Daily News Digest

The latest news in Economy, Veterans' education, Immigration, War powers, G-8 & global warming, Iraq, Iran, Darfur India, Zimbabwe, US-Czech missile defense, and Editorial.

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Economy. Layoff burden takes toll on families "Job loss is hitting employees of all kinds, and it's delivering a profound blow to family stability. The latest U.S. Labor Department report says employers cut payrolls by 62,000 in June -- the sixth straight month of nationwide job losses." Paulson: Many foreclosures can't be prevented "Faced with record-high foreclosure rates, the Bush administration has been scrambling to keep people from losing their homes, but many are beyond help, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said." Fed Sees Turmoil Persisting Deep Into Next Year"Federal policy makers have concluded that the turmoil plaguing the housing and financial markets is likely to spill deep into 2009, becoming one of the most significant domestic problems to confront the next president when he steps into the White House in January."

Veterans' education. Ohio colleges will be free for veterans "Gov. Ted Strickland made a promise to American veterans living around the world: Come to one of Ohio's public colleges and pay nothing." Ohio Gives Veterans In-State Rates at Public Colleges "The Ohio plan, the first of its kind in the nation, makes all veterans "honorary Ohioans" for the purpose of a college education."

Immigration. McCain, Obama court Latinos, promise immigration change "John McCain and Barack Obama told a major Hispanic organization that they remain committed to passing comprehensive immigration legislation, despite its defeat in Congress and unpopularity with voters who prefer a heavier emphasis on border security." Obama, McCain address Hispanics "The Illinois Democrat spoke bluntly about the immigration issue. The Arizona Republican's address was largely devoted to economic policy and only briefly touched on immigration."

War powers. Report Urges Overhaul of the War Powers Law "Two former secretaries of state, concluding that a 1973 measure limiting the president's ability to wage war unilaterally had never worked as intended, proposed a new system of closer consultation between the White House and Congress before American forces go into battle." New law is urged on war powers "A bipartisan commission called for a new law to require the next president to ask Congress for formal approval of any decision to go to war and force the White House to consult Congress once a war is underway."

G-8 & global warming. U.S. Joins G-8 Plan To Halve Emissions "The United States for the first time joined the major industrialized countries in committing to try to halve greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050." Global polluters agree need for cuts "The G8 rich western nations and leading developing countries today papered over their differences on cutting greenhouse gases as they said they shared a "joint vision" for action to combat climate change." Developing economies don't back G-8 climate goal "A joint gathering of major developed and developing nations agreed that climate change was "one of the great global challenges of our time" and pledged to back a United Nations effort to conclude new climate pact by 2009. Harper: Onus on developing nations for climate action "Prime Minister Stephen Harper put the ball firmly in the court of emerging giants such as China and India to act on climate change, a day after the G8 agreed to moderate steps toward a long-term global goal."

Iraq. Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact "Iraq's national security adviser said that his government would not sign an agreement governing the future role of U.S. troops in Iraq unless it includes a timetable for their withdrawal." Iraqi prime minister advocates withdrawal timetable "Bolstered by recent Iraqi military successes, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki proposed that negotiators include a timetable for the departure of U.S. troops in any agreement to continue the American presence in Iraq beyond the end of the year." US against 'arbitrary' Iraq pullout "The United States remains opposed to setting an "arbitrary" date for withdrawing troops from Iraq, the White House has said."

Iran. Iran sends missile test warning "Iran has test-fired what it called a new version of the Shahab-3 missile, which is capable of reaching its main regional enemy Israel," Iran tests missiles amid tension "The test firing, which also included the firing of several other missiles, comes at a time of growing tensions over the Iranian nuclear programme, which the West fears could be aimed at making an atomic bomb." Iran tests missiles in Persian Gulf, Hormouz "Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles Wednesday during war games that officials say are in response to U.S. and Israeli threats, state television reported."

Darfur. Attack kills Darfur peacekeepers "Six members of the joint United Nations African Union peace mission in Sudan's Darfur region have been killed in an attack, a UN source has told the BBC."

India. Bush pushes India nuclear deal "A controversial plan to sell US nuclear fuel and technology to India is good for both countries, George Bush, the US president, has told India's prime minister." Congress May Not Pass U.S.-India Nuclear Pact "India's civil nuclear agreement with the United States may have cleared a key hurdle in New Delhi this week, but it appears unlikely to win final approval in the U.S. Congress this year,"

Zimbabwe. UN to push for Zimbabwe arms ban"An arms embargo will be part of new sanctions the UN will seek to impose on Zimbabwe this week to increase pressure on the Mugabe regime, Gordon Brown said today." Support builds for UN sanctions against Zimbabwe "A majority of member countries in the UN Security Council support a proposal to sanction Zimbabwe and freeze the assets of President Robert Mugabe, French and US officials said yesterday," Russia may veto Mugabe sanctions "Russia has said it could veto proposed UN sanctions against Zimbabwe's president and his allies, despite agreeing a G8 statement backing them."

US-Czech missile defense. U.S. and Czechs Sign Accord on Missile Shield "The United States and the Czech Republic signed a landmark accord to allow the Pentagon to deploy part of its widely debated antiballistic missile shield on territory once occupied by Soviet troops." Russia warns of retaliation after Prague signs US 'star wars' pact "Dmitry Medvedev today warned Russia may take retaliatory steps after being "extremely upset" by a US defence pact with the Czech Republic."

Editorial. Rich nations, poor policies (Boston Globe) "WITH THE PRICE of oil shooting upward, food security a danger for billions of the world's poor, and climate change already taking its toll on crops, water, and health, members of the Group of 8 rich nations need to cooperate now - and not make vague promises for the distant future."