Dutch bishop: Call God 'Allah' to ease relations  —  Roman Catholic leader stokes already heated debate on religion  —  AMSTERDAM - A Roman Catholic Bishop in the Netherlands has proposed people of all faiths refer to God as Allah to foster understanding, stoking an already heated debate …

An Early Clash Over Iraq Report  —  Senior congressional aides said yesterday that the White House has proposed limiting the much-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill next month of Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker to a private congressional briefing …

Unknown noises from mine shift drilling plan  —  HUNTINGTON, Utah (CNN) — Rescue workers said they detected a noise Wednesday night — though it's unclear what it was — deep inside the Utah mine where six men have been trapped for nine days.  —  "We saw some indication of noise for a period …

NSA Judge: 'I feel like I'm in Alice and Wonderland'  —  Ryan Singel and David Kravets are blogging the U.S. 9th Circuit hearing on the NSA's spying, and AT&T's alleged complicity, reporting live from the San Francisco courthouse.  Hit 'refresh' in your browser and scroll to the bottom for updates.

Army Suicides Highest in 26 Years  —  WASHINGTON — Army soldiers committed suicide last year at the highest rate in 26 years, and more than a quarter did so while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a new military report.  —  The report, obtained by The Associated Press ahead …

Rush Interviews Karl Rove  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: I would like to introduce you all to Karl Rove.  Karl, welcome to the EIB Network.  I cannot tell you how great it is finally to have you here with us.  —  KARL ROVE: Well, thanks, Rush.  I'm honored you'd ask me and delighted to be with you.

At least 337 die in strong Peru quake  —  CHINCHA, Peru - The death toll from a powerful earthquake rose to at least 337 Thursday, a day after the magnitude-7.9 temblor shook Peru's coast, toppled buildings and shattered roads, officials said.  —  More than 827 people were reported injured …

Patriotic parents needed to reignite Ruskie baby boom  —  MOSCOW - This would make a heck of a reality TV show.  —  The baby-poor Russian region of Ulyanovsk wants to its people to procreate, and has come up with a holiday and prizes to encourage them to their duty for Mother Russia.

The Death of Diversity  —  People in ethnically diverse settings don't care about each other.  —  Diversity was once just another word.  Now it's a fighting word.  One of the biggest problems with diversity is that it won't let you alone.  Corporations everywhere have force-marched middle managers …

Fred Thompson's Gamble  —  When Fred Thompson makes his long-delayed entrance into the Republican presidential race, he will not tiptoe quietly.  Instead, he will try to shake up the establishment candidates of both parties by depicting a nation in peril from fiscal and security threats …

FBI probes contracts to company with ties to Stevens  —  WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the National Science Foundation's award of $170 million in contracts to the oil field services company that oversaw renovations on U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' home, McClatchy Newspapers has learned.

US documents show Pakistan gave Taliban military aid  —  The Pakistani government gave substantial military support to the Taliban in the years leading up to the September 11 attacks, sending arms and soldiers to fight alongside the militant Afghan movement, according to newly released US official documents.

Padilla jurors begin deliberations in terror case  —  MIAMI, FLORIDA - Jurors began deliberations Wednesday after three months of testimony in the trial of Jose Padilla and two co-defendants on charges of operating a support cell for Islamic terrorists, including Al Qaeda.

Death toll from Iraq bombings likely to be worst of war  —  BAGHDAD — Officials said Wednesday that as many as 500 people probably died in a series of coordinated truck bombings that devastated two northern Iraqi villages Tuesday and set a record for mass carnage in war-torn Iraq.

Reign of Error  —  THE AVERAGE NEWSPAPER CORRECTS VERY FEW OF ITS FACTUAL ERRORS, SAYS PROFESSOR.  —  The average newspaper should expand by a factor of 50 the amount of space given to corrections if Scott R. Maier's research is any guide.  —  Maier, an associate professor at the University …

GALLUP: Gen. Petraeus Viewed Favorably By Public — So His 'Surge' Report May Gain Support  —  NEW YORK Despite rising criticism from some quarters, Gen. David Petraeus appears to command considerable respect from the average American, a new Gallup poll reveals, booosting the chances …