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OPEC oil ministers meeting in Algeria pledge to cut oil production by 1 million barrels a day beginning in April. More immediately, OPEC seeks to end the so-called "cheating," or overproduction, in which member states currently surpass production quotas. Analysts estimate that practice adds as much as 1.5 million barrels a day to current limits. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

The Bush administration seeks to avert a nuclear crisis as North Korea proceeds with plans to restart a nuclear plant mothballed since 1994 by removing U.N. monitoring equipment. Secretary of State Colin Powell confers with Japan while the White House demands the equipment be restored. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards announces he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Edwards is a multi-millionaire trial lawyer and a relative newcomer to Washington. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean have also signaled their intentions to run on the Democratic ticket. NPR News reports.

Kenyans go to the polls Friday to elect a new president. A constitutional amendment prevents President Daniel arap Moi from seeking another term, and he's stepping down after 24 years in power. The elections also could unseat the Kenya African National Union, the ruling party since the nation's independence from Britain in 1963. NPR's Jason Beaubien reports.

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry hit the campaign trail after the first presidential debate of the 2004 campaign, seeking momentum in attracting voters. Kerry spoke in Florida, while President Bush visited Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Hear NPR's Scott Horsley and NPR's Don Gonyea.

Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, says American forces will seek to hasten the pace of handing security duties to Iraqis. Civil defense recruits are being trained in the Sunni Triangle, the region most hostile to the U.S. presence. NPR's Jacki Lyden reports.

A bipartisan effort in the Senate seeks to convert part of the Bush administration's $87 billion request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to a loan, rather than the full grant requested. Lawmakers are balking at increasing U.S. national debt. Hear NPR's David Welna.

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Portland, Ore., announces plans to file for bankruptcy. Archbishop John Vlazny said the church's action is a response to two sexual abuse lawsuits seeking more than $160 million. The archdiocese has already paid millions to settle other abuse claims. The bankruptcy is the first by a Catholic diocese in the United States. NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports.

U.S. officials closely monitor what they call worrisome new data on North Korea's nuclear activities after a large unexplained explosion was reported over North Korea Thursday. Experts seek to determine whether North Korea is preparing to test a nuclear weapon. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

As an impasse continues at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, the leading Shiite cleric in Iraq -- Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani -- prepares to lead a mass march on the city Thursday. He's seeking an end to fighting between U.S. and Iraqi forces and militia loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. NPR's Ivan Watson reports.