.

NPR's Joe Palca reports on some of the new laws that take effect today, including changes in national park fees, tax credits, and new standards defining the people who are eligible to receive cash welfare assistance.

NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that Yale University is supervising a program to document the atrocities and executions of the Khmer Rouge regime. The documentation was being done to help bring the guilty to justice. But times have changed in Cambodia, and now the government is more interested in forging a more peaceful future than tracking down those guilty of genocide.

Critic Bob Mondello has a review of the Australian film, Shine. It's about a concert pianist...a one-time child prodigy who had spent a lot of time in mental institutions...who has been making a comeback. The film was recently honored by Australia's Film Institute, and found an enthusiastic reception at the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals.

- For the first time in half a century, workmen are cleaning up Grand Central Station in New York City. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports much of the work involves cleaning off the layers of grime that have obscured a celestial mural on Grand Central's high ceiling.

Alan Cheuse reviews James Cowan's new book A Mapmaker's Dream. It's the story of a Italian monk's quest to make a perfect map of the world. The book is set during the Renaissance in Venice, and is based in part on the true story of Fra Mauro, whose maps are in the central library in Venice.

NPR'S Julie McCarthy reports that the Asian Pacific Economic Conference ended today on a high note. Leaders of APEC endorsed a U.S. plan to substantially eliminate tariffs on information technology by the year 2000. And there also was progress on the diplomatic front, with China's President Jiang Zemin and President Clinton agreeing to exchange state visits.

In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in the number of Catholics who are choosing religious vocations. Some predictions are dire...suggesting that many religious orders may soon disappear. Among Catholic nuns, there are more women over the age of 90 than under 30.The Church is also having to face the economic and social problems involved in caring for this elderly population. Producer Mary Beth Kirchner reports on the future of nuns in America.

From Chicago, George Ofman (OFF-mun) reports on today's suspension of controversial pro basketball star Dennis Rodman. Rodman, a forward for the defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, was suspended without pay for at least 11 games and fined 25-thousand dollars for kicking a courtside photographer during a game this week. It is the second-longest suspension in National Basketball Association history.

President Clinton today awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Bob Dole. In his speech after the award, Senator Dole said "our challenge is not to question American ideals or to replace them, but to act worthy of them." At the same ceremony today at the White House, Mr. Clinton unveiled the winning design for the World War Two Memorial to be constructed on the National Mall in Washington.

The two newest teams in the National Football League, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers, have both advanced to the AFC and NFC Conference Championships. Linda talks with Peter King, who writes for Sports Illustrated, about how both teams have found such success, so early in their franchises' history.