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A new study finds an intriguing reason why boys born prematurely are at a greater risk for developmental and cognitive problems than girls. Premature boys, by age 8, have less white matter -- the material that allows different parts of the brain to communicate with each other. NPR's Michelle Trudeau reports.

The Bush administration is trying to ease the mounting tensions between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia, exhorting Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to show restraint during meetings in Washington. Georgia is trying to re-assert control over two breakaway regions, where Russia has aided separatists. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

With final polls showing the race still deadlocked, President Bush spent much of the weekend in Florida. Sen. John Kerry traveled from the Midwest to Florida and prepares for a final, frantic round of swing states. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea and NPR's Scott Horsley.

On Friday -- for the first time in more than a year -- Osama bin Laden appeared in a videotaped message to the United States. Bin Laden appealed directly to the American people to change American policies in the Middle East. He also threatened more attacks if those policies are not changed. NPR's Mike Shuster reports.

Some U.S. utility companies manipulate lead tests for drinking water, according to The Washington Post. Analyzing 65 water systems, the paper found that high lead levels were concealed from regulators. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and Post reporter Carol Leonnig.

Probes of the nation's insurance industry widen, as California joins New York in investigating insurance sales practices. California's insurance commissioner plans to ban brokers from steering customers to certain policies in exchange for hidden commissions. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

A terrorism trial at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, came to an abrupt halt Monday after a federal judge ruled that the defendant had not been given a chance to show he is a prisoner of war. Salim Ahmed Hamden's lawyers had challenged his detention in federal court. Hear NPR's Jackie Northam.

A new Microsoft upgrade tries to make Windows XP more secure against attack. Service Pack 2 contains a program -- known as a firewall -- that keeps out some destructive computer worms. But the upgrade doesn't always work well with computers that already have firewalls installed. Hear NPR's Larry Abramson.

Fattah candidate Mahmoud Abbas declares victory over rival Mustafa Barghouti in Palestine's presidential race. With turnout estimated at more than 60 percent, polls show a large lead for Abbas, who would succeed Yasser Arafat. Hear NPR's Jacki Lyden and NPR's Julie McCarthy.

A report by the National Research Council says there is still room for improvement at the National Zoo, but concludes the zoo has made strides toward providing better conditions for its animals. Congress asked for this independent review in 2002 when two endangered red pandas died after eating rat poison buried in their enclosure.