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E. Lockhart's prequel to We Were Liars works perfectly well, too, as a standalone coming-of-age novel about grief, addiction, young love, and learning to navigate the world.

Ten coordinated explosions tear through trains and stations along a commuter line in Spain, killing at least 190 people and wounding 1,200 others at the height of Madrid's morning rush hour. Spain's interior minister says a van has been found near Madrid that contained seven detonators and a tape in Arabic. Jerome Socolovsky reports from Madrid.

Spain's prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, says he may pull Spanish troops out of what he calls a disastrous occupation in Iraq. Zapatero's election is being seen as a public rejection of the Popular Party's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, which many blame for Thursday's bloody train bombings. Hear NPR's Sylvia Poggioli and NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.

One year after the U.S.-led war in Iraq, a media-led poll of Iraqis finds many are optimistic but unclear about their future. A majority of those surveyed say they're better off than they were before the war. But many say they lack confidence in occupying forces, and only about half prefer democracy over a strong leader or Islamic state. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and Gary Langer, director of polling for ABC News.

President George Bush appeals to U.S. allies not to withdraw support from the occupation of Iraq, saying terrorists must not be allowed to influence international policy or leadership. Spain's new prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has called Iraq a "great disaster" and vowed to bring home Spanish troops deployed there. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea.

Cable giant Comcast faces obstacles in its quest to acquire the Walt Disney Co. Analysts say Comcast will likely need to increase its bid to convince Disney shareholders to sell the company. If that happens, Comcast will have to ease consumer concerns over media consolidation and persuade federal regulators that the takeover won't inhibit competition. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

U.N. envoys say it's not possible to hold open elections in Iraq before June 30, the date U.S. authorities plan to hand over power to an interim Iraqi government. Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, a Shia Muslim cleric at the heart of the debate, said he accepts the U.N. determination but urges elections as soon as possible. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Deborah Amos.

Reformists and hardline clerics are arguing about how many Iranians actually turned out to vote in Friday's parliamentary elections in Iran. Reformers had called for a boycott, after the Muslim clerics who rule Iran disqualified 2,500 reformist candidates. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Mike Shuster.

President Bush's re-election campaign defends its new TV ads invoking the president's leadership after the Sept. 11 attacks. The spots have angered several relatives of victims of the 2001 attacks. Jonathan Vigliotti of member station WFUV reports.

Five Shiite members of Iraq's governing council boycott a signing ceremony for the country's interim constitution. The Shiites want to change concessions made to Kurds and the proposed makeup of the presidency. An indefinite delay could prove embarrassing for U.S. authorities, who hailed the interim law as a milestone in Mideast democracy. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.