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Western-leaning banker and technocrat Shaukat Aziz becomes Pakistan's 23rd prime minister, getting 191 votes in the 342-seat National Assembly. His political opponents boycotted the vote. A close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, Aziz narrowly escaped a recent assassination attempt. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

NPR's Philip Reeves in Baghdad reports the ongoing battles between American troops and Iraqi insurgents are taking a toll on the U.S.-appointed Iraqi governing council. One council member has suspended participation and several others have threatened to resign in protest over the offensive by Marines in Fallujah and the battles between U.S.-led forces and supporters of a radical Shiite Muslim cleric.

Members of Iraq's U.S.-appointed governing council are resisting plans to establish an interim government that would supplant the council when sovereignty is transferred in Iraq at the end of June. Some members of the council are sharply critical of U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been given the lead role in setting up the interim government. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Sonia Gandhi, heir to India's Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, gives up her chance to become prime minister, reportedly to protect her Congress Party's new government from attacks over her Italian birth. Manmohan Singh, architect of the country's financial reforms, is now seen as the favorite to become prime minister. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

A new truce has been announced that may end the U.S. siege of Fallujah. Marine commanders say their forces will pull back, and an Iraqi unit led by one of Saddam Hussein's former generals will take over the city. Clashes between the Marines and insurgents were reported soon after the plan was announced. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Philip Reeves.

U.S. and Iraqi forces report more progress on the sixth day of their joint offensive in Fallujah. But insurgents have occupied large areas of Iraq's third-largest city, Mosul, the scene of more violence. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and NPR's Philip Reeves.

The first specimen of an invasive species of tick was found recently in Illinois.

Under pressure from economic sanctions, Iran's currency is tumbling. It has lost about 25 percent of its value in the past week. Two years ago, the rial traded at 10,000 to the dollar. Now, it's trading around 35,500 to the dollar.

Eight thousand flights have been cancelled and the subway systems in New York, Washington, D.C. and Boston have been shutdown.