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President Bush appeals to U.S. allies to help Iraq's transitional government establish a democracy. Bush, whose requests for NATO involvement in Iraq have been rebuffed by French and German leaders, said at the close of the Group of Eight summit that U.S. allies could send troops to help train Iraqi security forces. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Don Gonyea.

Legendary musician Ray Charles died Thursday at age 73. In honor of his great life and legacy, The Tavis Smiley Show is presenting a two-part tribute to Ray Charles. In 2002, Charles did his last NPR interview with NPR's Tavis Smiley. This is the first part of that conversation -- the second will follow on Monday.

NPR's Melissa Block follows U.S. Army recruiter Sgt. Jimmy Bowie to the home of Tyler Roberts, an 18-year-old Texan who has decided to enlist in the Army. She talks with Tyler's parents, who have mixed feelings about their son's decision.

Kamal al-Jarah, a senior member of the Iraqi education ministry, is killed outside his home in Baghdad -- the second such attack in as many days. This weekend's violence echoes warnings from the U.S.-led coalition that insurgents plan more attacks in the weeks leading to the handover of Iraqi sovereignty on June 30. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani defends the actions of city personnel who responded to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani tells the Sept. 11 commission that the time for blame has passed. His remarks drew heckles from the audience, which earlier heard a report that shortcomings in the city's communications raised the disaster's death toll.

The U.S. military reports it has had no trouble reaching its recruiting goals, even with the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. NPR's Melissa Block spends a few days with an Army recruiter in Texas for a look at what's inspiring young Americans to sign up.

NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to health commentator Dr. Ian Smith about whether genetic and environmental factors play key roles in why people suffer from asthma.

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to Slate legal affairs analyst Dahlia Lithwick about the latest Supreme Court ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance. The Court on Monday ruled against a California atheist's legal challenge to remove the phrase "under God" in the pledge -- but dodged the broader question of separation of church and state, by basing the ruling on a technicality.

Three General Electric foreign contractors are killed during a rush hour car bombing in downtown Baghdad. More than a dozen people died in the attack and at least 60 others were wounded. The continuing violence in the country has hampered reconstruction efforts, including the difficult task of reviving Iraq's electrical output. NPR's Michele Norris talks with New York Times reporter James Glanz.

Sedaris is the author of the bestselling collections Barrel Fever, Naked and Me Talk Pretty One Day. His new collection is Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Sedaris essays appear regularly in Esquire, GQ and The New Yorker. His radio pieces can be heard on This American Life. In 2001 he became the third recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor.

Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, the former U.S. commander of the Abu Ghraib prison, says the decision to abuse detainees was made much higher up the chain of command. Karpinsksi also tells the BBC that the current Iraq prisons chief, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, had suggested Karpinksi alter interrogation techniques at Abu Ghraib and once said prisoners should be treated "like dogs." Suzanne Chislett reports.

Iraq's interim prime minister says the United States will hand over Saddam Hussein to Iraqi authorities by the end of the U.S.-led occupation on June 30. Iraqi officials are racing to prepare criminal indictments against Saddam by June 30 to meet international law requirements. U.S. officials say they plan to retain custody of up to 5,000 other prisoners considered a threat to U.S. forces. Hear NPR's Deborah Amos.

Hollywood screenwriter Antwone Fisher wrote a movie about it, and Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell started a charity for it. In the third part of our week-long look at foster care in America, NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to both celebrities about the foster care system they grew up in and are now trying to change.

Sen. John Kerry announces that he will accept the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in July. There had been speculation that Kerry, the all-but-named nominee of his party, would put the acceptance off in order to generate more press and ease spending limits. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's David Welna.

Justice Department officials will warn the American public Wednesday of possible terrorist attacks against the United States sometime this summer. Officials say they've received non-specific intelligence information about the possibility that al Qaeda or other terrorists will try to disrupt the presidential campaign or other high-profile events. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Larry Abramson.

NPR's Madeleine Brand talks to NPR political editor Ken Rudin about how Republican control of Congress, especially the Senate, is not assured in the next elections. Many seats in both the House of Representatives and Senate are hotly contested, and could fall to either the Democrats or the GOP.

NPR's Madeleine Brand speaks with Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick about the legal questions involved when pregnant mothers reject medical advice, and doctors seek to override those decisions.

Scientists in the United States and Israel have developed new embryonic stem cell lines that possess the genes for specific diseases. The lines could help broaden understanding of the roots of some inherited diseases. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Joe Palca.

On Monday, President Bush will outline the steps involved in the Iraqi transition of power. William Cohen and Lord George Robertson join NPR's Scott Simon to discuss what measures the president might take, and how they would affect life in Iraq. Cohen was President Clinton's Secretary of Defense. Lord George Robertson is the former Secretary General of NATO and formerly Britain's Defense Minister.

The World Health Organization formally adopts an anti-obesity initiative, calling for countries to encourage cutting out fat, sugar and salt in favor of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. The plan ends two years of debate over the rules. By some accounts, the sugar lobby has been the strongest opponent to elements of the initiative. NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports.

Senate hearings cast light on systemic problems within the U.S. military structure that may have contributed to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Testimony from top U.S. officials and military commanders suggests a lack of defined leadership, poor communication within the chain of command and confusion over rules for interrogating prisoners. Hear NPR's Jackie Northam.

Two Iraqis suspected of involvement in the beheading of American Nicholas Berg earlier this month are under arrest. Also, there are reports of continued clashes in southern Iraq between U.S. forces and Shiite Muslim militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's Peter Kenyon.

Pentagon officials confirm that Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, will give up his command this summer. But officials deny the move is linked to allegations that Sanchez knew about abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison. Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the Army's second-ranking general, will replace Sanchez. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Michele Kelemen.

The Washington Post reports new pictures and short videos show prisoners being physically and sexually abused at Abu Ghraib last year. Sworn statements from detainees describe a range of abuse more brutal than previously reported. Meanwhile, Iraqi officials say they've made several arrests in connection to the beheading of American civilian Nick Berg. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

As was widely predicted, more photos of Iraq prison abuse are being leaked to the press. On Friday, The Washington Post published pictures and posted a video on its Web site of Iraqi detainees being humiliated and hit by American troops at Abu Ghraib. Despite this leak -- and warnings that future leaks will only prolong and intensify the abuse scandal -- the Pentagon still refuses to release all the photos in its possession. To do so, U.S. officials say, would jeopardize the prosecution of the soldiers involved. Critics argue that it's more important to get beyond this crisis by full disclosure than to successfully prosecute low-ranking soldiers. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.