U.S. & WORLD NEWS DIGEST | Ariz. governor vetoes ‘birther’ bill

Ariz. governor vetoes ‘birther’ bill

PHOENIX

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday vetoed a bill to require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship before their names can appear on the state’s ballot.

The bill vetoed by Brewer on Monday would have made Arizona the first state to pass such a requirement. The Arizona bill included proof-of-qualification for all candidates appearing on Arizona ballots, with those varying by the office sought.

Hawaii officials have certified Obama was born in that state, but so-called “birthers” have demanded more proof.

Brewer said in her veto letter that she was troubled that the bill empowered Arizona’s secretary of state to judge the qualifications of all candidates when they file to run for office.

Cuban Communists OK sweeping change

HAVANA

Communist Party delegates gave their blessing to a sweeping slate of economic changes designed to breathe life and a bit of free-market spirit into Cuba’s moribund economy, and also voted in a new party leadership at a historic summit Monday.

State television announced the unanimous approval of about 300 economic proposals in a full session of the Party Congress but it did not give details. Newscast presenters said the party’s new leadership also has been decided, without naming names.

Syrian activists begin sit-in

BEIRUT

More than 5,000 anti-government demonstrators in Syria took over the main square of the country’s third-largest city Monday, vowing to occupy the site until President Bashar Assad is ousted and defying authorities who warn they will not be forced into reforms. The government, however, blamed the weeks of anti-government unrest in the country on ultraconservative Muslims seeking to establish a fundamentalist state and terrorize the people, in the latest official effort to portray the reform movement as populated by extremists.

FAA suspends 2 for watching movie

WASHINGTON

Federal aviation officials say another air-traffic controller has been suspended, this time for watching a movie when he was supposed to be monitoring aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Monday that it had suspended a controller and a manager at a regional radar facility in Cleveland that handles high-altitude air traffic.

Associated Press