CA Melts, Putin Freezes Out U.S. Oil Co's, Saddam Hospitalized & U.S. Military Commanders Encouraged Prisoner Abuse in Today's Details

-Nationwide gas prices hit an all-time high in the last two weeks, rising nearly 2 cents to just over $3 per gallon, according to a survey released Sunday. DETAILS

-Israeli officials believe they have approval from the United States to keep up attacks on Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon for at least another week, an Israeli newspaper said on Sunday. DETAILS

-President Vladimir Putin is set to keep US oil companies out of a lucrative gas field in the latest sign of the deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Washington. The Russian leader is expected to favour Norwegian companies and reject bids by America's Chevron and ConocoPhillips after failing to secure backing from the United States for his country's attempt to join the World Trade Organisation.The tit-for-tat snub will be a blow to US companies scrambling for access to Russia's huge gas reserves at a time of high energy prices. DETAILS

-THE Bishop of London has declared it sinful for people to contribute to climate change by flying on holiday, driving a “gas-guzzling” car or failing to use energy-saving measures in the home, writes Jonathan Leake. Richard Chartres will encourage vicars to preach more green sermons and warn congregations that it is now a moral obligation for Christians to lead eco-friendly lifestyles. (Appears my feeling that SUV's are immoral puts me on the side of God! I am feeling so smug and self righteous!!!!!!!!) DETAILS

-William F. Buckley on President Bush: "If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced it would be expected that he would retire or resign," Buckley says. DETAILS/VIDEO

-The group Human Rights Watch said in a report released Sunday that U.S. military commanders encouraged abusive interrogations of detainees in Iraq, even after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal called attention to the issue in 2004. DETAILS

-Saddam Hussein was hospitalized Sunday on the 17th day of a hunger strike and being fed with a tube, the chief prosecutor said as the former Iraqi leader's trial nears a verdict that could lead to his hanging. DETAILS

-An opposition member of parliament has alleged that a government scientist who cast doubt on intelligence about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction may not have taken his own life. DETAILS

-California braced for more sweltering heat Sunday, a day after triple-digit temperatures smashed records across the state, strained air conditioners and promted scattered power outages. DETAILS

-Bill Clinton's decision to site his office in the largely black Manhattan neighbourhood of Harlem, as a gesture of solidarity with African-Americans, appears to have backfired. Dozens of angry blacks demonstrated last week outside the building that houses the former president's staff, claiming that his move had led to the gentrification of the area and increased the price of homes beyond their reach. DETAILS