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The Iraqi parliament backs a last-minute deal meant to reassure Sunni Arabs and gain their support for the draft constitution ahead of Saturday's nationwide vote on the document. Kurd, Shiite and Sunni leaders hailed the news as evidence that different groups can work together in Iraq.

The Senate Judiciary Committee opens its confirmation hearings for chief justice nominee John Roberts, as senators and Roberts himself make opening remarks. Several committee members spoke to consider how much a nominee should reveal about his opinions.

Poet and funeral director Thomas Lynch has been thinking a lot these past couple of weeks about New Orleans and how the dead are precious to those who survive them. In response to the Katrina disaster, he wrote a new poem, "Local Heroes," first published on NPR.org.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is a familiar face to many Iraqis -- some say too familiar. As the constitution is being drafted, there are concerns among Iraqis that Khalilzad's omnipresence is a sign of excessive U.S. influence.

Israeli soldiers storm two synagogues occupied by protesters as Israel continues with its pullout of settlers from Gaza. Overall, Israeli authorities say, the withdrawal is proceeding ahead of schedule.

On the Senate Judiciary Committee's second day of hearings on the nomination of John Roberts for U.S. chief justice, Sen. Arlen Specter questioned Roberts on the issue of abortion rights.

National Geographic photographer Nick Nichols calls the Congo Basin jungle of Africa The Last Place on Earth — the title of his new book detailing his adventures in the region.

If you're looking for unusual gift ideas, New York Times technology columnist David Pogue has picked out some off-beat gadgets, both practical and prankish.

Edward Favre, the mayor of Bay St. Louis, Miss., says half of the homes in his city have been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. His family's history in the town stretches back nine generations; now he and family members are trying to pick up the pieces.

Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency that he leads win the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Elbaradei was cited for addressing "one of the greatest dangers facing the world."