…And the World:

We begin today in Turkey, where a series of attacks have occurred. Among the places targeted is the US Consulate in Istanbul. Shortly before the shooting at the consulate a bomb went off at a police station on the other side of the city. But the added chaos of the attack and recent government assaults on militant Kurds suggest President Recip Tayyop Erdogan is preparing to order new elections. The deadline for a government to be formed is August 23.

Israel, still roiled by an arson attack on a Palestinian home that killed an infant and his father, continues its crackdown on Jewish extremists, believed to be responsible for the murders. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did condemn the attacks forcefully, a Haaretz columnist notes that Netanyahu has all but disappeared from the round of condemnation, and failed to back up Reuvin Rivlin, following death threats made against the latter for his emotional condemnation of recent attacks. Peter Beinart, also in Haaretz, notes that Netanyahu’s attempt at moral superiority in terms of terrorism is factually wrong.

Meanwhile, the Israeli far-right, whom many blame for stoking the flames of violent Jewish extremism, has resorted to—ahem—overkill to show a terrorist is a terrorist. Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett has called for the death penalty for Jewish terrorists. Before the arson, most supporters of the death penalty implied it was meant for Palestinian terrorists. Israeli technically has capital punishment, but it has only been used to kill Adolf Eichman.

South American potpourri: Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez is term-limited, but her party seeks to hang onto power. This week’s primary is widely seen as a referendum on her legacy. Meanwhile corruption allegations and calls for impeachment continue to dog President Dilma Rousseff whose Vice-President is gaining stature amid her fall.

IN the UK Labour party’s leadership election, alarm appears to be growing over the rise of left-winger Jeremy Corbyn. The Guardian interviews Liz Kendall, who appears the least likely to win. They also speak to Harriet Harman about her interim leadership.

The BBC assess the state of the West and Russia’s relationship with a former Russian official.

NPR remembers the bombing of the atomic bombs on Japan.

The Feds:

Despite last week’s humdinger of a debate and Donald Trump’s untoward remarks about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, there is little evidence Trump’s surge in the Republican party’s presidential primary has abated. Indeed, party elders fear Trump’s continued presence could damage the GOP’s chances to win back the White House next year.

Hillary Clinton will unveil her plans to make college affordable including some free tuition programs for community college, although after her Democratic rivals already have.

ICYMI last week. Masslive reviews the legal case behind MGM’s suit against the State of Connecticut.

A protester was shot over the weekend in Ferguson, Missouri during protests markings the one year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death. A state of emergency has been declared in St. Louis County amid the unrest. If you missed it from last week, read The New Yorker’s write up on Darren Wilson, the cop who fatally shot Brown.

DC’s new mayor gives herself a pat on the back.

The State of Things:

Boston’s Police Commissioner Bill Evans would like to see legislation to restrict filming of police by civilians. Evans, in his defense, appears to be talking about just giving police distance to do their job without a camera right in their face, although that would probably be a tough pill for civil libertarians to swallow willingly.

The blogger who goes by the name Hester Prynne lays out the politics behind the upcoming sales tax holiday.

NEPR has a look ahead at Beacon Hill’s week, which appears to mostly be housekeeping while the legislature otherwise takes its summer break.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approves MGM’s one year extension of its opening date.

The Fourth Estatements:

In governments behaving badly toward the press, the trial of a Washington Post reporter held is Iran nears its conclusion. Conversely, German federal prosecutors back off of a treason investigation of two bloggers. Prosecutors in Albany drop a charge seemingly connected to a former editor of the Albany Times-Union.

But don’t think that the press is doing better across the board in the West. Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, who was arrested last year in a McDonalds during the Ferguson protests, but later released, has been formally charged. Apparently this was in the works for some time.

It’s Working:

Vice is the latest in a long list of new media companies whose staff have voted to unionize.

City Slickers:

This Republican editorial on historic preservation doesn’t really make a point and it also paints Springfield preservation advocates with broad, unfair brush. The Springfield Historical Commission, after meeting with MGM, gave up the fight quite easily on structures that were old, but no longer really historic. It only fought on the ones that were, such as the YWCA.

The proposed North End location of the Western Mass Alcohol Center is becoming a mayoral campaign issue. Resident, Hampden Sheriff Michael Ashe and Mayor Domenic Sarno are to meet on the matter, soon, although the mayor’s office issued a press release today touting the center’s impact on the South End.

Perennial candidate Miguel Soto announces write-in mayoral campaign, joining the six individuals already on the preliminary ballot slated for next month. Sure, why not?

Twitter Chatter:

The late-breaking news that Post reporter Wesley Lowery has been ordered to appear before a St. Louis County court for…um…adjusting his backpack. No, maybe following orders. Well whatever, the formal charge is for trespassing and interfering with an officer, not that the evidence supports that. He was arrested alongside Huffington Post reporter Ryan Reilly. Readers may remember Lowery, who worked for the Boston Globe during the bombings, 2013 mayoral race and more. He has become one of the Post’s point men covering Ferguson and related unrest around fatal shootings at the hands of police.

Cold comfort, we know, but obviously Lowery wins the tweet prize. Following news he was charged, in a somewhat darkly humorous tweet, Lowery observes he and Reilly had bet whether they would be charged before the year-long statute of limitations expired. Reilly proved right. But perhaps what really earns Lowery the prize is this tweet, his first one not about the charges. He goes right back to the issue at hand, his beat, by tweeting a graphic about the number of people killed in police altercations this year. He’s making a point to move the story off himself and onto the issue. Washington could use more of those people in the press and in office.