McCain Puts the 'Pol' in 'Politically Incorrect'

Where the Republican is most vulnerable

(NEWSER) - It’s heading for general election time, and Adam Reilly of the Boston Phoenix wants the press to wake up and start laying in to McCain. Here’s how:

• The economy. McCain reportedly said he “doesn’t really understand economics” in January. Has he boned up since then?
• Islam. The candidate doesn’t seem to understand the difference between Sunni and Shia, and has said he’d tell the sects to “stop the bullshit.”

Mac jokes about killing Iranians with cigarettes

(NEWSER) - Told that cigarette exports to Iran rose tenfold under President Bush’s reign, McCain pondered aloud:“Maybe that's a way of killing 'em." When his wife nudged him, he quickly clarified to Reuters: "I meant that as a joke—as a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 29 years.” Known for his acerbic humor, McCain once sang "Ba-ba-ba, ba-bomb Iran" to the Beach Boys' tune Barbara Anne. More»

Centers on alleged 2010 incident in Washington, DC

(NEWSER) - More hot water for Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and once again it's US-flavored: A French prosecutor today opened a preliminary investigation into an alleged gang rape in Washington, DC, CNN reports. In the course of France's probe into Strauss-Kahn's alleged participation in a prostitution ring, the gang-rape allegations surfaced; a Belgian prostitute reportedly told police that DSK and three friends made her perform non-consensual sex acts in a DC hotel in December 2010. More»

Catherine Ashton sees 'sustained process of dialog'

(NEWSER) - Negotiators on all sides are saying nice things after Iran and six world powers began nuclear talks with a meeting in Istanbul today, the New York Times reports. The discussion was "useful and constructive," said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, leader of the talks. “We want now to move to a sustained process of dialog." But the only accomplishment they announced was agreeing to another round of talks in Baghdad on May 23. More»

Oil ministry issues ultimatums to European refineries to sign long-term contracts

(AP) - Iran has halted oil shipments to Britain and France, the Oil Ministry said today, in an apparent pre-emptive blow against the European Union's sanctions on Iran's oil exports. The EU imposed tough sanctions against Iran last month, which included a freeze of the country's central bank assets and an oil embargo set to begin in July. Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi had warned earlier this month that Tehran could cut off oil exports to "hostile" European nations. The 27-nation EU accounts for about 18% of Iran's oil exports. More»