Obama pleads for $50 billion in state, local aid  —  President Obama urged reluctant lawmakers Saturday to quickly approve nearly $50 billion in emergency aid to state and local governments, saying the money is needed to avoid “massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters” and to support the still-fragile economic recovery.

Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade  —  The Palestinian president reportedly told Obama that lifting the naval blockade of Gaza would bolster Hamas, a move that shouldn't be done at this stage.  —  Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is opposed to lifting …

The President's Moment  —  If ever there was a test of President Obama's vision of government — one that cannot solve all problems, but does what people cannot do for themselves — it is this nerve-racking early summer of 2010, with oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico and far too many Americans out of work for far too long.

Boehner to Hoyer: Stop Blaming Bush  —  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) expressed frustration Sunday on NBC's “Meet the Press” over partisan fighting as lawmakers try to lift the cap that limits how much oil cleanup BP is responsible for, calling it remnants of the Bush administration's “psychology of neglect.”

Belgians vote in poll dominated by separatism  —  Belgium is holding parliamentary elections which could bring the country closer to a constitutional split.  —  The Flemish separatist party the New Flemish Alliance (NVA) is expected to do well in the vote.

This Time Is Different  —  My friend, Mark Mykleby, who works in the Pentagon, shared with me this personal letter to the editor he got published last week in his hometown paper, The Beaufort Gazette in South Carolina.  It is the best reaction I've seen to the BP oil spill …

Angle to meet with GOP leaders, fundraisers  —  Sharron Angle will meet with Republican leaders and fundraisers in Washington this week as the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate seeks support for her Tea Party-backed bid to defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Gaza, Through Fresh Eyes  —  GAZA — For some, it's the relative modernity — the jazzy cellphone stores and pricey restaurants.  For others, it's the endless beaches with children whooping it up.  But for nearly everyone who visits Gaza, often with worry of danger and hostility …

Revealed: Japan's bribes on whaling  —  A SUNDAY TIMES investigation has exposed Japan for bribing small nations with cash and prostitutes to gain their support for the mass slaughter of whales.  —  The undercover investigation found officials from six countries were willing to consider selling …