AFGHANISTAN: 16 bodies from U.S. copter crash found in Afghanistan, 7 unaccounted for, may be captured + Nightmare rescue mission + Fact file: Chinook + What now for the Taleban? +  "Lucky shot" by RPG brought down chopper: General + (NYT) Afghans fear Taliban is regaining strength. Sharp increase in attacks, abductions, violent protests against government + Canadian troops head to Afghanistan + What now for the Taleban?

MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia protests a bridge linking between UAE, Qatar

Israel, Palestine: Israel: Gaza Is a 'Closed Military Zone' + PM: Radical gangs trying to terrorize Israeli society + PM: We must stop rampage using all means

Egypt-Israel sign $2.5 billion gas deal

RUSSIA: Russia jails liberal MP's killers + Russia is inundated with oil + Chinese and Russian Leaders Seek to Strengthen Ties, Trade Relations

BRITAIN: Eight Years in Power, Blair Looks Weary but Insists He Still Has Energy and Vigor + Blair opposes EU's directive to outlaw up to 5,000 vitamins

CENTRAL ASIA: Russia plays Uzbekistan blame game

AFRICA: Sudan frees Islamist leader

DR Congo violence at poll delays

ASIA PACIFIC: Defense the best attack for India

AMERICAS: (WaPo) Canada plans tough rules on drug sales to U.S.

Mexican Postage Stamp Pushes Racial Envelope (LAT Reg) + Mexico cracks down on organized crime + Mexican Authorities Hold 39 Kidnapping Victims for Alleged Gang Ties + Mexico Says Cultural Misunderstanding Behind Conflict Over Stamp of Black Comics Character

Central American Leaders Discuss Special Forces to Deal With Drugs, Gangs, Terrorism

UN troops kill six in Haiti raid

Mexico's Zapatista Rebels Say They'll Enter Peaceful Leftist Alliance

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Bush Endorses the Creation of a New National Security Service + Q&A: How May Overhaul Affect Spy Agencies? + (WaPo) Spy chief gets big say over FBI budget, hiring

Wednesday: Bush rushed to safety after airspace alert + Another Private Plane Scare Sends Washington Into a Panic

Italy summons U.S. ambassador over CIA-led kidnapping of terrorist in Milan + CIA veterans say Italian official knew of covert plan + Italy denies prior knowledge of imam's kidnapping + Berlusconi calls in US envoy over 'CIA kidnap' of imam

LA 8, Charged With Aiding Terrorists. Lives of Worry, Sadness, 'Why?'

Lawrence Livermore Lab names head of nonproliferation, arms control, international security

Two Iraqi brothers arrested as they try to illegally walk over Mexican border at Tijuana

Lodi terror cases: Relatives of Lodi men summoned in terror probe

Take a peek at what Scotland's spies did in war>

Click. Note on History of TEMPEST

Click. Garrett Jones: It's a cultural thing: Thoughts on a troubled CIA, part one

Danilov Loses Last Appeal in Spy Case + Russian Court Reduces Prison Term for Scientist Jailed on Spy Charges

Armenian Citizen Convicted Of Spying For Azerbaijan

Downer plays down absence from secret forum

Chinese defector details country's espionage agenda

Cold War Soviet spy granny dies in Great Britain + KGB spy dies

Crisis led RCMP to share its secrets

Defector warns Canada about spies

U.S. Won't Cede Control of Internet's Key Computers + US will not release ultimate control over the "root" -- the file that contains the master list of authorized registries

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Willie Brown to help settle Castro St. club dispute + Spain OKs Gay Marriage, Defying Opponents + A gay Bolivian activist leads the march to demand legal rights + Jerusalem gay pride parade halted after three participants stabbed + Ripples of Change in Indian Film

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Click to view, state and local

THE GOVERNOR and LOCAL and SCHOOL NEWS Click

Fed Bumps Interest Rates Higher, Signals More Increases in Borrowing Costs to Come

Bank of America to Buy MBNA for $35 Billion, Reshape Credit Card Industry

Buy a share of a farmer's crop

Mortgage lending face-off re: inquiries on racial bias

SEC Reaffirms Independent Fund Oversight (LAT Reg) + In Rule Reversal, SEC to Let Firms Promote Stocks, Bonds Before IPOs (LAT Reg)

Dot-com survivor booming after bust (CCT Reg)

Boeing Names 3M Chief McNerney as New CEO

Disney Incoming CEO, CFO Get Stock Option Grants

Daily Forex Commentary

Today's papers

THE BUSHWORLD...

GOP: Rep. Howard Berman attacking term limits for Presidency + Conservative Groups Seek Confirmation of Two Bush Judicial Nominees

OPINIONS:

(SFC) Is Bush consistent or doing an about-face? Some see his evolving reasons for war in stark contrast, others in shades of gray

Gonzocons Erase History: Martin Kelly

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

40 surf one wave to break surfing record

'He's God's angel', the unofficial saint to some in Mexico

Bay Area native crafting space vehicle

RIP: Edna Kimbro, expert on adobes (SJM Reg)

Taking on the Ironman: Ten Santa Cruz women cast aside doubts, prepare for Ironman Austria

New Pajaro Valley exhibit celebrates the human form

Counting humpbacks

Shakespeare in the Park

Tarantino: King of Thieves

When Jesus came to Surrey

Village of the damned

The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth

Unknown Impressionist Masterpieces

Rush & Molloy

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown

Out of the 'Groove'

Martha the dumpling diva

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

The Governor:   Gov.'s bid brings budget impasse + Gov.'s workforce is growing again. Despite his talk of curbing spending, state set to add 11,000 jobs over 2 years + Spending Limit Flaw: Gov. Would Get Upper Hand (LAT Reg) + Gov. backs 405 freeway project car pool lane + Gov. Calls Nov. 8 Election to Fill Assembly Seat (El Segundo) (LAT Reg) + Fil-Am's donation puts Gov. under fire

Energy generators sue to stop vote on re-regulation

Assessors: New State Board of Equalization rule won't halt tax 'sham' of for-profit operators of low income housing unfairly winning property tax exemptions by teaming up with "shell" nonprofit groups (SJM Reg)

Caltrans again has designs on Bay Bridge tower + Panel approves bridge safety audit + Security a top concern for tower design

Alameda County judge won't fine Assemblyman Guy Houston for failure to answer questions re: business dealings, but threatens future penalties

Legislature: Assembly panel OKs new oversight law on dog ownership -- breed specific regulations + Assembly committee rejects rate-regulation bill, sides with insurers + Democrats floating a new budget (CCT Reg) + Senate committee OKs redistricting plan (CCT Reg) + Workers comp. Wait and see (SB Reg) + Senate Committee okays redistricting plan. GOP wants changes + Bill asks insurance companies to guide consumers (RP Reg)

State budget: Budget deadline going, going...(SJM Reg) + Some Republicans needed to give final OK to state budget + State budgeteers to miss deadline again + Standoff on State Budget Continues (LAT Reg) ++ Democrats floating a new budget (CCT Reg) + Demos to try again on budget (SJM Reg) + Democrats take second stab at state budget

Stem cell panel: Oversight is critical for confidence in stem cell research

Indian tribes: Senate Panel votes against casino in San Pablo, supports Sen. Feinstein's view. Senators want tribe to undergo rigorous state, U.S. approval + San Pablo gaming dealt blow in D.C. (CCT Reg) + Measure to restrict casinos to Indian land moves along + Revenue sharing pact for LaPosta tribe set + (Oak Trib) Casino foes get boost in Senate + Anti-casino bill moves forward + Senator seeking change to Indian gaming act. McCain, head of Indian Affairs Committee, wants more federal regulation + Martin Schram: Pork, perks and boondoggles + Caltrans to collect road data near state Indian rancherias + Pechanga reaches out with PowWow + Senator seeking change to Indian gaming act. McCain, head of Indian Affairs Committee, wants more federal regulation + Some tribes would back halt to off-reservation gambling

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

LOCAL NEWS:    73-year-old woman fights off would-be dognapper

AFGHANISTAN: All 17 US troops in Afghan crash believed dead + Afghanistan Violence Rising, More Troops to Be Sent Before September Polls + Afghan Copter Recovery Delayed

MIDDLE EAST: Abul-Gheit to Le Figaro: Egypt rejects imposition of foreign ideas

Sharon to visit France in July and meet President Chirac

Israel, Palestine: Police move in on settler protest + Jewish settlers spark Gaza violence + Soldier dies in Hezbollah attack on Har Dov posts + Sharon: Gov't must take 'every measure' to end extremists' acts + (AJ) Hizb Allah, Israeli army exchange fire + (AJ) Hizb Allah chief: We will keep our arms

RUSSIA: Russia pulls out from border agreement with Estonia over post-WWII 'occupation claims' + Russia comes into serious crisis with its WTO membership talks+ The threat of orange revolutions is irrelevant to Russia

EUROPE: Blair Versus Chirac (LAT Reg)

Key Quotes From AP Interview With British Prime Minister Tony Blair + Idealistic Brown lays into European farm subsidies

For farmers in France, no unity on subsidies + Once again, a French finance aide is under fire

EU unveils draft rules for talks on Turkey

Gerhard Schroeder, the Great Manipulator

Hundreds of Would-Be Immigrants Arrive on Tiny Island South of Sicily

CENTRAL ASIA: Azerbaijan Opposition Leader Seeks Voting Overhaul Before November Polls

AFRICA: Belgium finds two guilty in Rwanda genocide case

Ivory Coast foes rework disarmament timetable

ASIA PACIFIC: China's two-pronged offensive

Arroyo's Spouse Leaves The Philippines

AMERICAS: Cuba and Venezuela to build oil alliance

Mexican Voting May Extend Into U.S. + Zapatista rebels seek political solution to resistance

A Dozen Members of Colombia's Navy Accused of Drug Trafficking

Canada to ban bulk export of Rx drugs

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Do DNA tests to prove ancestry work?

Cruise's war of the words

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

FBI Sees No Terror Threat for July 4

Bush Tells FBI to Form National Security Division in Intelligence Overhaul

New Office to Oversee Intelligence Abroad + White House to Endorse WMD Panel's Changes + New National Spy Office Created; CIA Analysis Demoted

Italy asks Interpol to help find CIA suspects Milan Mystery: Did Italy Have Role in Kidnapping Case?

CIA Opposes 9-11 Panel's Recommendation to transfer CIA's control of covert military operations to the Pentagon

Immigration charges against the Los Angeles 8 (Palestinians) where terror charges failed

U.S. passport system stumbles in major test + Report Says Information Gaps Helped Criminals Obtain Passports

Thefts Of Small Planes Spark Security Concerns At Airports

Possible cuts to Lab's Laser could cut confidence in nuclear stockpile (LAT Reg)

Lodi terror case: Lodi Islamic leader fired for U.S. criticism + Relatives of Lodi men accused of terror ties must go before grand jury

Insults fly on newly released Nixon tapes

'I lived with a suicide bomber'

Saudi Kingdom Issues New List of Terrorists Ex-German spy chief admits taking bribes + Saudi arms-deal trial opens in Germany

Armenian Citizen Convicted Of Spying For Azerbaijan + Yerevan Court Sentenced Azeri Spy to 12 Years of Imprisonment

N. Korea Reportedly Cuts Int'l Phone Lines

Hearing on Security Clearance Backlog Sparks Promises of Action

(WaPo) Why The FBI Can't Be Reformed

Two thefts of small planes renew security concerns

Is black-market baby formula financing terror?

Two Arraigned on Terrorism Charges

Russian military, politicians handled Beslan siege poorly

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond: UFW, farmworkers clash over gay marriage + Badlands Confidential + California's High Court Lets Domestic Partner Law Stand + Lesbian supermodel dead in bath

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

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THE GOVERNOR and LOCAL and SCHOOL NEWS Click

SEC, in Parting Act by Donaldson, Adopts Fund Board Rule Rejected by Court

Oracle Profit Rises as Ellison Takeovers Spur Software Sales; Shares Gain

How small is small? SBA holds hearings to decide (SB Reg)

Radiology work shifts to overnight, overseas

Chicago's sales tax to hit 9 percent Friday

Daily Forex Commentary

MILITARY Army expects rosy recruiting numbers for June