Two die as hardline Islamists ban World Cup  —  Hardline Islamic courts shut cinema halls and barred residents from watching the World Cup, prompting scores of civilians to protest the ban in which two people were killed, court officials and residents have said.

Transcript for June 11  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead.What does this mean for Iraq, especially the 135,000 American troops still on the ground?  We'll ask NBC News analyst and retired General Barry McCaffrey.  —  Then, 1,000 political activists …

Israel investigating deaths of Palestinians on beach  —  The Israeli military is still trying to determine if shells it fired killed seven members of a Palestinian family picnicking on a beach in Gaza on Friday.  —  The military has accounted for five of the six shells it fired into Gaza, and said they didn't kill the family.

Guantanamo suicides 'acts of war'  —  The suicides of three detainees at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, amount to acts of war, the US military says.  —  The camp commander said the two Saudis and a Yemeni were "committed" and had killed themselves in "an act of asymmetric warfare waged against us".

In Texas Town, New Drug Plan Baffles Patient and Provider Alike  —  McALLEN, Tex. — In Washington, Bush administration officials say Medicare's new prescription drug program is humming along smoothly, filling more than three million prescriptions a day and cutting costs by an average of 50 percent for each beneficiary.

'Warmongers' have a point: It's a war  —  Here are four news stories from the last week:  —  Baghdad: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi found himself on the receiving end of 500 pounds of U.S. ordnance.  —  London: Scotland Yard arrested a cell of East End Muslims allegedly plotting a sarin attack in Britain.

Reid calls for more intelligence oversight  —  LAS VEGAS - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid made a pitch Saturday to enlist bloggers as a Democratic force in upcoming elections, and said he'll ask Congress for stiffer reporting requirements for the president and the intelligence community.

As Agenda Falters, Bush Tries a More Personal Approach in Dealing With Congress  —  WASHINGTON, June 10 — Senator John W. Warner and his wife were at the White House for a Memorial Day photo session with veterans when they received an unexpected invitation from President Bush.

Vilsack fourth in presidential poll  —  1 in 10 Iowans would back governor if he ran for White House  —  Edwards, Clinton top Democratic choices for president in 2008  —  Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina leads a list of potential Democratic presidential candidates while Iowa …

Warming to A Candidacy?  —  A few years ago a Los Angeles television anchor said: "Dodgers and Angels highlights at 11.  Please watch anyway."  Some viewers probably thought ABC should have said something like that when announcing Al Gore's extended interview on "This Week" last Sunday.

Memorium  —  Sarge Just sent this:  —  It's been a little while since I've posted here, but Friday night all the  —  things in the world news that I'd been planning to write about suddenly  —  became completely unimportant.  Friday night a soldier from my company, from  —  my platoon, was killed by an IED.

Mexico Breaks Through Iran Defense in Win  —  NUREMBERG, Germany (AP) - Iran seemed content to play for one point.  So Mexico took all three.  Mexico broke through Iran's defense late in the second half, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes for a 3-1 victory in the teams' Group D opener Sunday.

Fear of Big Battle Panics Iraqi City  —  BAGHDAD — Fears of an imminent offensive by the U.S. troops massed around the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi intensified Saturday, with residents pouring out of the city to escape what they describe as a mounting humanitarian crisis.

New Beheading Video Released by Iraqi Terrorists (Photos, Video)  —  An al Qaeda-linked Iraqi terrorist group released a new hostage beheading video yesterday, presumably in an attempt to regain momentum after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's assassination. … That the murders continue is hardly surprising.