Daily News Digest

The latest news on Wiretap bill, Kennedy & Medicare, Ohio poverty taskforce Census, Immigration, G-8, Darfur, Iran, Attack in Istanbul, Zimbabwe, Mideast, Pakistan, and Op-Ed.

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Wiretap bill. Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Wiretap Powers"The Senate gave final approval on to a major expansion of the government's surveillance powers, handing President Bush one more victory in a series of hard-fought clashes with Democrats over national security issues." Obama Joins Fellow Senators in Passing New Wiretapping Measure "The Senate easily approved legislation to overhaul government eavesdropping rules in terrorism and espionage cases and effectively granted immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in a secret domestic spying program,"

Kennedy & Medicare. Stunning return and a vital vote "Senator Edward M. Kennedy, under treatment for brain cancer, made a brief, triumphant return to the Senate yesterday, stunning fellow lawmakers with a surprise appearance to vote on a critical Medicare bill that is central to the Massachusetts senator's healthcare agenda." Kennedy Returns to Help Pass Medicare Bill"Mr. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, flown in virtual secrecy to Washington, stirred the normally staid chamber to a rousing ovation and moved many colleagues to tears when he made a surprise appearance in the Senate in the late afternoon."

Ohio poverty taskforce. Gov. Strickland's task force tackles problems of poor "The 30-member task force will make short-term recommendations for reducing the number of Ohioans living in poverty to Strickland on Sept. 10. Long-range proposals will be submitted to the governor in April."

Census. Census: New Orleans fastest-growing city in US "New Orleans was the fastest-growing large city in the nation last year, but its populatiozn is still about half what it was before Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Census Bureau reported."

Immigration. In Florida, deportations are on the rise "The number of immigrants deported from Florida has jumped nearly 50 percent so far this year -- signaling the federal government's continuing enforcement push after a firestorm of public opinion derailed an immigration overhaul in Congress last year." Tactics questioned in immigrant raids "Doors were smashed in, glass was shattered and guns were thrust in the faces of whole families last Monday when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents backed by county police officers raided at least 15 Annapolis-area homes, arresting 46 undocumented immigrants."

G-8. At Summit, More Promises of African Aid "The United States and other members of the Group of Eight industrialized countries this week reiterated their commitment to doubling aid to Africa by 2010, seeking to assuage growing concern that they will miss the ambitious targets they set three years ago in Gleneagles," After Applause Dies Down, Global Warming Talks Leave Few Concrete Goals"But behind the congratulatory speeches, some experts said, was a more sobering reality. The documents issued by the participating countries had very few of the concrete goals needed to keep greenhouse gases from growing at their torrid pace,"

Darfur . Ban Deplores 'Unacceptable' Attack On UN Peacekeepers in North Darfur "Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned a deadly attack on the joint United Nations-African Union force in Darfur that killed seven peacekeepers and wounded twenty-two, seven of them critically."

Iran. Iran tests missiles for second day in face of US warnings"Iran today test-fired missiles in the Gulf for a second consecutive day, Iranian state media reported. The tests are likely to infuriate Israel and the US," Iran Launches Nine Test Missiles, Says More Are Ready "Iran test-fired nine missiles yesterday -- including at least one capable of striking Israel -- and asserted that thousands more are "ready for launch," Mounting sense of crisis over Iran "A day after a major Iranian ballistic missile test provoked international condemnation, the front pages in Iran are covered with pictures of the missiles soaring into the sky."

Attack in Istanbul. 6 Die in Attack on U.S. Post in Turkey "Gunmen opened fire on Turkish security guards outside the United States Consulate in Istanbul, the Turkish authorities said, and at least three police officers and three assailants were killed in a brief gun battle." U.S. Consulate in Istanbul Is Attacked "Turkey bolstered security at U.S. diplomatic installations across the country Wednesday after men armed with a pump-action shotgun and pistols shot and killed three Turkish policemen outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul," Four detained over Turkey attack "The Turkish police have detained four men over alleged links to an attack on the US consulate in Istanbul,"

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe sanctions call 'racist' "Zimbabwe has denounced calls for UN sanctions over disputed polls as "a colonial and racist campaign". Zimbabwe: Political Violence Surges After Mugabe Assumes Presidency "The already high levels of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe's rural areas are escalating,"

Mideast. Palestinian village sues Canadian contractors "The Palestinian village of Bil'in in Israel's Occupied West Bank has launched a lawsuit against two Canadian construction companies accusing them of committing war crimes by building houses in the area."

Pakistan. Pakistan Is Said to Be Attracting Insurgents"American military and intelligence officials say there has been an increase in recent months in the number of foreign fighters who have traveled to Pakistan's tribal areas to join with militants there."

Op-Ed. Tehran's Definite 'Maybe' (David Ignatius, Washington Post) "The Iranians are signaling that they want talks with the West -- and hinting that they are ready for a serious dialogue with the Great Satan in Washington. But while they discuss engagement, they remain wary of it. The Iranians are almost coquettish: They like being wooed, and they enjoy being the center of attention, but they aren't quite ready to say yes."