Daily News Digest

The latest news on Today in history, Midwest floods, Unemployment, Life expectancy, Criminal justice, Canada apologizes, Iran, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Iraq, and Op-Ed.

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Today in history. 45 Years Later, Medgar Evers' Legacy Inspires "It was 45 years ago today Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his Jackson home just hours after leaving the Coast, and soon after, President Kennedy gave a televised speech on civil rights."

Midwest floods. Rising Midwest rivers force evacuations, expose vulnerable dams and levees "With rumbling force, the Cedar River on Wednesday ripped through this eastern Iowa city toward a historic crest while unleashing floodwaters into businesses and homes." Thousands forced to flee homes as rivers swell "The record flooding that has sent thousands from their homes in Iowa is likely to become a greater threat across the Midwest into the weekend, as stormy weather continues and water levels rise in the waterways that feed the swelling Mississippi River."

Unemployment. Dems to try again to extend unemployment benefits "House Democrats came so close to a veto-proof margin for their proposal to give the unemployed an extra three months of benefits. Taking another shot on the same measure, the goal for Thursday was to pass it by just a majority, not the two-thirds it would take to overcome a presidential veto." Bill to Extend Jobless Benefits Stalls in House"As part of an escalating Congressional fight over economic issues, a Democratic plan to provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits to Americans out of jobs - or another 26 weeks in states where unemployment exceeds 6 percent - fell 3 votes short of approval in a 279-to-144 vote. A two-thirds majority was required."

Life expectancy. Life Expectancy Hits Record High in United States"Americans' life expectancy reached a record high of 78.1 years in 2006, with disparities among ethnic groups and between the sexes generally narrowing, according to government data released yesterday." US life expectancy tops 78 as top diseases decline "For the first time, U.S. life expectancy has surpassed 78 years, the government reported, although the United States continues to lag behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span."

Criminal justice. New Criminal Record: 7.2 Million "The number of people under supervision in the nation's criminal justice system rose to 7.2 million in 2006, the highest ever, costing states tens of billions of dollars to house and monitor offenders as they go in and out of jails and prisons." In California, a segregation bastion falls "One of the last bastions of racial segregation will be breached next month. Trailing most US states, California will start fully integrating its prison cells beginning July 1. The change has both inmates and prison guards nervous about racial violence in America's largest state prison system."

Canada apologizes. Canada's native people get a formal apology "Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized Wednesday to the nation's native people for "a sad chapter in our history," acknowledging the physical abuses and cultural damage they suffered during a century of forced assimilation at residential schools." 'We are sorry' "Prime Minister Stephen Harper had yet to utter a single word of Canada's apology to former Indian residential schools students when the cheering began. Native drumming and shouts turned into loud, simultaneous clapping. Raw emotion bursting for an apology decades overdue."

Iran. Strike on Iran nuclear sites under discussion again "Six months ago, an American intelligence report declared that Iran had shelved its nuclear-weapons program, making the likelihood of a U.S. or Israeli military strike on Iran seem remote. But Israelis have been pushing harder than ever on the subject." Iran Unmoved by Threats on Its Atomic Program"Increasingly tough warnings from President Bush and his European allies have done nothing to temper Iran's stance on its nuclear program, worsening the confrontation over what American officials and others suspect is a covert Iranian plan to build an atomic bomb."

Pakistan. Pakistan Angry as Strike by U.S. Kills 11 Soldiers "American air and artillery strikes killed 11 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers during a clash with insurgents on the Afghan border, a development that raised concerns about the already strained American relationship with Pakistan." U.S., Pakistan at Odds Over Strike in Tribal Area "U.S.-led forces dropped more than a dozen bombs in and near Pakistan's tribal regions in an attack that dramatically exacerbated tensions along the Afghan border and, according to authorities here, killed 11 Pakistani paramilitary troops." US strikes undercut efforts on Pakistani border "Whoever was to blame, the U.S. airstrikes that may have killed friendly fighters in Pakistan have inflamed relations between the countries and could undermine the struggle to stem violence along the Afghan border."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe police arrest MDC secretary"Zimbabwe's main opposition party today said its second most senior figure had been arrested at Harare airport after returning from South Africa." Military 'runs Mugabe campaign' "The BBC has obtained documents suggesting that Zimbabwe's military is actively involved in running Robert Mugabe's re-election campaign." American Aid Is Seized in Zimbabwe"Zimbabwean authorities confiscated a truck loaded with 20 tons of American food aid for poor schoolchildren and ordered that the wheat and pinto beans aboard be handed out to supporters of President Robert Mugabe at a political rally instead,"

Iraq. Bush Says U.S., Iraq Will Come to Terms on Troops "President Bush said he is confident the United States will reach an agreement on the role of U.S. forces in Iraq, calling opposition to a U.S. proposal part of the "noise" of a freer Iraqi society."

Op-Ed. A question of presidential leadership (David Gergen and Andy Zelleke, Boston Globe) "Our prospective 44th presidents have spent upwards of half a billion dollars making the case that they are uniquely worthy of Americans' votes. And yet after more than a year of frenetic campaigning, several dozen debates, and relentless media attention, the public has come to know remarkably little about the candidates as leaders."