The head of Georgia's national security council, Alexander Lomaia, says about 50 Russian tanks have entered the strategic city of Gori despite a cease-fire agreement. Lomaia claims the tanks entered the city this morning, eight hours after Georgia accepted a Russian cease-fire agreement.

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John McCain visited New Jersey for the sixth time yesterday, collecting support in a state that is historically blue. With 15 electoral votes going to the victor of the Garden State, can McCain make New Jersey swing?

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In a section of Los Angeles, the city council has put a moratorium on new fast food restaurants. The measure is intended to promote healthier lifestyles in a working-class area where obesity is a concern. New York has required calorie labels at chain restaurants to combat obesity — where do government responsibility and personal responsibility intersect?

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On the eve of the Democratic and Republican conventions, Blender Magazine polled presumptive Presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain for their favorite songs. The candidates Top 10 lists include Bruce Springsteen (Obama), The Rolling Stones (Obama), Louis Armstrong (McCain), ABBA (McCain) and Neil Diamond (McCain). While Obama and McCain may differ politically, they have one musical taste in common: a love for Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.

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A few years ago, the International Olympics Committee knocked softball off the list of 2012 sports, though its popularity has been growing since 1996, its first Games. For girls around the world, the Olympics will forever be a dream.

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Instability in Georgia has caused the energy company BP to shut down pipelines in the country. One carried Caspian oil from Azerbaijan to the Georgian Sea. Another BP pipeline stopped last week, following an explosion on a portion of the line. On Tuesday, the International Energy Agency said the conflict in Georgia threatens this key energy route for western oil and gas markets. Reduced demand for oil is helping to mitigate the impact wavering supply might have had even a month ago.

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One can hardly turn on a screen in the United States without seeing Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. But, in China, coverage of the record-setting team is slim. Contributing to the collective shoulder-shrug, the Chinese haven’t fielded a competitive men’s swim team in many years. On the other hand, Chinese coverage of judo and badminton — even American badminton — dwarf the American equivalent.

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China is tightly managing every aspect of the Olympics, even trying to control the weather. They’re using cloud-seeding techniques, both to create rain to reduce smog and to steer rain away from outdoor events. The Takeaway takes a closer look at the often colorful efforts to control the weather.

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Agriculture is a $31-billion industry in California — no state is bigger for farming. But with California in a drought, state-enforced water rationing is forcing farmers to abandon fields and lay off workers. The Takeaway talks to the mayor of Mendota, California, where hundreds have been left hungry, and with Sacramento Bee reporter Matt Weiser about the difficult choices the state is facing.

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