The latest news on the Republican Convention, Sarah Palin, Churches & IRS, Hurricane Gustav, Poverty, Global Warming, Coca in the Andes, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Thailand, India-Nuclear, and India-Anti-Christian Violence.

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Republican convention. McCain Praised as His Own Man "Republicans began laying out a vigorous argument Tuesday for electing John McCain to the presidency, using the second day of their national convention here to portray the senator from Arizona as an independent-minded leader who would put the best interests of the nation before those of his party." Republican convention speakers laud McCain record "Republicans shifted forcefully back to politics Tuesday on a convention night that drew sharp contrast between John McCain's military service and maverick traits and a Democratic opponent who they said would bring only inexperience and flowery rhetoric to the White House." Bush and Lieberman Praise McCain "President Bush proclaimed Senator John McCain "ready to lead this nation" in a farewell speech to the Republican convention here on Tuesday night."

Sarah Palin. The heat is on as Palin steps into the spotlight "Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech before the Republican National Convention Wednesday night - or on Thursday, if the schedule changes again - will be a critical moment for a newcomer to national politics who is unknown to most of the country.' Palin faces a cultural crucible 'She's hunted moose at midnight without batting an eyelash, but Sarah Palin now finds herself up against the biggest beast of all: cultural expectations for women.'

Churches & IRS. Pastors' Web Electioneering Attracts U.S. Reviews of Tax Exemptions "Even as the increasing Web fluency of religious organizations has flung their doors wide to a new world of potential followers, it has also opened the gates for all to see what may have been intended only for the faithful in the pews. Now, I.R.S. investigators, as well as groups that monitor churches' political activity, can do much of their work with a simple Google search, or a surfing of YouTube posts."

Hurricane Gustav. La. Officials Tell Evacuees It's Too Early to Return Home "Even though Hurricane Gustav did not wreak the destruction expected when it struck the Gulf Coast on Monday, officials said Tuesday that they were not ready to allow many of the 1.9 million Louisiana residents who had evacuated to return to their homes." Evacuees going home, keeping eyes on new storms "Lessie Gary and her extended family were packing up their cars at an east Houston hotel on Tuesday morning and heading back to Lake Charles, La. But once home, Gary says she may not unpack."

Poverty. Poverty extends to outskirts "Although the rest of central Ohio might consider Delaware County -- population 161,000, with its booming growth and large-tract homes -- an affluent place, not all of its residents are prosperous ..."

Global warming. Major ice-shelf loss for Canada "The floating tongues of ice attached to Ellesmere Island, which have lasted for thousands of years, have seen almost a quarter of their cover break away."

Coca in the Andes. Despite U.S. Aid, Coca Cultivation On Rise in Andes "Across the Andean region, the size of the coca crop has increased 18 percent in the past five years, a period during which the United States has spent $4 billion on anti-drug programs."

Afghanistan. Would 'mini-surge' tame Afghanistan? "Masjidi and other Afghans are looking for someone to re-establish law and order in their country, where Taliban-led insurgents have gained increasingly more power and now threaten provinces near Kabul, the capital. For American military officials and both U.S. presidential candidates, the answer is more troops - a "mini-surge" of about 10,000 personnel."

Syria. French leader begins Syria visit "French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Syria's capital Damascus on a visit that is part of efforts to improve ties between the two countries." Report: Israel, Syria to discuss border in next round of talks" French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Syria on Wednesday on a visit that will boost Damascus's efforts to rejoin the international fold and put the onus on it to cooperate further on Lebanon." Sarkozy and Rice to meet former pariahs"Sarkozy is meeting President Bashar al-Assad today in the first official visit by a western leader to Syria for more than three years. And on Friday Rice will become the first US secretary of state to travel to Libya in more than half a century."

Iran. In Iran, women's rights activists score victory on marriage legislation "Female activists in Iran scored a rare but significant victory this week when parliament decided to shelve legislation that they said would have reduced the rights of women in marriage. But on Tuesday, a court sentenced four of their leaders to prison."

North Korea. N Korea 'rebuilds nuclear plant' "North Korea has begun reassembling a nuclear plant, reversing steps taken under an international deal to end its nuclear programme, South Korea says." South Korea says North Korea has started work to restore its nuclear facilities "South Korea said Wednesday that North Korea has started work to restore its nuclear facilities after the communist country suspended operations last week to disable them."

Thailand. Thai Leader Appears Isolated "Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej appeared increasingly isolated Wednesday as thousands of protesters kept him from entering his office for the eighth day and the army declined to enforce his emergency decree or even to state its support for him."

India-nuclear. In Secret Letter, Tough U.S. Line on India Nuclear Deal "The United States will not sell sensitive nuclear technologies to India and would immediately terminate nuclear trade if New Delhi conducted a nuclear test, the Bush administration told Congress in correspondence that has remained secret for nine months."

India-anti-Christian violence. India's supreme court orders report into anti-Christian violence "India's supreme court today ordered the state government in Orissa, on India's eastern flank, to detail the efforts it has made to stop a wave of anti-Christian violence that has claimed 16 lives."