Daily News Digest

The latest news on the Mortgage Plan, Iraq-US troops, Anglican women bishops, Immigration, Veterans and alcoholism, G-8 and Zimbawbwe, G-8 and Global Warming, Iran and Israel, and select op-eds.

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Mortgage plan.
Mortgage rescue plan draws Senate support "A mortgage rescue
plan to save hundreds of thousands of homeowners from foreclosure
drew overwhelming Senate support, inching toward passage despite
Republican objections."
Senate clears way for housing rescue vote "The U.S. Senate
moved closer on Monday to passing election-year legislation meant
to save hundreds of thousands of troubled homeowners from
foreclosure."

Immigration. Hispanic
group to grill McCain, Obama today "A leading Hispanic
organization is demanding assurances from the two major
presidential candidates that they'll push for comprehensive
immigration revisions and dramatically increase Hispanic
representation in the federal government." Gov. Blunt signs
legislation enforcing immigration laws "A two-year effort to
curb illegal immigration in Missouri came to fruition Monday as
Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation designed to catch illegal
workers and punish their employers."
Advocates Speak Up for Illegal Day Laborers Cheated of Wages
"Although few immigrant day laborers realize it, they have the same
right as any worker to sue employers for unpaid back wages, even if
they are here illegally."

Veterans & alcoholism. After
the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at
Home "A growing body of evidence
that alcohol abuse is rising among veterans of combat in
Afghanistan and Iraq, many of them trying to deaden the
repercussions of war and disorientation of home."

Anglican women bishops.
Church vote opens door to female bishops "The Church of England
was thrown into turmoil last night over the issue of women bishops,
as it rejected proposals that would have accommodated clergy
strongly opposed to the historic change."
Anglicans in Britain Vote to Allow Women as Bishops "The
governing body of the Anglican Church in Britain voted on Monday to
approve the appointment of women as bishops, a step that appeared
to risk a schism in the church in its historic homeland"

G-8 & Zimbabwe.
Bush Pushes Hard Line on Zimbabwe at G-8 "As world leaders
convened in this resort town in northern Japan for three days of
talks on issues including climate change and rising food and energy
prices, the agenda quickly shifted to the political crisis in
Zimbabwe, exposing a split between Western and African leaders."

Bush Facing Rebuffs On Key Issues at G-8 "President Bush has
worked hard over the past few years to cultivate good relations
with many world leaders, but as a summit of the Group of Eight
industrialized nations got underway, he was once again discovering
the limitations of those efforts." Zimbabwe
sanctions could lead to civil war, Mbeki warns "South Africa's
president, Thabo Mbeki, was given a fierce grilling by G8 leaders
yesterday at a private meeting at which they told him that they did
not believe his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe were succeeding."

G-8 & global warming.
G-8 grapples with global warming "Leaders of the Group of 8
wealthy nations got to the heart of their summit today, holding
informal talks to see whether they could find common ground for an
eventual accord on cutting greenhouse gas emissions." G8 aims to
halve greenhouse gases "World leaders say they will aim to set
a global target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2050
in an effort to tackle global warming."

Iraq-US troops.
Iraq wants US pullout timetable "Iraq's prime minister has for
the first time publicly called for a US troop withdrawal timetable.
Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday that a military agreement the two
countries are negotiating should include provisions for the
withdrawal of American troops."
Maliki Suggests U.S. Troop Timetable "Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki has for the first time suggested establishing a timetable
for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, a step that the Bush
administration has long opposed."

Iran-Israel. Iran in
warning to US and Israel "Iran will strike Israel and the US
navy in the Gulf if it is attacked over its nuclear program, a
senior Iranian official has warned."The first US shot on Iran would
set the United States' vital interests in the world on fire,"

Fearing "proxy" rockets, Israel engages Iran allies "A flurry
of indirect talks between Israel and its closest enemies--Syria,
Lebanon's Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas--may not bring peace, but
it could help the Israelis contain a future war with arch-foe
Iran." U.S.
analyst: Pentagon made clear Israel has no "green light" to strike
Iran "A senior U.S. strategic analyst says the Chairman of the
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, sent Israel an
unequivocal message stating that Israel does not have a 'green
light' from the U.S. to attack Iranian nuclear facilities."

Opinion.
The Wrong Partnership for Iraq (Bill Delahunt and Rosa DeLauro,
The Washington Post) "The June 15 editorial '
A Partnership With Iraq' criticized Democrats in Congress for
opposing the proposed long-term military agreement between the
United States and Iraq that would replace the U.N. mandate under
which U.S. forces are fighting. The editorial called the agreement
a way of 'countering Iran's attempt to dominate the Middle East.'
We have examined this issue for many months and believe that The
Post's position is badly misguided."