NEWS   SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2015   NEWS

Could The Next House Speaker Do More On Immigration Reform?
With Speaker John Boehner's imminent retirement, the conventional wisdom is that his second-in-command will take his place. "I think Kevin McCarthy would make an excellent speaker," Boehner said Friday of the California Republican who has been serving as his chief deputy since June. While he'll face plenty of competition, McCarthy has an advantage, largely because he's raised and spent more money helping to elect the Republicans who will be voting on whether to give him a promotion. That could raise some intriguing political possibilities for one issue that's been stalled in the House. On paper, McCarthy is one member of the House leadership team who has a vested interest in moving forward with immigration reform. His district, based in Bakersfield, Calif., is 35 percent Latino and heavily dependent on migrant labor for its agricultural industry, which brought in $7.5 billion to Kern County in 2014. Bloomberg
VOA VIEW: McCarthy will have a difficult time getting the Speaker position if he supports Obama's immigration reform.

U.S. Aims To Cut HIV Infections In Young Women In Africa
The Obama administration is announcing a $300 million program to drastically reduce HIV infections in girls and young woman in 10 sub-Saharan African nations hard hit by the virus. Administration officials are aiming for a 25 percent infection reduction in females between ages 15-24 by the end of next year and a 40 percent reduction by the end of 2017. "No greater action is needed right now than empowering adolescent girls and young women to defeat HIV/AIDS," National Security Adviser Susan Rice said. The new targets mark the next phase for the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR. The program, started by President George W. Bush and expanded by President Barack Obama, is credited with saving millions of lives in Africa. Las Vegas Sun

New York Governor Calls For National Gun Control In Eulogy For Aide
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo renewed his call for national gun control legislation on Saturday as he delivered a eulogy for the top state attorney who was fatally wounded by a stray bullet in Brooklyn earlier this month. State officials and family members gathered at Brooklyn's Emmanuel Baptist Church in a private service for Carey Gabay, 43, who was struck in the head at a pre-dawn outdoor celebration on Sept. 7 before the annual West Indian Day parade, an event plagued by violence in recent years. Gabay is believed to have been an unintended target, police said. Reuters
VOA VIEW: The Constitution Second Amendment is clear.

Why Your Credit Card Is Going 'Chip-And-PIN'
Many Americans have received a new credit or debit card in the mail in with a computer chip on the front. If you're not sure what the chip is all about, you're not alone: One survey showed that about 75 percent of respondents didn't understand why they were being sent the new chip-embedded cards. It's all part of a nationwide shift in the way we pay, with the goal of beefing up credit-card security. The new "smart" chip cards use EMV (which stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa) technology, which generates a unique code every time the card is used.It's more secure than the traditional magnetic-strip cards, because the code in those strips don't change. If a hacker got a hold of that strip information, they could make a physical copy of the card. MSNBC

Congressman Protests Punishment Of Soldiers Who Confronted Alleged Child Rapist
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., is demanding that the Army overturn the punishment given to two Special Forces soldiers after they stood up to an Afghan commander who kept a young boy as a "sex slave." Hunter, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine officer, has blasted the treatment of Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland and Capt. Danny Quinn after they had an angry confrontation with an Afghan police commander. Martland admits hitting the commander after he said he found that he had repeatedly raped an 11-year-old boy and beaten the boy's mother, Hunter said in letters to Defense Secretary. Ashton Carter and the inspector general of the Department of Defense, Jon Rymer. Kansas City Star

Raúl Castro Makes His Debut At The United Nations
The table is set for the United States and Cuba to make headlines as Cuban leader Raúl Castro addresses the 70th General Assembly on Monday — a few hours after President Barack Obama speaks. It’s the first U.N. General Assembly session since the United States and Cuba renewed diplomatic relations on July 20 after a break of more than 54 years, and Cuba has made it clear that a condemnation of the U.S. embargo, or blockade as it prefers to call it, is its priority. At a gathering of world leaders at the U.N. on Saturday, Castro said the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between his country and the United States constitutes “major progress,” but the blockade against Cuba is the “main obstacle” to his country's development and is “rejected by 188 U.N. member states.” Miami Herald

GOP Religious Conservatives Channeling Anger Toward Victory
Religious activists in the Republican Party, bolstered by House Speaker John Boehner's sudden exit, say the next GOP presidential nominee must share their uncompromising stance on abortion rights, gay marriage and other priorities to get to the White House. "You cannot win a primary and then succeed in the general election without having strength within the ranks of social conservative voters," said Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council Action. The group's annual Values Voter Summit drew nearly 2,700 activists to Washington this weekend. "Conservatives are on fire at the moment," said Gary Bauer, a former president of the Family Research Council who spoke at the conference. SF Gate

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Hilton Says Checking Claims Of Hacking At hotels
Hilton Worldwide Holdings said on Saturday it was investigating claims that hackers had compromised registers in gift shops and restaurants at a large number of Hilton Hotel and franchise properties across the United States. Cyber-security blogger Brian Krebs said in a post on Friday that Visa Inc had sent confidential alerts to financial organizations warning of a breach at a business between April 21 and July 27.Sources at five different banks have determined that the cards in the alert had all been used at Hilton, Krebs said. The report said several unnamed financial industry sources told Krebs that the incident may still be ongoing and could date back as far as November 2014. Reuters

Hyundai Recalls 470,000 U.S. Sonatas To Fix Engine Debris Defect
Hyundai is recalling and replacing the engines in nearly a half-million Sonata sedans in the U.S. because of a manufacturing defect that could cause them to stall. The recall covers 470,000 vehicles made between Dec. 11, 2009, and Apr. 12, 2012 at the company's Alabama assembly plant equipped with 2-liter or 2.4 liter gasoline engines. A document published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration state that metallic debris may remain in the crankshaft area, restricting oil flow. "Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash," it says. Worn parts "will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise from the engine," it said. MSNBC

Ted Cruz Wins Values Voter Straw Poll
GOP White House hopeful Ted Cruz ruled the roost once again at the annual Values Voter Summit by winning the annual presidential preference straw poll here for the third straight year - further cementing his status a favorite among social conservatives that will play a pivotal role in picking the party’s nominee. The Texas Republican captured 35 percent of the votes cast, outpacing his closest rival Ben Carson, who received 18 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee finished third and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio placed fifth. Washington Times

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Carson Campaign Expects To Raise Nearly $20 Million This Quarter
Ben Carson's presidential campaign says it's close to having raised $20 million in the traditionally slow summer fundraising quarter, a figure that would be the largest announced haul of any Republican so far this cycle and give the insurgent new political durability. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has never held public office, said in a fundraising email to supporters Saturday that his campaign was "on the verge of our biggest month ever -- a whopping $10 million dollars raised." The campaign has previously said that he raised $9 million total in July and August, and the $20 million figure was confirmed by campaign spokesman Doug Watts. CNN

Trump: GOP Rivals ‘Want To Start WWIII Over Syria,’ Should Let Russia Fight Islamic State
GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump shared more of his views on foreign policy Friday, telling an audience in Oklahoma his 2016 rivals want to “start World War III over Syria” and suggesting the U.S. let Russia take up the fight against the Islamic State in the region. “They want to start World War III over Syria. Give me a break,” Mr. Trump said at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, The Hill reported. “You know Russia wants to get ISIS right,” Mr. Trump said, using the acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “We want to get ISIS. Russia’s in Syria. Maybe we should let them do it? Let them do it. What the hell are we, crazy?” Washington Times

Pope Calls For Church To Place Greater Value On Women
Pope Francis arrived in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday for the final leg of his U.S. visit - a festive weekend devoted to celebrating Catholic families - and immediately called for the church to place greater value on women. The pontiff's plane touched down at the Philadelphia airport after takeoff from New York, bringing him to a city of blocked-off streets, sidewalks lined with portable potties, and checkpoints manned by police, National Guardsmen and border agents. After speeches to Congress and the United Nations earlier this week aimed at spurring world leaders toward bold action on immigration and the environment, he is expected to focus more heavily on ordinary Catholics during his two days in Philadelphia. CBS

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Russian Fighter Jets Enter Syria With Transponders Off
A U.S. official told CNN Thursday that Russian fighter jets turned off their transponders as they flew into Syria in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. The official said the fighters flew very close to a transport plane that had its transponder on and functioning. U.S. satellites rapidly saw that the aircraft were there, according to the official. The assessment over the weekend was that the fighter jets were on their way. The same official said the Russians have begun flying drones around the coastal city of Latakia. With no ISIS fighters in the area, the move raises serious questions about the Russians' intentions with their military buildup, which the U.S. has questioned the purpose of and watched with wariness. The action points to a higher likelihood that the Russian plan is to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rather than fight the terror group. CNN

GOP To Form Special Panel Investigating Planned Parenthood
As the fight to defund Planned Parenthood threatens to shut down the federal government, House Republicans are launching a new investigation into the women's health organization, forming a select congressional panel to examine its abortion services. "We have all been so shocked and outraged by the videos portraying the grisly practices of Planned Parenthood," Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said in a recorded address Saturday. In response to anti-abortion activists' undercover footage of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the use of fetal parts for medical research, Blackburn announced a GOP-led initiative to "establish a new select subcommittee that will focus its full attention, resources and subpoena power on getting to the bottom of these horrific practices." CBS

New Emails Show Clinton Used Private Server Earlier Than She Said
Newly disclosed emails from Hillary Clinton to then CENTCOM chief David Petraeus show that the former secretary of state was using a private server earlier than she had previously said. The new set of emails, from January to February 2009, was turned over to the State Department by the Department of Defense, State Department spokesman John Kirby told ABC News, confirming a story originally reported by The Associated Press. The State Department said its record of Clinton emails begins on March 18, 2009. Over the nearly two months she was in office before that, Clinton has said she used a Blackberry email account that she can no longer access. The discovery appears to contradict Clinton's sworn statement that she had turned over all the email from her private server to the State Department. ABC
VOA VIEW: Another discovered lie should  be no surprise.

Rise In Polls Comes With New Challenges For Fiorina
Mary Catherine Johnson skipped class to sound out Carly Fiorina and left convinced she’ll be the next president. Randy Sperling drove about an hour to hear the Republican speak and left more unsettled than ever over whether she’s fit for the White House. The former Hewlett-Packard chief executive has rocketed to second or third place in national polls with strong debate performances and vigorous attacks on front-runner Donald Trump. But her rapid rise also brings new scrutiny to her business background and her bare-bones campaign as she tries to sustain the momentum into the barrage of votes that begin in February. Atlanta Journal

Draft Bill Would Alter Search For Top UNC Job
State lawmakers apparently are poised to intervene in the search for the next UNC president, according to draft legislation. With only a few days left in the current session, it’s unclear whether such a move will be attempted or executed. But several versions of legislation have been prepared, according to documents obtained by The News & Observer. Some of the options have included: prescribing a more public process for presidential finalists; capping the future president’s salary; and requiring that the General Assembly have final approval. That would represent unprecedented involvement by the legislature into the hiring of a UNC leader, which is now decided by the UNC Board of Governors in a vote following the recommendation of a board search committee. The possibility comes amid reports of dissension on the UNC board as an 11-member search committee interviews candidates to succeed President Tom Ross. Charlotte Observer

France Fires First Airstrikes On Extremists In Syria
France has carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, expanding its military operations against Islamic State extremists, President Francois Hollande's office announced Sunday. The strikes make good on a promise to go after the group that the president has said is planning attacks against several countries, including France. Hollande's office said that "France has hit Syria" based on information from French reconnaissance flights sent earlier this month. It did not provide further details. "Our nation will strike each time our national security is at stake," the presidential statement said. Kansas City Star

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Circuit Court Remands Terrorism Case On Grounds FBI Withheld Info Of Al-Awlaki Investigation
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has remanded a post 9/11 terrorism case on the grounds that the FBI withheld evidence of its 2002 investigation into the first American on the CIA's kill or capture list, Anwar al-Awlaki, as well as into a northern Virginia Islamic scholar, according to recently released federal court document. Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in Yemen by a drone strike in 2011. The case focused on allegations that Dr. Ali Al-Timimi -- a cancer researcher and self-described Muslim scholar - inspired a group of young men from Virginia to travel to Pakistan to join Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of the largest terror organizations in South Asia. Fox News

Planned Parenthood Protesters Throw Condoms At Carly Fiorina Supporters
Planned Parenthood protesters threw condoms at Carly Fiorina today while she campaigned at a tailgate party for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The protesters, some of whom were affiliated with the women's health group and others who were supporters, were dressed in pink and waved pink pom-poms as they followed the Republican presidential candidate around the tailgate, chanting "Carly Fiorina offsides for telling lies" and "women are watching and we vote." ABC

Stocks Slump Toward Worst Quarter In 4 Years Amid Fed Confusion
Sneakers or tractors? That choice was emblematic of the conflict stock investors faced this week amid mixed messages on the health of the U.S. economy. A sales warning from Caterpillar Inc. showed the risks of slowing global growth, while Nike Inc. provided a more upbeat view of demand overseas. Investors weighed a slip in equipment orders against a pickup in gross domestic product. A tweet by Hillary Clinton roiled the biotechnology industry, highlighting the volatility facing markets.
And above it all loomed the Federal Reserve, whose officials fueled the debate over whether the American economy is robust enough to withstand higher interest rates amid the recent turmoil. Bloomberg

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Two Leaders, Worlds Apart
When Chinese President Xi Jinping's handlers arranged his flight from Seattle to Washington on Thursday, they made sure he would land after Pope Francis had left. Xi didn't want to be overshadowed by the rock-star pope. As it turned out, the Chinese leader was unable to avoid the pope's shadow. The elaborate reception ceremonies for Xi on the White House lawn were eclipsed on TV by the pope's address to the United Nations. But, apart from timing, comparisons between the pope and Xi are unavoidable. The two leaders command the two largest constituencies in the world, 1.2 billion Catholics and 1.2 billion Chinese, respectively. And they hold polar opposite views on how to address the problems of their flocks and the world. Philadelphia Inquirer

VW Warned About Illegal Emissions Tricks Year Ago
German media report that Volkswagen received warnings years ago about the use of illegal tricks to defeat emissions tests. The automaker admitted last week that it used special software to fool U.S. emissions tests for its diesel vehicles. German weekly Bild am Sonntag reported Sunday that VW's internal investigation has found a 2007 letter from parts supplier Bosch warning Volkswagen not to use the software during regular operation. Weekly Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported that a Volkswagen technician raised concerns about illegal practices in connection with emissions levels in 2011. The paper also cited VW's internal investigators. Philadelphia Inquirer

Hillary Enlisted Steven Spielberg To Make Her More Likeable
In his new book, “Unlikeable,” journalist Edward Klein unveils the lengths Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign will go to avoid the mistakes of the 2008 race — when Obama famously said, “You’re likeable enough, Hillary.” In an exclusive excerpt to The Post, Klein reveals how Bill Clinton reached out to a famous friend for help.
Hillary was taking lessons on how to be more likeable. She was doing it for Bill, not for herself. It was all his idea. One evening while they were having drinks with friends, he turned to Hillary and said, “Let’s ask Steven for help.” Their old Hollywood buddy Steven Spielberg could supply Hillary with acting coaches to help her when she had to give a speech. Hillary didn’t think she needed help. “I get $250,000 to give a speech,” she said, according to one of her friends, “and these Hollywood jackasses are going to tell me how to do it!” But Bill insisted. NY Post

Putin To Offer Russian Military For Fight Against ISIS
In his address to the UN on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will offer Moscow’s military might to help in the fight against Islamic State militants, according to a report. “The message at the UN will be: Look, let’s put our geopolitical differences aside and come together to fight the real threat of Islamic terrorism. We’re all in this together,” a source close to the Kremlin told the Sunday Times of London. NY Post

Clinton, Sanders Planning Separate Visits To Massachusetts
The two top Democratic candidates for president are planning to visit Massachusetts this coming week. On Thursday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to discuss substance-abuse issues with Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. The state has experienced a spike in opioid-related overdose deaths in recent years. The stop is also expected to include a fundraising event. On Saturday, Oct. 3, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will hold rallies in Springfield and Boston. Sanders is expect to discuss a range of issues including income and wealth inequality, campaign finance changes, high prescription drug costs, criminal justice reform, and college affordability. Tampa Tribune

John Boehner Could Cash In As A Lobbyist Once He Leaves Congress
House Speaker John Boehner, who will walk away from a 25-year career in Congress next month, won’t say what his next step is. But if the Ohio Republican chooses to travel the short distance between Capitol Hill and K Street’s famous lobbying firms, the son of a blue-collar bar owner likely will end up a very wealthy man. “He’ll get seven figures on the street,” said Tom Davis, a fellow Republican and former Virginia congressman who now lobbies for the financial-consulting giant Deloitte. “He’s got a lot of friends and allies in Congress. But it’s not necessarily his Rolodex that’s valuable. It’s just that he knows Congress inside and out.” USA Today

Race To Replace Boehner Expected To Be Another Leadership vs. Conservative Caucus Showdown
The battle among Capitol Hill Republicans to replace House Speaker John Boehner will likely unfold like the one that led to Boehner's resignation: GOP leadership vs. the party's most conservative caucus. "Before we rush headlong into leadership elections, we need to take time to reflect on what has happened and have a serious discussion about … what we expect of our leaders, and how we plan to accomplish our goals," Illinois GOP Rep. Peter Roskam said Saturday in a letter to fellow House GOP members. Fox News
VOA VIEW: It's time for strong Republican leadership.

Conservatives To 2016 GOP Field: Defy Us At Your Own Peril
The Republican Party's conservative wing, pumped up by House Speaker John Boehner's stepping down, is warning the 2016 presidential candidates that defying its wishes will come at their peril. Religious activists forcefully conveyed this message Saturday: embrace our uncompromising stance against abortion rights and gay marriage, among other priorities, even if doing so risks a federal government shutdown. An emboldened conservative movement signals fresh trouble for White House candidates viewed by the party's frustrated base as insufficiently committed to their cause. Chief among them is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Las Vegas Sun

Tech Giants, Hollywood Stars Among Guests At State Dinner For China's Xi Jinping
President Obama hosted a lavish state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday with a guest list featuring Hollywood and Silicon Valley glitterati, including the heads of Apple, Facebook, Disney and Dreamworks. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg sat at the dinner's head table alongside Obama and Xi. Disney CEO Bob Iger and DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg were also seated at the president's side. The four CEOs lead companies doing billions of dollars of business in China, with the exception of Zuckerberg, whose Facebook is banned in the country. Apple is seeking to expand its sales in China and Iger is preparing to open Disney Shanghai, the company's first park in mainland China. UPI

Judge: Mentally Disabled Immigrants May Return To U.S., Reopen Deportation Cases
Hundreds of mentally disabled immigrant detainees deported after representing themselves in immigration court may return to the United States for a second chance to contest their expulsion, a judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee approved a class-action lawsuit settlement, clearing the way for immigrants with "serious mental disabilities" to request their cases be reopened. If approved, the United States will pay for transportation in some cases. "Today's ruling is a victory for due process," Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, said in a statement. "For too long, individuals with mental disabilities were forced to represent themselves in deportation proceedings or allowed to languish in immigration jails." UPI
VOA VIEW: Total madness.

Pope To Celebrate Mass On Final Day In U.S.
Pope Francis on Sunday will wrap up his U.S. tour, completing his historic visit with an outdoor Mass in the City of Brotherly Love that organizers say will draw hundreds of thousands of participants. But before Francis, who made stops in Washington and New York before arriving in Philadelphia on Saturday, celebrates Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, he will meet with bishops and prison inmates. John Thavis, a former Catholic News Service reporter and author of The Vatican Diaries, said that Francis wants a more welcoming church. In his meeting with bishops from around the globe, the pope may address the specifics about how they should deal with family issues, Thavis said. USA Today

Senator Calls For Changes In Eyeglass Rules To Aid Consumers
A U.S. senator is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to update regulations on eyeglass prescriptions to create more competition in the industry, which he says would lead to better deals for consumers. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, says in a statement released early Sunday that the FTC, which is reviewing its regulations on eyeglasses, should require eyecare providers to give complete eyeglass prescription information to consumers. Schumer says consumers could then use this information to shop around for the best deals on glasses. Schumer is also calling for the FTC to require eyecare providers to verify information about a prescription to third-party sellers in a reasonable amount of time. He adds that the FTC should pass a rule mandating that the prescriptions last longer than one year, a move Schumer says would give consumers more time to shop. Houston Chronicle

Third 4.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northwest Nevada
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a 4.7-magnitude earthquake hit the northwest corner of Nevada on Saturday night — the third earthquake of this size to hit the region in the past 10 months. The USGS says the earthquake, which had its epicenter about 38 miles southeast of Lakeview, Oregon, hit at 7:44 p.m. There are no reports of damage in the region. On Sept. 14, a 4.7-magniture earthquake hit the Shelton National Wildlife Refuge near the Oregon and California borders. That earthquake was the second of 4.7 magnitude to hit the Sheldon wildlife refuge. The first one, recorded on Nov. 6, 2014, was the largest one to hit since the thousands of earthquakes started in July 2014. Houston Chronicle

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US Reports 25 Air Strikes Against Islamic State In Iraq And Syria
The United States and its allies conducted 25 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria on Friday, a US military statement said. Twenty-four air raids were carried out against targets near 10 cities in Iraq, including Mosul and Ramadi, it said. In Syria, an Islamic State vehicle was destroyed in an air attack near Al Hawl, the statement added. Jerusalem Post

In Meeting With Iran's Zarif, Kerry Says Sees Chance For Syria Progress
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he saw an opportunity for progress this week in ending Syria's four-year civil war before meeting Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Western officials said Kerry wants to launch a new initiative to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict, which has taken on a new urgency in light of Russia's military build-up in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad and a refugee crisis that has spilled over into Europe. The new US approach, which officials stressed was in its infancy, could bring Russia, a major ally of Assad, together with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar that support Syrian opposition groups against Assad. Jerusalem Post

Syria Crisis: US-Trained Rebels Give Equipment To Al-Qaeda Affiliate
A group of US-trained Syrian rebels has handed over their vehicles and ammunition to fighters linked to al-Qaeda, the US military has admitted. It said one rebel unit had surrendered six pick-up trucks and ammunition to the al-Nusra Front this week - apparently to gain safe passage. Congress has approved $500m (£323m) to train and equip about 5,000 rebels to fight against Islamic State militants. But the first 54 graduates were routed by al-Nusra Front, the military said. Gen Lloyd Austin told US lawmakers last week that only "four or five" US-trained rebels were still fighting. BBC

Volkswagen  Models Sale Halted In Switzerland
Switzerland has temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests. It said the move could affect 180,000 cars - not yet sold or registered - in the Euro5 emission category. This comes after VW, the biggest carmaker in the world, admitted cheating on emissions tests in the US. Meanwhile, Matthias Mueller has been named new VW chief executive in the wake of the scandal. Mr Mueller, the former head of Porsche, succeeds Martin Winterkorn, who resigned on Wednesday. The row erupted after it emerged that some VW cars being sold in the US had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the engine performance to improve results. BBC

As Cobras And Vipers Spread Their Deadly Venom, It’s Getting Harder To Save Lives
In the late 1970s, a 50-year-old farmer was working in his fields in the Hausa region of west Africa when was he was bitten on the ankle by a snake, probably a carpet viper. Within two hours his leg was badly swollen. The unnamed man, whose case is included in a report by a group of doctors led by Oxford University tropical medicine specialist David Warrell took herbal medicine but continued to sicken. Six days later he was taken to hospital, where doctors found that his urine was bloodstained and he had suffered intense internal haemorrhages. A day later, he died. Guardian

Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Turns Against You
The summer Kaila Prins turned 13, she started breaking out in hives all over her body. Her mother remembered that when she was a baby she had tested allergic to soy, so encouraged Prins to cut that out of her diet, bringing her attention to ingredients for the first time. Prins had never paid much attention to what she ate, enjoying the occasional McDonald’s meal or a few chunks of cookie dough like many other teens. But what began as an allergy-related need to pay attention to food labels slowly turned into an obsession that took a toll on the young girl’s health. Guardian

Further Use Of Nuclear Weapons Would Be ‘Horrific,’ Ban Says On International Day
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted that 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the first and last use of a nuclear weapon in war, as he renewed his call for complete global nuclear disarmament. “The norm against the use of nuclear weapons – the most destructive weapons ever created, with potentially unparalleled human costs – has stood strong for seven decades,” Mr. Ban said in a message for the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, observed annually on 26 September. “But the only absolute guarantee that they are never used again is through their total elimination,” he added. UN News

Business Leaders Pledge Investments Worth Millions To Boost Gender Equality
Top global companies and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Unilever, are committing millions of dollars to promote gender equality as they gather at a United Nations event in New York. Commitments made at the Business and Philanthropy Leader’s Forum, hosted by the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women (UN Women), seek to close the deep financing gaps that hinder progress for women and girls. Achieving gender equality is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that comprise the 2030 Agenda, which world leaders adopted on Friday. According to UN Women, gender equality is crucial to realizing the “transformative promise” of the new global development agenda. UN News

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