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Pakistani authorities say they believe their troops have cornered Osama bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Pakistani forces are engaged in a fierce battle there with tribal leaders and al Qaeda fighters. U.S. officials say they cannot confirm the reports. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

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.

The highway bill signed by President Bush Wednesday is nearly $30 billion richer than what Bush proposed -- and it tops the figure he said he'd veto. The president has said he expects to cut the federal budget deficit in half by 2009, warning that Congress must control spending.

Walgreens says about a quarter of its stores are unprofitable. Big pharmacy chains are struggling with growing retail competition and lower prescription payouts.

From a man with his pet rooster in Bali to the victim of an acid attack in Iran, here are some of the featured images from the Sony World Photography Awards.

Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill return to a classic sound on their first album in nine years, La Futura.

They were indicted over allegedly conspiring to obstruct Congress' certification of the Electoral College, including in discussions on encrypted messaging apps.

An Iraqi nuclear scientist who spent years in the Abu Ghraib prison under Saddam Hussein has emerged as a top U.N. choice to become prime minister in Iraq's interim government, an Iraqi official says. A moderate Shiite, Hussain al-Shahristani is known for his management skills and has no formal ties to any Iraqi political party. Hear NPR's Eric Westervelt.

The House of Representatives will be under new management in 2007, but leadership posts within each party are undecided. Maryland's Steny Hoyer wants to be Majority Leader, but Nancy Pelosi backing Rep. John Murtha. Republican Speaker, Dennis Hastert, says he won't run for a leadership post, creating room at the top for the new minority party.

NPR's Steven Inskeep talks to ex-CIA officer John Sipher about his skepticism that a bipartisan commission put together by lawmakers will produce a full accounting of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.