Daily News Digest: Politics - Bloomberg News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Yahoo! Alerts

Yahoo! News | My Alerts | Edit Alert

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 8:30 PM PDT

Today's Politics - Bloomberg News Headlines - Yahoo! News: Plaintiffs rest case in Arizona sheriff's racial profiling trial Tea Party's Cruz projected winner in Republican Senate race Mexico charges generals suspected of drug gang ties Gay marriage foes ask Supreme Court to uphold California ban District of Columbia abortion bill fails in House Ohio Republican to retire from Congress, citing gridlock London trick is to keep up investment - mayor Regulator says no to Obama mortgage write-down plan Unsecured creditors ally with bankrupt Alabama county Illinois governor proposes assault weapons ban Teacher union boss bends to school reform winds Syrian rebels acquire surface-to-air missiles: report U.S. regulator blocks restart of Enbridge Line 14 Obama donates $5,000 to his own election campaign London anti-doping lab to become drug research centre Security in focus as Clinton begins Africa trip Eight killed during price protests in Sudan's Darfur Palestinians, Israel agree on revenue revamp U.N. General Assembly to meet on Syria crisis Volcker author: Ban banks physical prop trades Russian opposition leader charged amid crackdown fears Seven Iranian aid workers abducted in Libya Democrat gathering to focus on Hispanics, Clinton good times Syrian aircraft strike Aleppo, rebels claim successes Democratic orator Castro symbolizes Hispanic rise Baghdad bombs kill 19, police battle suicide attackers Obama tightens sanctions on banks helping Iran sell oil Egypt denies Mursi letter sent to Israel Eight killed in clashes near Yemen Interior Ministry Geithner says Europe must act more forcefully to stem crisis Al Qaeda decline hard to reverse after Bin Laden killing: U.S. Boxing: U.S. Marine determined to keep team spirits up Soccer: U.S. women forget politics, beat North Korea Quebec premier set to call election for September 4: CBC Romney stumbles on world stage but will it hit him at home? Qatar eyes major global sporting role Online poker companies settle with U.S., two to combine Senate panel passes bill to block EU airline law Massachusetts to vote on healthcare cost-control bill Unease, anger as Chinese swimmer fights doping doubts Plaintiffs rest case in Arizona sheriff's racial profiling trial Tue,31 Jul 2012 07:04 PM PDT Reuters - PHOENIX (Reuters) - Lawyers representing Hispanic drivers who say they were racially profiled by a controversial Arizona lawman who bills himself as "America's toughest sheriff" rested their case on Tuesday in the third week of a federal class-action trial. The case in U.S. District Court in Phoenix against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office will test whether police can target illegal immigrants without racially profiling Hispanic citizens and legal residents. ... Full Story Top Tea Party's Cruz projected winner in Republican Senate race Tue,31 Jul 2012 06:45 PM PDT Reuters - AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz defeated Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in a Republican primary runoff for an open U.S. Senate seat, the Texas Tribune projected on Tuesday. Cruz, 41, a former state solicitor general who has never held elected office, is the third insurgent Republican this year to defeat an establishment Republican in a U.S. Senate primary. Dewhurst, 66, a wealthy businessman who had the support of top Texas Republicans including Governor Rick Perry, started the race as the frontrunner. ... Full Story Top Mexico charges generals suspected of drug gang ties Tue,31 Jul 2012 06:12 PM PDT Reuters - MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Tuesday brought formal charges against three generals for alleged ties to drug cartels, in what is seen as the biggest armed-forces corruption case during President Felipe Calderon's administration. Retired Generals Tomas Angeles and Ricardo Escorcia, active General Roberto Dawe, along with Lieutenant Colonel Silvio Isidro de Jesus Hernandez, were detained two months ago as part of an investigation into their alleged links to the once-powerful Beltran Leyva drug cartel. ... Full Story Top Gay marriage foes ask Supreme Court to uphold California ban Tue,31 Jul 2012 05:08 PM PDT Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Gay marriage opponents asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to uphold a California ban on same-sex matrimony that was struck down by two lower courts as a violation of the Constitution. The request from backers of Proposition 8, the voter-approved state constitutional amendment defining marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman, comes a week after the high court was asked to review a Massachusetts case challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage the same way. ... Full Story Top District of Columbia abortion bill fails in House Tue,31 Jul 2012 05:05 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives rejected a bill on Tuesday that would have banned most abortions in the 20th week of pregnancy in the District of Columbia. The closely watched vote marked the first time Congress has voted on legislation that would have limited abortion because of pain to the fetus. The Republican-controlled chamber voted down the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act 220-154, with two members voting "present." The House suspended its usual rules for the vote, meaning that a two-thirds majority of those present was needed to pass. ... Full Story Top Ohio Republican to retire from Congress, citing gridlock Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:59 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Representative Steven LaTourette, an Ohio Republican, announced on Tuesday he will retire from Congress, citing the lack of compromise in Washington. LaTourette, a moderate who has been in office since 1995, told reporters Tuesday that the partisan climate in Congress has put a strain on him. "I do feel that the current climate has increased the toll that it takes on the person," LaTourette said. Ohio Republican Party Chairman Robert Bennett said in a statement Tuesday that LaTourette is a "proven leader with a lifetime of service" who "will be missed by all Ohioans. ... Full Story Top London trick is to keep up investment - mayor Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:47 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson, the most colourful cheerleader for the 2012 Games, said on Tuesday that the trick will be to maintain momentum once the Olympics are over and the world's attention has moved on. The Mayor of London, who was first spotted on the world stage, hand in pocket, taking the Olympic flag from the host city Beijing four years ago, is attempting to schmooze international businesses and persuade them to invest in the capital. "This is the summer to be in London," Johnson told Reuters in an interview. "It's all getting better and better. ... Full Story Top Regulator says no to Obama mortgage write-down plan Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:45 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top housing regulator rebuffed a plan by the Obama administration to cut mortgages held by struggling homeowners, a blow to the White House, which is keen to show voters it can help fix the housing market. The regulator for government-run housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said on Tuesday that using taxpayer-funded bank bailout money could encourage defaults and not make a big improvement in reducing foreclosures in a cost-effective way for taxpayers. ... Full Story Top Unsecured creditors ally with bankrupt Alabama county Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:44 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Alabama's bankrupt Jefferson County got some unexpected allies on Tuesday, when unsecured creditors lined up with the county in America's biggest municipal bankruptcy to fight a proposed September 28 deadline for a workout plan. Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp, which insures some of the county's $3.14 billion of defaulted sewer-system warrants, on July 10 asked the federal judge overseeing the case to set a hard deadline for the county to develop an exit plan. ... Full Story Top Illinois governor proposes assault weapons ban Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:43 PM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Tuesday proposed a state ban on assault weapons in the aftermath of the July 20 movie theater massacre in Colorado in which a former graduate student is charged with killing 12 people with guns including a semi-automatic rifle. Quinn, a Democrat, called himself a "strong supporter" of the constitutional right to bear arms, but said in a letter to state legislators that the proliferation of military-style assault weapons undermines public safety. ... Full Story Top Teacher union boss bends to school reform winds Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:42 PM PDT Reuters - DETROIT (Reuters) - In the maelstrom of criticism surrounding America's unionized public teachers, the woman running the second-largest educator union says time has come to collaborate on public school reform rather than resist. Randi Weingarten, re-elected this week for a third term as president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) with 98 percent of the vote, wants her 1.5 million members to be open to changes that might improve public schools. ... Full Story Top Syrian rebels acquire surface-to-air missiles: report Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:40 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rebels fighting to depose Syrian president Bashar al Assad have for the first time acquired a small supply of surface-to-air missiles, according to a news report that a Western official did not dispute. NBC News reported Tuesday night that the rebel Free Syrian Army had obtained nearly two dozen of the weapons, which were delivered to them via neighboring Turkey, whose moderate Islamist government has been demanding Assad's departure with increasing vehemence. Indications are that the U.S. ... Full Story Top U.S. regulator blocks restart of Enbridge Line 14 Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:29 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government blocked Enbridge Inc from restarting a key Midwestern oil pipeline on Tuesday, saying last week's spill on the line was "absolutely unacceptable." U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood blasted Enbridge over the leak of more than 1,000 barrels of crude oil in a field in Wisconsin, which shut its 318,000 barrel per day pipeline on Friday. ... Full Story Top Obama donates $5,000 to his own election campaign Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:15 PM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has done what his campaign has asked millions of voters to do for months: go online and donate to his re-election effort. Obama donated $5,000 to his own campaign, spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said on Tuesday, providing his Chicago-based team with a small boost after lagging behind in the fundraising race against Republican rival Mitt Romney in recent months. ... Full Story Top London anti-doping lab to become drug research centre Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:11 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - The London 2012 Olympic anti-doping laboratory will be developed after the Games into what officials say will be a world-class research facility that could help revolutionize healthcare. The lab, which was provided and kitted out by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to carry out more than 6,000 drug tests during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, is to become a so-called Phenome Centre for scientists seeking to develop better and more targeted medical treatments. ... Full Story Top Security in focus as Clinton begins Africa trip Tue,31 Jul 2012 04:04 PM PDT Reuters - DAKAR (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Senegal on Tuesday, beginning a trip that will take her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to the continent's elder statesman, 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. While Clinton's public focus will be on Africa's democratic achievements and economic potential, the trip also underscores U.S. security ties in the face of growing threats - from Islamist militants to narcotics cartels. ... Full Story Top Eight killed during price protests in Sudan's Darfur Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:41 PM PDT Reuters - KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Eight people were killed during a protest against rising prices in Sudan's western Darfur region on Tuesday, the worst violence since tough austerity measures were imposed last month, police said. Activists accused the police of using live ammunition to control the biggest anti-government protest since President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced a cut in fuel subsidies and other austerity measures. ... Full Story Top Palestinians, Israel agree on revenue revamp Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:38 PM PDT Reuters - JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority and Israel agreed on a revamp of revenue collection that may help relieve the Palestinian government's deepening debt crisis, officials said on Tuesday. The aid-dependent Palestinian economy in the occupied West Bank is facing a deepening financial crisis due to a drop in aid from Western backers and wealthy Gulf states as well as Israeli restrictions on trade. ... Full Story Top U.N. General Assembly to meet on Syria crisis Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:38 PM PDT Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly said on Tuesday it will hold a meeting on the crisis in Syria this week and diplomats say it will likely vote on a Saudi-drafted resolution that condemns the Security Council for failing to take action against Damascus. The 193-nation assembly's press office said the meeting on Syria's 16-month-old conflict would occur at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday. U.N. ... Full Story Top Volcker author: Ban banks physical prop trades Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:37 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. banks should face the same curbs on their physical commodities trades that the Volcker rule will place on financial products, one of the authors of the ban on proprietary trading said on Tuesday. Senator Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat who helped draft the part of the 2010 Dodd Frank financial law curbing banks' trading for their own book, said that regulators should broaden the proposed rule to ensure it covers their operation in physical markets. "Clearly under the philosophy they should be(covered)," Merkley told Reuters. ... Full Story Top Russian opposition leader charged amid crackdown fears Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:18 PM PDT Reuters - MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was charged with theft on Tuesday and could face up to 10 years in jail in what Kremlin critics say is a growing crackdown on dissent by President Vladimir Putin. Navalny, an anti-corruption blogger who organized street protests that have dented Putin's authority, dismissed the charge as absurd and other opposition leaders accused Putin of using KGB-style tactics to try to silence his critics. ... Full Story Top Seven Iranian aid workers abducted in Libya Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:14 PM PDT Reuters - BENGHAZI, LIBYA (Reuters) - Seven Iranian aid workers were abducted on Tuesday by an unknown armed group in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, in the biggest operation of its kind against foreigners since the start of a revolt that toppled long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The seven men, from an Iranian Red Crescent relief mission, were snatched from their vehicle in the heart of Benghazi on their way back to their hotel, security sources told Reuters. The security sources said an investigation was underway to identify the kidnappers. ... Full Story Top Democrat gathering to focus on Hispanics, Clinton good times Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:13 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The 2012 Democratic convention speaker schedule is focused on two things: the crucial Hispanic vote and a throwback to the 1990s when a Democratic president oversaw economic good times. The party announced that San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will deliver the keynote address on September 4, the first day of the three-day meeting in Charlotte. A rising Democratic star seen as potentially reaching national office, Castro, 37, is the first Hispanic American to fill that convention slot. ... Full Story Top Syrian aircraft strike Aleppo, rebels claim successes Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:12 PM PDT Reuters - ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - Syrian combat aircraft and artillery pounded Aleppo late into the night as the army battled for control of the country's biggest city, where rebel fighters said troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad had been forced to retreat. During the day on Tuesday large clouds of black smoke rose into the sky after attack helicopters turned their machineguns on eastern districts for the first time in the latest fighting and a MiG warplane later strafed the same area. After nightfall, Reuters journalists in Aleppo heard loud explosions somewhere near the city. ... Full Story Top Democratic orator Castro symbolizes Hispanic rise Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:09 PM PDT Reuters - SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The selection of San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro as keynote speaker at the Democratic presidential nominating convention in September adds jet fuel to the lofty ambitions of a politician often labeled as the most promising Hispanic Democrat in the United States. Castro, 37, has helped guide the transformation of San Antonio into the nation's seventh largest city with a healthy economy and a vibrant majority-Hispanic population. ... Full Story Top Baghdad bombs kill 19, police battle suicide attackers Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:04 PM PDT Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Twin car bombs hit central Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 19 people, and security forces fought off a separate attack inside a police station by two suicide bombers trying to free al Qaeda prisoners. The major assault underscored the seriousness of Iraq's struggle with insurgents more than seven months after the last U.S. troops left behind a country still grappling with political instability and sectarian tensions. ... Full Story Top Obama tightens sanctions on banks helping Iran sell oil Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:03 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced new U.S. sanctions on Tuesday against foreign banks that help Iran sell its oil and said the measure would increase pressure on Tehran for failing to meet its international nuclear obligations. Obama's decision, in an executive order, came ahead of congressional votes on new sanctions intended to further strip Iran of its oil-related revenues. It also followed criticism from Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney that the White House is failing to act strongly enough to stop Iran's suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon. ... Full Story Top Egypt denies Mursi letter sent to Israel Tue,31 Jul 2012 03:02 PM PDT Reuters - JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) - Israel said on Tuesday it had received a letter from Egypt's President Mohamed Mursi indicating he wanted to work for peace in the Middle East, but Mursi's office later denied sending it. An Israeli official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the denial was to be expected, due to the sensitivity of the issue. Israeli President Shimon Peres's office said earlier on Tuesday he had received a letter from the Muslim Brotherhood's Mursi, in the first such missive to Israel since Mursi took office at the end of last month. ... Full Story Top Eight killed in clashes near Yemen Interior Ministry Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:56 PM PDT Reuters - SANAA (Reuters) - Eight people were killed in fighting on Tuesday between Yemeni government forces and armed tribesmen loyal to former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh who were trying to storm the Interior Ministry in the capital Sanaa, a medical source said. Many other people were wounded in what was some of the heaviest fighting in Sanaa since Saleh signed a deal to relinquish power last year after months of protests against his 33-year rule, the source said. ... Full Story Top Geithner says Europe must act more forcefully to stem crisis Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:55 PM PDT Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Tuesday that Europe needs be more forceful and creative in fighting its debt crisis to keep it from blighting the region's economy. Geithner, who met with European policymakers on Monday during a trip to Europe, said Europe is committed to resolving its crisis and has the tools to do so. But he cautioned that it will "take a long time" for broader economic and financial reforms to work. ... Full Story Top Al Qaeda decline hard to reverse after Bin Laden killing: U.S. Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:48 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden's death sent al Qaeda into a decline that will be hard to reverse, the United States said on Tuesday in a report that found terrorist attacks last year fell to their lowest level since 2005. Describing 2011 as a "landmark year," the United States said other top al Qaeda members killed last year included Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, reportedly the militant organization's No. 2 figure after bin Laden's death, and Anwar al-Awlaki, who led its lethal affiliate in Yemen. ... Full Story Top Boxing: U.S. Marine determined to keep team spirits up Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:47 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - His London Olympics may have only lasted nine minutes but Jamel Herring will not be getting down about it. A veteran Marine of two tours of duty in Iraq, the U.S. team boxing captain knows he has his men to think about. The 26-year-old sergeant, who served as a field electrician during the Iraq war, is just part of the military backbone of an American team led by officer Basheer Abdullah, head coach of the army's boxing program for 15 years. ... Full Story Top Soccer: U.S. women forget politics, beat North Korea Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:42 PM PDT Reuters - MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The U.S. women's soccer team beat North Korea on Tuesday against a backdrop of hostility between the global superpower and the isolated Asian dictatorship but U.S. fans and players said the Olympic spirit transcended politics. One American player said the teams played ping-pong together at their hotel ahead of the match, conjuring scenes from the 1970s when so-called "ping-pong diplomacy" marked a thaw in U.S.-Chinese relations. "We were in the same hotel as them and the girls were great... ... Full Story Top Quebec premier set to call election for September 4: CBC Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:24 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Quebec Premier Jean Charest intends to call a provincial election on Wednesday, with voters going to the polls on September 4, the French arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Radio Canada, said on Tuesday. The election will pit Charest's Liberals against the Parti Quebecois, which is running neck-and-neck in public support and which seeks independence for the French-speaking Canadian province. ... Full Story Top Romney stumbles on world stage but will it hit him at home? Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:16 PM PDT Reuters - (Note: explicit language in the seventh paragraph) WARSAW (Reuters) - Mitt Romney upset Londoners, Palestinians and U.S. journalists on his ill-fated tour abroad, but with voters focused on the economy at home it is unclear whether the Republican presidential challenger's fumbles will have a lasting effect on the November 6 election. Romney is facing doubts about whether he can handle himself on the world stage as he tries to replace President Barack Obama. ... Full Story Top Qatar eyes major global sporting role Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:14 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - With its lavish Olympic headquarters next to the iconic Savoy hotel in one of London's poshest districts, Qatar is putting its money where its mouth in a bid to join the world's leading sporting nations. The tiny oil and gas-rich Gulf state has for the duration of the Games converted an engineering institute on a bank of the River Thames into an adobe-walled traditional Qatari home, complete with wrought-iron Arab lamps and plush furniture. ... Full Story Top Online poker companies settle with U.S., two to combine Tue,31 Jul 2012 02:01 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - U.S. authorities settled a massive fraud complaint against the world's most popular online poker company on Tuesday and allowed it to take control of a rival brand, setting the stage for the company to re-enter the burgeoning U.S. market. Isle of Man-based PokerStars agreed to forfeit $731 million, including $547 million that could be used to reimburse U.S. customers of the rival, Full Tilt Poker. Full Tilt also agreed to settle and will cease independent operations. ... Full Story Top Senate panel passes bill to block EU airline law Tue,31 Jul 2012 01:51 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee passed a bill on Tuesday authorizing the transportation secretary to bar U.S. airlines from complying with a European Union law that would require them to pay for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe. The measure approved by the Senate Commerce Committee will be sent to the full Senate for a vote. The 19-member panel voted to approve an updated version of a bipartisan bill authored by Republican Senator John Thune and Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. ... Full Story Top Massachusetts to vote on healthcare cost-control bill Tue,31 Jul 2012 01:50 PM PDT Reuters - BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts lawmakers on Tuesday are expected to vote on a sweeping bill aimed at containing the growth of healthcare costs and supporting the state's 2006 health reforms, which became a national blueprint. The 350-page bill, which has broad support from businesses and the healthcare industry, is being debated on the final day of the legislature's formal session, and if passed would go to Governor Deval Patrick for approval. ... Full Story Top Unease, anger as Chinese swimmer fights doping doubts Tue,31 Jul 2012 01:25 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Chinese swimming sensation Ye Shiwen should be basking in the glow of Olympic glory - aged just 16 she has a world record, a Games record and two gold medals. Instead, she has been forced to fend off questions and insinuations of cheating in a doping row that has no solid basis in fact, yet threatens to overshadow the early stages of the Games and a thrilling few days in the pool. Privately, her 396-strong team and the big Chinese media contingent at the Olympic Park in east London are furious. ... Full Story Top

You received this email because you subscribed to Yahoo! Alerts. Use this link to unsubscribe from this alert. To change your communications preferences for other Yahoo! business lines, please visit your Marketing Preferences. To learn more about Yahoo!'s use of personal information, including the use of web beacons in HTML-based email, please read our Privacy Policy. Yahoo! is located at 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089.