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The Senate begins debating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. While most members of the Senate oppose gay marriage, only half of the chamber supports amending the U.S. Constitution to address the matter. A two-thirds vote is required for such an amendment; the Senate is expected to devote much of its week to debating the issue. NPR's David Welna reports.

The goal of the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority was to put Iraq on a path toward democracy and a market economy. But as the United States prepares to hand over sovereignty to Iraqis, critics say the CPA has fallen far short in its efforts to ensure Iraq's economic, political and security future. Hear NPR's Michele Kelemen.

Just days before Afghanistan's first-ever modern democratic election, President Hamid Karzai is all but guaranteed to win. But Karzai, who was appointed to his post by a vote of tribal elders, may not get the 50 percent of the ballot he needs to avoid a rundown election. Hear NPR's John Ydstie and Barnett Rubin, a New York University scholar and U.N. advisor.

Two car bombs explode outside a military base west of Baghdad, wounding American and Iraqi troops. U.S. officials say September has set a record for car bombings, with 30 so far. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

For the first time, crude oil prices rise above $50 a barrel in world trading, despite efforts by OPEC to calm markets. The price is a response to the slow recovery of U.S. oil production following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and unrest in key producers Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Nigeria. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.

A slew of recent security breaches in London is likely to have an impact on tourism. A reporter for a tabloid newspaper recently managed to bring fake bomb equipment onto the floor of Parliament without being checked. Earlier, a protestor dressed as Batman managed to scale Buckingham Palace. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and Matthew Tempest of the British newspaper The Guardian.

The Nobel Foundation announces that an environmental and political activist from Kenya has won the 2004 Nobel Peace prize. Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. She recently gained notice for a campaign to plant 30 million trees to combat deforestation. NPR's Renee Montagne talks to NPR's Jason Beaubien.

The former top U.S. administrator in Iraq says the United States deployed too few troops there. L. Paul Bremer said the U.S. military also failed to contain violence and looting. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and retired Maj. Gen. William Nash of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to three Americans for their insights into the fundamental structures of matter -- the forces that bind together quarks. David Gross, David Politzer and Frank Wilczek showed how tiny quark particles interact, helping to explain how a coin spins -- and how the universe was built.

Saying "Thank you, America," Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi tells a joint meeting of Congress that "liberty and democracy" are taking hold in Iraq, and vows elections will take place as scheduled in January. Allawi meets with President Bush at the White House Thursday.