* Study suggests tax havens hide $21 trillion. * Iraqi insurgents declare new offensive—13 coordinated attacks kill 93 people. * U.S. expands drug war to Africa to prevent traffickers destabilizing small and weak states. * Secular and Islamic, Western and Eastern, a regional superpower, growing fast: Whatever Turkey's doing is
* Possible GOP veep candidate Rob Portman fights reputation as a dull, well-regarded wonk; does a mean imitation of a chicken, for example. * Why the fossil fuel industry is Public Enemy No. 1. * Spain is still investigating the baby-stealing phenomenon that resulted in 300,000 kids gone. * On average,
* At least 14 dead, 50 wounded at Colorado movie theater shooting, suspect in custody. * Yesterday was bloodiest day in Syrian conflict—government retook check-points, Damascus suburbs. * Number of phones will soon exceed world population, but a quarter of people still don't have one. * As an activist shareholder
* How North Korea set the world on edge for an hour this week. * The Aegean island of Ikaria wants to quit Greece and join Austria—1,242 miles away. * New research supports theory of plants that suck carbon dioxide to the ocean floor and ease climate change. * Anthony Doerr on
* Clashes overnight with many killed across Syria after the death of three ministers. * Slideshow of photographs from Hamas's summer camp. * No new malls have been built in the United States since 2006. * U.S. does surprisingly well on list of countries measured for sedentary lifestyle—unlike Malta. * Man
* Bomb kills Syria's defense minister and other top officials. * Inside the opening of the aptly named First Somali Bank. * On the global trade in human corpses—terms like "harvesting," "buying," and "human sock puppets." * Michele Bachmann releases document outlining how the Muslim
* The heirs of Walmart have as much wealth as the bottom 40% of Americans combined. * Spanish royalty take a pay cut. * China, Brazil, Mexico send big increases of visitors to the States; Britain, Spain, Ireland sending less. * The remarkable contents of Steve Wozniak’s travel backpack. * Pretty pictures of the
* Former Syrian ambassador doesn't rule out the possibility of Assad using chemical weapons. * Ethiopia sentences top journalist to 18 years in prison for doing his job. * Indonesians are the world's most bullish consumers, beating Indians. * Remarkable round-up of links regarding the London Olympics. * Improv Everywhere&
* An overview of the rumors and reports of Assad's arsenal—from obsolete tanks to the latest in anti-aircraft. * FDA approves drug for prevention of HIV transmission for those at high risk of contracting the disease. * Brian Lam visits the last undersea research station. * How whales defend themselves
* From Capitol Hill to the Treasury Department, interviews granted only with quote approval have become the default position. * Evidence surfaces of police surveillance on political campaigners at Glastonbury Festival. * "Occupy" is now a summer camp. * When carrying condoms becomes evidence of intent for sex workers. * In countries where
