Jewish group opposes NY mosque

Jewish group opposes NY mosque

NEW YORK

The nation’s leading Jewish civil-rights group has come out against the planned mosque and Islamic community center near ground zero, saying that more information is needed about funding for the project and that the location is “counterproductive to the healing process.”

The Anti-Defamation League said it rejects any opposition to the center based on bigotry and acknowledged that the group behind the plan, the Cordoba Initiative, has the legal right to build at the site. But the ADL said “some legitimate questions have been raised” about funding and possible ties with “groups whose ideologies stand in contradiction to our shared values.”

Fires rage in Russia

MOSCOW

Vast sections of Russia were under a state of emergency Friday as more than 10,000 firefighters fought to save villages and forests from being reduced to ash and ember during the country’s hottest summer on record.

At least 25 deaths were reported in the last two days alone, and the Kremlin called out the army to help as fires raged over 214,136 acres of woodland and peat bog.

House Dems call on Rangel to resign

WASHINGTON

Calls for Rep. Charlie Rangel’s resignation rained down on Capitol Hill late Friday from House Democrats who said more than a dozen ethics charges against the 20-term lawmaker showed a disregard for the rules and undermined the public’s confidence in Congress.

The calls came as Democrats headed home for their monthlong recess wrestling with how to handle the tax and disclosure charges against Rangel back in their districts as election season loomed. Republicans, meanwhile, raced ahead with plans to make Rangel the face of corrupt Washington under the rule of Democrats.

Probe: No basis for Al Gore charges

PORTLAND, Ore.

Former Vice President Al Gore was cleared Friday of allegations he groped and assaulted a masseuse in a luxury Portland hotel room in 2006, closing a case that could have tarnished the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s reputation.

After a four-week investigation that included interviews with Gore, masseuse Molly Hagerty, her acquaintances and hotel staff, Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Friday there was no basis for prosecution.

Governor weighs changes to law

PHOENIX

The fight over Arizona’s immigration law showed no signs of letting up Friday as the federal judge who blunted its force faced threats and the Republican governor who signed it considered changes to address any faults.

In the days since U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton put on hold the most controversial parts of the law, hundreds of e-mails and phone calls — including some threats — have poured into the courthouse.

Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the law and appealed the ruling, said Friday she’d consider changes to “tweak” the law to respond to the parts Bolton faulted.

430 die in flooding

PESHAWAR, Pakistan

The death toll from three days of flooding in Pakistan reached at least 430 on Friday, as rains bloated rivers, submerged villages and triggered landslides.

Pakistani TV showed striking images of people clinging to fences and other stationary items as water gushed over their heads.

Associated Press