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NPR's Linda Gradstein reports Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has authorized construction in Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank at a pace that exceeds that of his predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu. Palestinians and peace groups had hoped that in his stated quest for peace, Barak would freeze settlement building. The US has called settlement building an impediment to peace. But in his first three months in office there has been no freeze.

Robert talks to Christopher Andrew, who collaborated with former KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin to write the book, The Sword and The Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB. The book details how for 20 years Mitrokhin copied information from top secret documents in the KGB archives, and gives a rare inside view of the soviet spy operation. (7:45) The Sword and The Shield is published by Basic Books, September 1999.

NPR's John Ydstie reports President Clinton addressed a gathering of finance ministers and central bankers today at the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The President announced the US will take steps to forgive the debt of some of the world's poorest countries. He said the money should instead be spent by poor countries on basic human needs.

At StoryCorps, a mother remembers her son, an Army specialist who died by suicide in 2012. His wounds may not have been immediate or physical, she said, but war gave him a "sad heart."

Poet Kwame Alexander has created a poem from submissions about the challenges of the past year and our dreams for the future. It ends with: "For through the struggle, we may hope to become stronger."

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on the latest change to the presidential primary and caucus schedule. New Hampshire, historically the nation's first primary state, announced it was moving its date back one week, to February 1, 2000, because Louisiana had moved theirs back to February 8. Iowa, whose caucuses were scheduled for January 31, may now have to move back to January 24. All in all, another bizarre indication of how the presidential season is starting earlier than ever.

John Lurie is a saxophone player, actor, the voice of Molson on Ice, and star of his own fishing program. His band the Lounge Lizards turns 20 this year, and Lurie has released three new music projects. All Things Considered Director Bob Boilen has a profile of this offbeat big band leader. (7:00) CD's heard in this piece are the Lounge Lizards "Queen of All Ears" and the score to Manni and Lo and African Swim, by John Lurie, all the cd's are on the label Strange and Beautiful Music

On the government's fiscal calendar the new year begins Friday, and NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that it's not going to be a holiday.

NPR's David Kestenbaum reports on the first known death in a study of gene implantation. An 18-year-old Arizona man with a rare metabolic disease died in mid-September after undergoing the experimental therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. Experts say the fatality could force changes in the way these experiments are performed and may slow down the advance of so-called "gene-therapy."

Anne Sutton of member station KTOO in Juneau reports that Alaska's love affair with tourism is showing signs of strain. The seasonal influx of visitors has put wear and tear on the state's infrastructure, and residents aren't sure the tourist dollars that come with them are enough to offset the damage. So voters will go to polls October 5th to decide whether to level a per-head tax on out of state visitors.

Linda talks to Nadine Selden of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from her office in Istanbul. Selden says relief efforts are still underway for people effected by the earthquake in Turkey six weeks ago. The most recent aftershock was this morning. Selden says that ten-thousand winterized tents are being prepared for people who have no permanent housing.

General Motors has reached a settlement in a lawsuit resulting from a 1997 car accident. In the crash, a Chevrolet Chevette was struck by another vehicle, and burst into flames, killing the driver. The motorist's widow sued GM. The number-one automaker was sharply criticized by the judge in the case for its efforts to keep two key documents out of the proceedings. The documents date back to 1973 and 1981 and both relate of the potential cost of lawsuits from collisions where a gas-tank fire erupted. Robert speaks with NPR's Don Gonyea about the case.

Linda speaks with former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, who is competing with Vice President Gore for the Democratic Party's nomination for President. He joins us from Los Angeles.

NPR's David Welna reports that barring last minute roadblocks, Illinois Governor George Ryan will become the first sitting US governor to visit Cuba under Castro's rule, even though many in his party are denouncing the trip.

In Nevada, tribal opposition to a proposed lithium mine is testing the White House's pledge to electrify America's transportation system and give more of a voice to indigenous people in federal lands.

Gun rights advocates lauded the new state law for removing what they considered an unfair burden on firearms owners, but gun safety groups and law enforcement organizations opposed it.

Questions continue to be raised about how the game was scheduled and whether the Columbus, Ohio, high school even exists.

A longtime touring member of The Rolling Stones, Tim Ries says his favorite nights were the ones without a show — when he and Watts would sneak into town to play the music they loved most.

The blockbuster movies have been pushed back once again — Top Gun: Maverick is now scheduled to hit theaters in the spring and Mission: Impossible 7 won't be released until next September.

President Biden's approval rating slid to just 43%, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll. The decline is principally due to independents, a key swing group.