Report: Israel gives Syria ultimatum  —  London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat says Israel gave Syria 72 hours to stop Hizbullah's activity, bring about release of kidnapped IDF troops.  'Israel will not end military activity until new situation created that will prevent Syria …

Putin to Bush: "We Certainly Would Not Want to Have the Same Kind of Democracy as They Have in Iraq"  —  During a press conference today at the G8 summit in Russia, President Bush told President Vladimir Putin that Americans want Russia to develop a free press and free religion "like Iraq."

Lieberman Hopes His Fate Isn't Sealed With a Kiss  —  WASHINGTON, July 15 — On his increasingly difficult path to re-election, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman keeps getting kissed.  And not lovingly.  —  Kisses mock Mr. Lieberman, the incumbent Democrat, all over Connecticut — on signs, on buttons, even on giant parade floats.

Gunfire lasted 5-7 minutes  —  HARLINGEN — South Texas sheriff's deputies on Thursday were investigating whether Mexican gunmen who fired on deputies and Border Patrol agents from across the Rio Grande had crossed into the United States.  —  Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said 200 …

Wiretap Surrender  —  SENATE JUDICIARY Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) has cast his agreement with the White House on legislation concerning the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance as a compromise — one in which President Bush accepts judicial review of the program.

New House Majority Leader Keeps Old Ties to Lobbyists  —  Representative John A. Boehner won the job of House majority leader amid a post-Abramoff clamor for an overhaul of lobbying and ethics rules.  But nearly six months later, the changes are still tied up in Congress.

Public Schools Perform Near Private Ones in Study  —  WASHINGTON, July 14 — The Education Department reported on Friday that children in public schools generally performed as well or better in reading and mathematics than comparable children in private schools.

UN Council imposes sanctions on N. Korea  —  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to impose weapons-related sanctions on North Korea in response to its flurry of missile tests earlier this month.  —  The resolution demands that North Korea suspend …

Ex-Bush Aide Fatally Shoots Son, Himself  —  Gunfire at McLean Home Followed Fight With Wife  —  A former Bush administration official, after arguing violently with his wife Thursday night, shot and killed his 12-year-old son inside their McLean home, then turned a shotgun on himself and committed suicide, Fairfax County police said.

Clash Over Stem Cell Research Heats Up  —  Scientists Dispute Claims of Leading Foe of Bill to Ease Embryo Restrictions  —  With just days to go before the Senate is scheduled to vote on a hotly anticipated bill that would loosen President Bush's restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research …

Post-9/11 Option Grants Under Scrutiny  —  The WSJ continues its recent habit of burying killer stories in the under read Saturday edition.  This week's bombshell has to do with post 9/11 earnings grants: … What makes this so pathetic is that corporate executives could have stepped …