Daily News Digest

The latest news on Health insurance, Vice-presidents, Border database, Afghanistan, Russia-Georgia, U.S.-Poland, Pakistan, Israel-Hezbollah, Sudan, Canada, Analysis, and Op-Ed.

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Health insurance. Lack of Insurance, High Medical Costs Put More in a Bind "Americans are struggling to pay medical bills and are accumulating medical debt at an increasing rate, according to a survey released today." 439,000 more get health coverage "Nearly three-quarters of previously uninsured Massachusetts residents now have medical coverage under the state's landmark campaign to extend health insurance to virtually all Bay Staters."

Vice-presidents. Obama returning to Springfield; will running mate be with him? "Sen. Barack Obama will return to the Old State Capitol in Springfield on Saturday, where he launched his presidential bid in February 2007, and the Illinois Democrat may be joined by his newly minted running mate." Talk of McCain's No. 2 Concerns Conservatives "Senator John McCain is facing increasing scrutiny about his selection of a running mate as some social conservatives expressed alarm on Tuesday that Mr. McCain might ask a candidate who favors abortion rights to join him on the ticket."

Border database. Citizens' U.S. Border Crossings Tracked "The federal government has been using its system of border checkpoints to greatly expand a database on travelers entering the country by collecting information on all U.S. citizens crossing by land, compiling data that will be stored for 15 years and may be used in criminal and intelligence investigations."

Afghanistan. 10 French Soldiers Killed in Taliban Ambush "Taliban fighters have launched a bloody offensive against international forces in Afghanistan this week." Taliban Escalate Afghan Fighting "Taliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting in Afghanistan over the last two days, including a coordinated assault by at least 10 suicide bombers against one of the largest American military bases in the country, and another by about 100 insurgents who killed 10 elite French paratroopers." In Afghanistan, a deadly Taliban trend emerges "Taken together, the attacks against the French and American forces were a graphic demonstration of the growing reach and power of the Taliban and other Islamic militants in Afghanistan." Sarkozy vows to keep troops in Afghanistan "An emotional President Sarkozy insisted that there would be no French wobble over Afghanistan, telling troops in Kabul to fight with fresh resolve after the loss of 10 comrades in one of the deadliest battles there."

Russia-Georgia. Russia to recognise breakaway region's independence "Georgia's breakway region of Abkhazia declared today that it would ask Russia to recognise its independence in a move that threatens to trigger a new crisis in the Caucasus." Georgia's Nato membership on track, says David Miliband "In an interview with the Guardian in Tbilisi, the foreign secretary said Georgia had been given a 'route map to membership' after the formation on Tuesday of a joint commission aimed at forging closer ties." NATO Urges Russia To Withdraw but Will Say Little Else "NATO allies said that there will be no 'business as usual' with Russia until its troops withdraw from all parts of Georgia, but Moscow's refusal to bend to the West's political will left the alliance with few options for punishment." Pentagon, White House at odds over aid to Georgia "The White House would like to dispatch a U.S. Navy ship to the Black Sea to demonstrate U.S. support towards an embattled Georgia. But Pentagon officials believe such a mission is unnecessary and that the current regimen of one aid flight a day is sufficient to meet Georgia's needs."

US-Poland. US and Poland seal missile deal "The US and Poland have signed a deal to locate part of the US's controversial missile defence system on Polish soil." US and Poland sign missile deal in Warsaw "The US Secretary of State signed the agreement to a build a missile defence shield in the former Soviet satellite state in exchange for greater American military support for Poland."

Pakistan. Pakistani Parties Clash Over Reinstating Judge "Political order in Pakistan frayed further on Tuesday, the day after President Pervez Musharraf resigned, raising questions about who in the deeply divided civilian government would be in charge and for how long." Blast highlights Pakistan tensions "The attack highlighted the country's instability a day after Pervez Musharraf stepped down as president, adding to uncertainty about the new government's approach to tackling violence." Pakistan blast kills 32; coalition spars over question of judges "Against the backdrop of a lethal strike by Taliban militants, Pakistan's fractious ruling coalition appeared to splinter anew Tuesday after acting in concert a day before to oust President Pervez Musharraf."

Israel-Hezbollah. All military means acceptable to prevent Hezbollah controlling Lebanon "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that if Lebanon came under Hezbollah's control, then Israel would not be restrained from using all military means at its disposal during a war." Analysis: Hizbullah's 'political Jujutsu': Using its leverage in Lebanon "The accord that Lebanon's Shi'ite Hizbullah group signed this week with some local Sunni factions to defuse sectarian tension is a strategic political move intended to signal its leverage and its ability to build bridges with even the most unlikely of allies."

Sudan. Sudan's Bashir at Istanbul summit "Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) moved to indict him for genocide, has met his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul." Indicted Sudanese president denies Darfur genocide allegations, says he'll hold free elections "Sudan's indicted president denied that his regime is orchestrating genocide in the troubled western region of Darfur - and offered hope for an end to the violence and the dawn of reconciliation by promising free and fair elections next year."

Canada. Election drums beating "With a public exchange of taunts and dares, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion are signalling a fall election is all but certain." Be ready for fall election: Harper "Prime Minister Stephen Harper set a collision course for a fall election, indicating he has given up on the fixed date his government wrote into law and will decide in a few weeks whether to call a national vote."

Analysis. A new world order: The week Russia flexed its military muscle "A six-day conflict in the Caucasus mountains has transformed the international balance of power, with Russia now looking stronger than ever. But what sparked it? [Independent] Diplomatic Editor Anne Penketh reveals how the Georgian government walked straight into a trap set by Moscow - and considers the consequences of the first war in Europe for a decade."

Op-Ed. Don't Loosen Nuclear Rules for India (Edward J. Markey and Ellen O. Tauscher, New York Times) "The Indian nuclear deal threatens international security not only by undermining our nuclear rules, but also by expanding India's nuclear weapons program. That's because every pound of uranium that India is allowed to import for its power reactors frees up a pound of uranium for its bomb program."