North Korea might now have The Bomb, but it doesn't have much electricity  —  As the world grapples with how to rein in the "axis of evil" state which this week conducted a nuclear test, this spectacular satellite photo unveiled yesterday by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld shows …

Feds probe trip that Kolbe made with pages  —  NBC exclusive: Congressman alleged to have been inappropriate on '96  —  WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors in Arizona have opened a preliminary investigation of a camping trip Congressman Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., took 10 years ago that included …

FBI investigates Rep. Curt Weldon  —  WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is investigating whether Republican Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania traded his political influence for lucrative lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, according to sources with direct knowledge of the inquiry.

Air America Radio Files for Chapter 11  —  Air America Radio, a liberal talk and news radio network that features the comedian Al Franken, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a network official told The AP.  —  The network had denied rumors just a month ago that it would file for bankruptcy.

Shays defends comments on Abu Ghraib  —  U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays was under fire yesterday after saying in a debate earlier this week that the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison was not torture but rather a "sex ring" involving National Guard troops.  —  Amnesty International officials …

Rep. Ney pleads guilty; GOP vows ouster  —  WASHINGTON - Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record) pleaded guilty Friday in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation, the first lawmaker to confess to crimes in an election-year scandal that has stained the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush administration.

Peggy Noonan's poetic love of dissent, civility and grace  —  Peggy Noonan has a new column in the Wall St. Journal solemnly lamenting the "fact" that, unlike the right, "the left" in America has no tolerance for dissenting views and does not understand the values of free speech or civility in political discourse.

The Human Cost of the War in Iraq  —  I urge you to carefully read the study first.  Very few people seem to have actually done so.  —  In comparison, the much-criticised Iraq Body Count relies only on media reports (mostly Western and often by conflating 2 different sources) for their maximum body count of 48,639 civilians.

Bush Is Said to Have No Plan if GOP Loses  —  Some Republican strategists are increasingly upset with what they consider the overconfidence of President Bush and his senior advisers about the midterm elections November 7-a concern aggravated by the president's news conference this week.

Blair 'agrees' with UK army chief  —  Tony Blair has said he agrees with "every word" the new head of the British Army said on the Iraq war.  —  The Daily Mail quoted General Sir Richard Dannatt as saying he thought UK troops "exacerbated" security problems and should withdraw "sometime soon".

Texas School Tells Classes to Fight Back  —  BURLESON, Texas (AP) — Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him and hit him with everything they got - books, pencils, legs and arms.

Majority leader: Democrats endangered pages  —  DES MOINES, IA - House Majority Leader John Boehner today accused Democrats of endangering House pages for political gain.  —  Boehner, speaking at a campaign event for 3rd District Republican candidate Jeff Lamberti, said Democratic operatives …

Clinton says right wing has hurt U.S., predicts win by Democrats  —  LAS VEGAS (AP) - The nation has been "jammed into an ideological corner" by conservative Republicans and is primed for a power shift in the November elections, former President Bill Clinton said Thursday.

In Key Races, Democrats Look at Rivals' Personal Lives  —  Amid Voter Disgust Over Foley Scandal, Strategists Believe Attacks on GOP at Local Level Won't Backfire  —  In the wake of the Mark Foley page scandal, Democrats are targeting the personal lives of Republicans in numerous key House races …

Documents Reveal Scope of U.S. Database on Antiwar Protests  —  Internal military documents released Thursday provided new details about the Defense Department's collection of information on demonstrations nationwide last year by students, Quakers and others opposed to the Iraq war.

Bin Laden urged to disown Iraq's Qaeda chief: TV  —  DUBAI (Reuters) - A man who said he was a jihad leader in Iraq called on al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden to disown Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the recently appointed leader of the group in Iraq, Al Arabiya television reported on Friday.

Why Did Mark Warner Quit?  —  A potential Democratic candidate for President says he'd rather spend more time with his family.  For once, it might be the truth  —  Whenever a politician delivers an emotional speech announcing his withdrawal from the field of politics …