Daily News Digest

The latest news on the Georgia-Russia conflict, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Darwish, Arkansas, Minorities, the Economy, Offshore Drilling, Lebanon-Syria, and select Editorials.

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Georgia-Russia. Standoff in tense Georgian town "Explosions heard in Gori as Russian president pledges support to breakaway regions." Russians begin Georgia handover "Russian troops are handing over control of the area around the town of Gori to Georgian forces, officials say." US: Russia damaging airfields "Russia apparently is sabotaging infrastructure in a deliberate attempt to cripple the already battered, Georgian military, a US official said today." Russia: Forget Georgian territorial integrity "Georgian Foreign Ministry says Russian troops have moved into strategically key cities of Gori and Poti." Russia: We have no intention of withdrawing from Gori "Moscow had earlier denied its forces had entered the key Georgian city, hours after truce signed." U.S. flies aid into Georgia, shaky ceasefire holds "U.S. military planes airlifted aid to Georgia on Thursday, showing Washington's support for its embattled ally." Russia Backs Separatists as Rice Heads for Talks on Crisis "President Dmitri Medvedev said that Russia would act as a guarantor of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice headed to the region. "

Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai held at Harare airport "Zimbabwe opposition leader has passport and travel documents seized." Mugabe rival 'barred from travel' "Zimbabwe's opposition party says authorities have confiscated travel documents from its leader ahead of a regional summit." Tsvangirai detained on way to summit "Zimbabwe 's opposition leader held at airport as he headed to African conference."

Pakistan. Pakistan celebrates amid tensions "Deadly suicide blast precedes independence day plea for unity by embattled Musharraf."

Darwish. Darwish laid to rest in Ramallah "Palestinians speak of the loss of "our voice" as poet Mahmoud Darwish is buried." Palestinians Turn Out to Lay Beloved Poet to Rest "Seventeen-year-old Irjwan Assi never met Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, but she was in mourning all the same Wednesday as she craned her neck to watch his flag-draped coffin pass through the center of this West Bank city."

Arkansas. Arkansas party leader shot dead "The chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party dies after being shot by a gunman at party headquarters." Arkansas Democratic Party chairman is gunned down "Bill Gwatney, a well-known former Arkansas legislator, is slain in his Little Rock office. The gunman is later shot and killed by sheriff's deputies." Gunman Kills Democratic Official in Arkansas "Bill Gwatney, the chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was shot in his office in Little Rock and died later, police officials said."

Minorities. Minorities set to be US majority "Minorities are set to form the majority of the US population by 2042 - eight years sooner than previous projections." Whites will be minority group by 2042, Census predicts "In a few decades, all Americans will be minorities. Non-Hispanic whites will drop below 50 percent of the population as early as 2042, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections to be released Thursday. That's about 10 years earlier than demographers previously had predicted, said Grayson Vincent, a demographer for the Census Bureau." In a Generation, Minorities May Be the U.S. Majority "Census Bureau projections show that changes in racial distribution are occurring faster than anticipated just a few years ago."

Economy. Consumer prices rise at twice expected rate "Pushed by energy and food costs, the surge left inflation running at the fastest pace in 17 years." Inflation fastest since '91 "Prices were up 5.6% from a year ago, sharpest year-over-year rise since 5.7% in January 1991." Inflation Hits Annual Pace Not Seen Since 1991 "Consumer prices were 5.6 percent higher in July than a year ago, all but assuring that the Fed will keep interest rates on hold." Consumer Prices Rise Sharply "July surge -- twice the expected amount -- leaves inflation running at fastest pace in 17 years"

Offshore drilling. Pelosi joins Democrats softening their stance against offshore drilling "Responding to high gas prices, she and many House colleagues consider legislation to allow more drilling, in addition to proposals such as repealing Big Oil tax breaks."

Lebanon-Syria. Warmer Lebanon-Syria ties puts focus on prisoners' fate "Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's visited Damascus Wednesday, raising the prospect that perhaps hundreds of detainees in Syria will be released." Lebanon, Syria Agree to Open Diplomatic Relations "Lebanon and Syria agreed Wednesday to establish diplomatic relations for the first time in their complicated history, a possible step toward reducing violence and political strife that has flared since Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon three years ago."

Editorial. The Case for Juvenile Courts "Transferring juvenile offenders - many of whom are accused of nonviolent crimes - into the adult system is not making anyone safer."