North Korea Test-Fires Seventh Missile  —  Launch Comes After Controversial Long-Range Rocket Fails; U.N. Session Set After U.S., Japan Condemn Action  —  North Korea test-fired another missile today, at least its seventh such launch in 48 hours, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters in Tokyo.

ENRON'S KEN LAY DIES: 'HIS HEART SIMPLY GAVE OUT'  —  Convicted Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay, who was found guilty of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, has died of a massive coronary.  He was 64.  —  Nicknamed "Kenny Boy'' by President Bush …

Iraq considers arming insurgents  —  BAGHDAD — Iraq's government is studying a request from some local insurgent leaders to supply them with weapons so they can turn on the heavily armed foreign fighters who were once their allies, according to two Iraqi lawmakers.

STACLU pogrom is a resounding success  —  Nedd Kareiva  —  Scrabble Champion  —  Director, Stop the ACLU Coalition  —  Dear Mr. Kareiva,  —  Please allow me to be the first to thank you and the staff of Stop The ACLU for all you did to make the Indian River Pogrom such a resounding success.

Global Warming's Real Inconvenient Truth  —  "Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the next century, but — regardless of whether it is or isn't — we won't do much about it.  We will (I am sure) argue ferociously over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it.

Bush Signaling Shift in Stance on Immigration  —  WASHINGTON, July 4 — On the eve of nationwide hearings that could determine the fate of his immigration bill, President Bush is signaling a new willingness to negotiate with House Republicans in an effort to revise the stalled legislation before Election Day.

Security Cabinet approves deeper incursion into Gaza  —  The Security Cabinet called for prolonged and gradual military action in Gaza and the West Bank, at a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the Shalit crisis and how to respond to Tuesday's rocket attack on Ashkelon.

Sen. Clinton Hedges Lieberman Support  —  ALBANY, N.Y., July 4 — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), a longtime supporter of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, said Tuesday that she will not back the Connecticut Democrat's bid for reelection if he loses their party's primary.  —  "I've known Joe Lieberman for more than 30 years.

Tax cuts losing force as rallying cry on the Hill  —  Lawmakers say constituents wary of deficit, help for rich  —  WASHINGTON — Support for tax cuts — a signature campaign issue for congressional Republicans — is waning on Capitol Hill, with the GOP-led Congress reaching its Independence …

Judicial nominee asked about club  —  Just six months after quitting the all-male social club to which he belonged for 50 years, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is questioning one of President Bush's nominees to the federal bench about his membership in an all-male dining club.