NPR 2008-07-25

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says Europe needs to help the United States stabilize 1 Afghanistan. Obama’s in Berlin where he gave a speech to tens of thousands of people. He says no country can solve challenges like terrorism alone.  "I recognize the enormous difficulties in Afghanistan. But my country and yours have a stake in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success. For the people of Afghanistan, and for our shared security, the work must be done."  Republican presidential candidate John McCain is campaigning at Ohio. He's criticized Obama for shortsightedness on foreign policy. This week, he's been discussing economic policy and soaring oil costs. He’d hoped to visit an oil platform in the Gulf 2 of Mexico to underscore his support for offshore 3 oil drilling. The visit was canceled after Hurricane Dolly blew through the area.

Iraqi officials say its(a) female suicide bomber 4 has killed at least seven people and wounded twenty more. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports from Baghdad.

The female attacker bombed a checkpoint in Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad. The checkpoint was run by members of the Sunni Awakening 5 Council. They are former insurgents 7 who’ve turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq, and are paid by the American military. Among the council members who were killed in the suicide attack was a prominent leader of one of the former Sunni insurgent 6 groups called “the 1920s Revolution Brigade”.  Al-Qaeda in Iraq has increasingly resorted to female suicide bombers 8, including in Baqubah, which remains 9 among the most dangerous places in Iraq. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Baghdad.

Voting rights advocates have filed suit in New Mexico, challenging a state voter registration 10 law. They claim it will prevent thousands of people from signing up to vote in November. New Mexico is expected to be a crucial state in the upcoming presidential election. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

The law enacted 11 after the 2004 Election imposes restrictions 12 on groups that conduct voter registration drives within the state. It requires all volunteers working for such groups to sign up with the state, and to pick up blank registration forms themselves at local election offices. Completed forms need to be turned in within 48 hours. Advocacy groups say these steps are overly restrictive, and will hamper 13 the ability of outside groups to sign up voters. The measures were enacted at a time when state leaders were concerned about voter fraud and falsified registrations 14. However, voting rights advocates say there is little, if any, evidence of fraud, and that the restrictions will hurt low-income, minority and disabled residents who are the primary target of registration drives. Pam Fessler, NPR News, Washington.

The National Security Agency is investigating three members of a ballistic missile crew who reportedly fell asleep on the job. The trio had  possession of secret launch codes, although the agency says none were compromised.

On Wall Street, the Dow lost 283 points today.

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Republicans in the House of Representatives used the procedural method today to block the release of oil from the National Stockpile. Democrats 15 say the release of about 70 million barrels of oil would immediately affect the gas prices. The 70 million barrels are about a three-day supply for the nation's oil needs. There have been similar releases in the past with corresponding price drops, but there was a hitch 16: if the legislation passed, Republicans would have been able to introduce a bill on offshore drilling.

Two associates of former NBA referee 17 Tim Donaghy have been sentenced to jail terms for their roles in a gambling 18 scandal. NPR's Mike Pesca reports.

James Battista, who identifies himself as a professional gambler, and Thomas Martino, who like Battista was a high school classmate of Tim Donaghy, were sentenced to jail  terms of 15 months and one year respectively by a federal judge in Brooklyn. Battista placed bets based on Donaghy's inside information; Martino paid the referee. In court filings, the former ref argues that he was pressured into providing tips by Battista, who dangled 19 the threat of exposure over Donaghy's head. When the gambling ring was exposed, Donaghy was the first to cooperate with authorities. His admission included the fact that he wagered 20 on games he officiated. Still, when he’s sentenced next week, Donaghy faces a maximum of 33 months in jail, more time than his fellow conspirators 21 combined. Mike Pesca, NPR News, New York.

The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Hurricane Dolly to a tropical depression with top winds of about 35 miles per hour. Forecasters expect the storm will break up tomorrow. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared 15 Texas counties as disaster areas.