Headlines (5:15)

CHAVEZ GRANTED SWEEPING POWERS
Venezuela's
National Assembly unanimously passed a law today that will allow
President Hugo Chavez to issue laws by decree for a limited time on a
wide range of issues, which he says will enable him to introduce
Socialism in Venezuela more rapidly. Greg Wilpert has the story from
Venezuela.

Headlines (5:00)
NEGROPONTE CONFIRMATION HEARING
In today's confirmation hearing for John Negroponte, the president's nominee for Deputy Secretary of State, senators made it clear to the outgoing Director of National Intelligence that they want to see a major diplomatic effort with Iran and Syria. Nan McCurdy has more from Capitol Hill.

Headlines (4:30)
HUNDREDS DEAD IN NAJAF BATTLE
Shiite Iraqis are currently celebrating their holiest month of the year - but it has been marred by some of the worst violence since 2003. Hiba Dawood reports.

SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISRAEL
A suicide bomber killed three people and himself today in a bakery in the southern Israeli city of Eilat. Today's suicide bombing was the first to strike inside of Israel in nine months. The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Islamic Jihad have claimed joint responsibility for the blast.

INVESTIGATION OF ARMY CONTRACTORS

Headlines (5:45)
DEATH TOLL IN GUINEA HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

Headlines (5:30)
CURFEW IN BEIRUT
Four people are dead and another 20 are wounded after clashes erupted
today in Beirut between supporters and opponents of the government.
Fighting started with an argument between university students over
Tuesday's national strike. The clashes escalated from rock-throwing to
gunfire as it moved from the university campus onto neighborhood
streets. The Lebanese Army has declared a curfew in effect until dawn.
The violence has overshadowed news of a 7.6 billion dollar aid package
for Lebanon that was announced earlier today at a donor conference in
Paris.

BRITISH DEBATE ON TROOP PULLOUT

Headlines (5:00)
SENATE COMMITTEE REJECTS PLAN TO INCREASE TROOP LEVELS
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today voted against President Bush's policy to increase troop levels in Iraq, saying that the plan is not in the national interest. The larger Senate body is due to debate the "troop surge" measure next week. The outcome of today's Senate panel vote is non-binding.

GREEN LIGHT FOR STAR WARS DISCUSSIONS IN CZECH REPUBLIC

Headlines (4:45)
ISRAELI PRESIDENT CAN FACE INDICTMENT
Israel's Attorney General has stated that enough evidence exists to indict President Moshe Katsav on charges of rape and other crimes involving abuse of power. Three women have accused Katsav of indecent acts during his term as president. Another female staffer has accused him of rape and of indecent acts accompanied by the use of force when he was Minister of Tourism. The Israeli president will be able to give his version of the events in a hearing with the country's attorney general before he can be formally charged with a crime. Katsav's attorneys have already indicated that the president will resign if indicted. In Israel, the presidency is a largely ceremonial position.

Headlines (5:15)

SOMALI ISLAMIST LEADER TURNS HIMSELF IN
A key leader of the deposed Islamic group in Somalia turned himself in to Kenyan authorities today. Abdurahman Warsameh reports from Mogadishu.