Daily News Digest

The latest news on Burma, Evangelical Manifesto, Dem primaries, McCain on judges, Death penalty, Immigrants, Food crisis, Consumers & environment, Israel, and US-Russia.

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Burma cyclone. Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma "Neighbouring countries and the UN have dispatched planes carrying supplies - amid complaints that ruling generals are hampering the foreign aid effort." Burma toll 'to rise dramatically' "World Vision said it believed the death toll would reach at least 80,000. More than 1 million people have been left homeless by the disaster, according to the latest UN assessment." Aid for Myanmar Mobilizes, Mixed With Criticism "the ruling junta came under increasing pressure to further open its doors - and even relax its tight political grip - to grapple with the growing disaster."

Dem primaries. Obama Is Decisive Winner in N.C.; Clinton Ekes Out Victory in Indiana "Sen. Barack Obama scored a landslide victory in North Carolina's Democratic presidential primary, moving him ever closer to locking up an insurmountable lead among pledged delegates, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton posted a razor-thin win in the hotly contested Indiana primary." Obama, Clinton split primaries "Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinbton split the stakes with an emphatic win for him in North Carolina and a narrow one for her in Indiana, strengthening Obama's delegate lead in the presidential nomination contest." Obama Wins North Carolina Decisively; Clinton Takes Indiana by Slim Margin"The results from the two primaries, the largest remaining Democratic ones, assured that Mr. Obama would widen his lead in pledged delegates over Mrs. Clinton, providing him with new ammunition as he seeks to persuade Democratic leaders to coalesce around his campaign."

McCain on judges. McCain Assures Conservatives of His Stance on Judges "Senator John McCain reached out to conservatives on Tuesday by vowing to appoint judges he characterized as strictly faithful to the Constitution and who did not engage in what Mr. McCain condemned as "the common and systemic abuse of our federal courts."

Evangelical Manifesto. Manifesto aims to make 'evangelical' a less-political term "An "evangelical manifesto" being released today by a group of Christian scholars and theologians is expected to try to take back the term "evangelical" from politics and return it to its theological roots."

Death penalty. Execution Is First Since Ruling "Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection." As Executions Resume, So Do Questions of Fairness "The release of the third death row inmate in six months in North Carolina last week is raising fresh questions about whether states are supplying capital-murder defendants with adequate counsel,"

Immigrants. Better Health Care Sought for Detained Immigrants "The head of a Congressional subcommittee looking into complaints of inadequate medical care in immigration detention announced that she had introduced legislation to set mandatory standards for care and to require that all deaths be reported to the Justice Department and Congress."

Food crisis. Hundreds turn out for 2nd day of food protests in Somalia "Hundreds of youths hurled stones and blocked roads with blazing tires Tuesday in a second day of protests over soaring food prices that has frustrated residents already living in one of the world's most dangerous war zones." U.N. food aid funds growing, but needs growing too "The World Food Program, facing an unprecedented surge in the price of food it buys for the world's hungry, has secured about 60 percent of the extra funds it needs to cover planned aid donations this year,"

Consumers & environment. U.S. consumers rank last in world survey of green habits "Americans rank last in a new National Geographic-sponsored survey released Wednesday that compares environmental consumption habits in 14 countries."

Israel. Olmert under renewed pressure to resign"Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, is coming under pressure to resign after an American millionaire was reported to be embroiled in a high-level bribery investigation involving him."

US-Russia. U.S., Russia Sign Pact On Nuclear Cooperation "The United States and Russia signed a long-sought agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, which officials said would offer Russia lucrative new business while limiting the risk of material being used for weapons."