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NPR's John Ydstie reports that once again the economy has outperformed expectations. The nation's gross domestic product increased five-point-two-percent in the second quarter, a much faster pace than most economists expected and a bit faster than growth in the first quarter. But even as overall growth sped up, inflation cooled off.

Linda Wertheimer speaks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about professional football. The NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and the first pre-season games of the year take place this weekend. Stefan also talks about changes in the network TV contract. Networks can now broadcast both of their doubleheader games on Sunday opposite another network's broadcast of a local team's home game. The league hopes more games on TV will translate into more interest in the NFL. Also, NFL owners have a vested interest in President Clinton signing the repeal of estate taxes. Stefan explains why.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Philadelphia, where the Republicans are holding their Platform Committee hearings in preparation for next week's presidential nominating convention. Republicans, following the lead of their presumed nominee, George W. Bush, are taking some of the tougher-edged rhetoric out of this year's document. But it remains a strongly conservative platform, as abortion-rights advocates were once again thwarted in their efforts to modify the plank.

NPR's Ted Clark reports the Israeli government has revived efforts to persuade the United States to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President Clinton broached the issue in an Israeli television interview today.

NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports from Lima on today's swearing-in of Peru's controversial President Alberto Fujimori. There were some clashes between police and thousands of opposition supporters demonstrating against Fujimori, who won re-election to an unprecedented third term in May. International observers derided the election as unfair.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports that officials from both Time Warner and America Online testified before the Federal Communications Commission yesterday. They're trying to convince the FCC to allow their planned merger. But a number of companies are opposing the business deal, saying it would put to much power in the hands of one company and could hurt consumers.

Host Lynn Neary talks with Republican Andrew Card and Democrat Terry McAuliffe, chairmen of their parties' conventions, about plans for the Republican Convention in Philadelphia and Democratic one in Los Angeles.

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports that President Vladimir Putin is meeting with 21 Russian businessmen today in an effort to ease rising tensions caused by legal cases against big companies. The criminal tax investigations into some of Russia's top business tycoons, is making them unhappy. They accuse the government of singling them out.

Los Angeles Times film critic Ken Turan reviews Eddy Murphy's new Movie, Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps. Murphy's portrayal of the overweight and idiosyncratic characters in his first Nutty Professor movie won acclaim. But Turan believes this time around, the jokes and characters have lost their appeal.

Some members of Congress are concerned that taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth when the federal government sells and swaps land in the West. NPR's Howard Berkes reports that an audit of Western land transactions by the General Accounting Office has found questionable deals.