The latest news on Hurricane Gustav, Republican convention, Sarah Palin, St. Paul protest, Poverty, Immigration, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Canada, Japan, Cuba, and Zimbabwe.

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Hurricane Gustav. Gustav hits, but New Orleans escapes worst "A weakened Hurricane Gustav blew into southern Louisiana Monday morning as a less-fearsome Category 2 storm, bearing 110 mile-per-hour winds that cracked tree branches, knocked out power to a million homes and triggered localized flooding, but apparently spared the vulnerable New Orleans levee system. Downgraded Hurricane Gustav Largely Misses City"But before making landfall, it was downgraded from a Category 3 hurricane to Category 2 when its winds slowed to 110 miles per hour, from 115 m.p.h., and state officials said they believed that their worst fears had not been realized." New Orleans Levees Tested As Gustav Lashes Gulf Coast "Hurricane Gustav smashed into Louisiana's Gulf Coast on Monday, unleashing torrential rains and 110-mph winds that sent waves of water splashing over this city's levees. But early indications were that the weakened storm caused far less damage than feared."

Republican convention. Lifting Spirits At Center Stage "Laura Bush reprised her role as official spirits-booster Monday, taking the stage at a convention stripped of almost any pomp in an effort to convey to Republican delegates -- and the nation -- that things will be okay." Bush to address McCain's GOP convention in a satellite address from the White House "Republicans swung their convention back on a political track Tuesday after a pause for Hurricane Gustav, giving President Bush a brief prime-time speaking slot to promote John McCain's candidacy for the White House. Former Democrat Joe Lieberman and TV star and former Sen. Fred Thompson also got speaking roles." Hurricane, Palin Roil the Start of GOP Convention "Republicans plan on resuming their long-planned national convention schedule Tuesday, a day after their opening events were curtailed because of Hurricane Gustav and roiled by their presumptive vice president's announcement that her 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant." GOP delegates adopt platform that goes further than McCain in opposing abortion rights "Republicans rebuffed their certain nominee Monday by endorsing a platform that goes further than John McCain in opposition to abortion rights."

Sarah Palin. With Palin revelations, McCain's gamble is clearer "Only four days ago, the nation's voters were asked to accept John McCain's assurances that Sarah Palin, known to only a tiny portion of the public and barely to McCain himself, was fully suited to be vice president. But now the magnitude of McCain's gamble is becoming clear." How thoroughly did McCain's campaign vet Palin? "McCain advisers said the presumptive vice presidential candidate was thoroughly vetted, but in Alaska there's little evidence of that." Conservative Ire Pushed McCain From Lieberman "But by the end of last weekend, the outrage from Christian conservatives over the possibility that Mr. McCain would fill out the Republican ticket with Mr. Lieberman, a supporter of abortion rights, had become too intense to be ignored."

St. Paul Protest. AP photographer, Democracy Now! host arrested "An Associated Press photographer and a Democracy Now! TV and radio show host were among those arrested at an anti-war march on the first day of the Republican National Convention. Both were released hours later." Boston father helps lead antiwar protest at RNC "The father of a Boston Marine killed in Iraq led thousands of antiwar protesters today in a boisterous but largely peaceful demonstration outside the Republican National Convention, while riot police and National Guardsmen clashed separately with a collection of small fringe groups who smashed windows and damaged public property."

Poverty. Hard Times Hitting Students and Schools in Double Blow "With mortgage foreclosures throwing hundreds of families out of their homes here each month, dismayed school officials say they are feeling the upheaval: record numbers of students turning up for classes this fall are homeless or poor enough to qualify for free meals." As Auto Jobs Vanish, Rust Spreads in Mich. "Nancy Paul doesn't need a Census Bureau report to know poverty is rising in Michigan. She sees it in the moms and children who show up at her small nonprofit agency seeking free back-to-school clothes." Bipartisan Calls for New Federal Poverty Measure "Congressional lawmakers and officials of some cities are increasingly calling for an overhaul in the way the federal government measures poverty, arguing that the current definition fails to reflect fully the hardships or resources available to struggling Americans."

Immigration. Immigrant raid divides a Mississippi town "The raid at Howard Industries, a manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment, was the largest of its kind in many years, and it exposed some of the rawest emotions that fuel the illegal immigration debate." Raid's Outcome May Signal a Retreat In Immigration Strategy, Critics Say "The federal government's handling of a massive immigration raid at a Mississippi manufacturing plant last week has led critics to suggest that the Bush administration is backpedaling from its aggressive use of criminal charges and fast-tracked trials against illegal immigrants caught at workplaces."

Iraq. Iraqi forces take over control of Anbar province, former center stage of Sunni insurgency "American forces handed over security responsibility to the Iraqis in a province that the U.S. once feared was lost - a sign of the stunning reversal of fortunes since local Sunnis turned against al-Qaida in Iraq." Uncertainty After Anbar Handover "The U.S. military handed the Iraqi government control of security in Anbar province, the former Sunni insurgency stronghold that is now one of the safest areas in the country." Iraq army still needs U.S. support, commanders say "Iraqi commanders do not want U.S. forces telling them what to do, but both sides say Iraq still needs the U.S. to provide military backup." Maliki's growing defiance of U.S. worries allies and critics "U.S. officials in Baghdad worry that success has gone to Maliki's head. They fear that his tough bargaining on a long-term security agreement with the United States is a sign that Maliki thinks he can move ahead on his own."

Russia. European Leaders Agree on New Warning to Russia "The leaders of the European Union, having repeatedly warned Moscow in vain to abide by the six-point cease-fire agreement negotiated by France to end the fighting with Georgia, gathered here on Monday in an emergency meeting and after several hours of talks decided to warn Moscow again." Russia exploits a limp EU summit "European Union countries agreed yesterday to send Georgia one of the kinds of help it most wants: hundreds of observers to monitor Russia's compliance with the supposed ceasefire around the two disputed provinces."

Pakistan. Al Qaida has free movement in Pakistan, top official concedes "Pakistan's top security official Monday admitted that al Qaida's leadership moved freely in and out of the country and vowed that "no mercy" would be shown to extremists based in its tribal territory that borders Afghanistan."

Canada. Canadians heading to the polls: Dion "Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says Prime Minister Stephen Harper will call a federal election because he has refused to give Mr. Harper a blank cheque to govern." Harper Tories within reach of majority, poll finds "The Harper Conservatives will enter a federal election campaign with a polling lead that puts them within striking distance of winning a majority government, according to a new survey taken on the eve of an expected vote."

Japan. Japanese PM in shock resignation "Japan was in political turmoil last night after the sudden and puzzling resignation of the Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, after a year of parliamentary deadlock and failed attempts to invigorate the economy."

Cuba. Russia-Cuba ties worry U.S. "Amid rising tensions over Georgia, U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that Russia is moving to rebuild one of the most dangerous features of the old Soviet Union's security structure -- its alliance with Cuba."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Lifts Ban on Aid Groups, but Its Effects Linger"Zimbabwelifted an almost three-month-old ban on the work of aid groups on Friday. The government had imposed the ban because it claimed some of the groups had been backing the opposition during a bitter election season in which President Robert Mugabe was fighting for his political survival."