The latest news on Iraq-Congress, Economy, Food, Iraq-Congress, Economy, Olympics-China, Papal visit, Food, MDGs, Israel- Peace Now, Darfur, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nuclear weapons, and Ecuador-environment.

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Iraq-Congress. A Plea From Petraeus "Army Gen. David H. Petraeus returned to Congress yesterday seeking more time to consolidate security gains in Iraq by halting withdrawals of U.S. forces this summer," Petraeus Urges Halt in Weighing New Cut in Force "Telling Congress that progress in Iraq was "fragile and reversible," the top American commander recommended that consideration of any new withdrawals of American troops be delayed until the fall," Petraeus, Democrats square off "Spurning appeals for continued U.S. troop withdrawals, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq ran headlong into a central dispute of the war during a daylong session before Congress: whether deeper cuts would force the Iraqi government to finally take charge or lead it to collapse." Gen. Petraeus answers his next boss "Long-awaited congressional hearings unfolded on the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq with a palpable sense that the debate has moved beyond President Bush."

Economy. Poor get poorer as recession threat looms "The gap between rich and poor in many states has broadened at a quickening pace since the last U.S. recession, which could make it difficult for low-income families to weather the current economic downturn," Job Losses Bolster Calls for Extension of Benefits"Job losses in the national economy combined with a surge in new claims for unemployment insurance are giving a boost to proposals … to extend unemployment benefits beyond their usual limit of 26 weeks." IMF: US financial shock 'largest since Great Depression' "America's mortgage crisis has spiralled into "the largest financial shock since the Great Depression" and there is now a one-in-four chance of a full-blown global recession over the next 12 months, the International Monetary Fund warned today."

Olympics-China. "On San Francisco braces for Olympic torch run today "On the eve of the Olympic torch's route through a gantlet of protesters here, Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa led 3,000 people in United Nations Plaza in a chant of "Don't go, free Tibet!" San Francisco set for torch relay "Hundreds of pro-Tibet protesters have marched in San Francisco, as the city prepares to host the next leg of the international Olympic torch relay."

Papal visit. Vatican: Pope Will Speak on Abuse Crisis "Pope Benedict XVI recognizes the damage and pain caused by the clergy sex abuse crisis and will seek to heal wounds during his U.S. trip next week,"

Food. Food price rises threaten global security "Rising food prices could spark worldwide unrest and threaten political stability, the UN's top humanitarian official warned after two days of rioting in Egypt over the doubling of prices of basic foods in a year and protests in other parts of the world." Food riots grip Haiti "United Nations peacekeepers fired rubber bullets and used tear gas to control mobs rioting over rising food prices in Haiti."

MDGs. EU urges members to meet Millennium aid pledges "European Union states must meet pledges to boost aid to poor countries, the EU executive said on Wednesday, warning that missing U.N. goals would be a disaster for developing nations and threaten global stability."

Israel- Peace Now. Peace Now Marks Bittersweet 30th "In the square where Yitzhak Rabin was slain, Peace Now marked a bittersweet milestone Tuesday: Over the past 30 years, it has helped push the Israeli mainstream to embrace Palestinian statehood. But peace remains elusive."

Darfur .UN's Ban, U.S. push to add Darfur peacekeepers-and soon "Eight months after the United Nations Security Council authorized sending a peacekeeping force to Darfur, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon is warning that security and humanitarian conditions in the violence-torn western province of Sudan are going from bad to worse."

Kenya. Unrest in Kenya as Peace Plan Falters "Riots erupted in Kenya as opposition leaders announced that they were suspending talks with the government over a stalled power sharing agreement."

Zimbabwe. Accounts of Violence Spread in Zimbabwe "Ten days after Zimbabwe voted and by most accounts rejected its long-serving, autocratic president, Robert Mugabe, the mood of the country grew more ominous." Opposition Says Mugabe Is Resorting to Violence "Opposition officials accused President Robert Mugabe of deploying ruling party supporters to beat and intimidate opponents as his government prepared for a second and decisive round of voting in the presidential election."

Nuclear weapons. U.S. gets mixed news on nukes "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received mixed news yesterday on nuclear proliferation: a tentative agreement with North Korea that could break an impasse in negotiations and an Iranian claim that the country was expanding its nuclear capabilities."

Ecuador-environment. $16 billion environmental lawsuit tests Chevron "The case filed by Ecuadorean indigenous groups is one of the largest environmental suits against an oil firm and could set a precedent. Chevron dismisses it as a 'charade.'