Assault on Iraqi Civilians Is Deadliest Since 2003  —  A barrage of car bombs, mortar attacks and missiles battered the Shiite Muslim slum of Sadr City on Thursday afternoon, killing around 200 people and injuring as many more in the single deadliest assault on Iraqi civilians since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

Spy 'Poisoned By Radiation'  —  A large quantity of radiation, probably from a substance called Polonium 210, has been found in the body of dead ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.  —  The "major dose" of alpha radiation was detected in his urine, said Government experts, who added that Polonium 210 is only dangerous if ingested.

Russian rocket deliveries to Iran started  —  Russia has begun deliveries of the Tor-M1 air defence rocket system to Iran, Russian news agencies quoted military industry sources as saying, in the latest sign of a Russian-US rift over Iran.  —  "Deliveries of the Tor-M1 have begun.

Drug Industry Is on Defensive as Power Shifts  —  Alarmed at the prospect of Democratic control of Congress, top executives from two dozen drug companies met here last week to assess what appears to them to be a harsh new political climate, and to draft a battle plan.

AWB given advance warning of Iraq troop deployment  —  Previously secret AWB documents have revealed that the wheat exporter was told Australia would join the war against Iraq a year before the Federal Government says it decided to commit troops.  —  The information came from Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations, John Dauth.

Policeman kills PSG fan in post-match racist violence  —  A French police officer — a black man in plain clothes — shot dead a Paris-Saint Germain football fan after being turned on by a mob during racist violence that followed the team's defeat by Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Senate Democrats Revive Demand for Classified Data  —  Seeking information about detention of terrorism suspects, abuse of detainees and government secrecy, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are reviving dozens of demands for classified documents that until now have been rebuffed …

To hell in a hand-basket...  that's where Lebanon's leaders seem intent on taking their countrymen.  Two camps with diametrically opposed views, alliances, interests and intents.  Each of them stubborn; unwilling to concede.  There's bound to be an explosion sooner or later.

Is "Seinfeld" ruined?  (My advice to Jerry.)  —  David Bernstein has started a conversation over at Volokh Conspiracy about whether Michael Richards' racist rant makes his Kramer character unwatchable.  —  I happened to try an old episode of the show the other day.

'Flying While Muslim'  —  When six Muslim leaders were pulled off an airplane this week, some advocacy groups said it was another example of religious and racial profiling.  —  Janet Hostetter / AP  —  Omar Shahin purchased a ticket from Northwest Airlines on Tuesday after being removed …

Anti-War Movement's Strange Allies: Hard Line Islamists  —  Canada's progressive Muslims wonder why left would embrace theocrats.  —  TheTyee.ca  —  This is what it's come to: a disgraced, dictator-praising British MP who dances around in red tights on reality-television shows is visiting Canada …

DOUBLE THUMP  —  GOP WOES DEEPENING  —  PRESIDENT Bush contributed a new word to the political lexicon when he called the GOP defeat on Election Day a "thumpin'."  Now, two weeks after the election, the full nature of the "thumpin' " is coming through pretty clearly …

Grandma Go BOOM!  —  The doddering may have limited the effectiveness of a new Hamas tactic, the Granny Bomb.  But it raises an important question ... does Granny get virgins?  A head-scratcher.  We may need to bring in the mullahs on this one.  In any case, what is important …

Breaking News: Small Riots in Beirut and Gunfire in Tripoli - Updated!  —  Update:  —  Apart from a few isolated fist fights throughout Beirut, the demonstrations appear to have not resulted in any damage or injuries.  Reports coming in of deployment of security forces and a peaceful disperion of rioters.