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Looting and sabotage since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime have left Iraq's oil fields in disrepair, hampering U.S. efforts to resume oil exports quickly to fund reconstruction efforts. U.S. officials expect that Iraq will begin exporting 700,000 barrels a day in August, far less than its pre-war capacity. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

In a series of raids near Baghdad, American soldiers arrest two dozen suspected Saddam loyalists, including one "targeted leader," the U.S. military says. Despite continuing violence in the country, there are occasional moments of relief. At an Iraqi-sponsored event, Iraqis and U.S. soldiers enjoy an evening of traditional Iraqi music. Hear NPR's Jim Wildman.

President Bush for the first time says he is ultimately responsible for a now-discredited claim about Iraq's attempts to purchase uranium from Africa that appeared in his January State of the Union address. In the wide-ranging news conference, Bush also defends his economic policy and rejects the idea of same-sex marriages. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea.

David Kay, a key CIA adviser heading the hunt for weapons in Iraq, tells members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the search team is making "solid progress," but warns that results may not come soon. Kay says senior Iraqi scientists are cooperating in the search, contradicting a Washington Post report. Hear NPR's David Welna.

Paul Bremer, the new U.S. administrator for Iraq, says restoring law and order and reviving the country's economy are his top priorities. He points to increased police patrols and a jump in the arrest of petty criminals as signs the situation is already improving. He also vows to purge the government of former Baath party officials. NPR's Guy Raz reports.

Three days after the U.N. Security Council lifts sanctions on Iraq, the U.S.-appointed interim oil minister says the country will restore pre-war oil production and begin exporting within the next few weeks. In Baghdad, Iraqis express anger at the shortage of gas and complain that much of the existing oil is being smuggled out of the country. Hear NPR's Nick Spicer.

Health workers in Toronto investigate 33 suspected new cases of SARS. Hong Kong, Taiwan and China also report new SARS cases and deaths. Doctors in Hong Kong work on a new therapy for the flu-like disease, using blood plasma from patients who have recovered from the disease to treat others who have been infected. Hear NPR's Joe Palca.

Toronto health officials investigate five possible new cases of sudden acute respiratory syndrome, and have quarantined about 20 health workers as a result. But there's also promising news about the possible source of SARS. A similar virus has been found in several types of animals in southern China. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

Russia's President Putin hosts a meeting in St. Petersburg with French President Chirac and German Chancellor Schroeder. The three leaders, who led opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, now seek a prominent role for the United Nations in governing and rebuilding Iraq. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Lawrence Sheets.

Saddam Hussein's government has fallen, but for many Muslims the war is now about the United States vs. Islam. That's a sentiment heard in Egypt, where a Muslim cleric has given his blessing to anyone who wished to aid Iraq. The cleric said the war in Iraq really amounted to an attack against all Muslim nations. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.