Acrimonious exchanges at European Union summit Hindu
PARIS: The European Union's first summit meeting after the historic rejection by France and The Netherlands of the proposed EU Constitution Treaty got off to a rocky start in Brussels on Thursday with acrimonious exchanges between Europe's main leaders on the contentious question of the next budget. Loudly expounded differences over budget cuts and who should give up which benefits threatened to tear the E.U. even further apart, with portentous questions hanging over the Constitution and the political future of Europe. France has spearheaded the movement for the cancellation of a multi-billion-euro rebate given to Britain in 1984 when that country was in the grip of recession. Today, Britain has one of the healthiest economies in the Union and other member states say the rebate is no longer justified.
Blair faces clash over EU budget Central TV
European Leaders Gather to Restore a Union Divided Washington Post
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N Korean leader receives S Korean unification minister ITAR-TASS
North Korean leader Kim John Il has received South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visiting Pyongyang on Friday.
Unification Minister Meets with NK No. 2 Chosun Ilbo
Kim Jong-il to 'meet Seoul envoy BBC News
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US 'troubled' by evidence of nuclear experiments Financial Times
The US said yesterday it was troubled by new disclosures indicating Iran conducted experiments to create plutonium as late as 1998, five years after it claimed it had abandoned such work.
Iran Misled the UN on Nuclear Research All Headline News
IAEA: Iran Nuclear Declaration Inconsistent Voice of America
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More Sunnis to be in Iraqi Constitution Drafting Committee Xinhua
Iraq's Shiite and Sunni Arabs struck a deal Thursday to add more Sunni members to Iraq's constitution writing committee, amid a renewed wave of violence across the country.
Iraqis end stalemate on forming constitution Newark Star Ledger
Sunnis to Accept Offer of a Role in Constitution New York Times
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Sandhurst security breach film 'does not show Harry' Independent
A row has broken out between The Sun newspaper and the Royal Family over whether video footage secretly filmed at Sandhurst contains images of Prince Harry in army training.
Breach at Harry's School Investigated ABC News
Harry 'faced fake bomb threat' CNN International
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Free Suu Kyi, Straw urges Burma BBC News
Jack Straw has repeated calls for Burma's military junta to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ahead of her 60th birthday on Sunday.
Fresh calls for Suu Kyi's release DeHavilland
Kofi Annan Repeats Call for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi Voice of America
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Al-Zarqawi Blamed for Spike in Iraq Deaths KFSN
Masked Iraqi policemen check the debris left along the roadside after a car bomb exploded early Thursday, June 16, 2005 in northern Baghdad, Iraq, injuring five Iraqi soldiers.
Iraq rebels kill 5 marines in deadly blast Wired News
Eleven US soldiers killed in Iraq, Coalition deaths top 1,900 uruknet.info
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`Chandrika will present proposal in Parliament' Hindu
The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has decided to present her proposal for an administrative mechanism with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Parliament, the state-run Daily News said on Thursday.
Dispute over sharing tsunami aid with Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers Channel News Asia
Colombo loses partner over tsunami aid plan Financial Times
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Chechens Accused of Killing Klebnikov The Moscow Times
The Prosecutor General's Office announced Thursday that it had wrapped up the investigation of the killing of American journalist Paul Klebnikov and that a suspected Chechen rebel financier, the subject of a scathing book by Klebnikov, had ordered the slaying. Investigators have established that Khozh-Akhmed Nukhayev, whom Klebnikov interviewed extensively for his 2003 book "Conversations With a Barbarian," was responsible for ordering the killing, which was carried out by members of a Chechen criminal group, Prosecutor General's Office spokesman Vasily Lushchenko said Thursday. Klebnikov, who was the editor of Forbes' Russian edition, was shot outside his office July 9 of last year in an apparent contract hit. He was 41. Two suspects, Kazbek Dukuzov and Musa Vakhayev, are already in custody, while Nukhayev and two others, Magomed Dukuzov and Magomed Edilsultanov, remain at large, Lushchenko said. All five have been charged in the murder.
Chechen rebel leader accused of having journalist killed Kansas City Star
Chechen 'ordered Forbes killing' CNN International
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Secret Douglas Wood video released ABC Online
A third video of Australian hostage Douglas Wood, who was held captive in Iraq for 47 days, has been released. Two other videos were aired in the media soon after Mr Wood's capture, but the third made in late May was kept secret.
LA Soldiers Assist In Hostage Rescue KPLC-TV
Row over sheik's rescue role NEWS.com.au
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25 die in mudslide News24
At least 25 people died in a mudslide after heavy rains doused parts of Guatemala, emergency officials said on Thursday.
Guatemala mudslide kills at least 23 people Stuff.co.nz
Mudslide kills 20 in Guatemala Xinhua
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Clarke reveals variations to anti-terror control orders Guardian Unlimited
The government's first report on the 11 people suspected of terrorist links and largely confined to their homes under new control orders was released by Charles Clarke, the home secretary, yesterday.
G8 allocates extra cash for Afghan drugs fight Xinhua
G8 vows more cash to tackle Afghan drugs trade Reuters
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Effort to Raise $3 Billion for Palestinians in Post-Israel Gaza New York Times
The Bush administration is working with James D. Wolfensohn, the former World Bank president, and with Palestinian, other Arab and European leaders to assemble a large new international aid package for Palestinian areas after Israel's disengagement from Gaza, American and other officials said Thursday.
Israel attacks EU over meetings with Hamas officials Guardian Unlimited
Hamas Discloses Contacts with European Union Voice of America
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Mirwaiz to address Kashmiris on Pok visit NDTV.com
The Mirwaiz, who led the seven-member delegation to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), will brief them about the outcome of the two-week visit.
"Our talks definitely helped" Hindu
Hurriyat leaders return from Pak, PoK visit Rediff
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G77 calls on rich countries to increase aid Viet Nam News Agency
The group of 77 (G77) ended their summit in Doha on June 16 with a call on rich countries to increase aid. Delegates to the summit agreed to approve Qatar's proposal for establishment of a south fund for development and humanitarian aid with headquarters in Doha. They welcomed Qatar's contribution worth 20 million USD. The final communique or the Doha Declaration, praised China and India for their contributions worth 2 million USD each to the fund. It also called on other capable countries to make a contribution
G77 plus China summit approves Doha Declaration, Plan of Action Xinhua
Brunei Supports Development Goal Bru Direct
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Brazil minister quits government BBC News
A senior minister in Brazil's left-wing government has resigned following a series of corruption allegations. In a TV statement on Thursday evening, Jose Dirceu said he was stepping down as chief-of-staff to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula. But, he insisted, he had done nothing to be ashamed of. Last week, a Brazilian lawmaker accused Mr Dirceu of turning a blind eye to bribes allegedly paid by the governing party for support in parliament. Mr Dirceu was one of the most powerful figures in Brazil's government. Some even dubbed him "the real president". In his resignation statement, he said he was leaving office with clean hands and that he would respond in parliament to what he called unfounded allegations.
Lula’s top advisor, first victim of corruption scandal MercoPress
Some Brazilians Disappointed with President Lula Angus Reid Global Scan
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HK chief promises to unite society EastDay.com
Donald Tsang was named the chief executive designate of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region yesterday after no one else announced their candidacy.
New Hong Kong Leader Selected Without Contest Voice of America
Hong Kong leader calls for unity Radio Australia
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US Ambassador: Bin Laden is not in Afghanistan Zaman Online
US Ambassador in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has said that neither al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden nor Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar were in Afghanistan.
Osama and Omar not in Afghanistan: envoy Age (subscription)
US diplomat: Bin Laden not in Afghanistan CNN International
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Killen's Ills Cut Trial Day Short Los Angeles Times
The murder defendant, taken to the hospital after testimony from the widow of a 1964 civil rights worker, is likely to return to court today.
The defendant is hospitalized as testimony begins Houston Chronicle
For Widow, Ghosts of '64 at Rights Trial New York Times
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Launch drive to impeach Bush, activists urge Globe and Mail
The emotive and charged word "impeachment" was voiced yesterday on Capitol Hill as a clutch of Democratic congressmen, backed by distraught mothers of soldiers slain in Iraq, put together a piece of theatre that could become the summer's political drama. John Bonifaz, a self-styled constitutional lawyer and anti-war activist, suggested there are sufficient grounds to launch an inquiry into whether the President should be impeached for lying to Congress about the justification for the war.
Anti-War Activists Want to 'Bring This President Down' Town Hall
British memo noticed what was missing OregonLive.com
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'Our tears were mingling' Newsday
With the accused killer of her idealistic husband admitted to a nearby hospital, Rita Schwerner Bender yesterday delivered a dignified opening salvo of prosecution testimony in the trial of former Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen. Bender, a fellow "Freedom Summer" activist, who at the age of 22 braved the segregated South with Michael Schwerner, 24, offered a living history on the 1964 slayings of her first husband and his colleagues James Chaney and Andrew Goodman.
Seeing 80-year-old in jail cell drew defense lawyer to case Jackson Clarion Ledger
Victim's widow testifies about '64 Fort Worth Star Telegram
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Senate changes energy focus Seattle Times
A Senate committee yesterday approved a package of tax breaks for energy production that would cost about $14 billion over 10 years.

GI Is Charged in Iraq Deaths of 2 Superiors New York Times
The United States military charged a New York Army National Guard member yesterday with murdering his commanding officers last week at a base near Tikrit, Iraq.
Staff sergeant charged in Esposito and Allen's killing The Journal News.com
Rainbow Division clouded by killings Troy Record
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Police: Man May Have Molested Thousands Wired News
Police searching the home of a convicted child molester discovered handwritten lists of more than 36,000 children's names _ mostly boys _ and codes that appear to indicate how he abused them. San Jose Police Lt. Scott Cornfield described Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller, who is jailed in California, as "one of the most active child molesters we've ever seen."
Police fear molestation of hundreds of children Seattle Times
Child Molester Is Suspected in Hundreds of Cases New York Times
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Marine jet crash leaves Yuma in 'fortunate' mood AZ Central.com
Residents of a central Yuma neighborhood returned to their homes on Thursday as military officials conducted mop-up operations in the aftermath of a fighter-jet crash.
Firepower shouldn't alarm Arizonans Arizona Republic
Yuma residents return home after jet crash KPHO Phoenix
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Lodi Men Accused of Lying to FBI Los Angeles Times
A federal grand jury indicted a Lodi ice cream truck driver and his son Thursday on charges they lied to FBI agents during an investigation into potential ties to Pakistan terrorist training camps. Hamid Hayat, 22, is charged with two counts of lying to agents about attending a terrorism camp and receiving weapons instruction for a holy war against the United States. The three-count indictment accuses Umer Hayat, 47, of a single charge of falsely denying any knowledge that his son took part in terrorism training in Pakistan. Defense attorneys said the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for each count, indicate that investigators can't prove their case.
Feds, charges blasted in Lodi The Argus
Man, Son Indicted In Terrorism Case Washington Post
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