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The "NPR Players" react to the constant stream of mergers in our society. In a series of commercial spoofs, they attempt to capture the constant transformations of companies and company names.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports on a controversy over the design of a new national theater building in Beijing. Building a national theatre is a matter of great pride to the people of Beijing. The Chinese capital has no such facility and lags far behind the city of Shanghai in theatre arts. But many are upset over the design, by a French architect. It calls for something resembling a huge titanium egg, surrounded by the monolithic, very square Stalinist buildings that rim Tiananmen Square, the spiritual heart of the city.

Commentator James Ponewozik says that the biggest innovation of the TV season isn't a show that's new this fall - it's the long life of one of the biggest hits of the summer. Survivor is still going strong - with cast members showing up in many CBS TV. shows this fall. It will keep the buzz about Survivor going until the next show - Survivor in Australia - goes on the air in January. In its brilliant efficiency, CBS is sort of like the Plains Indian tribes who used every part of the buffalo: from ads to books to soundtrack CDs, CBS has figured out how to sell every part of Survivor.

Elysa Gardner reviews the new CD by The Wallflowers, Breach. The Wallflowers' front man in Jakob Dylan - son of Bob Dylan - and Gardner says that Jakob is a strong musical presence in his own right. (4:00) Breach, by The Wallflowers is on Interscope Records.

Robert talks to Geneive Abdo, Tehran Correspondent for The Guardian newspaper and author of No God But God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam. Abdo says the Egyptian people in general are strikingly more "anti-Israel" than the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (4:30)No God But God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam by Geneive Abdo is published by Oxford University Press, 2000.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports there was widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza today, dimming hopes for the cease-fire announced earlier this week. Israeli troops fought gun battles with Palestinians in some areas. In others, the Israelis clashed with rock-throwing demonstrators. At least nine Palestinians were reported killed, and there were injuries on both sides.

NPR's Michael Sullivan in Cairo reports Arab leaders are gathering in the Egyptian capital for a week-end summit conference, called to voice support for the Palestinians in their confrontation with Israel. Egyptian analysts expect the summit to conclude with a strong denunciation of Israel, but also with a reaffirmation of support for the peace process.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr examines the evolution of George W. Bush's policy on American involvement in the Balkans.

Vice President Al Gore began his kitchen table tour today, having breakfast with a small business owner and her 14-month-old son in Portland, Oregon. Gore is in the Pacific Northwest to stress his stand on the environment and consumer issues. He's hoping to head off defections to the Green Party campaign of Ralph Nader. Polls show both Oregon and Washington close enough for Nader's vote to make Republican nominee George W. Bush the winner. Linda Wertheimer talks to NPR's Andy Bowers.

No issue has divided the two major party presidential candidates more sharply than Social Security. Vice President Al Gore campaigns on guaranteeing current benefits for retirees and those who will soon retire. Texas Governor George W. Bush stresses the need to provide for younger workers by investing some Social Security funds in the stock market. And each candidate accuses the other of pitting one generation against another. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Commentator Joe Loconte warns that supporters of religious freedom and supporters of abortion right are on a collision course over laws that require contraception be included on health insurance policies for state or federal employees. These laws pit a belief opposing contraception and abortion against a requirement to provide means to both. Loconte argues that these new laws are a violation of basic civil liberties.

Texas Governor George W. Bush has expanded his presidential campaign team to include a squad of his fellow Republican governors. The governors rallied with Bush in Kansas City today before fanning out across the country to campaign for the national GOP ticket. Bush told a cheering crowd that the Clinton-Gore administration has been an obstacle to reform at the state level, because it defended a dominant policy-making role for Washington. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Linda talks to Birger Haraldseid, a spokesperson for the Norwegian subsidiary of the Haliburton Corporation about his company's salvage efforts on the sunken Russian submarine, Kursk. The bodies of Russian sailors have been trapped inside the Kursk since it sank in August. The plan is for Haliburton divers to begin bringing the bodies to the surface this week, but bad weather has been complicating the operation.

NPR's Kenneth Walker in Abidjan reports an opposition candidate is claiming a surprise victory in Sunday's presidential election in Ivory Coast. Laurent Gbagbo says he has defeated Retired General Robert Guei who came to power in last year's military coup.

Wade Goodwyn reports on a study by a Texas advocacy group that says the state's death penalty system needs a drastic overhaul. The report, by the Texas Defender Service, says the system is full of dishonest prosecutors, incompetent defense attorneys, a weak appeals process, and racial bias in sentencing and jury selection.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says the trouble in the Middle East is a headline-grabbing situation unsuitable for political gain -- bad news for George W. Bush and Al Gore.

Noah talks with Sam Web, Chairman of the Communist Party USA about Gus Hall, who has died at the age of 90. Hall was Chair of the Communist Party in the U.S. for many years, and he ran for president on the party ticket four times. Web says Hall never lost his optimism and hope for Communism in America, and recently was happy to see so many young people involved in protests against the World Trade Organization, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Robert speaks with Robert Pelletreau, former Assistant Secretary of State, about the lack of popular support among Israelis and Palestinians for final compromises in the peace negotiations. They discuss what Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak must do for the peace process to be able to resume successfully.

Researchers say adolescents often think that vaping pot is safer than smoking it. But it can increase the risk of dependence, other substance use and many other health, social and behavioral problems.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem reports there were more clashes in the West Bank and Gaza today, even as the Israeli and Palestinian leaders were meeting in Egypt in an attempt to end the violence of the past two-and-a-half weeks.