Japan considers strike against N. Korea  —  TOKYO - Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North's missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo's proposal for sanctions against the regime.

Russia kills most-wanted warlord  —  MOSCOW, Russia — Russia's most wanted man, Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, has been killed in an operation by special forces, the state security chief told President Vladimir Putin on Monday.  —  FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev said Basayev …

Baghdad Erupts in Mob Violence  —  BAGHDAD, July 9 — A mob of gunmen went on a brazen daytime rampage through a predominantly Sunni Arab district of western Baghdad on Sunday, pulling people from their cars and homes and killing them in what officials and residents called a spasm of revenge …

Congressman Says Program Was Disclosed by Informant  —  WASHINGTON, July 9 — The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said Sunday that the Bush administration briefed the panel on a "significant" intelligence program only after a government whistle-blower alerted him to its existence and he pressed President Bush for details.

U.N. Nuclear Chief Pulled Inspector at Iran's Request  —  The Nobel Peace Prize-winning chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency effectively fired his lead Iran investigator this spring at the request of the Iranians, according to a new report in the German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag.

Detainee Rights Create a Divide on Capitol Hill  —  Senators Carl Levin, left, and Lindsey Graham talking to reporters in November about legal rights of detainees and enemy combatants.  The two are expected to be among the leaders in the coming debate on the issue.

Bringing the Church to the Courtroom  —  Christian Group Becomes Force in Major Legal Battles  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A 29-foot war memorial shaped like a cross should be allowed to remain on public land.  A teacher should be able to emphasize references to God in the Declaration of Independence.

Understanding The Palestinian Death Wish  —  Barry Rubin attempts to explain to Westerners the reasons why our efforts to deal with the Palestinians on a rational basis have no hope of success.  The West offers incentives that have no traction in the Palestinian culture, Rubin tells us …

Well-Paid Benefit Most As Economy Flourishes  —  Wages are rising more than twice as fast for highly paid workers in the Washington area as they are for low-paid workers, an analysis of federal data by The Washington Post shows.  —  That means the spoils of the region's economic expansion …

6 Injured In Manhattan Building Collapse  —  White House: Manhattan Explosion Not Terrorism  —  LIVE: Manhattan Building Collapse  —  (CBS) NEW YORK A four-story building at 32 East 62nd Street in Manhattan exploded this morning and collapsed this morning.  The fire has now moved to a fifth alarm.

States try to block illegal workers  —  At least 30 states have passed laws or taken other steps this year to crack down on illegal immigrants, often making it harder for undocumented workers to find jobs or receive public services.  —  STATES TAKE ACTION: A state-by-state look

GOP Husband, Democratic Wife Vie for Seat  —  The candidates say they offer legitimate political differences.  Their conservative critics say it's a campaign dirty trick.  —  Jeff Ippel is a Republican, involved in a three-way primary race for a seat in the Kansas House.