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The BBC's Robert Parsons reports on the heavy fighting that is raging for the second straight day in the Chechen capital, Grozny. In Moscow, Russian President Boris Yeltsin says a peace plan for Chechnya is being finalized, but there is no indication he's ready to negotiate with Chechen rebels.

paid for months; and how the potential for unrest in the Russian coalfields could have political repercussions for President Yeltsin.

Robert talks to NPR's Joe Palca about a suspected outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the western African nation of Gabon. The World Health Organization says 19 people have become ill, including 10 who have died, since early February in a remote village in northern Gabon. Preliminary tests on blood samples support a diagnosis of Ebola, the WHO says, though additional tests will be needed for confirmation.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that numerous interest groups are trying to influence the Republican presidential candidates in New Hampshire this week with billboards, TV ads and appearances at campaign events. These advocacy groups range from environmentalists to defense contractors. They share a desire to get the candidates to be more specific on issues, something the campaigns try to avoid whenever possible.

Alan Cheuse reviews the novel The Woman Who Walked On Water by Lily Tuck. It's the story of a middle-aged woman in search of spiritual enlightenment in India. Published by Riverhead.

Noah Adams talks with the scientists who programmed the "Deep Blue" IBM computer for its ongoing chess match against world champion Gary Kasparov (kas-PAR-ov). After four games, Kasparov and Deep Blue have each won one match and tied twice. They are playing their penultimate game today.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports that two of the world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturers have decided to merge in one of the business world's biggest transactions ever. Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz are both Swiss firms. Together they will become the world's second largest drugmaker, behind the U.S.-British firm, Glaxo Wellcom. The stock swap is valued at more than $36 billion.

President Clinton is enjoying the luxury of a primary season in which he can campaign as much or as little as he chooses without fear of losing because he is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. NPR'S Mara Liasson reports that the lack of opponents gives him several advantages over his Republican rivals, who have to defeat one another for the GOP nomination. .

Noah talks to NPR's Melissa Block about former Congressman Jack Kemp's endorsement today of publisher Steve Forbes' presidential campaign. Kemp has been a major promoter of the idea of a flat tax, which is central to Forbes' campaign and his policies for economic growth. But coming on the day after Sen. Bob Dole's big primary wins in eight states, it was unclear what impact the Kemp endorsement would have.

Noah speaks with James Cusack, who covers security affairs for the Irish Times in Dublin. Cusack says the chances for a negotiated settlement between the British government and the IRA have diminished in the wake of the ascendency of the IRA's military wing. He says this hard-line inner core is more violent than the political leadership and less likely to negotiate.