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NPR's Don Gonyea reports on the White House meeting today between President Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Yoshio Mori. Both countries are experiencing economic slowdowns, but the two leaders, in a joint statement, pledged to work together and expressed optimism about the future.

President Bush's effort to channel more social service money to faith-based organizations has run into problems with some religious leaders. Several high profile spokesmen have said the president's initiative, while welcome, would pose too many risks of government interference in the work of religious charities. But today, a group of African-American ministers came to Washington to proclaim their willingness to work with White House and federal agencies under the program. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

Banning Eyre reviews the new CD Oh What a World by Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady. Brady used to be known as one of the greatest voices in traditional Irish music, but now his reputation as a pop songwriter is quickly growing. He's written songs for Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Carlos Santana and many others, a fact that causes a little anguish for die-hard fans of traditional Irish music. Paul Brady's CD is Oh What a World on Compass Records, catalog number 7-4304-2. Compass Records can be contacted at info@compassrecords.com.

NPR's diplomatic correspondent Vicky O'Hara reports on Ariel Sharon's first day of talks in Washington as Israel's prime minister. Sharon is meeting with the secretaries of state and defense, and the national security adviser. He is due to meet President Bush tomorrow.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr notes some of the foreign concerns on President Bush's mind as he tries to deal with the economy.

Noah Adams talks with NPR's Nina Totenberg about the Bush administration's reported decision not to submit judicial nominations to the American Bar Association for screening. The president of the ABA, Martha Barnett, met with White House Counsel Al Gonzalez and Attorney General John Ashcroft today. She says she was not told the ABA would be losing its traditional role. Barnett says Gonzalez and Ashcroft said the administration is still considering what to do.

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports that the Bush administration is rescinding environmental regulations that were approved in the last days of Bill Clinton's presidency. The latest rules to be reversed include one that requires the mining industry to post clean-up bonds and another that would reduce arsenic content in drinking water.Earlier, the Bush administration cancelled a rule that would have required lower carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that Vatican officials have been ordered by Italy's environment minister to reduce the power of the radio transmitters that broadcast the Pope's speeches.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Sen. John McCain, Republican from Arizona, about the campaign finance reform debates. Supporters of proposed McCain-Feingold bill are trying to restrict the amount of money that can be used for national campaigns. McCain says this would make incumbents to vote against something that keeps them in office.

NPR's Michelle Kelemen reports that with the descent of the Russian Space Station Mir, Russian space officials and cosmonauts wonder where their next job will be.