“Police searched about 30 addresses in the capital, Ankara, and rounded up 20 people with alleged links to “terror” groups and suspected of “attacking police and the environment” during three weeks of protests that have swept Turkey, the state-run Anadolu agency reported. It was the second police sweep against demonstrators in the city this week.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/25/turkish-police-protesters-raids-ankara

The news broke about two hours ago.  One may expect the story to grow.

Reuters is doing pretty good on this beam:

“In a phone call on Monday, “the two leaders discussed the importance of non-violence and of the rights to free expression and assembly and a free press,” the White House said in a statement.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/25/us-turkey-usa-obama-idUSBRE95O0M820130625

From Time’s World section yesterday: 

“Profound powers remain available to a Turkish Prime Minister, including a press law that accelerated Erdogan’s transition from populist to authoritarian: Turkey has more journalists in detention than has either Iran or China. Many of the detained journalists are accused of colluding with the generals charged with plotting another coup. The major media outlets in Turkey are thoroughly cowed, managers isolating reporters who irk Erdogan.

http://world.time.com/2013/06/24/erdogans-paradox-turkish-leader-struggles-between-authoritarianism-and-democracy/#ixzz2XFZzNjVL

# # #

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/23/3466530/at-least-6-killed-in-lebanon-battle.html

“SIDON, Lebanon — At least six Lebanese soldiers were killed Sunday in a fierce clash with followers of a radical Sunni Muslim cleric in the southern city of Sidon as Lebanon’s security continues to deteriorate due to sectarian tensions over Hezbollah’s involvement in neighboring Syria’s civil war.”

Reference: https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/live-coverage-fighting-erupts-in-sidon

Main “NOW” page: https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en 

I don’t know who is sponsoring the site or doing the reporting, but it looks like it’s setting out to report on Syria’s spillover into Lebanon in continuous near real time.  –js

“The prospect of a referendum amounts to a political gamble by Erdogan, who has drawn the ire of protesters over his alleged authoritarian streak. He appeared to be betting that his strong base of support would vote for the plans.” — http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/06/12/cbc-correspondents-detained-turkey.html