• White House pushes back on bleak Iraq report

Benchmarks

WASHINGTON - An independent assessment concluding that Iraq has made little political progress in recent months despite an influx of US troops drew fierce pushback from the White House on Thursday and provided fresh ammunition for Democrats who want to bring troops home.

• Justice Dept. investigating Gonzales' testimony to Congress

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department said Thursday it is investigating whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied or otherwise misled Congress last month in sworn testimony about the Bush administration's domestic terrorist spying program.

• Arresting officer accused Sen. Craig of lying

Will he resign?

WASHINGTON - The officer who arrested Sen. Larry Craig in a police undercover operation at an airport men's room accused the senator of lying to him during an interrogation afterward, according to an audiotape of the arrest.

• Big campaign donations in spotlight after Hsu case

'08 race

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision to return thousands of dollars from a top fundraiser wanted as a fugitive in California illustrates the perils of the pell-mell rush for political money — your friends can be your worst enemies.

• Banks increase borrowing from Fed for second straight week

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Banks increased their borrowing from the Federal Reserve for a second straight week as the central bank worked to deal with a credit crunch that has roiled global financial markets.

• Miscarriage risk increases if parents smoked, study finds

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who were exposed to their parents' smoking as children may have a higher likelihood of suffering a miscarriage, new research suggests.