NPR People: Jamie Tarabay

Analysts say the deaths of Americans in Juarez last weekend may put more pressure on the Obama administration to act. The U.S. already gives hundreds of millions of dollars to Mexico for its drug fight.

Israel's announcement of plans to build new homes for Israelis in east Jerusalem caught visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden by surprise. Analysts say the incident is a stark reminder of the many obstacles to forging enduring peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Officials say 62 percent of eligible voters turned out for Sunday's election, and final results are expected within a few days. No coalition is expected to win an outright majority, so the one with the largest number of votes will be tasked with cobbling together a government with other partners.

ANALYSIS: Iraqis vote Sunday in national parliamentary election to determine a new government as U.S. troops prepare to depart later this year. The country is in a much better place compared with the sectarian tensions and violence of recent years. But the goals of peace and national reconciliation remain elusive.

National elections to select a new Parliament in Iraq have already been marked by violence. Bombs rocked Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 12 people amid early voting. As Sunday's main voting approaches, here's a preview of the election and what's at stake.

As U.S. Marines and Afghan troops push farther into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, their efforts to win over locals are being made more difficult by mistakes from the air. Two American bombings in the past week have killed at least 39 civilians and prompted apologies from the top U.S. commander.

Every year, sixth-graders from the Friends School in Baltimore learn about Islam by making a pilgrimage to the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C., with a stop at the Saudi Embassy.

A Northern Virginia community had to decide whether to let a Saudi-funded Islamic school expand to serve more kids. The debate turned to the curriculum at the Islamic Saudi Academy and draws attention to the still-tenuous relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims in America.

Twelve years ago, nurse Asma Hanif and a friend opened a Baltimore shelter where battered Muslim women could be safe and not have their religious beliefs assailed. The shelter supports Muslim religious and cultural practices, including reserving a part of the house for prayers.

Leaders and relatives thought they were doing everything right, but when five young men went missing, tough decisions had to be made.

Thousands of Muslims are in the U.S. military, and many more work for the federal government. After the shootings at Fort Hood, many of these individuals fear they're in for some unpleasant scrutiny.

Dalia Mogahed, a Muslim, is one of 25 people President Obama tapped to advise him on faith issues. She may have met the president exactly once, but to Muslims, she's a celebrity — thanks to the headscarf, or hijab, she wears every day.

Thousands of Muslims gathered near the U.S. Capitol for Friday noon prayers. The effort was designed to raise awareness of Islam's emphasis on peace and devotion.

Some high school Muslim football players are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, even as they practice several hours a day each week.

Having children is a fundamental change for anyone, but for some, it's swapping one heart-pounding existence for another. NPR's Jamie Tarabay, who has reported from Baghdad and other war zones, says her new baby makes her think of the many children in war-torn places she couldn't help.