Top Items:
Uzi Mahnaimi / Times of London:
Israel plans attack on Gaza — ISRAEL's new defence minister Ehud Barak is planning an attack on Gaza within weeks to crush the Hamas militants who have seized power there. — According to senior Israeli military sources, the plan calls for 20,000 troops to destroy much of Hamas's military capability in days.
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Mark Lavie / Associated Press:
2 rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon — JERUSALEM - Two Katyusha rockets fell on northern Israel Sunday, the first fired from Lebanon since last summer's inconclusive war with Hezbollah guerrillas. No one was hurt, but there was some damage, police and the military said.
Discussion:
Jihad Watch
Chicago Tribune:
POINTING THE WAY FOR PROSECUTORS — Under fire, not in retreat — Gonzales' plan for attorney reviews would further politicize process — Atty Gen. Alberto Gonzales so far has survived a political crisis over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, a rare potential vote of no-confidence …
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Nico / Think Progress:
Gonzales plans to 'tighten the leash' on attorneys. — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales "recently proposed tightening the leash on the men and women who prosecute federal crimes across the nation. Gonzales described what he delicately calls 'a more vigorous and a little bit more formal process' for annually evaluating prosecutors.
Discussion:
The Swamp
Mark Steyn / Orange County Register:
Beware of government as the last action hero — The other day, six Anglican archbishops called for the church to bless the unions of same-sex couples. The Anglican Church of Canada is about to have a big vote on the issue, and depending which way they swing it will either deepen the schism within …
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Janet I. Tu / Seattle Times:
"I am both Muslim and Christian" — Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill. — On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. — She does both, she says, because she's Christian and Muslim.
Nasser Karimi / Associated Press:
Iran: Putin pulls plans on radar station — TEHRAN, Iran - Iran said Sunday it had received indications from Russia's president that he would not follow through with an offer to allow the U.S. to use a radar station in neighboring Azerbaijan for missile defense against Tehran.
Discussion:
The Newshoggers
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Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
The Putin Bait-And-Switch — Vladimir Putin surprised George Bush at the G-8 summit by offering to help the US place the missile-shield system in Azerbaijan rather than Poland and the Czech Republic. Given the conditions of the offer, which was that the system would remain in Russian control rather …
Think Progress:
Abu Ghraib Investigator Details Pentagon Cover-Up: 'I Thought I Was In The Mafia' — In a New Yorker article today, Seymour Hersh interviews Army Major General Antonio M. Taguba, who led the Pentagon's investigation into the abuses at Abu Ghraib. This article is the first time that Taguba …
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Nell Henderson / Washington Post:
Home Buyers: A Borrowed Dime Grows More Costly — Higher Mortgage Rates Reflect Inflation Fears — The price of money has gone up. — Or more technically, long-term interest rates have jumped in recent weeks, rattling the already slumping housing market.
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Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
BUBBLE, BUBBLE...Interest rates are going up:
BUBBLE, BUBBLE...Interest rates are going up:
Discussion:
Angry Bear
Peter Applebome / New York Times:
Senior prank leads to federal charges — Nation: N.Y. teens say alarm clocks were harmless; police are not amused. — MONTROSE, N.Y. - Well, it seemed a good idea at the time. — It's senior prank season, and this was the plan for the last day of classes Monday at Hendrick Hudson High School …
Associated Press:
Administration pushes for mandatory sentences — WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is trying to roll back a Supreme Court decision by pushing legislation that would require prison time for nearly all criminals. — The Justice Department is offering the plan as an opening salvo …
Julian Dibbell / New York Times:
The Life of the Chinese Gold Farmer — It was an hour before midnight, three hours into the night shift with nine more to go. At his workstation in a small, fluorescent-lighted office space in Nanjing, China, Li Qiwen sat shirtless and chain-smoking, gazing purposefully at the online computer game in front of him.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online
Duff Wilson / New York Times:
Prosecutor in Duke Case Disbarred by Ethics Panel — A state ethics panel on Saturday disbarred Michael B. Nifong, the Durham district attorney who pursued a false accusation of sexual assault against three Duke University lacrosse players, shortly after Mr. Nifong said through his lawyer that he thought disbarment was appropriate.
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Jamiecnn / CNN Political Ticker:
Obama D.C. house catches fire — WASHINGTON (AP) — A Capitol Hill house where Sen. Barack Obama rents an apartment caught on fire Sunday, but a spokesman said the Democratic presidential contender was out of town to celebrate Father's Day. — The fire appeared to be on the third floor …
Gary Cleland / Telegraph:
BBC report finds bias within corporation — The BBC has failed to promote proper debate on major political issues because of the inherent liberal culture of its staff, a report commissioned by the corporation has concluded. — The report claims that coverage of single-issue political causes …
Associated Press:
Mating hares block Milan airport runways — MILAN, Italy - Wild hares at Milan's Linate airport seem to have only one thing on their mind, and their excessive mating and growing numbers have blocked takeoffs, landings and radar systems. — Officials on Sunday mounted a daylight raid to keep …