Senate Confirms Mukasey By 53-40  —  Historically Low Tally for New Attorney General  —  A divided Senate narrowly confirmed former federal judge Michael B. Mukasey last night as the 81st attorney general, giving the nominee the lowest level of congressional support of any Justice Department leader in the past half-century.

Clinton tops 2008 rivals, gets $530M in earmarks  —  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has won tens of millions of dollars more in federal earmarks this year than her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, even though two of them have significantly more Senate seniority.

Kerik's Corruption Case Dogs Giuliani  —  The scene outside the old Victorian-style courthouse in Dubuque on Thursday morning showed that the indictment of Bernard B. Kerik is at the very least a big distraction for Rudolph W. Giuliani's presidential campaign.

59 schoolchildren died in Afghan blast  —  KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's deadliest suicide attack since the Taliban regime's ouster killed 59 schoolchildren, while 96 other students were wounded in the blast, the Education Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Police Block Bhutto From Attending Rally  —  The opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest this morning, her political party said.  Streets were filled with police officers carrying batons and shields, and trucks blocked roads, trying to prevent access to a protest rally …

Editor's Note: The Tale of the Tip  —  · It started as an aside in a longer interview, but it became an Internet sensation within hours.  —  Anita Esterday, a waitress at the Maid-Rite in Toledo, Iowa, told NPR's David Greene in a report that aired on Morning Edition Thursday that …

Germany's Day of Destiny  —  While 9/11 has shaped US foreign policy and national identity significantly, German identity and foreign policy has been shaped even more by 9.11. — that's how we write "November 9th."  —  This is what happened on November 9th in Germany:

PAT ROBERTSON ENDORSES RUDY GIULIANI FOR PRESIDENT  —  The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced that Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President of the United States.  —  "It is my pleasure to announce my support for America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani …

Waterboarding Is Torture, Says Ex-Navy Instructor  —  A former Navy survival instructor subjected to waterboarding as part of his military training told Congress yesterday that the controversial tactic should plainly be considered torture and that such a method was never intended for use …

From Back of G.O.P. Pack, Huckabee Is Stirring  —  Mike Huckabee's field staff had expected a modest crowd for a campaign event at a tiny rural community college near here on Wednesday.  But as people began to cram into the shoe-box-size room, campaign organizers scurried to roll back a dividing wall and set up extra chairs.