ALL-TIME
LOW: Only 7% Say They Have Great Deal Of Trust In American Media
A Gallup poll released yesterday shows that an all-time low of 7 percent
of Americans say that they have a great deal of trust and confidence in
the media. At the other end of the spectrum, a record high of 24 percent
said their trust and confidence in the media is none. The combined 60
percent who say they have either no trust in the media (24 percent) or
not very much trust (36 percent) also matched an all-time high. Periodically,
since 1972, Gallup has asked this question: In general, how much trust
and confidence do you have in the mass mediasuch as newspapers, T.V. and
radiowhen it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairlya
great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?" CNS
News
VOA VIEW: The media has no shame.
World
Stocks Higher On Last Day Of Torrid Quarter
Global stock markets bounced higher Wednesday, led by gains in Japan
where investors were buoyed by expectations for more economic stimulus.
But most stock benchmarks have lost ground for the quarter, weighed down
by the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates and weak growth in many major
economies. KEEPING SCORE: Europe opened higher with Britain's FTSE 100
up 2.1 percent to 6,032.88. France's CAC 40 jumped 2.6 percent to 4,457.17
and Germany's DAX gained 2.5 percent to 9,686.39. The worst performing
of those indexes, the DAX, is down 12.5 percent for the July-September
quarter, which ends Wednesday. Wall Street was set for big gains. Dow futures
were up 1.1 percent at 16,129.00. The Dow Jones industrials is down 8.8
percent in the past three months. S&P 500 futures gained 1.1 percent
to 1,895.90. The index is off 8.4 percent so far this quarter. Tampa
Tribune
Planned
Parenthood Boss To House Committee: Videos Categorically Untrue
The head of Planned Parenthood defended the womens health organization
Tuesday before a Republican-run Congress bent on slashing its federal funding,
telling lawmakers that accusations against her group fed by stealthily
recorded videos are offensive and categorically untrue. In Planned Parenthoods
first appearance before Congress since those videos emerged this summer,
Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee argued
that the group needs no taxpayer financing. They cited Planned Parenthood
tax documents showing it spends millions on political activities, travel
and salaries. Tampa
Tribune
Trump
Ends 6-Day Fox Boycott With 'O'Reilly Factor' Appearance
Last week, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced
that he would not be doing any more Fox shows for the foreseeable future
because he felt the network had treated him very unfairly. The foreseeable
future turned out to be about six days. Trump ended his nearly weeklong
boycott of Fox News with an appearance on The OReilly Factor Tuesday night.
So, youre back! OReilly declared to open the interview. How does it
feel? Well it feels good, Trump replied. Youve always been fair to
me, Bill. Ive never had a problem with you. Youve always treated me with
respect and fairly. Well, thats gonna change tonight, OReilly joked.
USA
Today
VOA VIEW: Which side blinked - Fox or
Trump?
Military
Retirement Reform: Bigger Matches, Lump-Sum Payouts
Congressional negotiators completing plans for a historic overhaul
of the military retirement system left in a controversial lump-sum payout
for troops who have served 20 years that outside advocates have blasted
as a bad deal for military families. The retirement reform plan, included
in the fiscal 2016 defense authorization bill, would replace the current
20-year, all-or-nothing system with a "blended" compensation plan featuring
401(k)-style investments into individual troops Thrift Savings Plans.
The result would be a retirement system that gives all troops who serve
at least two years some retirement benefits after they leave service. Pentagon
officials estimate that only about 17% of troops leave service with retirement
payouts under the current system. USA
Today
Mass.
Health Officials Announce First Death Of The Year Related To West Nile
Virus
Massachusetts health officials say a Suffolk County man in his 60s
has died after being hospitalized for the West Nile virus. The state Department
of Public Health announced Tuesday the man was one of two patients from
Suffolk County who were hospitalized with the mosquito-borne illness, bringing
the number of cases this year in the state to five. Officials believe the
men, both in their 60s, contracted the virus in the Suffolk County area.
The Department of Public Health is elevating the risk levels to high
for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, according to a statement from
the department. As we enter Fall, and cooler temperatures approach, its
important to note that Massachusetts still is in peak season for possible
West Nile virus infection for human infections, said State Public Health
Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown. Boston
Globe
Tropical
Storm Joaquin Forms In Atlantic Ocean
Tropical Storm Joaquin formed in the Atlantic on Monday, becoming the
10th named storm of the season, while Hurricane Marty ambled toward the
south-central coast of Mexico in the eastern Pacific. The U.S. National
Hurricane Center in Miami said that Joaquin was centered 400 miles northeast
of the central Bahamas late Monday. It had maximum sustained winds of 40
mph and was moving southwest at 5 mph. There were no coastal watches
or warnings in effect, but the center said the storm was expected to strengthen
during the next couple of days. In the eastern Pacific, Hurricane Marty
was moving slowly toward the south-central coast of Mexico hours after
forming Monday, bringing heavy rains from Zihuatanejo to Acapulco. Fox
News
Georgia
Weighs Executing Woman; Pope Asks She Be Spared
As the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole met Tuesday to decide whether
to a 47-year-old woman on death row will be executed, the board received
a letter on behalf of Pope Francis asking that Kelly Gissendaner's life
be spared. Gissendaner would be the state's first female convict to be
executed in 70 years. The board has the option to commute her sentence
to life in prison. It's very rare to execute women. Only 15 female inmates
have been put to death in the United States since 1976, according to the
Death Penalty Information Center. The last woman in Georgia was executed
in the electric chair in 1945. Gissendaner was sentenced to death for the
1997 crime in which she convinced her boyfriend, Gregory Owen, to kill
her husband Douglas. CNN
PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH THOSE WHO DO BUSINESS WITH US -- OUR ADVERTISERS.
House
Could Consider Debt Limit As Well As Stopgap Spending
As the U.S. Congress on Tuesday moved toward passing a short-term funding
bill to avert government shutdowns this week, House Speaker John Boehner
left open the possibility of tackling major fiscal measures in October,
including raising the nation's borrowing limit. When asked by a reporter
whether he would advance a debt limit bill before resigning from Congress
on Oct. 30, Boehner said: "We'll have to see. There are a number of issues
that we're going to try to deal with over the coming month." Difficult
fiscal issues - from increasing a debt limit that is forecast to be breached
before year's end to settling on spending priorities through September
2016 - confront a Congress that has been rocked by Republican disarray
that resulted in Boehner's retirement announcement last Friday. Reuters
"A
New Era": Obama, Castro Meet At U.N.
Making good on a pledge to change U.S. posture toward Cuba, President
Barack Obama opened talks Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro, the
second time the leaders of the once-estranged nations have met this year.
Obama and Castro smiled and shook hands before beginning their private
talk on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United
Nations. The encounter comes as the Cold War adversaries go about the long
and complex process of normalizing relations following decades of animosity.
The U.S. recently eased rules for citizens who want to visit or do business
in Cuba, a step aimed at fostering greater economic freedom on the island.
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders discussed "additional
steps each government can take to deepen bilateral cooperation." CBS
Donald
Trump Says He's Been 'Childish,' Has Fall Back Plan
With summer over, so might be the "Summer of Trump" -- and now the
man himself appears to be accepting it might not be a kind Fall. This
is going to be an ebb and flow, how can I continue to lead by such wide
margins?, Donald Trump told NBCs Today Show this morning. The GOP front-runner's
once dominant lead in the polls has been shifting. A new Wall Street Journal/NBC
News poll this week shows the real estate mogul now in a virtual tie with
retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, polling at 21 percent to Carsons 20.
ABC
VOA VIEW: The liberal media will slant
the truth in all ways possible.
President
Obama Hosts UN Summit On ISIS, Violent Extremism
President Obama hosted a group of world leaders today at the United
Nations in a summit to discuss the ongoing fight against the terror group
ISIS and the global spread of violent extremism. "There are going to be
successes and there are going to be setbacks," Obama said, beginning his
remarks to the leaders of the more than 100 nations present. "This is not
a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign." Similar to his speech
Monday to the United Nations, Obama reiterated that he was ready to work
with countries like Iran and Russia to fight ISIS. ABC
Boomers
Leave Generation's Imprint On The U.S. Landscape
U.S. baby boomers have been on the planet for nearly 70 years, long
enough to reshape almost every aspect of American life. Rock culture, consumerism
and political activism are part of their legacy. So too are the lasting
changes they've made to the landscape. The modern American suburb was carved
out of the unspoiled countryside around established cities to serve as
the boomer nursery. As many boomers remained there to raise their own families,
suburbs sprawled outward exponentially, plowing under the forests, farmland
and natural habitats and covering the land with asphalt and lawn turf.
Now in their retirement years, boomers are putting their final stamp on
the landscape even further out of town in age-restricted communities epitomized
by The Villages, a massive master-planned retirement development in Florida.
Reuters
Will
Congress Go Big Or Go Home In October? Probably Home.
Outgoing House Speaker John Boehner has said that he doesn't want to
leave his likely successor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a "dirty barn." But while
some Boehner allies harbor visions of completing controversial big ticket
items while Boehner still wields the gavel, the likelihood of a brisk legislative
schedule this October is slim. The list of things Congress needs to get
done by the end of the year is significant. There's raising the nation's
debt limit, providing needed funds for the country's highways, a reauthorization
of the Export-Import bank and finishing some routine tax legislation, just
to name a few. While Boehner may want to complete these before he leaves
his job at the end of next month, there are limitations on just how much
he could do on the floor. MSNBC
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House
Panel Votes To Scrap Obamacare Mandates
The House Ways and Means Committee moved Tuesday to chip away at Obamacare
by using a fast-track budget tool to repeal the laws most unpopular taxes
and provisions, including the mandate requiring Americans to hold insurance.
Chairman Paul Ryan said the tool, known as reconciliation, offered congressional
Republicans their best chance to voice their objections to the Affordable
Care Act of 2010, as they only need majority support in the Senate to send
a bill to the White House. Washington
Times
GOP
Field: Tax Cuts For All, Don't Worry About Consequences
Republicans came into this presidential campaign with painful memories
of how, in the last one, Democrats blasted Mitt Romney's tax plan as a
giveaway to the rich. They've heard a new wing of conservative intellectuals
urge them to focus on tax cuts to working-class Americans rather than the
wealthy. Yet the release of Donald Trump's tax plan adds to the number
of major GOP presidential candidates who propose to cut all taxes but
especially those for the wealthy as deeply, or deeper, than Romney proposed.
The lesson Republicans seem to have drawn is to simply stop worrying about
balancing the budget. The plans would blow open deficits over the next
decade that economists estimate ranging from $3.6 trillion to $12 trillion.
Houston
Chronicle
Tea
Party Fear: Will New House Leaders Be Different?
Divided House Republicans are searching for a way forward amid conservative
fears that a new set of leaders might not be much different from the old.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is moving quickly to consolidate support
to move into Congress' top job following the surprise resignation of Speaker
John Boehner. On Tuesday, McCarthy told reporters: "We want to make sure
that we're closer to the people, that they feel this is their government,
they're in charge and we serve them."
McCarthy has been endorsed by Boehner, and faces little opposition.
The contest to replace him as majority leader also features established
congressional leaders: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and
Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price of Georgia. Houston
Chronicle
Joe
Biden Outperforms Hillary Clinton Against Top Republicans
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. performs better than Democratic
presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton against several of the
top 2016 GOP contenders, a new poll said. Mr. Biden beats former Florida
Gov. Jeb Bush by 8 points (48 percent to 40 percent), retired neurosurgeon
Ben Carson by 8 points (49 percent to 41 percent), businesswoman Carly
Fiorina by 6 points (47 percent to 41 percent), and GOP front-runner Donald
Trump by a 56-percent to 35-percent margin, according to the NBC News/Wall
Street Journal poll released this week. Washington
Times
VOA VIEW: Foolish wishful thinking bias
liberal poll.
Californians
Burned By Insurance Companies
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones says more people may be
dropped from fire coverage and that residents of high risk areas may have
to shop for more expensive insurance as wildfires become more destructive
because of the drought. Jones tells KCRA-TV the law allows insurance companies
to not renew policies.
"There are currently no laws in California that prohibit an insurer
from non-renewing a homeowner's insurance policy, California law does provide
consumers with specific rights in the event of a non-renewal," The California
Department of Insurance Website states. He says California's drought is
a game changer and that insurance companies are taking steps to protect
themselves. CBS
Michelle
Obama: Girls, Don't Hold Back In School
First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for teenage girls: Don't
shy from being the smartest kid in the class. And never mind what the boys
think. "Compete with the boys. Beat the boys," she told about 1,000 schoolgirls
and young women Tuesday at an event aimed at publicizing her "Let Girls
Learn" campaign to expand girls' access to education in developing countries
and encourage American girls to take advantage of their opportunities.
But the first lady also gave some impromptu, personal pep talks on handling
the pressures of adolescence. On dealing with the frustrations, embarrassments
and slights of high school: "I know being a teenager is hard," but it's
temporary and not a template for the rest of life: "Half these people,
you're not going to know when you're 60." Philadelphia
Inquirer
Lawmakers
Look To Long-Term Budget Talks
Having dodged the immediate threat of a government shutdown, congressional
Republican leaders are looking ahead to talks with President Obama on a
long-term budget pact. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.)
said Tuesday that he and House Speaker John A. Boehner spoke with Obama
recently and that he expects talks to get underway soon. McConnell spoke
as the Senate wraps up a debate he engineered on a temporary spending bill
that would keep the government open while the negotiations stretch through
the fall. The measure, expected to clear the House and Senate just hours
before a midnight Wednesday deadline, would keep the government running
through Dec. 11. Phladelphia
Inquirer
Edward
Snowden Joins Twitter, Follows NSA
That was the very first tweet by Edward Snowden as he finally joined
Twitter on Tuesday. Using the handle @Snowden, the 32-year-old NSA whistle-blower
racked up more than 200,000 followers in just over an hour. But dont expect
to find him following your Twitter feed anytime soon, because he only follows
one account the NSA. On his profile, Snowden, who has lived in Russia
since he leaked top secret documents to reporters in 2013, features a photo
of a stack of newspapers, which have front pages and headlines bearing
the information from NSA documents that he handed over. NY
Post
YOU can speak out and be heard by having your own "Column" - Visit the "Public Opinion" Section above.
"A
New Era": Obama, Castro Meet At U.N.
Making good on a pledge to change U.S. posture toward Cuba, President
Barack Obama opened talks Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro, the
second time the leaders of the once-estranged nations have met this year.
Obama and Castro smiled and shook hands before beginning their private
talk on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United
Nations. The encounter comes as the Cold War adversaries go about the long
and complex process of normalizing relations following decades of animosity.
The U.S. recently eased rules for citizens who want to visit or do business
in Cuba, a step aimed at fostering greater economic freedom on the island.
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders discussed "additional
steps each government can take to deepen bilateral cooperation." CBS
GOP
Field: Tax Cuts For All, Don't Worry About Consequences
Republicans came into this presidential campaign with painful memories
of how, in the last one, Democrats blasted Mitt Romney's tax plan as a
giveaway to the rich. They've heard a new wing of conservative intellectuals
urge them to focus on tax cuts to working-class Americans rather than the
wealthy. Yet the release of Donald Trump's tax plan adds to the number
of major GOP presidential candidates who propose to cut all taxes but
especially those for the wealthy as deeply, or deeper, than Romney proposed.
The lesson Republicans seem to have drawn is to simply stop worrying about
balancing the budget. The plans would blow open deficits over the next
decade that economists estimate ranging from $3.6 trillion to $12 trillion.
Houston
Chronicle
Tea
Party Fear: Will New House Leaders Be Different?
Divided House Republicans are searching for a way forward amid conservative
fears that a new set of leaders might not be much different from the old.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is moving quickly to consolidate support
to move into Congress' top job following the surprise resignation of Speaker
John Boehner. On Tuesday, McCarthy told reporters: "We want to make sure
that we're closer to the people, that they feel this is their government,
they're in charge and we serve them."
McCarthy has been endorsed by Boehner, and faces little opposition.
The contest to replace him as majority leader also features established
congressional leaders: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and
Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price of Georgia. Houston
Chronicle
Donald
Trump Says He's Been 'Childish,' Has Fall Back Plan
With summer over, so might be the "Summer of Trump" -- and now the
man himself appears to be accepting it might not be a kind Fall. This
is going to be an ebb and flow, how can I continue to lead by such wide
margins?, Donald Trump told NBCs Today Show this morning. The GOP front-runner's
once dominant lead in the polls has been shifting. A new Wall Street Journal/NBC
News poll this week shows the real estate mogul now in a virtual tie with
retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, polling at 21 percent to Carsons 20.
ABC
VOA VIEW: The liberal media will slant
the truth in all ways possible.
President
Obama Hosts UN Summit On ISIS, Violent Extremism
President Obama hosted a group of world leaders today at the United
Nations in a summit to discuss the ongoing fight against the terror group
ISIS and the global spread of violent extremism. "There are going to be
successes and there are going to be setbacks," Obama said, beginning his
remarks to the leaders of the more than 100 nations present. "This is not
a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign." Similar to his speech
Monday to the United Nations, Obama reiterated that he was ready to work
with countries like Iran and Russia to fight ISIS. ABC
Taliban
Tighten Hold On Afghan City Despite US Airstrikes
A day after a strategic northern city fell to the Taliban, the insurgents
fanned out in full force Tuesday, closing roads, throwing up checkpoints
and torching government buildings as fearful residents huddled indoors
amid signs a promised Afghan counteroffensive was faltering. U.S. warplanes
carried out two airstrikes on Taliban positions, but government ground
troops sent to try to retake Kunduz, one of Afghanistan's wealthiest cities,
were stalled by roadblocks and ambushes, unable to move closer than about
a mile (two kilometers) toward their target. A NATO officer said more airstrikes
were unlikely as "all the Taliban are inside the city and so are all the
people." He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized
to brief media on the issue. Kansas
City Star
Gore:
Florida Climate Crisis Mired In Politics
Former vice president turned climate change campaigner Al Gore left
the political stage more than a decade ago but he remains a vocal critic
of how things are done in Washington. And he doesnt like what he sees,
with big money increasingly controlling big decisions. In a one-on-one
interview with the Miami Herald, the one-time Democratic presidential contender
whose fate was sealed by hanging chads at a Palm Beach County courthouse
aimed his harshest criticism at politicians most of whom happen to be
members of the opposing party who ignore public will to carry out the
wishes of powerful backers. For instance, when asked about the fate of
a constitutional amendment intended to buy and preserve land that Florida
voters overwhelmingly supported last year, Gore chuckled. Miami
Herald
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"A
New Era": Obama, Castro Meet At U.N.
Making good on a pledge to change U.S. posture toward Cuba, President
Barack Obama opened talks Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro, the
second time the leaders of the once-estranged nations have met this year.
Obama and Castro smiled and shook hands before beginning their private
talk on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United
Nations. The encounter comes as the Cold War adversaries go about the long
and complex process of normalizing relations following decades of animosity.
The U.S. recently eased rules for citizens who want to visit or do business
in Cuba, a step aimed at fostering greater economic freedom on the island.
In a statement, the White House said the two leaders discussed "additional
steps each government can take to deepen bilateral cooperation." CBS
Donald
Trump Says He's Been 'Childish,' Has Fall Back Plan
With summer over, so might be the "Summer of Trump" -- and now the
man himself appears to be accepting it might not be a kind Fall. This
is going to be an ebb and flow, how can I continue to lead by such wide
margins?, Donald Trump told NBCs Today Show this morning. The GOP front-runner's
once dominant lead in the polls has been shifting. A new Wall Street Journal/NBC
News poll this week shows the real estate mogul now in a virtual tie with
retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, polling at 21 percent to Carsons 20.
ABC
VOA VIEW: The liberal media will slant
the truth in all ways possible.
Apple
CEO Tim Cook: 'We Haven't Even Started Yet'
Apple reported almost $50 billion in revenue last quarter, and is on
its way to hitting roughly $200 billion in sales this year but its CEO
Tim Cook doesn't think Apple's business has even taken off yet. Speaking
at BoxWorks, the annual conference by cloud storage firm Box, Cook was
asked "What's next for Apple?" by Box CEO Aaron Levie. "We haven't even
started yet," Cook said. "Keep in mind our goal isn't to be the biggest.
We've always wanted to make the best, and we've always believed very deeply
that if we made the best products, we can keep investing and doing more
work." SF
Gate
President
Obama Hosts UN Summit On ISIS, Violent Extremism
President Obama hosted a group of world leaders today at the United
Nations in a summit to discuss the ongoing fight against the terror group
ISIS and the global spread of violent extremism. "There are going to be
successes and there are going to be setbacks," Obama said, beginning his
remarks to the leaders of the more than 100 nations present. "This is not
a conventional battle. This is a long-term campaign." Similar to his speech
Monday to the United Nations, Obama reiterated that he was ready to work
with countries like Iran and Russia to fight ISIS. ABC
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Clinton
Fundraises With Oil Magnates Despite Opposition To Keystone XL
Despite Hillary Clinton's coming out against the Keystone XL pipeline,
the Democratic presidential candidate appeared at a fundraiser Friday with
major Democratic donors who are heavily invested in the oil and gas industry.
The event for Hillary was held at the $8.2 million home of hedge fund manager
Cliff Robbins in Greenwich, Connecticut. Robbins is the founder and CEO
of the Blue Harbour Group, a company that has invested a significant amount
of money in the oil and gas sectors. Robbins and his wife Debbie have contributed
nearly $200,000 to Democratic candidates over the past decade. Fox
News
Don't
Fall For It: Facebook Hoax Makes The Rounds Again
Stop me if you've heard this before. Your Facebook news feed says you
need to post a legal notice or you'll lose copyright control of your pictures
and other content you share with your circle of family and friends. Or
maybe Facebook is going to charge you to keep your profile private. It's
a hoax, folks, and people are falling for it all over again. Check your
news feed, it's probably there somewhere. Here's part of one of the versions
floating around. "Now it's official! It has been published in the media.
Facebook has just released the entry price: $5.99 to keep the subscription
of your status to be set to 'private.' If you paste this message on your
page, it will be offered free (paste not share) if not tomorrow, all your
posts can become public. Even the messages that have been deleted or the
photos not allowed. After all, it does not cost anything for a simple copy
and paste." CNN
McCarthy
On How He Would Differ From Boehner: 'I Won't Be As Tanned'
A reporter on Tuesday asked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)
how he would differ from John Boehner if McCarthy succeeds Boehner as House
Speaker: "I won't be as tanned," McCarthy joked. "There's a generational
difference between us as well," he added later. "I'm a little younger."
Speaking at a Republican leadership news conference on Capitol Hill, McCarthy
praised Boehner as a "very good and decent man." CNS
News
Tax
Group: Trump Tax Plan Would Cost $12 Trillion
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's tax plan would
cost an eye-popping $12 trillion over 10 years, according a new estimate
that runs directly counter to the billionaire's pledge not to increase
the deficit with the proposal. The conservative Tax Foundation, which has
been scoring candidates' tax proposals throughout the race, found that
Trump's changes to the individual tax code would add $10.2 trillion to
the deficit using traditional scoring methods, his corporate tax cuts would
add $1.54 trillion and his proposal to eliminate the estate tax would add
another $238 billion. MSNBC
VOA VIEW: Trump's tax plan was not well
thought out.
House,
Senate Negotiators Reach Deal On Defense Policy Bill
House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a $612 billion
defense policy bill that President Barack Obama has threatened to veto.
The bill gives Obama the increase in funding he requested, but he's unhappy
with the way lawmakers did it. The bill authorizes increased defense spending
by padding a war-fighting account that's not subject to limits Congress
has imposed on military and domestic spending. The bill offers a slight
pay increase to service members and authorizes funds for ships, aircraft
and weapon systems. It calls for government matching funds to new 401(k)-type
plans, replacing a system that doesn't leave retiring troops with anything
unless they serve 20 years. Las
Vegas Sun
New
Test Detects All The Viruses That Infect People, Animals
Researchers have developed a new test that can detect nearly any virus
known to infect humans and animals, offering the potential to help doctors
diagnose infections even without a clue of what they are looking for. The
test, called ViroCap, is likely years from being used regularly with patients
because its accuracy needs to be verified in extensive clinical trials.
The technology is being made publicly available, however, to scientists
and doctors as it continues to be developed. "With this test, you don't
have to know what you're looking for," said Dr. Gregory Storch, a professor
of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis, in a press release.
"It casts a broad net and can efficiently detect viruses that are present
at very low levels. We think the test will be especially useful in situations
where a diagnosis remains elusive after standard testing or in situations
in which the cause of a disease outbreak is unknown." UPI
Washing
Dishes Can Help Ease Overworked Minds
Household chores are generally seen as a boring, sometimes inconvenient
part of life, but researchers at Florida State University found doing the
dishes can be used as an informal contemplative practice that eases the
mind. The researchers linked dishwashing to an opportunity for practicing
mindfulness, a method of focusing attention on the emotions and thoughts
of the present moment usually linked to the practice of some type of meditation.
The idea is not totally new, as previous research has shown that chores
-- specifically washing the dishes -- can be a good opportunity for relaxation.
UPI
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Breaking:
Iron Dome Intercepts Rocket Over Ashdod
An Iron Dome anti-rocket battery intercepted a rocket over the southern
city of Ashdod on Tuesday after air raid sirens sounded in the region.
According to the IDF, a single rocket was fired at Israel in the attack.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages. The rocket attack
came ahead of PA President Mahmoud Abbas scheduled speech at the United
Nations General Assembly on Wednesday following heightened tensions in
Jerusalem during the high holiday season and several other rocket attacks
that were carried out by Hamas into Israeli territory. Jerusalem
Post
US
And Israel Seek 'Deconflict Mechanisms' With Russia, Accepting Its New
Syria Role
In a blistering speech on Monday at the United Nations his first in
a decade Russian President Vladimir Putin spent nearly twenty minutes
attacking the United States for its efforts to export a governing model
that, according to Moscow, does not fit the Middle East: Inclusive, authentic
democracy, in which the legitimacy of government is derived from the consent
of the governed. Striking a similar tone as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani,
who in his speech also blamed the spread of terrorism worldwide on the
US and its support for Israel, Putin said Washington had failed to learn
the lessons of the late 20th Century, when both the US and the USSR tried
to export rival ideologies to disastrous consequences. Jerusalem
Post
US Slaps
Sanctions On IS As Obama Holds Counter-Terror Summit
The US has said it is imposing new sanctions on Islamic State (IS)
figures to cut off their sources of financing. It also named individuals
and groups as foreign terrorist fighters, including British, French and
Russian citizens. The announcement came on the day of a summit hosted by
US President Barack Obama about tackling IS, on the margins of the UN General
Assembly in New York. Mr Obama said defeating the group in Syria would
only be possible if President Bashar al-Assad stepped down.
He said defeating IS would take time and required "a new [Syrian] leader
and an inclusive government that united the Syrian people in the fight
against terrorist groups". BBC
Syria
Conflict: Russia Considers Joining Anti-IS Air Strikes
Russia is considering whether to follow the US and its allies in conducting
air strikes against Islamic State (IS) targets, President Vladimir Putin
says. Mr Putin spoke after meeting Barack Obama on the sidelines of the
UN General Assembly (UNGA). But the meeting, and the leaders' speeches
at the UNGA, also highlighted splits about how to end the Syrian war. Russia
said it would be an "enormous mistake" not to work with Syria's President
Bashar al-Assad to tackle IS. On Monday, the US and France again insisted
that President Assad must go. But in response, Mr Putin said: "They aren't
citizens of Syria and so should not be involved in choosing the leadership
of another country." BBC
Ukraine
President Accuses Russia Of Using UN Veto As 'Licence To Kill'
Ukraines president, Petro Poroshenko, has accused Russia of using
its veto on the United Nations security council as a licence to kill
and continue Moscows hybrid war against his country. The Russian delegation
walked out of the general assembly hall as Poroshenko accused Moscow of
a brutal violation of the UN charter with what he said was its invasion
of Ukrainian territory. In a speech laced with sarcasm and contempt, he
accused Moscow of a campaign of fake news, blatant lies in an attempt
to portray separatist movements in Ukraine as an internal rebellion and
hide Russians involvement. Guardian
US
Supreme Court: Conservatives Set To Retake Reins After Year Of Liberal
Wins
With the US political class still reeling from the climax of last seasons
finale, the supreme court returns on Monday for a new series of cases,
and all indications point to equally dramatic plot twists involving race,
class and murder. While 2014-15 will be remembered for surprise wins by
the liberal wing of the court, particularly two blockbuster decisions endorsing
gay marriage and Obamacare, legal experts expect this year will see a clutch
of decisions that reassert the power of the conservative majority. This
period leading up to the forthcoming US election in November 2016 will
be closely watched in any event, since the next president is likely to
shape the future direction of the court for a generation by replacing up
to four of the ageing justices during his or her time in the White House.
Guardian
UN
Stresses Need For Access To Thousands Affected By Central African Republic
Violence
United Nations officials continued to voice their concern today over
the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) where more than 30
people have been killed, over 100 have been wounded and thousands are seeking
shelter amid the recent upsurge in violence and stressed the need for
free movement for aid workers to reach those in need. According to the
UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSCA), although the security
situation has calmed in the last 24 hours, tensions persist in the capital,
Bangui, which had been the scene of attacks against civilians, violence
between communities and attacks against humanitarian personnel since a
young Muslim man was murdered on 26 September. UN
News
In
wake Of Taliban Attack, UN Rights Chief Urges Protection Of Civilians In
Afghan City Of Kunduz
Following yesterdays attack by the Taliban in the Afghan city of Kunduz,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today urged both
parties to the conflict to take all measures to protect civilians from
harm. The civilian population in Kunduz has already suffered months of
fighting and is now in grave danger with very worrying signs that the
violence may intensify, Zeid Raad Al Hussein said in a news release.
I urge all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international
humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and to take all
feasible steps to prevent the loss of life and injuries to civilians.
UN
News
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