Elections in Afghanistan are scheduled for Oct. 9. Interim President Hamid Karsai is the best known of 18 candidates for the presidency. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Philip Reeves.
Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.
Philip Reeves is an award-winning international correspondent covering South America. Previously, he served as NPR's correspondent covering Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.
President Trump heads to Texas Friday to survey flood damage, Trump turns sharply critical of Russia's Putin, DOGE gains access to database that controls government payments to farmers and ranchers.
The force is expected to provide logistical and training experts to help reconstitute Ukraine's armed forces, secure Ukraine's skies and the Black Sea.
The UNAIDS annual report warns that Trump era HIV funding cuts could lead to 6 million more infections and 4 million deaths by 2029 — as low-income countries struggle to fill the gap.