From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Can the U.S. and Pakistan mend an uneasy alliance?

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Pakistan is crucial to the U.S. with a nuclear arsenal and a strategic location,

but ties to anti-American terrorists and political unrest have strained relations.

After Pakistan's voters braved deadly violence, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party won big enough to raise hopes for stability.

Yesterday at the White House, he called for an end to American drone strikes, but leaked CIA files

show Pakistan's military has been deeply involved. What's the state of Sharif's credibility?

Does either country trust the other? Can diplomatic and economic relations be improved?

Today's talking point,

Walmart versus Amazon. First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Warren Alney back with To the Point.

President Obama and Pakistan's new prime minister met yesterday in hopes of strengthening a troubled alliance.

We'll look at how the relationship is complicated by nuclear weapons, terrorism, and a lack of mutual trust.

Today's talking point, Walmart is the giant of big box retail.

Amazon is the giant of e-commerce.

We'll hear about a battle of titans. First is news update on Capitol Hill today. Republicans zeroed in on the Obama administration and contractors who built the troubled website for the Affordable

Care Act. Here's the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Fred Upton of Michigan.

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