Daily News Digest

The latest news on Bipartisan friendship, Economy, Medicare, Militarized foreign policy, Afghanistan, War resister deported, Guantanamo video, Iran, Iraq Israel, and Sudan.

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Bipartisan friendship. Across the aisle, a ballad to Kennedy "[Senator Orrin] Hatch said he was asked by several colleagues to put down his feelings about a very close friend who is facing a serious illness. The friend is the legendary liberal Ted Kennedy, and the colleagues are Democrats who envision having the song played as a tribute to Kennedy at next month's Democratic convention - and as a living example of a brotherhood that transcends party lines."

Economy. An Economy Thrown Into Turmoil "Fresh worries spread through world markets as a crisis of confidence battered more U.S. financial institutions and the chairman of the Federal Reserve issued a sober assessment of the country's economic woes." Fed Chief Bleak on Economic Outlook "A sense of economic gloom gripped Washington as President Bush urged Americans not to lose faith, the Federal Reserve chairman offered a mostly bleak assessment of the difficulties ahead for the economy, and the administration's latest effort to help the housing sector faced tough questioning in Congress." A gloomy day for the economy, except at the White House "President Bush tried to reassure consumers that the economy was still growing, but his words had little effect. The Dow closed the day at its lowest level in two years, the government reported that prices had jumped at their sharpest pace in 27 years, and the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board warned that "significant challenges" lie ahead." Democrats See a Need for Further Economic Stimulus "Many economists have concluded that a second dose of government stimulus spending is required to prevent a broad economic unraveling and provide relief to millions of Americans grappling with joblessness, plunging home prices and tight credit."

Medicare. Congress Easily Overrides Medicare Veto "President Bush sought to block a bill aimed at forestalling an 11 percent cut in payments to doctors taking care of Medicare patients, but Congress quickly overrode his veto." Congress overrides Bush veto on Medicare bill "Congress delivered a stern rebuke to President Bush, overriding his veto of a Medicare bill and preventing pay cuts to doctors who treat seniors, the disabled and military personnel."

Militarized foreign policy. Gates Warns of Militarized Policy "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned yesterday against the risk of a "creeping militarization" of U.S. foreign policy, saying the State Department should lead U.S. engagement with other countries, with the military playing a supporting role."

Afghanistan. Obama, McCain shift debate to more troops - for Afghanistan 'With the war in Afghanistan worsening by almost every measure, the often-overlooked conflict jumped to the center of the U.S. presidential campaign as John McCain and Barack Obama both promised to send more U.S. troops.' Obama and McCain Duel Over Foreign Policy "In near-simultaneous appearances about 1,700 miles apart, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain drew sharp battle lines on Iraq and Afghanistan, where rapidly evolving events have tested the candidates and their positions." Afghan fight drawing foreign jihadis "This week's brazen and deadly attack on a US-Afghan outpost in an area near the Pakistani border is raising new concerns that foreign fighters bent on fighting the West are retraining their sights from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan."

War resister deported. War deserter deported back to the U.S. "An American soldier who was deported to the U.S. after his refugee claim was dismissed nearly three years following his arrival in Canada may now face a number of consequences for army desertion." Canada Expels an American Deserter From the Iraq War "The deserter, Robin Long, a native of Boise, Idaho, is believed to be the first from the Iraq war returned by the Canadian government."

Guantanamo video. Interrogation video shows Khadr crying, pulling hair "Dressed in orange, then 16 years old, the Toronto-born terror suspect sobs, and sobs again. He seems to say "kill me," over and over again. Kill me." Omar Khadr: The interrogation "U.S. cameras taped more than seven hours of video footage of the Canadian agents' visit to Guantanamo Bay. The once-secret material was widely released Tuesday after a series of Canadian court orders." Teen on video: 'Help me, help me' "The world caught the first glimpse of an interrogation inside the Guantanamo Bay jail after lawyers for a detainee released a video showing their client being questioned five years ago, when he was 16."

Iran. US softens stance towards Iran "A senior US diplomat will join nuclear talks with Iran this weekend, marking a notable shift of policy by Washington towards engagement with Tehran." American Envoy To Join Iran Talks "The Bush administration will send a senior envoy this weekend to international talks with Iran about its nuclear program in what U.S. officials described as a "one-time deal" designed to demonstrate a serious desire to negotiate a solution to the impasse over Tehran's ambitions." U.S. Envoy to Join Meeting With Iranian "President Bush has authorized the most significant American diplomatic contact with Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, sending the State Department's third-ranking official to Geneva for a meeting this weekend on Iran's nuclear program,"

Iraq. Bush Emphasizes His Opposition to Timetable for Iraq Withdrawal "President Bush said Tuesday that Iraq wanted to include an "aspirational goal" for the departure of most foreign troops there in any agreement authorizing future American operations, but he reiterated his opposition to what he called "an artificial timetable for withdrawal."

Israel. Hezbollah delivers bodies of 2 soldiers to Israel in swap "At mid-morning today on the Israel-Lebanaon border, Hezbollah delivered two black coffins, beginning a swap that is expected to result in freedom for Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese Israel's held for nearly 30 years for the murders of a 28-year-old man and his four-year-old daughter." Israel identifies dead soldiers "Israel has confirmed that human remains handed over by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as part of a prisoner swap are those of two of its soldiers." Two years on, soldiers to return home "The cabinet voted overwhelmingly yesterday to approve the prisoner swap with Hezbollah, even though defense officials termed Hezbollah's report on Ron Arad's fate, which was part of the deal, unacceptable."

Sudan. UN head urges Sudan to co-operate "United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has urged Sudan to co-operate with the UN and ensure the security of peacekeepers and humanitarian workers in Darfur." China Expresses 'Grave Concern' Over Indictment of Sudan's Bashir "China voiced concern yesterday over charges by the International Criminal Court implicating Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in state-sponsored acts of genocide in the country's embattled Darfur region," Charges of Darfur genocide not seen as threat to continued rule of Sudan's president "Buoyed by support from the Arab and African world, Sudan's president showed no signs of giving in to pressure Tuesday after an international prosecutor sought his arrest for war crimes in Darfur."