Strauss-Kahn Accuser's Call Alarmed Prosecutors  —  Twenty-eight hours after a housekeeper at the Sofitel New York said she was sexually assaulted by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, she spoke by phone to a boyfriend in an immigration jail in Arizona.  —  Investigators with the Manhattan district …

The Failure of Al Gore Part Three: Singing the Climate Blues  —  Some readers are wondering why I am spending so much time analyzing the political problems of a former vice president.  It is not out of any personal animus toward Mr. Gore.  Though I'm not expecting any invitations …

Herman Cain's top Iowa staff resigns  —  A few days after two senior aides in New England, the other shoe drops on Herman Cain in Iowa: … Cain spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael told POLITICO a few days ago that the New Hampshire staff would be replaced in short order.

China's Stimulus  —  Word from Prime Minister Wen Jiabao : … Now obviously what Wen doesn't add to that is “and a lot of this new construction is pretty wasteful.”  But the reality is that it is.  People often say that China has a billion people.  But it doesn't.  It has over 1.3 billion people.

Obama: We can't afford to keep every tax break  —  President Obama used his weekly address to reiterate his demand for ending tax breaks for “millionaires and billionaires” in any budget deal to raise the nation's debt limit.  —  “It would be nice if we could keep every tax break, but we can't afford them,” Obama said.

Maria Shriver Files for Divorce from Arnold  —  TMZ has learned Maria Shriver has pulled the trigger on her marriage ... she just filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger ... and we've learned, there is NO PRENUP.  —  In the divorce petition, obtained by TMZ, Shriver cites …

DOJ: Court Should Not Dismiss Karen Golinski's Health Benefits Claim, Should Instead Find DOMA Unconstitutional  —  Today, the Department of Justice filed a brief in federal court employee Karen Golinski's federal court challenge, supporting her lawsuit seeking access to equal health benefits …

Hamas slams Greece for barring Gaza aid ship  —  DAMASCUS — The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Friday denounced Greece after its coastguard intercepted a US vessel which tried to sail to Gaza to break Israel blockade of the coastal strip.  —  In a statement issued by its political leadership …

On Obama's visit, presidential seal blew off his limo on I-76; it later was recovered  —  There's nothing quite like that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you just know that you've lost something important.  —  It happens to people all the time - especially travelers.

White House releases staffers' salaries  —  The top earners in the Obama White House take home $172,200 a year, according to figures posted on whitehouse.gov Friday afternoon.  —  Twenty-one administration officials earn the top salary, including Chief of Staff Bill Daley …

U.S. opposes Mexican's execution  —  Making the unusual move of trying to stop a state execution, the Obama Administration on Friday afternoon urged the Supreme Court to delay temporarily the scheduled execution in Texas next Thursday of a Mexican national, Humberto Leal Garcia …

Swiss party ad features Jewish doll  —  Jewish community outraged: Anti-Semitic group in Geneva distributes ad for independence day party showing doll wearing yarmulke with arrow on its head, Israeli flag painted on  —  Ads promoting an independence party in Geneva featured a doll …

Former Obama economic adviser warns on debt limit  —  In one of his first interviews since leaving the White House, former National Economic Council director Larry Summers says he believes “reason will prevail” in negotiations over the debt limit because a default would spark a second …

Global Warming Hates The Fourth Of July  —  As fossil fuel pollution heats the planet, one of the casualties is the traditional celebration of the founding of the United States.  The record droughts, floods, and storms fueled by global warming are causing widespread bans on fireworks …

Laura D'Andrea Tyson Can't Possibly Be Treasury Secretary  —  I've heard some chatter that were Timothy Geithner to step down, Laura Tyson might replace him as Treasury Secretary but it's clear from what she's wrote today that she's far too sensible to be confirmed: … Crazy talk.