Top politicians pay homage to king of bloggers  —  Presidential hopefuls woo Las Vegas convention  —  For many, they are the nerds of US politics: laptop warriors, with brains full of statistics, no social life and devoting too much time to arcane policy details.

Zarqawi's Hideout: Bombed, Bulldozed  —  Structure Hit by F-16 Is Demolished In Search for Clues About Insurgency  —  HIBHIB, Iraq, June 10 — The two bombs that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, left a strange tomb nestled in the quiet farmland about 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Israel denies firing shell that killed Palestinians  —  A top Israeli general says the country's armed forces didn't cause the explosion that killed eight Palestinians on Friday and ended the fragile ceasefire in the region.  —  Hamas, which leads the Palestinian Authority parliament …

Iran team face mass protest  —  Ministers, Jewish campaigners and TV presenter to join demonstration before kick-off today against 'fascist' policies  —  Luke Harding in Berlin and Denis Campbell in Cologne  —  Iran's Football team will be met with a series of protests across Germany during …

Guantanamo suicides 'acts of war'  —  The suicides of three detainees at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, amount to acts of war, the US military says.  —  The camp commander said the two Saudis and a Yemeni were "committed" and had killed themselves in "an act of asymmetric warfare waged against us".

At Last, A Competing Narrative  —  The problem with the Haditha story, as I've noted, is that the way it's come out — as a leak, prior to the completion of the investigation — has meant that it's been an incomplete and one-sided story.  We know what the accusations are …

Reid Seeks More Clarity in Nuclear Intelligence on Iran  —  LAS VEGAS, June 10 — Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said here Saturday that he will seek greater transparency from the Bush administration about possible threats posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

In Texas Town, New Drug Plan Baffles Patient and Provider Alike  —  McALLEN, Tex. — In Washington, Bush administration officials say Medicare's new prescription drug program is humming along smoothly, filling more than three million prescriptions a day and cutting costs by an average of 50 percent for each beneficiary.

As Agenda Falters, Bush Tries a More Personal Approach in Dealing With Congress  —  WASHINGTON, June 10 — Senator John W. Warner and his wife were at the White House for a Memorial Day photo session with veterans when they received an unexpected invitation from President Bush.

Mexico Breaks Through Iran Defense in Win  —  NUREMBERG, Germany (AP) - Iran seemed content to play for one point.  So Mexico took all three.  Mexico broke through Iran's defense late in the second half, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes for a 3-1 victory in the teams' Group D opener Sunday.

U.S. Seeking New Strategy for Buttressing Iraq's Government  —  WASHINGTON, June 10 — President Bush's two-day strategy session starting Monday at Camp David is intended to revive highly tangible efforts to shore up Iraq's new government, from getting the electricity back on in Baghdad …

Democrats Closing Fundraising Gap With Republicans  —  Increase in Grass-Roots Support Buoys Party as GOP Efforts Falter  —  A surge in small, individual contributions is lifting Democratic campaigns this year and is helping close a Republican fundraising advantage that has existed for years …

Fear of Big Battle Panics Iraqi City  —  BAGHDAD — Fears of an imminent offensive by the U.S. troops massed around the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi intensified Saturday, with residents pouring out of the city to escape what they describe as a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Smart Dust Stalked Zarqawi  —  June 10, 2006: For the last ten years, development of "smart dust" has moved right along.  "Smart Dust" is basically very miniaturized electronic devices.  This is similar to stuff like RFID, smart cards, EZ Pass and those rice grain size tracking devices you can have injected into your pets.