The Obama Principle :

Despite Barack Obama's moves to the center, the Democratic presidential nominee has planted his flag firmly with liberals when it comes to one issue: race and gender preferences in public education, employment and contracting.
Over the weekend, Mr. Obama accused his Republican rival of flip-flopping after John McCain endorsed an initiative to ban preferential treatment pushed by former University of California regent Ward Connerly. Such proposals will be on ballots this fall in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska.

Despite Barack Obama's moves to the center, the Democratic presidential nominee has planted his flag firmly with liberals when it comes to one issue: race and gender preferences in public education, employment and contracting.
Over the weekend, Mr. Obama accused his Republican rival of flip-flopping after John McCain endorsed an initiative to ban preferential treatment pushed by former University of California regent Ward Connerly. Such proposals will be on ballots this fall in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska.

But then Mr. Obama also claims to oppose quotas, saying he supports "affirmative action as a means of overcoming both historic and potentially current discrimination." Any such programs can't be "simply applied without looking at the whole person." In other words, he wants it both ways: He favors race preferences but they need to be packaged "individually."
Should the issue of racial preferences come up in the debates this fall, you can expect both candidates to try to engage in "nuance." But Mr. Obama will have the harder time. Even in Michigan, which hasn't voted Republican for president in 20 years, the initiative Mr. Obama campaigned against won easily with 58% of the vote.

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Obama promises efforts to revive economy :

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday blamed "irresponsible decisions" by the Bush administration and Wall Street for the country's economic woes as the White House said the budget deficit would soar to record heights next year.
Turning to domestic problems after a week's tour of the Middle East and Europe, Obama met with more than a dozen economic advisers, appearing with them briefly before retreating for a two-hour closed meeting. The new deficit numbers were the latest sign of an economy in decline, with foreclosures rising, home prices falling, energy prices soaring and nearly a half-million job losses since January.
"It was not an accident or a normal part of the business cycle that led us to this situation," Obama said. "There were some irresponsible decisions that were made on Wall Street and in Washington."
Obama said the economy needs both short- and long-term fixes, including another "stimulus" from Congress, and a longer-term focus on renewable energy to curb high gas prices and on universal health care to trim costs. He said he would move "rapidly and vigorously" to respond.
"We are also going to have to provide some short-term relief," Obama said. "People are hurting right now. We need to respond rapidly and vigorously to problems, and to anticipate the problems that may be on the horizon."

Britney Spears Nominated for Video Music Award :

Britney Spears is in the running for a 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, it was announced on Friday.
After thousands of votes on VMA.MTV.com (along with ballots from select industry insiders), the 26-year-old VMA veteran is up for Best Female Music Video for "Piece of Me."
At last year's VMAs, Spears appeared nervous, out-of-shape and just plain out-of-it on stage, botching what was supposed to be her "comeback performance."
Spears will compete in the category against Katy Perry for "I Kissed a Girl," Rihanna for "Take a Bow," Mariah Carey for "Touch My Body" and Jordin Sparks for "No Air."
The 25th annual awards will be hosted by British actor/comedian Russell Brand. The show will air live on Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT from Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell expecting twins

LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - Actors Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell are expecting twins this winter, a spokesman for Romijn said on Monday.
It will be the first delivery for the couple, who married in 2007.
Romijn, a 35-year-old former fashion model, starred as the mutant Mystique in the "X-Men" movies. She was previously married to "ER" actor John Stamos.
O'Connell, 34, had a breakout role in the 1986 movie "Stand By Me" and has appeared on the TV show "Crossing Jordan."
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Dean Goodman)

Troubled Singer Amy Winehouse Rushed to Hospital :

R&B/Pop star Amy Winehouse was hospitalized Monday (Jul 28) for a reaction to medication but was expected to be released by morning, according to a representative. According to spokesman Chris Goodman, Winhouse was rushed from her London home to University College Hospital. "Doctors have advised that she will be kept under observation overnight and is likely to be released tomorrow," read a statement released by Goodman and U.S. publicist Tracey Miller. This is the second time in little over a month that Winehouse has been in the hospital. She was admitted to a London clinic in June after collapsing at home. Any the time, father Mitch Winehouse said she had developed early stage emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine.

Record $482 Billion '09 Deficit Forecast :

The federal budget deficit will grow to a record $482 billion in the fiscal year that begins in October, the White House said yesterday, driven by war costs, tax rebates, and a slowing economy that will leave the next president little room to fulfill costly campaign promises.
White House budget director Jim Nussle said unexpectedly slow economic growth, sharp declines in housing prices and an unanticipated increase in inflation will help drive next year's tide of red ink close to half a trillion dollars, up sharply from February's $407 billion estimate.

"We are not happy about the deficit," Nussle conceded.

Another batch of four F-16s joins PAF :

SARGODHA: A simple but impressive ceremony for handing over of four, F-16 aircraft to Pakistan Air Force was held at PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed received the fighting Falcons from Lieutenant General Martin E Dempsey, acting Commander US CENTCOM. Addressing the ceremony, Tanvir said that the batch of aircraft which arrived today have the same operational capability as of the already possessed F-16 aircraft by the PAF and will significantly augment its combat capability in defending the aerial frontiers of Pakistan.A contingent of high-ranking officials from Air Forces of Pakistan and United States were also present on the occasion.

Disease Early Warning System to be improved in Sindh: Health Minister :

KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr. Saghir Ahmed has issued directives to the officials concerned to provide the Dengue Virus diagnostic system free of cost to all the patients suffering from the disease. He urged that platelets units should be made available in all Sindh government hospitals.Talking to Geo News here, the Minister said in order to check the spread of Dengue Virus across province, the Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) would be improved on emergency basis.

Bajaur Tahrik-e-Taliban’s 4 senior members form new group :

KHAR: Bajaur Agency Tahrik-e-Taliban’s four senior members, defecting from the Tahrik, announced here forming their own Tahrike-e-Taliban Al Jihad. Bajaur Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman, Salar Masood from an unknown place on telephone told the journalists that four member of the Tahrik have resigned, which included Molvi Munir, Dr. Abdul Wahab, Molvi abdul hameed and he himself. He said that the four leaders, presenting their resignations to the Bajaur Tahrik-e-Taliban Amir, Molvi Faqir Muhammad, have set up a separate organization named Tahrik-e- Taliban Al Jihad. He said that some members of Tahrik-e-Taliban had killed innocent people in Mohmand Agency, which was brought to the notice of Amir Baitullah Mahsood, but no action was taken. He said that the four leaders have ceded from the Tahrik in protest.

APDM meeting mulls launching anti-Govt. movement :

ISLAMABAD: All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) heads’ meeting here underway is mulling over launching a movement against the government. Sources said that Pakhtoonkhaw Milli Awami Party chief, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s Amir, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf chairman, Imran Khan and chiefs of different organizations in APDM attending this meeting. The meeting will review the APDM steering committee’s recommendations relating to the outfit’s future strategy. APDM has decided supporting lawyers’ deadline set at August 14 for the reinstatement of judges and other announcements in this regard, which will be formally announced in the APDM chiefs’ meeting today. Sources said that leaders are evaluating staging major political activities in Islamabad, holding rallies and mass contact movement on August 14, while inviting Muslim League-N to participate in anti-Govt. movement will also come under consideration.

Available resources being mobilized to enhance productivity: Shahbaz

SIALKOT: The Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that all available resources are being mobilized for the promotion of industrial sector aimed at enhancing the pace of productivity in the province. Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday afternoon, he said that special attention had also been focused on the development of agro-based industries in the Punjab. The Chief Minister said that government would extend all possible support and cooperation to the business community for setting up maximum industries. The promotion and development of agriculture and industrial sectors is on top of the agenda of the government to bring about green and industrial revolution in the province.

He pledged that under a network programme industries would be established for curtailing the ratio of unemployment and to eliminate the menace of poverty. Also, Mian Shahbaz Sharif stressed upon the industrialists of Sialkot to focus their attention on increasing the volume of exports from this export-oriented city and play their instrumental role in reducing the foreign exchange deficit.

Azam Warsak missile attack under investigation: DG, ISPR :

RAWALPINDI: The Director General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Athar Abbas has said an investigation is underway to determine the target and to find out who is responsible for the attack. It has been reported that the missiles killed at least six people in the area. General Abbas said it is difficult to say if an Al-Qaeda leader was present or killed in Azam Warsak.

US announces $115 million aid for Pakistan :

WASHINGTON: The United States will give Pakistan an aid package of $115 million on the account of food security assistance.

This has been said in a joint announcement, issued from both America and Pakistan, that both countries condemn every type of terrorism and understand that the terrorism is a threat for Pakistan, the United States and the international community.In the joint announcement, US president George Bush has appreciated the sacrifices of the Pakistan people in the world war against terrorism.This has also been said in the joint communication that an strategic dialogue for extending cooperation between the two countries in the sector of agriculture would be launched.In this regard, the next phase of strategic dialogue would be held this September in which negotiations would be held between the deputy foreign minister USA and the foreign minister Pakistan.The joint communication welcomed the submission of the bill to the Congress regarding the economic aid given by the America to Pakistan

Deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry leaves for Karachi :

KARACHI: Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has left for Karachi on Tuesday morning.The deposed chief justice was see-off by lawyers and representatives of civil society.According to leaders of Karachi Bar Association, Chaudhry Iftikhar would reach Karachi at 11:30 am. He would welcome by a rally and would later dropped at the residence of deposed Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Subbihuddin Ahmad.Chief Justice Iftikhar Cha .... Full Story

11 killed in Philippines buses collision :

MANILA: Philippine police say at least 11people were killed when two buses collided on a highway southeast of Manila.At least 29 people have been injured. Police investigator Allan Potong said Tuesday's pre-dawn collision happened when a bus strayed into the lane of the second vehicle, slamming into it head-on and killing eight people on the spot. Potong said one passenger died on arrival in a hospital, where two others died later. He says t .... Full Story

Gilani asks US not to make one-sided operation in Pakistan :

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Reza Gilani has demanded from the United States not to make any one-sided operation against the militants in Pakistan.In an interview to an American television, the prime minister said that he told the US President George Bush in a meeting that one-sided operation should not be made.He said that if there is an American hand behind the attacks then it would be an act against the sovereignty of Pakistan. ...

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HIV drugs 'add 13 years of life' :

Life expectancy for people with HIV has increased by an average of 13 years since the late 1990s thanks to better HIV treatment, a study says.Researchers said it meant HIV was now effectively a chronic condition like diabetes, rather than a fatal disease, the Lancet reported.

The team, involving Bristol University staff, looked at over 43,000 patients. The study found a person now diagnosed at 20 years old could expect to live for another 49 years. But the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration, which includes scientists from across Europe and Northern America, warned this was still short of the life expectancy for the wider population which stands at about 80. Antiretroviral treatment for HIV consists of drugs which work against the infection itself by slowing down the replication of the virus in the body. This method of therapy was introduced in the 1990s, but has since become more effective and better tolerated. The researchers looked at life expectancy during three time periods after the introduction of the drugs - 1996-9, 2000-2 and 2003-5 - in high income countries. Just over 2,000 patients died during the study periods. They found that while patients aged 20 diagnosed in the 1990s could expect to live another 36 years, that had increased by 13 years by 2003-5. During the middle time period, life expectancy stood at an extra 41 years.

Success:Researcher Professor Jonathan Sterne said: "These advances have transformed HIV from being a fatal disease, which was the reality for patients before the advent of combination treatment, into a long-term chronic condition."