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8A – Daily News – Wednesday, September 15, 2010 WORLD BRIEFING GOP battles tea party once more WASHINGTON (AP) — Establishment Republi- cans vied with challengers favored by tea party activists one last time Tues- day in a multistate finale to a primary election season marked by economic reces- sion and political upheaval. Highlighted by GOP-tea party showdowns in New Hampshire and Delaware, six states chose candidates for governor and five fea- tured contests for nomina- tions to the Senate. In New York, 40-year veteran Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel faced the voters for the first time since the House ethics committee accused him of 13 violations, most of them relating to his personal finances. So far this year, seven incumbent members of Congress have tasted defeat, four Republicans and three Democrats. And that does not include a lengthy list of GOP con- tenders who fell to tea party-supported chal- lengers despite having the backing of party officials eager to maximize their gains in November. With unemployment high and President Barack Obama’s popularity below 50 percent, Republicans said the primaries reflected an enthusiasm that would serve the party well in the fall, when control of Con- gress will be at stake. 1 9 9 4 American woman leaves Iranian prison TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — In just a few dizzying hours, American Sarah Shourd exchanged a cell in Tehran’s Evin Prison for a private jet crossing the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, after an apparent diplomatic deal to cover a $500,000 bail and secure a release that seemed in jeop- ardy from the start. Shourd was met by her mother and U.S. diplomats at a royal airfield in the cap- ital of Oman, which U.S. officials say played a critical role in organizing the bail payment and assuring it did not violate American eco- nomic sanctions on Iran. Shourd stepped off the private Omani jet and into the arms of her mother in their first embrace since a brief visit in May overseen by Iranian authorities — and her first day of freedom in more than 13 months. Shourd smiled broadly as they strolled arm-in-arm through the heat of the late summer night along the Gulf of Oman. ‘‘I’m grateful and I’m very humbled by this moment,’’ she said before boarding the plane in Tehran for the two-hour flight to Oman. The whirlwind departure of the 32-year-old Shourd brought little change for two other Americans — her fiance Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal — who remained behind bars while authorities moved toward possible trials on spy charges that could bring up to 10 years in prison if they are convicted. US airstrikes hit Afghan militants ISLAMABAD (AP) — Drone aircraft unleashed two missile attacks in a law- less tribal region on the Afghan border Tuesday, making September the most intense period of U.S. strikes in Pakistan since they began in 2004, intelli- gence officials said. The stepped-up cam- paign is focused on a small area of farming villages and mountainous, thickly forest- ed terrain controlled by the Haqqani network, a ruthless American foe in Afghanistan, U.S. officials say. There is some evidence the network is being squeezed as a result, one official said. American officials said the airstrikes were designed to degrade the Haqqanis’ operations on the Pakistani side of the border, creating a ‘‘hammer-and-anvil’’ effect as U.S. special operations forces carry out raids against their fighters across the frontier in Afghanistan. The officials spoke on con- dition of anonymity to dis- cuss ongoing classified operations. The missiles have killed more than 50 people in 12 strikes since Sept. 2 in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, according to an Associated Press tally based on Pakistani intelligence officials’ reports. Many 2 DAYS ONLY September 17th Celebrating 16 years & 18th Be in our store 9-17-10 @ 3pm TO WIN A $500 SHOPPING SPREE GIVEAWAY 2 0 1 0 struck around Datta Khel, a town of about 40,000 peo- ple that sits on a strategical- ly vital road to the Afghan border. The border region has long been a refuge for Islamist extremists from around the world. Osama Bin Laden and other al- Qaida leaders are believed to have fled there after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. French Senate votes to ban face veils PARIS (AP) — The French Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a bill banning the burqa-style Islamic veil on public streets and other places, a measure that affects less than 2,000 women but that has been widely seen as a symbolic defense of French values. The Senate voted 246 to 1 in favor of the bill in a final step toward making the ban a law — though it now must pass muster with France’s constitutional watchdog. The bill was overwhelmingly passed in July in the lower house, the National Assembly. Many Muslims believe the legislation is one more blow to France’s No. 2 reli- gion, and risks raising the level of Islamophobia in a country where mosques, like synagogues, are spo- radic targets of hate. How- ever, the law’s many propo- nents say it will preserve the nation’s values, including its secular foundations and a notion of fraternity that is contrary to those who hide their faces. In an attempt to head off any legal challenges over arguments it tramples on religious and other free- doms, the leaders of both parliamentary houses said they had asked a special body to ensure it passes constitutional muster. The Constitutional Council has one month to rule. The bill is worded to trip safely through legal mine- fields. For instance, the words ‘‘women,’’ ‘‘Mus- lim’’ and ‘‘veil’’ are not even mentioned in any of its seven articles. Up to 30 insurgents killed in clashes in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Up to 30 insurgents have been killed in fighting ahead of this week’s parlia- mentary elections in Afghanistan which the Tal- iban want to undermine, NATO and Afghan officials said Tuesday. The military alliance said that up to 23 militants were killed in action in southern Helmand province Monday and three in east- ern Wardak province Tues- day. An Afghan official said four Taliban were killed Tuesday in southeastern Zabul province. There were no reports of casualties among joint NATO-Afghan forces. Attacks and clashes are rising amid an allied offen- sive aimed at suppressing the continuing Taliban insurgency. Meanwhile, tensions were rising ahead of Satur- day’s parliamentary elec- tions. The Taliban has vowed to target polling sta- tions and warned Afghans not to participate in what it calls a sham vote. Corn refiners ask for high fructose corn syrup change NEW YORK (AP) — The makers of high fructose corn syrup want to sweeten its image with a new name: corn sugar. The Corn Refiners Asso- ciation applied Tuesday to the federal government for permission to use the name on food labels. The group hopes a new name will ease confusion about the sweet- ener, which is used in soft drinks, bread, cereal and other products. Americans’ consump- tion of corn syrup has fallen to a 20-year low on con- sumer concerns that it is more harmful or more like- ly to cause obesity than ordinary sugar. DI$COUNT$ OFF The 423 Walnut St, Red Bluff • 528-8000 Gold Exchange Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. • Sat 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Musical Instruments, Games, Saddles, Camera’s, Estate Jewelry and much more! on already low prices Tools, TV’s, Friday, Sept. 17th 1-4PM Fantastic Deals! 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