USA
A US Forest Service ranger was charged with starting the Colorado fire that has burned more than 100,000 acres and destroyed 22 homes. Federal prosecutors said forestry technician Terry Barton illegally started the blaze June 8 by burning a letter from her estranged husband in a camp fire. She was initially credited with alerting authorities to the fire but later admitted responsibility. If convicted, she could face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Lawyers for American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh argued that his case should be dismissed on grounds that he cannot receive a fair trial anywhere in the US. As an alternative, they were expected to argue at an appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Va. on behalf of their motion to transfer the case to northern California. They contend an unbiased jury cannot be culled at the Virginia courthouse, which is fewer than 10 miles from the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Missionaries, politicians, and other solicitors do not need permission from local authorities before knocking on doors, the Supreme Court ruled. The justices struck down an Ohio town's ordinance requiring solicitors to obtain permission before visiting houses as an imposition on free-speech rights. In a separate decision, the high court ruled police looking for drugs or evidence of other crimes do not first have to inform passengers on public transit systems of their rights. (Story, page 1)
The US soccer team advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1930. In a stunning upset, the Americans shut out Mexico 2-0 Sunday in Chonju, South Korea. They will next face Germany on Friday. (Story, page. 1)
Tiger Woods won the US Open golf tournament by three strokes Sunday in Bethpage, N.Y. He became the first professional since Jack Nicklaus 30 years ago to win the first two major championships of the season.
The Watergate break-in's 30th anniversary reignited debate over the identity of "Deep Throat," the Washington Post source who helped to topple Richard Nixon's presidency. In an e-book published on the Salon.com website, ex-White House counsel John Dean says he believes the source may be Nixon aides Pat Buchanan, Steve Bull, speechwriter Ray Price, or press secretary Ron Ziegler. Reporters Bob Woodward (above, l., appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press") and Carl Bernstein (r.) still refuse to divulge the identity of their secret source. (Story, page 1.)
