By Parisa Hafezi Parisa Hafezi – Sun Jul 5, 2009
REUTERS
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090705/wl_nm/us_iran

TEHRAN (Reuters) – A pro-reform Iranian clerical group said on Sunday the outcome of last month's presidential vote was "invalid," even though Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has upheld the result.

In a sign of a deepening rift among Shi'ite clerics, the Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers… Continue

by Carol E. Lee
Fri Jul 3, 2009
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090703/pl_politico/24466

Bill Clinton. George Bush. Jimmy Carter. They’re all pretty easy to pronounce.

But Barack Obama is not so simple. And before he was world famous, people regularly butchered his African name (Bay-rack anyone?). As president, Barack Obama takes care to get pronunciations correct — from heads of state and foreign nati… Continue

By JAY NEWTON-SMALL / WASHINGTON
TIME Magazine
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090704/us_time/08599190866900

In bowing out as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin harkened back to her high school basketball days - although there was no sign of the "Barracuda," as she was nicknamed for her ability to cut through the opposing team's offenses. In a hastily called press conference on the eve of a three-day holiday,… Continue

By Jim Christie – Wed Jul 1, 2009
Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency on Wednesday, forcing lawmakers to tackle a budget gap that has raised the prospect of drastic measures to keep the state working.

Lawmakers debated late into the night Tuesday but could not agree on a plan to balance California's budget -- now showing a deficit of $26.3 billion -- in time for the new fiscal year, which began on Wednesday.

That left state offic… Continue

By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer


ANNANDALE, Va. – At an emotional forum in Virginia, President Barack Obama hugged a cancer patient Wednesday and vowed to bring greater efficiency and accessibility to the nation's health care system.

Debby Smith, 53, of Appalachia, Va., fought tears as she told Obama of her kidney cancer and her inability to obtain health insurance or hold a job. The president embraced her and called her "exhibit A" in an unsustainable system that is too expensive a… Continue