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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.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews Pay it Forward.

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.

Actor Kevin Spacey. He won an Academy Award for best actor in the film American Beauty. He's starring in the new film Pay it Forward with Helen Hunt. (REBROADCAST from 5

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

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.

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.

Host Rene Montagne talks with reporter John Miller about the growing political crisis in Peru. Former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos returned to the country today after fleeing a corruption scandal last month. President Alberto Fujimori has resisted calls that he step down immediately, despite the resignation of one of his vice-presidents over the Montesinos' return.

Noah is joined by best-selling novelist, Barbara Kingsolver, author of Prodigal Summer. They discuss how Kingsolver researches the settings and characters of her novels. This one is set in southern Appalachia - a place that the novelist knows well. Kingsolver says she must spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the character and rhythm of a location before writing about it. Kingsolver has also written The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams, and Pigs in Heaven. (7:45) Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver, is published by Harper Collins, October 2000, ISBN # 0-06-019965-2.