Controversial Assignment Leads To Teacher's Resignation  —  SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A Spanish teacher at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School resigned this week after handing out an assignment that some students and parents said teaches hate.  —  Khalid Chahhou, who was in his first year of teaching …

Freedom Man  —  Milton Friedman had both genius and common sense.  —  PALO ALTO, Calif.—Milton Friedman was one of the very few intellectuals with both genius and common sense.  He could express himself at the highest analytical levels to his fellow economists in academic publications …

Iraq is a 'disaster' admits Blair  —  Tony Blair admitted that British intervention in Iraq has been a disaster last night - sending shockwaves through Westminster.  —  In his frankest admission about the war to date, Mr Blair admitted that Western forces have been powerless to stop the descent into violence.

Bringing the War to an End is my Highest Priority as Speaker  —  This morning, I visited our brave men and women at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center.  It is a place of prayers, of honor, of respect, and reflection.  And I left there more committed than ever to bringing the war to an end.

Wilson declared unofficial winner by 879 votes  —  Madrid refuses to concede with official vote certification still pending  —  Republican Heather Wilson looks safe for a fifth term in Congress.  Yet her Democratic challenger refused to concede.  —  Wilson retained her seat …

Houston Police Run Over Striking Janitors with Horses  —  Houston police trampled on striking janitors with horses last night.  The janitors make on average $20 a day with no health insurance.  The companies responsible?  Chevron.  And Hines Interest, the city's largest hometown building owner.

Turning A Corner On Iraq  —  Avoiding defeat in Iraq is an unavoidably critical national interest — for the United States as for Britain.  If potentially lethal enemies are strengthened and re-motivated, the consequences will haunt us long after the headlines about withdrawal have faded.

A Second Pour of Good News About Substance in Red Wine  —  A component of red wine recently shown to help lab mice live longer also protects animals from obesity and diabetes and boosts their physical endurance, researchers reported yesterday.  —  The new research helps confirm and extend …

Syrian Officials and Iraq Study Group Met, Envoy Says  —  Vice President Dick Cheney and James A. Baker III, co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, after a White House meeting.  The Syrian ambassador says Mr. Baker discussed how Syria might help in Iraq.  —  James A. Baker III …

U.S. Searching for Americans Abducted in Southern Iraq  —  American and British military forces battled gunmen in southern Iraq today while searching for four American security guards and their Austrian colleague, who were abducted from a supply convoy Thursday afternoon at a checkpoint operated by men in Iraqi police uniforms.

Pelosi's bruising  —  Wins top job but loses in nasty fight over No. 2  —  WASHINGTON - Democrats unanimously chose Nancy Pelosi as House speaker, but she still came away a loser after her handpicked choice for majority leader, Rep. John Murtha, was hammered by Rep. Steny Hoyer.

Not as Green as it Seems  —  BMW is manufacturing the first series of hydrogen fueled cars.  They're not as green as they seem.  For a start, they're incredibly thirsty — and they will put more strain on the environment than a heavy diesel truck.  —  There's a new method for fueling cars.

The Friday Line: A Way Early Look at the '08 Senate Races  —  The Fix is nothing if not forward-looking.  With the 2006 election now 10 days past, it's time to begin handicapping the races to come in 2008.  —  We'll begin today by looking at the 10 most competitive Senate races, with a post next week on the 10 biggest House targets.

Dem judiciary leader seeks torture documents  —  In a letter addressed to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, chairman-to-be of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has requested the release of documents that outline the Bush Administration's interrogation policies.