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NPR's Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem reports that Palestinian students returned to classes this week with something new in their school bags - textbooks written and published by Palestinians. Predictably, the new books have already stirred controversy over what they say, and what they don't say, about Israel.

Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr notes that the prospects are not good for any progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Today, Margot Adler dipped into the smorgasbord of protests surrounding the UN Millennium Summit in New York. More than 91 demonstrations were scheduled over the three days of the meeting. Adler visited with protesters including some from Iran and Togo, and everywhere there was music by demonstrating members of China's Falun Gong sect.

In France, protests over the high cost of gasoline have blocked transportation routes and forced gas stations around the country to hang "empty" signs, turning customers away. French truckers and farmers are decrying a forty-percent increase in gas prices in the past year, and demanding a cut in taxes that contribute to the high price of gas there. There are talks between the protesting groups and the government to reduce the gas taxes. Linda talks with reporter Jim Bitterman, who is in Paris.

Noah talks to Terry DeGlau, Kodak Manager for trade relations in photography, about how he was able to get all of the world leaders at the U.N. Summit to pose for a group picture. The photo includes Castro, Arafat, Barak, Khatami, Putin, Zemin - 150 world leaders in all, never before photographed together.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports oil prices pushed higher again today despite word from Saudi Arabia that it will back another production increase. The price for two popular benchmark crudes rose to more than 34 dollars a barrel. President Clinton, in New York for the U.N. meeting, said he had told Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah that prices were too high and that OPEC should take appropriate action on the issue.

Republican candidate George W. Bush, the frontrunner for more than a year in the presidential campaign, saw his lead suddenly disappear after the conventions this summer and has yet to recover his edge. So, today in Michigan, Bush said he was ready to make a few changes in his campaign style and negotiate some debate details with the campaign of Democratic rival Al Gore. Steve Inskeep reports for NPR News.

Reporter Chad Swiatecki, of Michigan's Flint Journal uses a wheelchair. He was assigned last weekend to cover the Al Gore visit to his area. But the auto plant Gore was visiting was not wheelchair accessible, and neither was the bus used by the campaign. The Secret Service would not let Chad follow in his own car. Swiatecki comments on the event.

Mark Scott reports teachers in Buffalo, New York are walking the picket lines today. After two years without a contract, the teachers voted to strike despite a New York State law that forbids them to do so.

Soldiers in the Gulf War were exposed to a wide variety of agents including the nerve gas Sarin, vaccines designed to protect them from biological weapons, and the depleted uranium in tank armor. A report published today reviews the evidence linking these and other agents to the unexplained illnesses subsequently reported by Gulf War veterans. NPR News Science Correspondent Richard Harris has this story.