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Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says at a Senate briefing and a news conference that al Qaeda is actively interested in disrupting this year's presidential election season. The nation's terror alert level remains unchanged. Ridge offered few details about potential threats, leading some Democrats to question the timing of his remarks. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

The great apes of Africa and Asia have long been threatened by hunters, loggers and farmers. But scientists say another threat is rising fast: infectious diseases carried or spread by humans and livestock. NPR's John Nielsen reports.

Two memos prepared by Bush administration lawyers and high-ranking officials suggest the president cannot be held to federal and international rules prohibiting torture. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft refused to turn over the documents or say whether President Bush has authorized force or other techniques in interrogation. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

U.S. forces suspend offensive operations in Najaf and radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr promises to pull his armed supporters out of the city in the latest sign of a potential end to the standoff there. U.S.-led military and militia loyal to the Shiite leader have been engaged in skirmishes in the area for nearly two months. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

U.S. officials confirm the FBI is investigating whether Ahmad Chalabi told Iranian agents that the United States had broken their country's communications code. Chalabi, a formerly exiled Iraqi leader now back in Baghdad, provided the United States with details, now discredited, about Saddam Hussein's weapons program. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

The military judge in the cases of three soldiers accused of abusing prisoner at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison will allow the defense to interview U.S. Central Command head Gen. John Abizaid and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the ranking general in Iraq. Col. James Pohl made his rulings during pre-trial motions in the three courts-martial in Baghdad. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

Security forces in Saudi Arabia continue to search for the body of American engineer Paul Johnson, who was beheaded by Islamist militants in the capital, Riyadh, on Friday. The murder of Johnson and several other foreigners this month has deeply shaken the American expatriate community in the Saudi Kingdom. NPR's Julie McCarthy reports.

In a 5-4 vote with vast repercussions for the U.S. criminal justice system, the Supreme Court invalidates the criminal sentencing system of Washington state. The court's ruling emphasizes the role of juries in determining sentences, and stirs speculation that the sentencing guidelines used by many states and the federal government won't be able to withstand a constitutional challenge. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

This week, a presidential panel will release a report on how to implement President Bush's plans for a moon base and a manned mission to Mars. Numerous experts endorse the idea of a Mars mission, but are sober about its near-term prospects. Representatives of foreign nations say funding for an international effort will be difficult to come by, and public support for the project is mixed. Hear NPR's David Kestenbaum.

Researchers used drones to study close encounters along the Southern California coast. They surveyed 26 beaches for more than a year with no shark bites reported.