Crisis in the Middle East

More deadly airstrikes in southern Lebanon and no new progress on a UN cease-fire agreement after opposition from several Arab governments. Hezbollah's leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah is such an icon that even Syria's foreign minister wants to fight for him. Lawrence Pintak examines the war on journalists. For the second time in two days, Israel seizes a Hamas MP.

Iran

Iran will ignore the end of August deadline set by the Security Council and continue to enrich uranium, according to the country's top nuclear negotiator. And don't think they won't invoke the oil card. (Speaking of oil, Alaska's Prudhoe Bay oilfield, the largest in the US, was shut down today in order to contain a small spill and allow pipeline inspections. Expect prices to rise as about 8 percent of US crude production is taken offline as a result.)

Elsewhere

The US slaps sanctions on firms in Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and our new nuclear friend India for allegedly transferring WMD equipment and technology to Iran. Grim and graphic testimony from one of the US soldiers accused in the rape and killing of a young Iraqi girl and her family. Nepal's uneasy peace could dissolve over issues with the monarchy. Lopez Obrador and his supporters in Mexico refuse to end protests that have paralyzed the capital. The World Bank tries to stem corruption in firms that receive WB funds. And yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the web going worldwide.