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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.

In local elections in Great Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party suffers some significant losses in what analysts see as a "protest vote" against Blair's support for the war in Iraq. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and John Rentoul, chief political columnist for Britain's Sunday Independent newspaper.

The Pentagon is expected to replace Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez as the top U.S. commander in Iraq. President Bush called Sanchez "exemplary," and officials say his transfer is part of a long-planned reorganization. Nevertheless, the move leaves the impression in some quarters that the administration is not satisfied with Sanchez's performance in Iraq. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

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.

Ahmed Chalabi, a member of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, rejects allegations that an aide supplied Iran with sensitive information and responds to an Iraqi police raid on his home and offices in Baghdad. The Bush administration is terminating a monthly payment of $335,000 it had been making to Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress. Chalabi speaks with NPR's Scott Simon.

Terry Nichols is convicted on 161 counts of murder in the state trial over his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Nichols is already serving a life sentence in a federal prison. The jury that convicted him Tuesday will next be asked if he should be put to death. The penalty phase begins Wednesday. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's Wade Goodwyn.

Members of Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority on Friday unanimously choose Iyad Allawi to be the prime minister of the interim government that will take office on July 1, 2004. U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi welcomes the move, but a U.S. spokesman indicates the selection is not yet final. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Baghdad.

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.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee lined up Thursday to block a Democratic attempt to subpoena Bush administration legal memos on the use of torture on prisoners. The same day, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged ordering that an Iraqi prisoner be held in secret for more than seven months, violating the Geneva Conventions. Hear NPR's Nina Totenberg.

As several government committees prepare to issue reports on intelligence failures related to Iraq and Sept. 11, calls intensify for a radical overhaul of U.S. intelligence operations. But observers say Pentagon officials are staunchly opposed to reform proposals, most of which would diminish the Defense Department's authority. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.