House OKs plan to withdraw US troops  —  WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government is achieving only spotty military and political progress, the Bush administration conceded Thursday in an assessment that war critics quickly seized on as confirmation of their dire warnings.

Christian activists disrupt Hindu prayer in US Senate  —  WASHINGTON: Christian activists briefly disrupted a Hindu invocation in the US Senate on Thursday, marring a historic first for the chamber and showing that fundamentalism is present and shouting in the US too.

Okay, finally the...  ADVANTAGE RUDY  —  Okay, finally the definitive story.  Last night we were bringing you the latest on the proxy fight between the Giuliani and McCain campaigns over who could have the most prominent or outrageous campaign official involved in a prostitution scandal.

Poison for Profit  —  In November 2006, America's dogs and cats started dying painful, mysterious and sometimes gruesome deaths—canaries in the coal mine of a food safety system on the verge of collapse.  Previously healthy pets would suddenly vomit blood and bile, produce bloody diarrhea and lose control of bladder and bowel.

An Inconvenient Turbine: Conservation vs. Preservation  —  Homeowners Who Go Green  —  Face Neighbors' Objections;  —  How Gore Got His Solar Panels  —  In neighborhoods across the country, there's a battle brewing: the environmentalists vs. the aesthetes.

Dingell calls our bluff  —  Last Sunday, Rep. John Dingell appeared on the C-SPAN show Newsmakers for a 30-min. interview (transcript here; video accessible via the website), and caused an enormous ruckus with this: … The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press …

Courtroom Explodes in Laughter After ABC's Sawyer Touts Fairness of Journalists  —  Thursday's edition of "Good Morning America" featured a Diane Sawyer anecdote that revealed the low opinion Americans have of journalists.  After wrapping up a segment on people who avoid jury duty …

What about the Iraqis?  —  From today's press conference with the Senate Democratic leaders.  —  I tried to get an answer to what I blogged earlier today.  —  I did not succeed.  —  TAPPER: Senator Reid, what do you say to critics who say, "Look, the Senate voted, including two of you up on the stage …

THE REPUBLICAN RIDDLE  —  How Should the GOP Go in '08—and in '07 on Iraq?  —  Director, U.Va. Center for Politics  —  Over the decades the Republican Party has secured a reputation as the orderly bunch in our (mainly) two-party system.  Its members like to have a designated successor …

Brown message to US: it's time to build, not destroy  —  Minister signals foreign policy shift ahead of PM's Washington trip  —  The first clear signs that Gordon Brown will reorder Britain's foreign policy emerged last night when one of his closest cabinet allies urged the US to change …

Democrats Will Try to Counter Ruling on Discrimination Suits  —  A Supreme Court decision restricting workers' ability to sue for wage discrimination has prompted Democrats to introduce legislation to counteract the ruling.  —  In May, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 against a supervisor …