Iran Tells U.N. Nuclear Program Peaceful  —  Iran's nuclear activities are "transparent, peaceful and under the watchful eye" of United Nations inspectors, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday.  —  Taking the world stage at the U.N. General Assembly hours after President Bush …

White House Drops a Condition on Interrogation Bill  —  Seeking a deal with Senate Republicans on the rules governing the interrogation of terrorism suspects, the White House has dropped its insistence on redefining the obligations of the United States under the Geneva Conventions, members of Congress and aides said Tuesday.

Carey backs Pope and issues warning on 'violent' Islam  —  THE former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton has issued his own challenge to "violent" Islam in a lecture in which he defends the Pope's "extraordinarily effective and lucid" speech.  —  Lord Carey said that Muslims must address …

Refugee who fled Iran's mullahs becomes first woman space tourist  —  AS A young girl in Iran, Anousheh Ansari would stare in wonder at the stars and dream of joining them in the blackness of space.  —  Yesterday, a week after her 40th birthday, she made her dream come true.

Young children fight U.S. troops in Iraq  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Shiite militias are encouraging children — some as young as 6 or 7 — to hurl stones and gasoline bombs at U.S. convoys, hoping to lure American troops into ambushes or provoke them into shooting back, U.S. soldiers say.

Allen Says He Embraces His Jewish Ancestry  —  Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) said for the first time publicly yesterday that he has Jewish ancestry, a day after responding angrily to an exchange that included questions about his mother's racial sensitivity and whether his family has Jewish roots.

Deval Patrick wins easily  —  Deval L. Patrick, who rose from poverty on the South Side of Chicago to corporate boardrooms and a top position in President Clinton's administration, won the Democratic Party's nomination for governor tonight, becoming the first African American to win …

With Premier at U.N., Thai Military Stages Coup  —  Leaders of Thailand's armed forces seized control of Bangkok on Tuesday night, suspended the constitution and declared martial law.  —  They ousted the Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, while he was in New York for a meeting of the United Nations.

Oprah Seeks To Avoid 2008 Draft  —  Talk show host threatens legal action over fan's campaign  —  If nominated, Oprah Winfrey will serve...a cease and desist letter.  Lawyers for the talk show host are threatening legal action against a retired Kansas City teacher who has mounted …

Well beyond satire  —  Michelle Malkin is extremely upset because three convicted Christian terrorists in Indonesia are going to be executed despite — in Michelle's words — "grave doubts raised over the fairness of the trial."  The title of her post is "Muslims will execute Christians" …

A Jurist's Argument for Bending the Constitution  —  Citing national security concerns in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the Bush administration has repeatedly sought to expand presidential power, often doing so in secret and sidelining both Congress and the judiciary.

WHO WAS THE "EDUCATED PERSIAN?"  —  Since the Papal Brouhaha erupted I have been very interested in identifying the "Educated Persian" with whom Manuel II Palaiologos carried on his famous religious debates.  The answer is fascinating.  —  First, it is important to note …