Netanyahu: Relationship with Washington stable and strong
...At the start of the weekly meeting, Netanyahu briefed the ministers on his upcoming trip to Egypt, as well as his recent visit to Washington, where he met with U.S. President Barack Obama. Netanyahu told the ministers that his relationship with Washington was stable and strong. Netanyahu added that the U.S. administration understands Israel's security needs and that he had asked Obama to help in efforts to secure the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Turkey goes cool on joining the European Union as it falls for the lure of the East
As Europe's top diplomat prepares to travel to Turkey, Colin Freeman finds a country not entirely convinced about their need to join the EU. Sipping a lunchtime latte amid the gleaming skyscrapers of Istanbul's financial district, banker Mehmet Canayaz debated whether the European Union should admit Turkey. The prognosis, he admitted, was not good: a dynamic, forward-looking region would end up shackled to an economy with severe debt, financial instability, and an uncompetitive workforce. Best for Turkey, perhaps, to steer clear of the chaotic Brussels club altogether.

IRS starts mopping up Congress's tax-reporting mess
With a new mandate looming that will require business owners to file millions more tax forms, the Internal Revenue Service has begun the daunting process of figuring out how to turn the law's sweeping demands into actual rules for taxpayers. The new regulations, which kick in at the start of 2012, require any taxpayer with business income to issue 1099 forms to all vendors from whom they purchased more than $600 of goods and services that year.

The Obama-Pelosi Lame Duck Strategy
Democratic House members are so worried about the fall elections they're leaving Washington on July 30, a full week earlier than normal—and they won't return until mid-September. ...The rush to recess gives Democrats little time to pass any major laws. That's why there have been signs in recent weeks that party leaders are planning an ambitious, lame-duck session to muscle through bills in December they don't want to defend before November. Retiring or defeated members of Congress would then be able to vote for sweeping legislation without any fear of voter retaliation.

Belgium's plan to wash its dead down the drain: Bodies would be dissolved in caustic solution... and flushed into the sewer
It could hardly be said to be the most dignified of send-offs. Undertakers in Belgium plan to eschew traditional burials and cremations and start dissolving corpses instead. The move is intended to tackle a lack of burial space and environmental concerns as 573lbs of carbon dioxide are released by each cremated corpse.

Lebanon UN force urges co-operation with peacekeepers
The head of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon has appealed for calm, following recent incidents in which villagers attacked soldiers. Locals were angered by what they saw as plans by the UN force to undermine the Hezbollah militant group in the event of a renewed conflict with Israel. The area is a Hezbollah stronghold.

Lieberman: 'End land for peace swaps'
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should prepare a new diplomatic plan for negotiations with Palestinians which will abandon the approach of "land for peace" and base the plan on "land and population swaps," Israel Radio reported Sunday morning. According to his estimate, 70 percent of the public in Israel supports this idea.

'Israel's status worst since 70s'
Israel's current standing in the United Nations is the worst it has been in nearly forty years, said Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev, in an interview with Army Radio on Sunday. "Our situation in recent months can be compared to the 1970s, when Zionism was being called racism," said Shalev.