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More than half of the cases of SARS reported so far have occurred in China, where officials say 115 people have died and more than 2,600 are infected. NPR's Melissa Block talks with Chen Min, a Beijing teacher, about life with SARS; and with Shannon McEwan about the situation in Wuhan, in Central China, where she teaches English at a private school.

The Bush administration circulates a draft resolution that outlines a larger role for the United Nations in post-war Iraq. It's an effort to convince more countries to contribute troops and resources to the stabilization of Iraq, but the resolution maintains a lead role for the United States in the country's affairs. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) confirms that he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Kerry has campaigned and raised money for more than a year. The official announcement comes as he trails rival New England Democrat Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, in early polls for the critical New Hampshire primary. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports.

U.S. officials criticize the Arab media for what they call biased and inaccurate reporting meant to incite violence against U.S. troops. And some Iraqis support the claim, accusing Arab satellite networks of romanticizing Saddam Hussein and of stirring up anti-American sentiment. Arab media directors defend their coverage. Hear NPR's Kate Seelye.

Occupying Iraq is costing the United States nearly $4 billion a month, but nearly one-third of that total is going to private contractors. The largest beneficiary is Halliburton, the company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney. The Pentagon has expanded civilian contracts as reconstruction demands escalate in Iraq. NPR's Kathy Schalch reports.

A senior Iraqi official who was assigned to work with Hans Blix and other U.N. weapons inspectors turned himself in to U.S. troops early in the war. He is still in detention and has since been labeled a prisoner of war. His German-born wife, Hilma al-Saadi, talks about his work under the old regime and her efforts to determine why he's still in custody. NPR's Anne Garrels reports.

A draft resolution by the United States asking for a greater U.N. role in Iraq is called "insufficient" by France and Germany. At a news conference, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder say the resolution needs to cede more authority in Iraq to the United Nations. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

The Georgia Supreme Court overturns a high school student's conviction for aggravated child molestation. Student Marcus Dixon, who is black, was serving 10 years in prison for having sex with a 15-year-old white girl. The court ruled that Dixon should have been prosecuted on a lesser charge. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports.

The Senate Armed Services Committee receives a closed-door briefing from Army officials on the alleged abuse of Iraqis detained by U.S. military police. Lawmakers want to know if the problem is more widespread than has been reported. Critics say Pentagon leaders aren't doing enough to address the allegations. Hear NPR's David Welna.

American occupation authorities will lift restrictions on tens of thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, who lost their jobs in government and the armed forces following the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Chief administrator Paul Bremer says lifting the restrictions will speed the process of rebuilding the war-torn nation. NPR's Philip Reeves reports from Baghdad.