Daily News Digest

The latest news on Hiroshima anniversary, Olympic protests, South African strike, Hiroshima anniversary, Olympic protests, Execution, Child labor, Iran, Iraq oil profits, Taliban, South African strike, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Opinion.

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Hiroshima anniversary. Hiroshima marks bomb anniversary with hope for US change "The mayor of Hiroshima on Wednesday urged the next US president to work to abolish atomic weapons as the city marked the 63rd anniversary of the world's first nuclear attack." Japan marks 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb "Tens of thousands bowed their heads at a ceremony in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Wednesday, the 63rd anniversary of the world's first atomic attack, as the city's mayor hit out at countries that refuse to abandon their bombs."

Olympic protests. Activists from US, UK use Olympic spotlight to launch protests in Beijing "Activists from the U.S. and U.K. unfurled pro-Tibet banners and spoke out against China's rights record in Tiananmen Square in the first attempts by foreigners in the Chinese capital to stage protests under the spotlight of the Olympic Games." Britons and Americans held over Tibet protests in Beijing "Four protesters including two Britons have been detained in the Chinese capital after hanging Free Tibet banners close to the main Bird's Nest stadium." Barred From Beijing "The Chinese government on Tuesday revoked the visa of 2006 Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek, effectively barring the speedskating champion and social activist from attending the 2008 Beijing Games. Cheek is co-founder of Team Darfur."

Execution. Medellin executed for rape, murder of Houston teens "The state of Texas defied an international court and executed Jose Ernesto Medellin late Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution for the killer in the 1993 Houston gang rape-murders of two teenage girls." Texas executes Mexican killer amid international protests "Jose Ernesto Medellin, a Mexican national convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of two Texas girls, was executed in Texas after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant a reprieve."

Child labor. Inquiry Finds Under-Age Workers at Meat Plant "State labor investigators have identified 57 under-age workers who were employed at a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, and have asked the attorney general to bring criminal charges against the company for child labor violations."

Iran. Iran faces new sanctions threat "The US and its allies are to consider new sanctions against Iran after it failed to respond positively to an incentives offer." US officials: Iranian response to nuclear offer not acceptable "Iran's response to an incentives package aimed at defusing a dispute over its nuclear program is unacceptable, U.S. officials said Tuesday, making the prospect of new sanctions against the country more likely." Iran sanctions likely to rise as election issue "Iran failed to take up international powers on their offer designed to defuse a deepening nuclear dispute, setting the stage for months of debate over further sanctions against Tehran - and virtually guaranteeing that Iran will figure as a top foreign policy issue in the US presidential campaign." Steinmeier Calls on Iran to Stop Playing for Time "German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on Iran to stop playing for time and come up with a "clear answer" to the latest offer from the West."

Iraq oil profits. GAO: Iraq's oil profits huge as U.S. bears reconstruction load "Iraq has benefited handsomely from this year's surge in oil prices and is well-positioned financially to shoulder a greater share of its own economic and security needs. ...Yet Iraqi government expenditures have declined since 2005, even as the U.S. Congress has appropriated roughly $48 billion since 2003 for efforts to stabilize and reconstruct the invaded nation." As Iraq Surplus Rises, Little Goes Into Rebuilding"Soaring oil prices will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year's end, according to an American federal oversight agency. But Iraq has spent only a minute fraction of that on reconstruction costs, which are now largely borne by the United States."

Taliban. A Ragtag Pursuit of the Taliban "Lt. Col. Abdul Hamid, a new police commander, was having trouble doing the math. When he took control of this district in the country's north in early July, he had 54 officers. Since then, some had been transferred; others had disappeared."

South African strike. S Africa unions stage mass strike "The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is mobilising its two million members to protest against the high cost of living." Cosatu one-day strike gets under way "South African mine workers started striking on Wednesday as part of a mass action over rising power, food and fuel prices that could bring Africa's biggest economy to a standstill."

Zimbabwe. Mugabe offered amnesty and job for life in draft agreement "Robert Mugabe is set to receive a blanket amnesty and a post as ceremonial head of state followed by a life term as 'founding president' on his retirement, under the terms of a draft deal to set up a transitional government in Zimbabwe."

Venezuela. New Decrees From Chávez Mirror Spurned Measures "President Huge Chavez is using his decree powers to enact a set of socialist-inspired measures that seem based on a package of constitutional changes that voters rejected last year. His actions open a new stage of confrontation between his government and the political opposition."

Bolivia. Bolivian Referendum Points Up Clashing Visions "On Sunday, the nation is scheduled to vote on a referendum on whether to recall Morales, his vice president and nearly all of the regional leaders, known as prefects. Polls suggest that Morales and several of the prefects will probably keep their positions. But angry and violent protests against Morales are growing more common."

Opinion. Faith's Real Riches (Michael Gerson, Washington Post) "A religious system that promises happiness and 'nice things' is difficult to reconcile with the faith whose founder had 'no place to lay his head,' urged his followers not to store up 'treasures on earth,' and called on them to deny themselves and take up a cross of suffering."