War's Toll on Iraqis Put at 22,950 in '06  —  Statistics From Health Ministry Official Show Tripling of Civilian, Police Deaths  —  More than 17,000 Iraqi civilians and police officers died violently in the latter half of 2006, according to Iraqi Health Ministry statistics …

White House Week  —  New Faces, a New Plan, as Bush Nears His Endgame  —  President Bush shook up his administration last week, putting in place the lead elements of a new team to deal with military and diplomatic policy in Iraq-and even with Congress.  The changes carried the feel …

Gas Smelled Over Large Area Of Manhattan  —  NEW YORK — People over a large part of New York City are smelling a gas, but no cause has been identified.  —  Numerous people have called 911 concerned about the odor.  Con Edison, the Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating.

Democrats Step Up Criticism of Iraq Plan  —  As the contours emerge of President Bush's expected plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, Congressional Democrats, who now hold the power to restrain military spending for the war, sharpened their opposition today — and revealed their internal divisions.

Sen. Biden announces intent to seek presidency  —  Democrat from Delaware tells 'Meet the Press' he'll file paperwork in Jan.  —  Sen. Joe Biden on Sunday told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.  —  "I am running for president," he told "Meet the Press" anchor Tim Russert.

Genocide case against Saddam dismissed; Update: Burial video added  —  He dropped, so the charges have to drop too.  A mortified Hitchens anticipated it a few days ago: … What's the one thing the world could do to ensure an Anfal campaign isn't repeated?

Intel: A Writer's Blocked  —  A CIA panel has told former officer Valerie Plame she can't write about her undercover work for the agency, a position that may threaten a lucrative book project with her publisher.  Plame's outing as a CIA officer in July 2003 triggered a criminal probe …

Scientists See Potential In Amniotic Stem Cells  —  They Are Highly Versatile And Readily Available  —  A type of cell that floats freely in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women has been found to have many of the same traits as embryonic stem cells, including an ability to grow into brain …

Dallas-based food chain to accept Mexican pesos  —  Starting Monday, patrons of the Dallas-based Pizza Patrón chain, which caters heavily to Latinos, will be able to purchase American pizzas with Mexican pesos.  —  Restaurant experts and economists said they knew of no other food chain …

Now, a jumbo dilemma  —  Jan 7: It is an odd dilemma for forest officials of the district — torn as they are between the need to save human life and crops from marauding elephants and risking a decline in pachyderm population, as herds of them flee into neighbouring Bangladesh when chased away from the border district.

A Bad, Bipartisan Tax Plan  —  Way, way back, which means before the midterm elections, the House Democrats waxed indignant about the rights of the minority party.  When they assumed majority status last week, they barely gave Republicans a chance to speak, and all of Washington tut-tutted.

Limp language leaves kids with an awesome paucity of speech  —  Eavesdrop on any group of teens hanging around outside your local high school.  Their emotions may run the gamut, but their ability to express themselves generally does not.  They've got one all-purpose word — "awesome" …

Stephen Hawking plans to see space  —  Prof Stephen Hawking is planning a space flight.  The world's best-known scientist, who is 65 today, told The Daily Telegraph: "This year I'm planning a zero-gravity flight and to go into space in 2009."  —  A zero gravity flight is what astronauts call the …