Daily News Digest | Sojourners

Daily News Digest

The latest news on the Presidential campaign, Rising prices, Execution, U.S.-Iraq agreement, Iraq strategy, NATO-Russia, Mideast, Gaza peace boats, U.S.-India nuclear trade, U.S.-Poland missile agreement, Women in Pakistan, Canada, Colombia, Amish population, Commentary, the Passing of Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

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Presidential campaign. Voters in Poll Want Priority to Be Economy, Their Top Issue "Barack Obama and John McCain are heading into their conventions neck and neck, with voters focused on the economy, a New York Times/CBS News poll found." McCain and Obama tax plans diverge on wealth "The sharpening rhetoric between John McCain and Barack Obama over their competing plans to overhaul the nation's tax system has underscored one of the most profound differences between them -- how they would target America's wealthiest taxpayers." Health care no longer primary ailment "What happened to health care? In the daily rat-a-tat-tat between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, the silence is deafening."

Rising prices. USDA: Food prices to post biggest rise this year since 1990 "Consumers should brace for the biggest increase in food prices in nearly 20 years in 2008 and even more pain next year due to surging meat and produce prices, the Agriculture Department said Wednesday." Cost of home heat to spike; utilities warn consumers to caulk, insulate now "Your wallet is about to take another hit. The price of heating a home with natural gas is expected to be at least 20 percent higher this winter, according to federal predictions."

Execution. Texan who stayed in the getaway car set for execution today "Jeffery Wood's partner was the person who shot a Kerrville store clerk in the face. But Texas' law of parties holds accomplices in murders just as culpable as the person who pulled the trigger." Texas Appears Set to Execute Accomplice "The state of Texas is scheduled to execute Jeffery Lee Wood by lethal injection tonight, even though he did not actually kill anyone. Wood was sitting in a truck outside a convenience store when an accomplice shot and killed a cashier in a botched robbery 12 years ago."

US-Iraq agreement. Rice says Iraq troop deal close "Washington and Baghdad are very close to striking a deal on the future of US forces in Iraq, Condoleeza Rice, the US Secretary of State, said today as she made an unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital." Rice arrives in Iraq to iron out security deal "With expectations rising, Rice said reports of an imminent deal were "very premature." But she insisted that negotiators have made progress on all issues after five months of talks and are now filling holes in a draft agreement." Rice meets with Iraq's Maliki on U.S. troop agreement "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Thursday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki in an effort to close the gap between U.S. and Iraqi negotiators on an agreement that would govern the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year." US and Iraq 'close to agreement' over troop withdrawal date "The US and Iraq have agreed on the need for timetables for a withdrawal of American troops, Condoleezza Rice said today, but are yet to finalise a deal that has been the subject of protracted negotiations."

Iraq-strategy. Key U.S. Iraq strategy in danger of collapse "The Iraqi government is failing to absorb tens of thousands of former Sunni Muslim insurgents who'd joined U.S.-allied militia groups into the country's security forces and may soon move to disarm and arrest them." Exiting Iraq, Petraeus Says Gains Are Fragile "General Petraeus is preparing to leave Iraq a remarkably safer place than it was when he arrived. Violence has plummeted from its apocalyptic peaks, Iraqi leaders are asserting themselves, and streets that once seemed dead are flourishing with life."

NATO-Russia. Russia dismisses Nato's 'empty words' "Nato united in the face of Russia's failure to withdraw from Georgia yesterday, freezing regular contacts with Moscow and declaring that there could be "no business as usual under present circumstances." Troops will leave Georgia in their own time, says Russia "A senior Russian government spokesman said today the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia would take "a couple of weeks". Russian forces would leave in their own time, the spokesman said, and even after the main bulk of the Russian army had gone, that Russian peacekeepers would continue to occupy Georgia."

Mideast. Livni: Time is running out for peace talks "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called for a unity coalition to pursue the creation of Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel, saying "time is against the moderates" looking to reach a peace agreement." Syria-Russia deal threatens new 'Cold War' "Syria raised the prospect yesterday of having Russian missiles on its soil, sparking fears of a new Cold War in the Middle East."

Gaza peace boats. Gaza-bound peace boats prepare to sail "Two boats filled with left-wing activists are scheduled to leave Larnaca in Cyprus towards the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening. The activists, from 16 different states, will attempt to break what they describe as the "siege" of Gaza and give children there balloons and aid."

US-India nuclear trade. U.S. Push to Expand India's Nuclear Trade Draws Skepticism "A Bush administration proposal to exempt India from restriction on nuclear trade has aroused skepticism from several members of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, diplomats said yesterday, making it increasingly unlikely that a deal will be reached in two-day meetings that begin today in Vienna." US to push India nuclear-ban waiver "The US is set to push a consortium of nations into dropping a ban on nuclear trade with India, a move that will help finalise a US-India nuclear deal." N-deal: India pushing for NSG nod "Keen to ensure that the Nuclear Suppliers Group gives an unconditional exemption to it for civil nuclear trade, India held a special briefing for the members of the 45-nation grouping to convey its commitment towards non-proliferation and allay fears, if any."

US-Poland missile agreement. U.S., Poland sign pacts on missile defense "The United States will deploy anti-missile interceptors, upgrade Poland's air defenses and modernize its military under two agreements signed Wednesday." Poland Risks Serious Confrontation with Russia "Even 19 years after the disappearance of the Iron Curtain, 11 years after it became a member of NATO and four years after its EU accession, Warsaw still feels the need to demonstrate its independence against the old hegemony of Moscow."

Women in Pakistan. Searching for Freedom, Chained by the Law "Increasing numbers of Pakistani women are becoming aware of gender inequities, a trend emerging in many other parts of the developing world as the communications revolution brings cellphones, satellite television and the Internet to the poorest villages. In this South Asian country of 167 million, a key issue is laws and customs governing sexual conduct that sometimes date back centuries."

Canada. Confidence in Tory government eroding: poll "As prospects for a fall election grow, a new survey indicates public satisfaction with the Harper government has deteriorated since last fall. ... The survey of 4,472 Canadians, conducted in June, also found that the economy has supplanted the environment as the public's top concern," Dion test-drives green pitch "Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion says Ontarians living in auto towns like Oakville have every reason not to trust Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he shops for votes in Ontario."

Colombia. Colombia military atrocities alleged "The number of civilians killed by the Colombian armed forces has soared, activist groups allege, with many of the abuses committed by army units that had been vetted by the State Department."

Amish population. Amish population nearly doubles in 16 years "The Amish are expanding their presence in states far beyond Pennsylvania Dutch country as they search for affordable farmland to accommodate a population that has nearly doubled in the past 16 years, a new study found."

Commentary. 'NATO Is a Paper Tiger' "A blocked UN resolution, a limited statement by NATO -- the international community has not yet found its voice when it comes to Russia, German commentators write on Wednesday. Moscow, though, may still have a high price to pay."

Passing. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, passionate politician, dies at 58 "When news of her fatal brain aneurysm spread from Ohio to the nation's capital Wednesday, Tubbs Jones' reputation was well-established: tough, exuberant, passionate, partisan, a woman from modest means who rose to national prominence." The death of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio called an 'incalculable loss' "Tributes from political allies and even one-time enemies came pouring in for Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a trailblazer whose energy and outspokenness made her one of Congress' most dynamic leaders."

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