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Did the Bush administration approve the systematic torture of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan? Many civil rights groups are asking that question this week after the release of two memos prepared by Bush administration lawyers suggesting the president is not obliged to adhere to federal and international standards on the use of torture. NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz and Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, about whether torture is ever justified.

One of Iraq's top foreign ministry officials, Bassam Kubba, died Saturday after being shot by unknown gunmen in Baghdad. He is the first member of Iraq's two-week-old interim government to be killed. Kubba worked through the ranks of the foreign ministry under Saddam Hussein and became ambassador to China. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

The declines come a day after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by the most in over two decades as it embarks on a high-stakes fight to bring down inflation.

A militant group in Iraq claims it has beheaded a U.S. Marine of Lebanese descent. The U.S. military says it is checking the report, but has not confirmed the claim, which appeared on a Web site. The Marine, Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun of Utah, appeared blindfolded in a video broadcast nearly a week ago by the Al-Jazeera network. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Butler to the Word author Oliver Bullough says the UK has developed a system of bankers, lawyers, accountants and PR managers who work to help Russian kleptocrats hide their wealth.

NPR's Andrea Seabrook talks to tennis coach Rick Macci about today's upset of Serena Williams by Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. The 17-year-old Sharapova is the first Russian to win the women's Wimbledon title.

Handcuffed and under Iraqi guard, Saddam Hussein is charged with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity before an Iraqi court. Saddam questioned the court's jurisdiction and refused to sign the charge list. Earlier, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez relinquished leadership of the multinational force in Iraq to Gen. George Casey. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Philip Reeves.

In the Darfur region of Sudan, thousands of people have died and a million have been driven from their homes as result of what many are calling ethnic cleansing or even genocide. Hear NPR's Susan Stamberg, photographer Marcus Bleasdale, and Dr. Jennifer Leaning of Physicians for Human Rights.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to sign a tort reform bill Wednesday that would place limits on the amount a jury can award plaintiffs for pain and suffering in medical malpractice suits. It also would cap the liability that companies can face. Some question whether the measure amounts to necessary legal reform or protection for corporations. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

The Department of Homeland Security raises the terror alert level in Washington, New York and New Jersey. Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge says financial institutions like the New York Stock Exchange and the International Monetary Fund could be targeted. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.