Suspect Admits Killing JonBenet Ramsey  —  The American suspect in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case said publicly Thursday he was with the 6-year-old when she died and called her death "an accident," a stunning admission that will help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case.

Hagee's Office Responds: Contradicts L.A. Times  —  I heard back from General Hagee's office yesterday regarding my inquiry about when Gen. Hagee briefed John Murtha about Haditha.  The bottom line: Gen. Hagee's office has directly contradicted an assertion by the L.A. Times …

Kidman condemns Hamas, Hezbollah  —  NICOLE Kidman has made a public stand against terrorism.  —  The actress, joined by 84 other high-profile Hollywood stars, directors, studio bosses and media moguls, has taken out a powerfully-worded full page advertisement in today's Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Lebanon Sending Troops Into South  —  Compromise Will Allow Hezbollah to Keep Arms  —  Breaking an impasse, the Lebanese government on Wednesday ordered army troops to deploy across southern Lebanon under a compromise arrangement that allows the Hezbollah militia to retain some of its arms caches near the border with Israel.

Insurgent Bombs Directed at G.I.'s Increase in Iraq  —  A recent bombing in Baghdad.  Most of the roadside bombs are directed at American-led forces, officials say.  —  The number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose in July to the highest monthly total of the war, offering more evidence …

Faces, Too, Are Searched at U.S. Airports  —  As the man approached the airport security checkpoint here on Wednesday, he kept picking up and putting down his backpack, touching his fingers to his chin, rubbing some object in his hands and finally reaching for his pack of cigarettes, even though smoking was not allowed.

Eye on Election, Democrats Run as Wal-Mart Foe  —  Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, delivered a 15-minute, blistering attack to warm applause from Democrats and union organizers here on Wednesday.  But Mr. Biden's main target …

White House backing new plan to defuse insurrection in Pakistan  —  WASHINGTON - A U.S.-backed plan to defeat Islamist militants in Pakistan's autonomous tribal areas has backfired badly, and the Bush administration is working with Pakistan to come up with a new strategy to defuse the insurrection.

For the GOP, a Heartland Plunge  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the Columbus Dispatch's respected poll recently reported that Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell was trailing Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland by 20 points in the race for governor of Ohio, there was dismay but no shock among his fellow Republicans.

Democrats' Stock Is Rising on K Street  —  Washington lobbying firms, trade associations and corporate offices are moving to hire more well-connected Democrats in response to rising prospects that the opposition party will wrest control of at least one chamber of Congress from Republicans in the November elections.

Backing Harris?  Her list shortens … In the U.S. Senate primary, Rep. Katherine Harris has been touting key political endorsements from fellow Republican lawmakers.  The problem is, some of them never endorsed her.  —  Several members of the U.S. House called the Harris campaign …

Duke Cunningham's Wife Speaks!  (But Not to Us)  —  It's not a pretty picture: the night before Duke Cunningham was sentenced and taken into custody, he dumped a duffel bag filled with dirty underwear and $32,000 in $20 and $100 bills in his wife's driveway as a desperate attempt to salvage some of his ill-gotten gains.

Bush is crap, says Prescott  —  Deputy PM criticises US handling of Middle East, condemning 'cowboy' President at private meeting  —  John Prescott has given vent to his private feelings about the Bush presidency, summing up George Bush's administration in a single word: crap.

Stroessner, Paraguay's Enduring Dictator, Dies  —  Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, the former president of Paraguay whose 35-year hold on power made him South America's most enduring dictator during the cold war, died today in exile in Brazil.  He was 93.  —  General Stroessner had developed pneumonia …

Plane-Plot Suspects to Be Kept in Jail  —  LONDON — A district judge ruled Wednesday that British investigators have until next week to investigate the suspects arrested in an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10 trans-Atlantic jetliners, saying they could be kept in custody without charge.