24 August: China jails human rights campaigner for four years, then sentences New York Times researcher to three years, for "fraud"; sentences are part of what appear to be wider campaign against rights groups... 1 August: Cuban pres. Fidel Castro temporarily handed over presidential, military and Communist party powers to his brother, Raúl, while he underwent surgery for intestinal bleeding, yesterday... US senators increase push to eliminate all manufacture of anti-personnel or victim-activated landmines in US...

31 August: Report by federal Information Security Oversight Office says "the total cost for protecting government secrets last year was $9.2 billion", a significant increase in the cost of maintaining classified information, and a figure which does not include the secret and undisclosed amount spent by the CIA on secrecy... Israel refuses Annan demand to end blockade of Lebanon, withdraw forces when 5,000 UN troops deploy along border... US pres. George Bush, pushing his own Iraq policy in political campaign for Congressional elections, says Iraq fighting now comparable at times to Omaha Beach, Normandy invasion in WWII...

30 August: NYT reports 50% drop in female clerks at US Supreme Court, after two conservative male justices join Court; there is concern the trend forbodes decline in opportunity across profession which may follow suit; two justices consulted, who do hire female clerks, say it could be random drop in applications for one term... More than 60 people reported killed in bombings, attacks across Iraq; debate continues as to whether conflict is full-blown "civil war"... Iran pres. Ahmedinejad says he wants live televised debate with US pres. Bush, on issues of global politics, economics and democracy; Ahmedinejad is quoted saying "Isn't it time that international relations were founded on democracy and equal rights of the nations?"... Nicholas Lee Jacobsen, a 23-year-old hacker, has been sentenced to one year of house arrest and $10,000 in restitution; in 2004, Jacobsen gained access to personal information of hundreds of T-mobile customers, including one US Secret Service agent...

29 August: UN chief Kofi Annan has demanded Hezbollah releaase two Israeli soldiers to the International Red Cross; as part of his 11-day effort to secure the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, he has urged both sides to fully comply with ceasefire terms, saying Israel, Hezbollah cannot "choose and pick" what elements of the peace they implement... Mexico's federal electoral tribunal, the last word on election outcomes, has ruled that irregularities in the presidential balloting were "isolated" and that Felipe Calderón did in fact maintain a narrow lead after a partial recount; the decision does not officially certify Calderón as winner, and the tribunal must still vote on the election's official outcome; López Obrador, currently 2nd in official count, by 0.6%, says decision is attempt to "support the delinquents who have stolen our presidential election", and went on to say "constitutional order is broken" and that Calderón is "un usurpador que pretende ocupar la Presidencia de la República con un golpe de Estado"... 3 weeks after announcing initiative to combat kleptocracy, Pres. Bush to welcome autocratic Kazakh ruler, Pres. Nursultan Nazarbayev, to White House; US prosecutors accuse the leader of one of Asia's most antidemocratic regimes "of pocketing the bulk of $78 million in bribes from an American businessman"; Nazarbayev is also scheduled to visit the private Bush family "compound" along the coast of Maine; Wash. Post reports "Nazarbayev has banned opposition parties, intimidated the press and profited from his post, according to the U.S. government", adding "In April, the president welcomed to the Oval Office the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, who has been accused of rigging elections"... Alleged, reportedly confessed killer of JonBenet Ramsey, cleared by DNA testing; family reportedly says he needs help, confusion surrounds reports of Karr's confessed invovlement in "accidental" death of murdered 6-year-old, 10 years ago...

28 August: Fmr US VP Al Gore, campaigning for reform on global climate change policy, says Scotland's push for renewable resources helps the UK to be "one of the only countries that's exceeding its requirement", though many criticize the UK for lax regulation of automotive exhaust, industry... New Scientist reports science, poetry engage in projects more similar than commonly thought; projects take similar approach to contemplating, uncovering, relaying information about nature of universe, human experience...

27 August: Man in New York state jailed for distributing content from Al-Manar television, linked to Hezbollah, because Al-Manar was listed earlier this year by the US gov't as a "global terrorist entity"; NYCLU says detention is unconstitutional constraint on press freedom, vows to defend imprisoned man... Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, has told press had he known the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers would lead to such a destructive war, "we would definitely not have done it"... In Gaza, a vehicle reportedly marked as media and carrying a Reuters journalist and a local journalist was hit by an Israeli shell; Israel has apologized, but claims the vehicle was not clearly marked... Israeli military reservists, angered by what they call "shortcomings" and poor planning in execution of Lebanon war are demanding resignations of PM Olmert, Def. Min. Peretz, and top military official, Gen. Halutz...

26 August: Venezuela's Hugo Chávez says China backs bid to join UN Security Council, as five of ten rotating seats open up in October; US opposes Venezuela's membership, backs Guatemala for "Latin America seat"; five positions to be decided by secret ballot in UN General Assembly... Study of temperatures, climate across Europe reports "conclusive proof" spring now arrives 6 to 8 days earlier than 30 years ago; nations with larger increases in average temperature, like Spain, saw the most significant acceleration in arrival of spring...

25 August: Apple to recall 1.8 million Sony-made laptop batteries, due to tendency to overheat, isolated reports of minor burns, fires; Apple says recall will not damage earnings, consumer safety primary... Russia has said it will not support a proposal by the US and UK to push economic sanctions against Iran through the UNSC...

24 August: China jails human rights campaigner for four years, then sentences New York Times researcher to three years, for "fraud"; sentences are part of what appear to be wider campaign against rights groups, individuals seeking to use litigation to expose corruption, abuses of power, win new individual liberties for Chinese citizens... Scientists have voted to "demote" the Pluto from planet status to "dwarf planet" status, but astronomers say it does not have a profound effect on study of the universe... Scientists say ozone layer over Scotland is thinnest in 10 years, raising concerns over skin cancer rates; banning of CFC's helped reduce thinning of ozone layer, but new study shows climate change is altering composition of upper atmosphere, continuing to thin the crucial protective barrier against UV rays... Water shortages are increasingly affecting wealthy nations, as "climate change, drought and loss of wetlands" accelerate growing global crisis in water distribution...

23 August: HRW calls on Chinese central gov't to put immediate halt to campaign of intimidation, detention against lawyers, cites "recent spate of harassment, detentions, and physical attacks on human rights lawyers"; group urges China's gov't to intervene, "uphold the law and stop this blatantly illegal persecution"; rights campaigners face sentencing for "fraud" or for "criminal activities" when bringing corruption or abuse of power charges against officials... "Reclusive" Russian mathematician refuses Fields medal, often described as "math's Nobel prize", saying he doesn't want to be seen as "figurehead" of community he feels disconnected from... More than half of Americans polled view Iraq war as distinct from struggle against terrorism, say Iraq policy has distracted attention from other priorities... HRW is calling on gov't of Guinea to investigate, prosecute cases of torture, brutality by gov't police, agents... Leader of farmers collective action group, pushing for agricultural reforms across Philippines, gunned down; Pres. Arroyo has called for a broad investigation into extrajudicial killings with apparent political motivations...

22 August: Two men allegedly responsible for leadership of Sunni-linked "death squads" in Iraq's current tide of inter-ethnic violence have been detained in Baghdad; an estimated 100 people per day are killed by rash of post-war violence in Iraq... Iran offers to enter "serious negotiations" about its nuclear program but refuses to halt uranium enrichment, as demanded by the UN; US amb. to UN, John Bolton, has said if Iran does not halt enrichment, US will introduce resolution calling for economic sanctions against Iran... Italy calls for urgent meeting of EU ministers as it prepares to send forces to UN peacekeeping force for southern Lebanon... NYT reports war continues in south Lebanon, as Israel army clashes with Hezbollah guerrillas, Lebanese military attempts to impose security but fails to adequately police more heavily-armed Hezbollah... Half of the working population in Spain says it is not possible at present to reconcile working life and family life; more than 50% of salaried employees say they cannot get free time to spend with family... Study shows bacterium thought responsible for bubonic plague more dangerous, more contagious in years with warmer springs, wetter summers, implying climate change could increase plague risk to human populations... Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) visits father's hometown in western Kenya, seen as icon there for political fortunes, sign of "good governance" in "African" politician, role-model and proud "favorite son", though locals want visit to stir more long-term, lasting development initiatives... UK authorities say of evidence discovered relating to liquid-explosives bomb plot "The scale is immense. Inquiries will span the globe"; reports suggest UK's muslim community skeptical, due to previous incidents where suspects were shot, evidence claimed, later alleged plots turned out to be false alarms...

21 August: US pres. Bush said a multinational peacekeeping force is urgently needed to secure south of Lebanon, help rebuild, prevent further flare-ups between Israeli military, Hezbollah; he also announced the US will pledge at least $230 million to the effort to rebuild the country ravaged by 33 days of aerial bombardment; UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen warned "This can easily start sliding again and lead us quickly into the abyss of violence and bloodshed"... CNN reporter relays unsubstantiated Bush reference of indirect link between foiled UK terror plot, warrantless surveillance of US citizens; MediaMatters criticizes report for "uncritical" reference to president's claim...

20 August: Lebanon's defense minister has threatened to halt the deployment of troops to security zone in south after Israel executes commando raid deep inside Lebanon; Kofi Annan says Israeli commando raid violated terms of ceasefire, expressed serious concern about threat to peace; Israel PM says raid was necessary to halt new shipments of arms to Hezbollah... Scientific community takes strong positions on either side of argument regarding link between intensifying hurricanes, climate change; some say link is physically apparent, but difficult to prove due to normal climate cycles... Proposal to use automated blimps in strategic flight positions to carry cellular signals and promote wireless communications gains interest; a test of tethered versions of the vehicle is in preparation, and plans include airships that could reach 65,000 feet in altitude and stay aloft for up to 18 months at a time...

19 August: Israel launches commando raid "deep" inside Lebanese territory, move Lebanon, Hezbollah say violates terms of UNSC-mandated ceasefire; Israel says raid intended to interrupt shipment of arms to militia group... Touchscreen voting machines, to be deployed statewide in Maryland for first time in Sept. primary raise question of whether election can be free and fair; Republican governor Robert Ehrlich now questions whether they can provide security needed or whether they will pose new risks to ballot integrity... Marine officer commanding unit accused in Haditha killings last November says he "had no reason to suspect" actions were anything other than routine combat, and so chose not to investigate nature of deaths...

18 August: Scientists report unusual astronomical phenomenon in "Quintuplet" cluster near Milky Way's core; five characteristic "red giants" now thought to be massive binary star systems swirling "red dust" into space around them; dust emerging from binary stars' winds crashing together explains strangely uniform light readings from red mass thought to be giant stars... World's largest privately-owned copper mine, Escondida, in Chile, closes, as 12th day of strike grinds operations to halt; Escondida produces 8% of world's copper, so closure has caused prices to jump still higher... Chinese medical professor has reported childhood obesity jumped 28-fold in China between 1985 and 2000, warning of looming health crisis; BBC reports one-fifth of all the world's overweight and obese people live in China... Worst drought in 50 years has struck southwestern China, affecting some 18 million people; Xinhua state news agency reporting no rain for 70 days and two-thirds of rivers in Chongqing region now dry... Tests neative on two "containers" seized from female passenger in Huntington, WV, after sensors reportedly detected traces of explosives: no explosives found, woman released, cleared to fly, FBI to run further tests to determine source of equipment error... Said to be suffering from severe mental illness, unruly passenger whose behavior brought about flight's diversion by fighter jets, appears in federal court to face charges of disobeying flight crew; lawyer says "she is capable of speech", son says she had a "bad time" on flight...

17 August: US federal judge rules NSA warrantless wiretap program unconstitutional, saying president has "no powers not created by the Constitution"... Palestinian pres. Mahmoud Abbas says he has reached agreement with militant factions to embrace "calm", halting rocket attacks against Israel; suspension of attacks seen as conditioned on Israel's military scaling back or halting offensive against Palestinians in Gaza... Hamas has presented Abbas, leader of rival party Fatah, with terms for prospective unity gov't, in hopes of prolonging term in prime-ministership, overcoming hardships brought by standoff with Israel since Hamas took power... Suspect detained in Thailand in connection with Jon-Benet Ramsey murder 10 years ago has reportedly told press the 6-year-old "died accidentally", that he "loved her", even suggesting he was not innocent, but would offer no further comment... Lebanese military, in conjunction with UNIFIL, moves into territory formerly controlled by Hezbollah; reports suggest deal reached between Lebanese gov't, Hezbollah that militia will retain weapons, but not exhibit them... Free web video service YouTube plan to offer free music video downloads potential threat to market dominance of Apple's iTunes for paid content, and ISP content mongers like AOL...

16 August: Union of Islamic Courts has taken control of another port city in Somalia, consolidating its hold on central coastal territory, expanding its control of security in the country... Commercial jet with 182 passengers, 12 crew, escorted into Boston airport by fighter jets, after woman suffering claustrophobia became "unruly"; no terrorist threat involved, according to reports... Russian forces kill Japanese fisherman while seizing fishing vessel overtaken in waters disputed between the two nations; Japanese officials have officially complained to Russia about the killing... US, France, UN, Lebanon all refuse to assume role of disarming Hezbollah militarily, despite UNSC resolution 1701 requiring group to lay down weapons... UN has criticizes US policies for HIV/AIDS efforts in Africa, saying demand that cash be directed toward "abstinence" programs is "incipient neo-colonialism" and his costing lives; UN envoy says aid money must be spent where and how it can do the most to save lives... Fmr US pres. Bill Clinton says Sen. Joe Lieberman lost primary not to radical left, but because "there were almost no Democrats who agreed with his position, which was, 'I want to attack Iraq whether or not they have weapons of mass destruction'"...

15 August: 51 governors of US states and territories have signed letter of protest demanding Congress remove language from Defense bill that would give president sole authority over National Guard troops in case of natural disaster or national emergency; governors say move is unprecedented seizure of traditional state power by federal gov't... Israel prepares to hand over some positions in south Lebanon to UN peacekeepers already in region, as ceasefire moves through second day, appears to hold... Rev. Jesse Jackson has moved to influence leaders in Middle East to bring about a prisoner exchange, in order to win release of two Israeli soldiers held by Hezbollah at unknown location; Jackson reportedly spoke with ambassadors from Israel, Syria, says he received positive responses, hopes such exchange would be good-will gesture that could strengthen fragile peace; Jackson has had success as go-between, "has brought Americans home from Syria, Cuba, Iraq and Yugoslavia"... Influential Iranian cleric, who has expressed unwavering support for Hezbollah in conflict with Israel, says Iran will strike Tel Aviv if it is attacked by US or Israel... Intense blanket restrictions for passengers traveling through UK airports, which caused distress among airlines, travelers, raised criticisms of arbitrary measures, have led to talk of UK using "profiling" to target certain passengers and reduce wait times, hassle to individuals; Met police official says racial bias is not sound profiling, will not be used...

14 August: UK's largest airline, low-budget Irish carrier Ryanair, publishes open letter, urging UK gov't to ease security restrictions it classifies as "heavy handed" and unnecessary, saying excessive restrictions hand terrorists "success", target innocent travelers, families, small children, cost airlines millions... UK lowers general threat level to "severe", easing chaos at airport check-ins, allowing portable computers, books, carry-on bags again... Brazilian PCC (First Command of the Capital) gang releases TV crime reporter unharmed, 40 hours after he was taken hostage; gang's renewed attacks against authorities in São Paulo are reportedly part of armed campaign to undermine prison system until it is comprehensively reformed, "humiliations and beatings" eliminated, punished... CSM journalist Jill Carroll, held hostage for 82 days by Iraqi insurgents, tells her story first-hand in 1st of 11-part series; Carroll details intense fear she felt, even as captors treated her humanely, "seemed concerned that I think they were good", saying every moment was like a test that could end in her death, confessing she begged to be killed by gun, fearing a propaganda video in which she might be killed by machete... Long criticized by privacy advocates, tech experts, MPs, US Congress, as excessive, insecure, UK biometric ID-card scheme, plans to share private biometric information with foreign gov'ts; "Clause 19" of governing law allows personal biological information to be shared without individual's consent, "Clause 20" allows information to be passed to foreign gov'ts...

13 August: Reports conflicting as to whether Israel campaign will end Monday: Annan says Olmert, Saniora have agreed fighting will end by 5pm Monday, Israel FM Tzipy Livni "said she expected it to end on Monday" but Maj. Gen. Dan Halutz, is cited as saying the campaign will continue for another week, apparently despite the ceasefire resolution; Hezbollah has said it will abide by the terms of the UN ceasefire order, but that it reserves the right to resist any Israeli incursion into Lebanese territory... Israel's cabinet has approved the UN cease-fire plan, and agreed it will halt all military attacks at 8am Monday morning, but the estimated 30,000 Israeli troops now in south Lebanon will not withdraw until the Lebanese army deploys to ensure a "Hezbollah-free zone" between the Israeli border and the Litani river, some 18 miles inside Lebanon... HRW urges US to reject any request by Israel for shipment of M26 projectiles, which act as "cluster" bombs, spraying an area with submunitions, many of which detonate only later; letter of US National Security Adviser says "Harm to civilians is inevitable if Israel uses M26 rockets in Lebanon", that in 2003 "hundreds of civilians in Iraq" were wounded or killed by the devices" and that "Washington has a duty not to assist in replicating that death toll in southern Lebanon"... MediaMatters reports NBC "Today" show, NYT have continued to push idea perceived threat from foiled UK terror plot will help Republicans in November elections, despite 3 of 4 straight Wash. Post polls showing more Americans trust Democrats on the issue; reason for pushing the 'terror helps' position unclear...

12 August: UNSC has approved resolution 1701, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah, Israel and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, the liberation of two Israeli soldiers taken hostage and the establishment of a multinational force of 15,000 UN troops to secure the border territory in conjunction with 15,000 regular Lebanese army forces; the UN forces would also have as part of their mission the assistance in delivering humanitarian aid throughout affected areas of Lebanon; Israel has accepted the resolution, and will abide by the ceasefire, but only after two further days of its ongoing offensive against alleged Hezbollah targets in Lebanon; by Saturday, Israel had expanded its ground operations, moved 15 miles north of Israel-Lebanon border, again intensified airstrikes in apparent effort to achieve last-minute tactical victories against Hezbollah... New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, one of nation's top Democrats, has publicly urged Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), to abandon his independent bid to keep the seat has has held for 3 terms by running against his own party... CNN speculates Republicans will "use terrorism" in effort to win US Congressional elections in November, painting existing threats as a sign their party is more in touch; report cites ORC poll, saying "among voters concerned about terrorism, slightly more said they would vote for a Democrat (50 percent) rather than a Republican (45 percent) for Congress"...

11 August: More than 100 people are reported killed in China's worst typhoon in decades; hundreds of thousands evacuated areas likely to be affected before the storm made landfall... Despate major controversy relating to civil liberties, privacy concerns, opposition from members of Congress, US State Dept. to begin issuing RFID-embedded passports starting Monday, 14 August, despite concerns terrorists could use the radio signals to target gatherings of Americans, and as new tests show RFID passports can be "cloned", may subject bearer to heightened risk of identity theft, passport fraud... US court overturns ruling that would have granted retrial to five Cuban men convicted of spying for Castro gov't; Havana officials say men were carrying out surveillance on Cuban exiles in Miami believed to be plotting overthrow of Castro regime... Indian state Kerala bans sale and production of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, after a report said they contained harmful chemicals and posed a serious health risk to residents... "Automotive X-Prize" seeks to spur development of viable 100-mile-per-gallon automobile, with aim to "[r]adically reduce oil consumption and harmful emissions", create "new generation of super efficient and desirable mainstream vehicles that people want to buy"...

10 August: UK authorities announce discovery, disruption of alleged terror plot to destroy as many as 10 commercial airliners in flight from UK to US; 24 individuals have been taken into custody, accused of conspiracy in the plot to use liquid explosives smuggled in hand luggage; security enhancements related to foiled plot bar passengers from carrying anything on flights besides clear plastic bag containing passports, medicines, baby's milk... US authorities announce sweeping baggage restrictions, ban on all fluids in cabin, except baby formula or milk, or medicines, which will now need to be tested at security checkpoints...

9 August: Iraqi PM says US-Iraqi military raid on Sadr City section of Baghdad violated citizens' rights", declares such raids using aircraft to assault civilian neighborhoods in order to detain suspected militants "won't happen again"... AOL apologizes for release of personal search data of 658,000 customers, says in retrospect information should have been kept private; amid the 19,000,000 search requests published as part of an attempt to facilitate academic research into usage trends, there were reportedly search queries disclosing identifying personal information... Upstart candidate for Democratic Senate nomination Ned Lamont defeats 3 term incumbent Joe Lieberman in party primary, wins support of top Democrats, who say they support the choice of Connecticut voters, blame senator's position on Iraq war for loss... MediaMatters reports Washington Post ignored own poll results showing public trusts Democrats more than Republicans to handle "campaign against terrorism" and "the situation in Iraq"; poll showed 46% trust Democrats more while 38% trusted Republicans in the "campaign against terrorism", the discrepancy in reporting depsite the Post repeatedly citing security and terrorism as issues that benefit Republicans... Iowa farmer arrested, charged with "disorderly conduct" for flying flag upside down in protest, has received at least 4 death threats... US, France, other UN powers to begin revisions to draft resolution for Lebanon conflict, amid stern protests from Lebanon's gov't and Arab nations that the draft does not adequately address Lebanon's security interests...

8 August: Fmr Argentine police official sentenced to 25 years in prison for illegal detention, brutal torture of Argentine-Chilean couple, during the 1976-1983 "Dirty War", crime aggravated by kidnap for illegal adoption of their daughter, ruling landmark event in Argentine justice; HRW Americas director says "This sentence shows that democratic institutions can eventually overcome all the legal barriers erected to shield perpetrators of crimes against humanity"... Iran has banned its most prominent human rights organization, threatening to proseucte any member of the org. that attempts to operate in the country, alleging the Center for Defense of Human Rights, run by Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, failed to secure the appropriate permits to operate in Iran; move is seen as direct assault on freedom of Iranians to know about gov't abuses... New study, using mice, shows exposure to ultrasound during pregnancy could negatively impact fetal brain development; report finds "6% of the chemically tagged brain cells had not migrated normally in mice exposed to two 30-minute ultrasound sessions", suggests "It may be that the ultrasound waves somehow disrupt the connections formed between cells as they move into their proper location"... US pres. Bush, Sec. of State Rice speak to press, Bush says two resolutions to be worked through UNSC, one to call for immediate cessation of violence, 2nd to set up int'l peacekeeping force to secure border between Israel, Lebanon, possibly in collaboration with Lebanese military; Bush also said American policy is that Cuban citizens should be able to decide their own gov't in a post-Castro era... While supporting and pushing for two UN resolutions to end Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Bush rejected calls for Israel to immediately withdraw all forces from Lebanese territory and cease all offensive operations... Scientists in Iran have reportedly successfully cloned sheep, though they have yet to produce a clone that can survive more than a few minutes after birth...

7 August: Observer in Lebanon tells Spanish TVE news nearly all highways have been destroyed; UN continues pushing for "humanitarian corridors" by which aid groups could safely move supplies, food, medical treatment to victims of conflict, isolated in dangerous corners of Lebanon... Cuba's VP Carlos Lage has said Fidel Castro will "return to his duties" in a few weeks' time, once he has recovered from the surgery he reportedly underwent —details are not known— to stop intestinal bleeding... Massive flooding kills at least 110 in northern Pakistan; an estimated 150 people were standing on a bridge in city of Mardan, when it collapsed in the torrent, reports suggest 60% of Mardan was underwater... Opinion analyst says US public has become in part "independent of reality" in evaluating Iraq war justifications, half of those polled choosing to believe Iraq had WMD in 2003 as means of justifying otherwise inexplicable intervention... Lebanese cabinet decides to send 15,000 troops to secure border with Israel, once bombings and missile strikes end and Israeli troops withdraw... BP to cut oil supply from Prudhoe Bay oil field due to apparent pipeline corrosion; shut down removes 8% of US crude oil supply, pushing prices already at record levels to possible new highs; Forbes reports BP shut-down is severe enough it could last for several months, while 16 miles of Alaska pipeline is rebuilt... 30,000 soldiers deployed in and around Bogotá, Colombia, as leaders from more than 20 nations attend Pres. Álvaro Uribe's 2nd inauguration; police and army are reported to be in a state of "high alert", seeking to secure all major cities against any potential FARC action to interfere with beginning of second Uribe term...

6 August: UN draft resolution displeases Lebanon, by not calling for "immediate" halt to Israeli bombing, making ceasefire conditional on Hezbollah stopping attacks first; doubts remain about whether UN resolution, if passed, could be implemented if Israel opts to continue bombing... PAN party of Felipe Calderón, official leader in Mexico's presidential vote count, has accepted the nation's Electoral Commission's unanimous decision to order a partial recount of ballots cast: 11,839 of the 130,477 voting sites where irregularities were detected...

5 August: US agrees with France, Britain to push for cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah, Israel... Human Rights Watch calls on Hezbollah to immediately halt all rocket attacks on civilian centers in Israel, stating "Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime"... Intellectuals, businessmen, writers, scientists, and artists added their voices to calls for a full vote-by-vote recount of all ballots cast in Mexico's presidential election...

4 August: Cuban gov't announces it will defend against attempts by US to intervene in favor of democratic transition during health crisis of Fidel Castro; pro-reform lawyer, Cuban exile has urged Pres. Bush to lift embargo on Cubans returning to island en masse by boat to assist with transition... 12 Israelis killed in deadliest day for Israel during current conflict with Hezbollah; Human Rights Watch says Israeli Defense Forces' inquiry into the killing of dozens of civilians at Qana is inadequate, fails to address key questions of what information led IDF to label the building as "suspicious", was there any information that Hezbollah fighers were using the building at the time of the attack, why did IDF intel fail to learn of more than 60 civilians sheltering there, is prevailing policy that anyone remaining in area warned to evacuate is not civilian; report suggests independent int'l inquiry is only way to learn what really happened, apportion blame... Tom DeLay lost a court petition to have his name removed from a Texas congressional ballot; Republicans fear that due to his indictment and retirement from politics, his name on the ballot could shift votes to Democrats... New poll shows 3rd-term veteran Democratic senator Joe Lieberman's campaign losing ground to challenger Ned Lamont; ABC reports "Lamont, a political novice, had support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman, now in his third term, had support from 41 percent of voters"... British study warns of growing risk to public health as binge drinking affects 18.2% of adults across England; recently passed 24-hour drinking laws came into effect before the nation's first ever comprehensive study of alcohol habits, looming health risks... Democrats block Republican bill tying minimum wage increase to massive estate tax cuts; Republicans plan to use the issue against Democrats in fall elections; Sen. Minority Leader Reid said of measure "8,100 of the wealthy and well-off hit the jackpot, while millions of working families get $800 billion in [federal] debt"... Astronomers say massive planet, nearly half the star's size and 7 times the size of Jupiter, orbiting brown dwarf star Oph1622 could be a second star...

3 August: With no direct evidence of the state of Fidel Castro's health, speculation remains about the island's future; carnival celebrations in La Habana have been canceled, suggesting to some the situation is not entirely stable; two Arizona congressmen, one Democrat, one Republican, say US trade, travel embargo against Cuba makes it "least prepared of any Western democracy [...] to have any useful role" in any post-Castro transition period, saying further restrictions in recent years have hampered contact between US, dissidents in Cuba; Raúl Castro has still not addressed the nation since assuming control of the gov't in his brother's absence... Spanish television reports 900 Lebanese have been killed by Israeli bombardment in three weeks of attacks, "one-third of them children"; Hezbollah has increased the frequency of rocket attacks into Israel, threatening an assault on Tel Aviv; Israel struck 100 targets in Lebanon yesterday, sending as many as 8,000 soldiers across the border in raids to capture Hezbollah fighters; PM Olmert has said Israel will not cease till UN force large enough to contain Hezbollah is in place in Lebanon; threat to attack Tel Aviv was answered by Israeli claim it would destroy Lebanese infrastructure in response... Ukraine's pres. Viktor Yuschenko approves arch-rival Yanukovich as candidate for PM, saying he hopes it will allow the country to overcome years of political uncertainty... US generals tell Congress factional violence in Baghdad has spread throughout the country, could provoke full-blown civil war in Iraq...

2 August: Iraq pres. Jalal Talabani says Iraqi forces will be in charge of security for all regions by year's end; whether this equates to a phased or full withdrawal of US forces not clear... UN reports 110,000 barrel oil spill caused by Israel strike on Lebanon's Jiyeh power plant has left widespread environmental damage, cannot be cleaned up due to ongoing combat; Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, could be affected by spreading slick... Gen. Miller, fmr. head of Guantánamo Bay camp, retires, under investigation for alleged involvement in policies leading to abuse at Camp X-Ray, Abu Ghraib prisons, other sites; Miller's retirement was approved only after he assured the Senate he would present himself if called to testify about his role in the abuse cases... Numerous news reports suggest Cuban leader Fidel Castro's condition is improving, though there is no independent confirmation of the claim; speculation continues as to whether a transition away from communism could occur under his brother... TV journalists in India catch doctors apparently offering to amputate healthy limbs for cash, to give beggars better chance of collecting from public...

1 August: Cuban pres. Fidel Castro temporarily handed over presidential, military and Communist party powers to his brother, Raúl, while he underwent surgery for intestinal bleeding, yesterday... UNSC condemns Iran nuclear program with resolution; Iran leader says resolution has no meaning, is illegitimate... US senators increase push to eliminate all manufacture of anti-personnel or victim-activated landmines in US; Pentagon to decide soon on controversial weapon called "spider" with feature allowing it to act as anti-personnel mine... 4 of the men who suffered severe side-effects of the first human trial for a drug called TGN1412, several with multiple organ failure, all healthy before the test, now face serious auto-immune conditions or developing cancers, apparently as a result... New patent applications include a technology developed by a German firm to disrupt or scramble Voice over IP internet telephone communications; while application reportedly makes no mention of intended or legitimate use, it is suspected it would be sold to traditional telecoms intent on maintaining pricing controls for voice communications... Democrats in Congress have written an open letter to Pres. Bush urging start of "phased withdrawal" from Iraq by year's end, showing apparent resolution of differences between factions in party... EU formally calls for a political solution to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and an immediate cessation of all hostilities, urges negotiations that can lead to a sustainable long-term ceasefire...