Bush calls Craig
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (UPI) -- President George Bush took time Saturday to call Sen. Larry Craig after the Idaho Republican's resignation over airport men's room sexual advance allegations.
"He told him he knew it was a difficult decision for him and he wished him well," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said of Bush's conversation with the fallen senator, who denies any wrongdoing, CNN reported.
The White House's position is that "Sen. Craig made the right decision for himself, his family, his constituents and the U.S. Senate," Stanzel said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell labeled the Idaho senator's actions "unforgivable."
"Sen. Larry Craig made a difficult decision, but the right one," McConnell said. "It is my hope he will be remembered not for this, but for his three decades of dedicated public service."
Bhutto to announce return date Sept. 14
LONDON, Sept 1 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto vowed to return to her homeland in the near future despite the lack of a deal with President Pervez Musharraf.
Bhutto told reporters in London Saturday talks with Musharraf on a power-sharing agreement had yet to bear fruit, but regardless she would announce her return date Sept. 14.
“We have been in contact with the present regime on the restoration of democracy,” Bhutto told reporters, adding "We are making our own plans to return to the country."
Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 amid allegations of corruptions after serving two terms at prime minister.
The BBC said despite the rivalry between Bhutto and Musharraf, the talks aimed at her return to the prime minister’s job were “80 percent successful” and had narrowed to issues involving the sovereignty of Pakistan’s Parliament and electoral process.
Felix bulks up in southern Caribbean
MIAMI, Sept 1 (UPI) -- Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Felix to pick up strength and reach hurricane status as it moves west toward Aruba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center Saturday put Felix on a track nearly identical to Hurricane Dean, which soaked the Yucatan just last month.
Forecasters said conditions were favorable to build Felix into a hurricane early next week. An Air Force tracking plane flew into the center of the storm and estimated surface winds at 55 knots.
Tropical Storm warnings were in effect for Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, CNN reported.
Offshore oil and natural gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were not threatened.
Germany proposes early nuclear shutdowns
BERLIN, Sept 1 (UPI) -- Germany’s environment minister says the country’s seven oldest nuclear reactors should be shut down immediately.
Germany has pledged to phase out nuclear power by 2020, but Sigmar Gabriel said recent mechanical issues at two aging plants indicate older reactors should be switched off right away.
According to the BBC, such a move would likely be opposed by the plants’ unions. There also are concerns about Germany’s energy supply given Russia’s aggressive policy on natural gas shipped to Western Europe, the British network said.
Gabriel, however, proposed that newer plants be allowed to continue running past 2020.
