Muslim leaders demand apology for Pope's 'medieval' remarks  —  John Hooper in Rome and Luke Harding in Berlin  —  Pope Benedict XVI was last night facing angry demands from Muslims that he apologise for a speech in which he appeared to say the concept of jihad was "unreasonable" …

Behind the Debate, Controversial CIA Techniques  —  President Bush's push this week for legislation that narrowly defines U.S. obligations under the Geneva Conventions is motivated by his aides' conviction that the CIA must continue using a small number of highly controversial interrogation techniques …

Bloomberg Secretly Considers Presidential Campaign  —  CBS 2 Exclusive: Despite Public Denials, Mayor Has Secret Meeting With National Political Strategist, Wall Street Money Man  —  (CBS) NEW YORK New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has always denied it, but CBS 2 has learned the details of a secret meeting …

Late Nite FDL: Liza, Liza, Liza...  Ah, there's nothing like other people's brushes with power to bring out the self-righteous twerp in some folks.  I was just waking up and splashing around in Technorati-land this morning when I came across this homesick abortion of a post by hitherto unknown to me blogger "Liza" of "Culture Kitchen".

Iraqis Plan to Ring Baghdad With Trenches  —  The Iraqi government plans to seal off Baghdad next month by ringing it with a series of trenches and setting up dozens of traffic checkpoints to control movement in and out of the city of seven million people, an Interior Ministry spokesman said today.

Lebanon Must Disarm Hezbollah, Israeli Foreign Minister Warns  —  The Lebanese government must fully implement a recent U.N. resolution requiring the disarming of the militant Shiite group Hezbollah or Israel will be less reluctant to attack the Lebanese state if Hezbollah resumes hostilities …

Republican Voters Dismayed by Biggest Spending Rise Since 1990  —  Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) — Republican voters are angry, not for the first time, at big-spending politicians in Washington.  This year, their wrath is aimed at their own party.  —  The Republican-controlled Congress heads …

In a replay of Iraq, a battle is brewing over intelligence on Iran  —  WASHINGTON - In an echo of the intelligence wars that preceded the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a high-stakes struggle is brewing within the Bush administration and in Congress over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program and involvement in terrorism.

Who's the Next Target in the Abramoff Probe?  —  Former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney has admitted his role in Washington's influence-peddling scandal, but prosecutors still have other politicians in their sights  —  After months of defiant protestations of innocence about his role …

Hynes to Obama: Run for president  —  Barack Obama's one-time rival for the U.S. Senate wants him to run for president in 2008 — a move that could leave Obama's Senate seat vacant again.  —  State comptroller Dan Hynes, a fellow Democrat whom Obama trounced in the 2004 primary …