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Early in his first term, President Bush made a commitment to spend $5 billion a year in helping the poorest nations of the world out of poverty. His Millennium Challenge Account, though, has not spent a penny yet. And the president's latest budget proposal calls for $3 billion, not the $5 billion he promised.

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr remains at an impasse with Iraqi government authorities. U.S. forces surround the Najaf mosque which Sadr's fighters have occupied. Some are hopeful Sadr will leave the shrine of Imam Ali soon, as promised. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and Rajiv Chandrasekaran of The Washington Post.

Former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed surrenders to U.S. military officers in Mosul following weeks of negotiations. People who negotiated on Ahmed's behalf say U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute him. American officials say they promised to treat him with respect and hear his story. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agrees to disarm and withdraw his militia from the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, promising a possible end to two weeks of fighting. Negotiations with the cleric began several days ago. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama routinely made promises that he would "restore our moral standing in the world." But, now that he occupies the White House, is his administration unveiling a new era in foreign policy?

Twitter's signature blue bird may soon be replaced by an X, months after Elon Musk promised to transform the social media platform to an "everything app."

The week's political news includes the New Jersey governor's race and Sen. Roland Burris' (D-IL) newly released caught-on-tape promise to Rod Blagojevich. Also, the campaigns for and against Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court are underway.

Republican leaders promise to make oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a key part of the national energy policy debate next year. Conservationists promise to fight the proposal -- and some wish they could call on Mardy Murie for help. NPR's Howard Berkes profiles one of the nation's greatest champions of wild areas, now 100 years old. View a photo galley and video of highlights from Murie's life.

Sunday is the final day of a week-long Russian festival that celebrates folk traditions, heroic eating and the distant promise of spring. NPR's Corey Flintoff reports on Maslenitsa, or "pancake week," the last culinary blow-out before the austerity of Lent.

July 29, 2025 - In a significant move to end mobile dead zones, Starlink has partnered with T-Mobile to launch its "Direct to Cell" satellite service, which promises to bring connectivity to the most remote corners of the United States. The service uses a new generation of Starlink satellites to connect directly with standard smartphones, offering text, voice, and data where traditional cell towers cannot reach.