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August 12, 2012 | | PAUL RYAN Tapping Paul Ryan gives Romney a ticket mate who believes the problems facing the country are too serious to demagogue. Good luck with that, writes Peter J. Boyer. Plus, Eleanor Clift on how seniors will be a new target for Dems, Howard Kurtz on why Murdoch will be delighted, and more Daily Beast contributors. DISASTER In another grim revision, Iranian state television again raised the death toll on Sunday from two earthquakes, saying that 250 people had died and thousands more were injured. Iranians who lost or were evacuated from their homes in the afflicted northwestern region of the country where the earthquakes struck were shown shivering and crying while they slept outdoors in the aftermath of the tremors. The disasters came on Saturday near the city of Tabriz, and are reported to have flattened villages and caused serious damage to other structures in the area. BEDFELLOWS Iran pledged its support of the Syrian government on state television. As rebel fighting continues, there are signs that the war may become a regional struggle. Mike Giglio reports. OLYMPICS London’s almost reached the finish line. As the city prepares to close the 2012 Olympic Games, many details for the closing ceremony remain secret—despite British journalists’ best efforts. Director Kim Gavin has said that the three-hour spectacular, titled “A Symphony of British Music,” will be “an elegant mashup of British music, a rich tapestry of British culture and life ... something people remember for years.” The ceremony will pay homage to the United Kingdom’s rich literary traditions and musical culture—and will reportedly include a performance by the reunited Spice Girls. SECURITY After demands that the country beef up its security in Sinai, Egypt says it has killed seven militants in the region Sunday. They are the first killings to result from a crackdown in the Sinai Peninsula that began a week ago. The country has been under pressure from Egyptians as well as from politicians in Israel after 16 members of the Egyptian armed forces were killed by militant gunmen a week ago near the border with Israel. Troops from the Israeli armed forces killed those gunmen. Egyptian sources said that the militants on Sunday fought back against government troops with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. | | 
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