Lisa Mullins speaks with Nafees Takar, who is covering the GOP convention for "Radio Dee-wa." That's a Pashto-language service of the Voice of America. It's heard in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Israel's ruling Kadima party holds a primary later this month to select a new leader. The current leader, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is stepping down in the midst of a corruption scandal. The front-runner in the Kadima race is Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni. Linda Gradstein has a profile.

Tzipi Livni

France has a female politician in the media spotlight, too. She's Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who this week announced that she is pregnant, but won't reveal who the father is. Lisa Mullins speaks with reporter Anita Elash in Paris.

Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in the Ukraine today. He's there to show American support for the pro-Western government in the wake of Russia's conflict with Georgia. But as the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse reports, Ukrainians are divided about how to deal with Russia.

Freelance writer Victoria Floethe explains how she ended up being friends with the president of Georgia for one week.

The World's Aaron Schachter reports on signs that Syria may be trying to improve its relations with the West.

Our daily geography quiz. Today's Geo Quiz takes us bird-watching or, to be more precise, bird-LISTENING... in Central America.

The answer to today's Geo Quiz is the northernmost state in Costa Rica: Guanacaste. Reporter Ari Daniel Shapiro reports on new research into the musical "call and response" patterns of birdcalls in Costa Rica's Santa Rosa National Park.

A guitar played and burned onstage by Jimi Hendrix was sold at auction today. The BBC's Martin Shankleman played the scorched guitar before it went under the hammer. He talks to host Lisa Mullins about it.

The Republican party is not known for attracting immigrants. But some do gravitate to the GOP. What is about this year's Republican ticket that appeals to them?