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NPR's Sarah Chayes reports on the rebirth of the rich musical tradition of the French island of Corsica. Back in the 1970's, when musicologists first started reviving ancient folk melodies, French authorities worried the songs could fuel separatism. Corsican nationalists did, indeed, use the island's unique polyphonic singing style to boost support for their cause. But many musicians object to the notion that their art is political. (5:45) You can find this music at http://www.corsicata.com/en/ There is also other Corsican music available from Harmonia Mundia, a US distributed label Harmonia Mundi HMC 901256 title: Corsica chants polyphoniques E Voce di u Cumune they have a web site http://www.harmoniamundi.com/hmUS/homeUS.asp Also there is a little shop in Corsica if you speak French. 011 334 9550

President Clinton has returned to Washington after a weekend trip to Africa. NPR's Mike Shuster reports that on his way home, Mr. Clinton stopped in Cairo for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak about the Middle East Peace process. They met for over an hour at the Cairo airport. Before the meeting, Clinton said he thinks that all the parties understand that without the leadership and support of Egypt, they will not be able to achieve a peace settlement.

Commentator Bill Harley reflects on the fact that Pete Seeger once accidentally left his banjo on top of a car. It was lost but later returned. Harley himself has left a guitar in many places, and sympathizes with Pete.

Ina Jaffe reports on a ruling by a U.S. District Court judge that the Los Angeles Police Department can be sued under federal racketeering laws. Lawyers representing clients who had been abused by officers of the LAPD's Rampart Division hope to use the RICO statute to press their cases.

Andy Bowers reports on how the people of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho deal with having a large white supremacist group living in their community. Despite numerous awards from human rights groups, the town continues to be branded as a haven for racists.

NPR's Steve Inskeep compares the differing approaches of Presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush toward reforming the Social Security system. Bush favors a plan that would allow people to invest part of their Social Security retirement taxes in private stock market accounts. Gore opposes radical changes to the current system. He supports keeping all Social Security taxes in the federal system and giving people the option of opening supplemental retirement accounts.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Steve Goose, the program director of Human Rights Watch, and editor of a report to be released Thursday from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. It shows progress since the signing of the 1997 international treaty to ban the use, manufacture or trade of anti-personnel mines.

The way that American elections are financed was a major topic in the presidential primaries, when some candidates saw the subject as a way to cut the frontrunners down to size. But then the frontrunners got nominated, and talk about campaign finances took on a different role in the debate. Now, with Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore the party standard-bearers, the subject is mostly used as a metaphor for issues of character. For NPR News, Peter Overby reports.

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.

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.