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Ariel Djanikian's debut novel, The Office of Mercy, imagines a dystopian future America where government euphemisms mask state-sponsored murder. Reviewer Michael Schaub finds traces of George Orwell in the book, which he calls "an indisputable page turner with a surprising ending."

Imagine the Republicans or the Democrats announcing a boycott national elections, and staging street protests and blockades aimed at scuttling the vote. That's the situation in Bangladesh, where one of the two major political factions has said it will sit out the elections later this month.

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Noelia González the author of the children's book Glow, A Family Guide to the Night Sky and the host of NASA's Spanish language podcast Universo curioso de la NASA.

Nancy Marks, who has served as a campaign treasurer to some of New York's most powerful Republican politicians, admitted committing wire fraud and other crimes. Santos is due back in court Oct. 27.

India and Pakistan are warily inching towards peace, after three wars and nearly 60 years of hostility. But it's far from peaceful on the border. Each night tourists gather on either side for a competitive shouting match, complete with a choreographed military ceremony.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, is a great believer in the idea of cycling to work, and since taking office, he's done a lot to encourage Londoners to take their commute on two wheels. NPR's new London correspondent, Philip Reeves, also likes the idea of riding his bicycle to work -- but is finds his fellow cyclists seem to take the whole thing far too seriously.

In less than a week, the votes will be counted in India's general election. No one is expecting an outright winner — that means leaders of smaller regional parties could become kingmakers. One of those aspiring kingmakers is a rich and powerful woman.

The party that will lead Pakistan's new government will announce its nominee for prime minister later on Saturday. Whoever is named will be confirmed by a vote in the National Assembly scheduled for Monday.

As Pakistan's new parliament held its first session Monday, many saw the ceremony as highly symbolic. For now, power seems to be shifting from embattled President Pervez Musharraf to opposition lawmakers.

On Tuesday, 115 cardinals convened, celebrated mass and then entered the Sistine Chapel for the first day of closed door deliberations on who should be the next pope.