Clinton seizes opportunity after crisis  —  Friday afternoon began with possible tragedy: A hostage crisis at Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire.  —  As the incident unfolded Clinton's campaign closed its doors and canceled her public appearances.

Chávez Bluster Surges Ahead of Referendum  —  Some Observers Link Talk to Tight Contest  —  On the eve of a referendum that President Hugo Chávez has cast as a plebiscite on his rule, the populist leader is escalating his verbal assaults on foes real and imagined …

City taxpayers picked up tab for Judith Giuliani's visit to kin in Pennsylvania  —  In the fall of 2001, city cops chauffeured Rudy Giuliani's then-mistress, Judith Nathan, to her parents' Pennsylvania home 130 miles away on the taxpayers' dime.  —  Records show that city cops refueled …

Rove's Version of 2002 War Vote Is Disputed  —  Former White House aide Karl Rove said yesterday it was Congress, not President Bush, who wanted to rush a vote on the looming war in Iraq in the fall of 2002, a version of events disputed by leading congressional Democrats and even some former Rove colleagues.

Press Briefing by Dana Perino and Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator  —  Press Briefing Slide (PDF, 186KB, 1 page)  —  MS. PERINO: It's been our great pleasure to work with Kelly O'Donnell of NBC News.  And today is her last day covering the White House full-time, and so we wish you the very best in your — (applause.)

Witness Names to Be Withheld From Detainee  —  Defense lawyers preparing for the war crimes trial of a 21-year-old Guantánamo detainee have been ordered by a military judge not to tell their client — or anyone else — the identity of witnesses against him, newly released documents show.

Jordan's Spy Agency: Holding Cell for the CIA  —  Foreign Terror Suspects Tell of Torture  —  AMMAN, Jordan — Over the past seven years, an imposing building on the outskirts of this city has served as a secret holding cell for the CIA.  —  The building is the headquarters …

Lawmakers Set Deal on Raising Fuel Efficiency  —  Congressional negotiators reached a deal late Friday on energy legislation that would force American automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars and light trucks by 40 percent by 2020.  —  The proposal, which would require automakers …

The Price of Annapolis  —  Lebanese democracy.  —  WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, Saad al-Hariri's Mostaqbal party agreed to a constitutional amendment that would allow Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Michel Suleiman to be elected president.  Up until now, Hariri and his March 14 allies …

late night old friends  —  Is this thing on?  —  Hi.  I'm Julia, and I'm new (when I get to it, I blog here).  Anyway, as long as I have you all here, I thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity to put in a bid for my favorite Giuliani scandal, which I think is being unjustly neglected.