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U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says he supports a prominent Shiite cleric's calls for direct elections for an interim authority in Iraq. The cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, wants elections before the transfer of power the U.S. wants to occur on July 1. U.N. officials say elections by that date are unlikely, though they could occur late this year or early next year. Hear NPR's Deborah Amos.

Sen. John Edwards and his fellow Democratic presidential candidates fight for the 72 delegates at stake in Wisconsin's primary Tuesday. Edwards gains support comparable to frontrunner Sen. John Kerry. Hear Chuck Quirmbach of Wisconsin Public Radio.

Massachusetts lawmakers consider amending the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Supporters of the proposed ban differ on how it should be enacted as opponents protest what they call an attack on civil rights. The debate has attracted thousands of demonstrators at Boston's old Statehouse. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Tovia Smith.

In 1943, a Marine pilot kept a diary during his service in World War II. Lt. Charles C. Winnia chronicled his missions flying against the Japanese in the Pacific, and his love for a girl back in Nashville, Tenn. Winnia was shot down, and never came home. His diary -- nearly forgotten for over 60 years -- was recently discovered and read by his sweetheart, Violet Jane Watkins, for the first time. Read diary excerpts and hear Watkins read Winnia's last letter to her.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry awaits results of the Wisconsin primary, with 72 delegates at stake. Kerry faces a strong challenge from rival Sen. John Edwards. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Scott Horsley.

The Bush administration warns U.S. travelers not to visit Haiti, citing rising safety and transportation concerns. A small military team is also being sent to Haiti to assess the security of the U.S. embassy. Leaders of militant anti-Aristide groups have called on Haitian police to abandon their posts, promising new assaults on the nation's cities. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and NPR's Martin Kaste.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Jones' second album, Feels Like Home, on the jazz label Blue Note.

China's growing political and economic might is a matter of great interest to the nations that surround it. India -- the other Asian giant -- went to war with China and had a tense relationship with it in the last half of the 20th century. But as NPR's Michael Sullivan reports, tensions seem to be subsiding -- at least for now -- as both countries focus on expanding their economies.

As China opens up its markets to foreign goods, it's starting to have increasingly more in common with South Korea than its supposed brother in the North. And as NPR's Rob Gifford reports, South Koreans are eager to trade with China. But some worry that South Korea's economic infatuation with its neighbor is blinding it to the possible dangers of an emergent China.

The Federal Election Commission imposed new limits on non-party political groups that want to use large donations to influence this fall's elections. NPR's Peter Overby reports Republican leaders and campaign reformists say all money raised by groups independent of party candidates should be off limits.