Putin’s intentions unclear on US visit Relations are rocky between President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

* Portugal takes over EU presidency European commissioners are meeting members of the Portuguese government for the first working session of the country’s European Union presidency.

* Hamas’s plans for Temple Mount foiled Hamas’s attempts to take over control of the Temple Mount as well as spread its ideology and recruit new members in Jerusalem have been foiled by the Shin Bet.

* Jordan’s king rejects confederation with Palestinians Jordan’s King Abdullah II flatly rejected a confederation with the Palestinians.

* Kurds woo investors as Iraq knocks at the door The streets of the regional capital of Arbil are throbbing, not with the shock waves of car bombs, but the roaring of bulldozers.

* Hamas ‘Mickey Mouse’ killed off A Palestinian TV station has killed off a controversial Mickey Mouse lookalike that critics said was spreading anti-US and anti-Israeli messages to children.

* Babies not as innocent as they pretend Whether lying about raiding the biscuit tin or denying they broke a toy, all children try to mislead their parents at some time.

* Small Portugal saddled with EU treaty and Turkey issues Portugal took over the EU’s hotseat yesterday (1 July) with the rush already on to secure a new treaty for the bloc.

* Exclusive: Navy may deploy in Dead Sea While the Dead Sea is empty of living creatures except for the occasional floating bather.

* Alarmist global warming claims melt under scientific scrutiny In his new book, The Assault on Reason, Al Gore pleads, “We must stop tolerating the rejection and distortion of science.