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Pakistani officials have arrested five suspected al Qaeda operatives in various parts of the country in the past few days. Those in custody include two Turkish nationals, an Uzbek and a citizen of the United Arab Emirates. Their seniority within the terror organization is unclear. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces far-reaching reforms that he says will strengthen the power of the executive branch in its battle against terrorism. But critics say Putin's already-tight grip on power is part of the problem. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.

Senate hearings begin on the nomination of Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL) to head the CIA. Goss faces a Senate panel considering a complete overhaul of U.S. intelligence agencies, and if confirmed as expected, it's unclear what his job will entail. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

U.S. forces enter the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad, for the first time in months, in a bid to reinstate the town council and police force in part of Iraq's rebellious Sunni triangle. U.S. troops clashed with insurgents in nearby Fallujah. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Peter Kenyon.

Hurricane Ivan approaches the Gulf coast with winds of up to 145 miles per hour, prompting the mayor of New Orleans to declare a state of emergency. The storm has caused a mass exodus of boats and fishermen from the area. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and Brian Wells of the Sportsman Marina and Drydock in Orange Beach, Ala.

Heavy rains and strong winds, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, wreak havoc along the Southeastern U.S. Flooding in North Carolina and Tennessee kills at least eight people, and hundreds have been evacuated as Ivan makes its way north. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Chris Arnold.

Rep. Porter Goss, President Bush's nominee for CIA director, faces tough questioning from Senate Democrats at his confirmation hearings. Responding to multiple accusations that he used intelligence politically, Goss pledged to provide non-partisan intelligence. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

Campaigning in Michigan, President Bush says John Kerry's health care plan would create a massive, expensive bureaucracy. In Washington, Kerry accuses Bush of voicing support for the assault weapons ban but doing nothing to renew it. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea.

Insurgents in Tikrit kill 17 Iraqis who worked for the U.S. Army. In all, more than 40 Iraqis have been killed in the past two days. The U.S. embassy says attacks on the road to Baghdad's airport remain commonplace. NPR's Mike Shuster reports.

More than 70 people -- the vast majority Iraqis -- have died at the hands of insurgents in Iraq in the past three days. In one incident, gunmen ambushed a bus carrying unarmed Iraqi contractors employed by American forces. Seventeen died. Hear NPR's Mike Shuster.