Nation, world briefs 09/06/2015

Democratic senator opposes Iran deal

WASHINGTON -- White House hopes for stopping a congressional challenge to the Iran nuclear deal and sparing President Barack Obama from using a veto suffered a blow when a key Senate Democrat announced his opposition. The setback came Friday in the announcement from Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, that he opposes the deal, which he said "legitimizes Iran's nuclear program." Cardin's move doesn't affect the outcome for the international accord to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The White House clinched the necessary Senate votes to ensure even if Obama ends up having to veto a disapproval resolution set for a vote next week, his veto would be upheld.

Town near nuclear plant ends exodus

NARAHA, Japan -- The Japanese town of Naraha on Saturday lifted a 2011 evacuation order that sent all its 7,400 residents away after the nearby Fukushima nuclear plant was crippled by a tsunami and contamination. Naraha was the first among seven municipalities forced to empty because of radiation contamination after the massive earthquake and tsunami that sent the reactors into meltdown. The government says radiation levels in town have fallen to levels deemed safe after decontamination efforts and overnight lifted the 4-year-old evacuation order. The town represents a test case, as most residents remain cautious amid health concerns and a lack of infrastructure.

Kite surfer blown on road, hit by car

SAN FRANCISCO -- A kite surfer at a San Francisco beach was caught in a gust of wind and dragged across a parking lot on to a highway, where he was hit by a car and critically injured, police said. The man was setting up his rig at the edge of the water Friday afternoon at Ocean Beach when the wind caught him and took him onto the Great Highway, city police said in a statement. Winds of about 35 mph with gusts near 50 mph were blowing at the time.

30 hurt at West Point pillow fight

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- An annual freshman pillow fight at the U.S. Military Academy turned bloody this year when cadets swung pillowcases packed with hard objects, injuring 30 cadets, according to a report Saturday. Two dozen cadets suffered concussions in the Aug. 20 bedding melee, though all have since returned to duty, West Point spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Kasker told The New York Times for a story published Saturday. While photos and video of the episode have circulated online for some time, West Point officials didn't confirm what happened until Thursday, the newspaper said. The phone rang unanswered Saturday at the academy's press office. First-year students organize the pillow fight as a way to build camaraderie after a grueling summer of training for the rigors of West Point, Kasker told the Times. He said upperclassmen overseeing the fight required cadets to wear helmets. However, online video showed many bare heads. Some cadets swung pillowcases believed to have been packed with their helmets, the Times said.

-- From wire reports