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Congress finally recessed for the summer, after an extraordinary amount of time and effort. President Bush got his way on wiretapping, but Democrats pushed through their bills on energy, ethics and health insurance for children of the working poor.

Blood Diamond

The government announced Thursday that it has increased the rate at which it is dismantling nuclear warheads. But the actual number of weapons taken apart is classified, as are most numbers associated with the stockpile. Some officials want those numbers revealed.

The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, warned the U.S. and its allies to abandon what he called "arrogant policies." Ahmadinejad also seemed to dismiss any idea that his country would use its nuclear activities to build weapons. That is exactly what the United Nations and others fear most. But Tuesday Ahmadinejad asked the rhetorical question, "What is an atomic bomb good for?" He went on to say, "Thoughts can't be changed by a nuclear bomb. Today is the day of thought and logic."

NASA administrator Michael Griffin defends the space agency's programs, including plans for a permanent moon base and manned missions to Mars. He also says that the agency has no authorization to "take actions to affect climate change in either one way or another."

The federal Office of Special Counsel will investigate the White House political office run by key Bush adviser Karl Rove. The agency is examining whether White House officials acted improperly in the firing of federal prosecutor David Iglesias of New Mexico.

A study identifies major problems with the way the Smithsonian Institution is being run. Now one lawmaker on Capitol Hill wants to freeze increases to the Smithsonian's budget.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad travels to Saudi Arabia this weekend for talks on regional security, ahead of a meeting next week in Baghdad to discuss the security situation there.

Koshin Mohamed, a Somali refugee, works as a shopkeeper in southern Seattle. He says he has been tapped by the new transitional government in Somalia to be the new Somalian Ambassador to the United States. But the 28-year-old has found some powerful allies in the world of conservative U.S. politics.

George Packer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, is back from his sixth trip to Iraq since the war began. He offers his insights on Iraqis' perceptions of President Bush's latest war plans, and the country's hopes for political stability.