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Sierra Leone's civil war officially ended in 2002 with landmark elections that promised a new beginning for the West African country. But many men, women and children who were left amputees after being caught up in the conflict are a visible reminder of the struggles that still lie ahead.

Almost all parties trying to halt the fighting in the Middle East agree on this: A multinational force should be deployed to the Israel-Lebanon border as soon as possible. That's where the agreement ends.

Commentator Machlyn Blair isn't an immigrant, but he sees a lot of parallels between the current immigration debate and the story of his own life. Blair is a 19-year-old living in rural Kentucky. But he suspects he may not be able to live there for long. He wonders if he'll have to leave everything he knows in order to make a better living.

The sustainability advocate offers advice for going green later in life and tips for turning your backyard into an edible oasis.

Pentagon officials have reportedly decided to omit a Geneva Convention rule against "humiliating and degrading treatment" of detainees from a new Army manual. Alex Chadwick speaks to Los Angeles Times reporter Julian Barnes, who broke the story about the Pentagon's proposal.

California was one of the first states to institute term limits. Now it's on the leading edge of a new trend. In Tuesday's primary, three wives, one husband and two brothers are running for a family member's seat in the state assembly. Tamara Keith of member station KPCC reports.

Five news organizations have agreed to a $750,000 payment to settle a lawsuit by former government scientist Wen Ho Lee. Media watch organizations call the development troubling, since Lee did not sue for libel, but rather for violation of privacy.

The oldest known copy of Archimedes’ work lies hidden under the pages of a 13th century prayer book. For years, scientists and scholars tried to decipher what ancient script they could. Now, new technology is allowing them to look past the prayer book to the wealth of knowledge underneath.

After more than a decade of destruction, the Russian region of Chechnya is now being rebuilt. The new signs of stability are welcome to most Chechens, but human rights groups say the region's pro-Moscow government is using fear and corruption to govern a traumatized population.

With a symbolic changing of flags, the command of troops in southern Afghanistan shifted from United States to NATO control Monday. NATO will now lead forces from 37 countries in six southern Afghan provinces. The area has seen the worst fighting since the Taliban was overthrown in 2001.

Ground combat came nearly to a halt Saturday between the Israeli army and the forces of Hezbollah in Lebanon, as Israel pulled its troops out of the Lebanese town of Bint Jbail. But Israel kept up its air and artillery barrages of southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into Israel. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rice has returned to Israel for further talks.

Polls open Sunday in Congo for that nation's first democratic elections in more than 40 years. Many hope the vote will help turn the page after decades of dictatorship and civil war.

The attorney general of Texas is asking Louisiana officials to issue warrants for felons who fled Katrina by evacuating to Texas. Authorities in Texas say hundreds of felons have remained in their state illegally and are a threat to public safety. From member station KUT in Austin, Larry Schoolar reports.

Debra McCoskey-Reisert remembers her brother, Bobby McCoskey, who died from COVID. Bobby loved the song "Closing Time" by Semisonic, because they played it at dances he attended.

Madeleine Albright, the former secretary of state under President Bill Clinton, talks about her book The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs. Her previous book is Madam Secretary: A Memoir.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Sweden's Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist after his meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, about his country's decision on joining NATO.

Today's expensive gasoline is making people look for alternatives. That has opened doors of opportunity for entrepreneurs like Andrew Perlman, who is betting that the newest fuel will be made from one of humanity's oldest: coal.

The Justice Department will compare U.S. and British anti-terror laws to see if any British tactics should be adopted. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has expressed interest in the powers held by his U.K. counterparts, including the ability to hold terrorism suspects without charge for up to 28 days. But the U.S. Constitution could doom tougher detention laws. And U.S. officials may already have enough power to effectively pursue terrorists.

The news that Karl Rove will not be prosecuted in the CIA leak investigation ends months of speculation surrounding the man known as the 'architect' or 'boy genius' for his successful management of President Bush's campaigns -- and for crafting a presidential grand strategy for conservatism in the 21st century.

A new study published by scientists at the University of North Carolina concludes that African-American women under 50 who have breast cancer get sicker, need more aggressive treatment and are more likely to die than white women. Rose Hoban of North Carolina Public Radio reports.

After years of study, Rocky Mountain National Park has become the first national park to establish a "critical load" for pollution. The load represents the limit beyond which pollutants cause harm to wildlife and plants. The nitrogen levels in the park are already more than twice the critical load.

The budget of a proposed World Trade Center memorial has surged to almost $1 billion. Beth Fertig of member station WNYC visits an aircraft hangar at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City where wreckage and artifacts from the fallen Twin Towers are being housed until the memorial plans are finalized.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with rising opera star and break dancer Jakub Jozef Orlinski, whose new album "Farewells" is a collection of Polish opera classics, little known to the rest of the world.

Actress Rosie Perez steps behind the camera for a documentary on Puerto Rico's people, politics, and culture. Perez, actor Jimmy Smits, and co-director Liz Garbus discuss Yo Soy Boricua, Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas! (I Am a Boricua, Just So You Know It.)

President Bush arrives in Baghdad for a surprise meeting with leaders of Iraq's new government. The president was scheduled to meet Iraqis by teleconference, but went in person instead.