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Expanding U.S. Drought, Excessive Heat Hurt Iowa Corn, Soy Crops
High heat and little rain during the past week led to an unusual, quick expansion of drought conditions in Iowa and Illinois, damaging crops in the biggest U.S. corn- and soybean-growing states. About 25 percent of Iowa had a moderate drought on Aug. 27, up from 7.9 percent a week earlier, while Illinois jumped to 20 percent from none, the U.S. Drought Monitor said yesterday in a report. Parts of Iowa received less than 25 percent of normal rain during the past 60 days, and much of Illinois got less than half of normal since June 30, data from the High Plains Regional Climate Center show.

Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg to officiate at same-sex marriage
Saturday will mark the first time that a Supreme Court member conducts a same-sex marriage ceremony. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will officiate the marriage of a longtime friend, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Michael M. Kaiser, to economist John Roberts in the atrium of the center in Washington.

Russia sharply steps up criticism of U.S. over Syria
Russia dramatically escalated its denunciations of American threats to attack Syrian military targets on Saturday, as President Vladimir Putin called the arguments about chemical weapons that underlie the U.S. case “utter nonsense.” The Foreign Ministry said a U.S. attack would be a “gross violation” of international law. Speaking out for the first time since an alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus on Aug. 21, Putin called on President Obama to find a nonviolent way out of the crisis.

7.0 Quake Rocks Alaska's Aleutian Islands
Several aftershocks rattled a remote Aleutian Island region off Alaska in the hours after a major 7.0 temblor struck with a jet-like rumble that shook homes and sent residents scrambling for cover. At least three dozen aftershocks, including one reaching magnitude 6.1 in strength, struck after the major quake Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Satellite imagery shows North Korea expanding rocket launch site
New satellite imagery shows North Korea is conducting major new construction to expand facilities at a launch site from where it fired a rocket into orbit last December, a US research institute has said. The work at the west coast site of Sohae, near the northern border with China, includes what could be a new launch pad for testing mobile ballistic missiles.

Syria: John Kerry slaps Britain in face as he calls France 'oldest allies'
John Kerry delivers diplomatic slap in the face to Britain, failing to mention them among list of supporters and referring to France as "oldest allies". John Kerry administered a diplomatic slap in the face to Britain following David Cameron's withdrawal of military support for intervention in Syria, omitting the UK from a long list of 'friends' prepared to support US actions against the Assad regime.

UN weapons inspectors leave Syria earlier than planned
UN weapons experts left Syria earlier than planned this morning, paving the way for a possible US strike after Washington concluded the regime was responsible for last week's deadly chemical attack. The 13 inspectors, led by Ake Sellstrom, brought forward their departure from 7am on Saturday to 4am, despite travel being considered dangerous around that time.

Obama: Sex Ed for Kindergartners ‘Is the Right Thing to Do’
The Chicago Public Schools this year are mandating that the district’s kindergarten classes include sex education, fulfilling a proposal President Barack Obama supported in 2003... To further clarify Obama’s position on sex ed...Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)...curriculum suggested discussing same-sex relationships—in non-graphic terms--with kindergartners.

South American countries gripped by snow
Unusually cold weather and snow in parts of South America have affected thousands of people in several countries. The cold spell has killed at least seven people in Peru, four in Bolivia and two in Paraguay. In the latter, the authorities blamed the weather for the death of more than 5,000 cattle too.

Russia's Vladimir Putin challenges US on Syria claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN evidence that Syria was responsible for chemical weapons attacks. Mr Putin said it would be "utter nonsense" for Syria's government to provoke opponents with such attacks when it was in a position of strength.

Syrian official to AFP: US to attack at any moment
According to Israel Radio, Kuwaiti press quotes sources in the Gulf as saying that Washington will launch strikes against Syria from bases in Turkey and Cyprus. Syria anticipates a US military attack "at any moment," a security official is quoted as telling AFP on Saturday, just hours after UN investigators probing an alleged chemical weapons attack by pro-government forces left the country.

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'We Can Only Rely on God and Our Troops'
As Israeli leaders continue to react to American prevarication on Syria, one former IDF commander has summed up the general mood. "We have no one to rely upon except for God and our veteran troops," said former IDF General Uzi Dayan, attacking US President Barack Obama’s decision to postpone action on Syria until an official approval from Congress.

Samaria Prepares – Again – for Tel Aviv Refugees
In an emergency meeting held late last week in light of threats from Syria, the Samaria Regional Committee was instructed to prepare in case the region is asked to absorb Israelis from the Tel Aviv region. Samaria (Shomron) could be used as a refuge in case of a chemical weapons attack from Syria.

Saudi Arabia passes law against domestic violence
Saudi Arabia has passed legislation aimed at protecting women, children and domestic staff against domestic abuse, a human rights official said on Thursday. The protection from abuse law is the first of its kind in a country that has often been criticised for lacking legislation that protects women and domestic workers against abuse.

Netanyahu: Israel peaceful, self-assured
In his first comments after President Barack Obama announced he will seek congressional approval for a strike in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that "Israel is peaceful and has faith in itself." He further noted that "the citizens of Israel know we are prepared for any scenario. They should also know that our enemies have very good reasons not to test us. They know why."

Syria Facing U.S. Cyber Attacks in Upcoming Strikes
U.S. military forces are expected to roll out new cyber warfare capabilities during the anticipated military strike on Syria for its use of a deadly nerve agent, according to military sources. Targets of cyber attacks likely will include electronic command and control systems used by the Syrian military forces, air defense computers, and other military communications networks.

The Three Reasons Russia Backs Assad So Staunchly
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shake hands as they meet in Moscow's Kremlin December 19, 2006. Over the course of the 29-month Syrian conflict, Russia has provided the regime of Bashar al-Assad with supplies including guns, grenades, tank parts, fighter jets, advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, long-range air defense missiles, military officers as advisors, diplomatic cover, and lots of cash.

Obama puts Syria strike on hold, opposition 'disappointed'
Syria's opposition expressed disappointment Sunday that President Barack Obama had put on hold military action against the Damascus regime, but said it was confident US lawmakers would green-light a strike. To general surprise, the US leader on Saturday broke with decades of precedent to announce that he would seek approval from Congress for action against Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons.

Terror attack on Suez Canal foiled, officials say
The head of the Suez Canal Authority said a terrorist had tried to damage a Panama-flagged ship, but “failed completely.” “One of the terrorist elements has carried out a failed attempt to affect the movement of ships in the Suez Canal by targeting one of the passing ships, Cosco Asia,” Mohab Memish said in a statement Saturday. He did not elaborate as to what the attack entailed.

California wildfire threatening Yosemite is now size of Dallas
A massive wildfire that has charred the northwestern edge of California's Yosemite National Park is heading towards two groves of the park's famed sequoia trees, National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said as firefighters battled the blaze on Saturday.

National Park Service Denies It's Anti-Christian; Says Limits on Baptism Unintentional
Following a controversy over baptism permits last week, the National Park Service has denied charges of discrimination against Christianity in general and Missouri Baptists or Pentecostals in particular.

********* radiation levels '18 times higher' than thought
Radiation levels around Japan's ********* nuclear plant are 18 times higher than previously thought, Japanese authorities have warned. Last week the plant's operator reported radioactive water had leaked from a storage tank into the ground.

Marijuana Ruling Could Signal End of Prohibition on Pot
It's legal to light up in Colorado and Washington, and soon smoking pot could be legalized across the country following a decision Thursday by the federal government. After Washington state and Colorado passed laws in November 2012 legalizing the consumption and sale of marijuana for adults over 18, lawmakers in both states waited to see whether the federal government would continue to prosecute pot crimes under federal statutes in their states.

Blasts reported at Iran exile camp in Iraq
Explosions were reported in a camp housing Iranian exiles northeast of Baghdad on Sunday, but Iraqi officials strongly denied allegations they had carried out a military offensive. The People's Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran, about 100 of whose members are living on the camp near the Iranian border, blamed security forces for the deaths of 23 residents, however.

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Arkansas Earthquake Today 2013 Strikes Near Memphis, Tennessee
An Arkansas earthquake today 2013 has struck near Memphis, Tennessee. The Arkansas earthquake today September 2, 2013 began just after sunrise. No reports of injuries have yet to be indicated by local news.

Destructive, shallow and deadly earthquake jolts Yunnan - Sichuan border region, China
According to statement from the Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Department, the earthquake has toppled 600 residential units and damaged 55 500 others, some 9 200 local residents have been forced to relocate. There are about 467 340 people living within 100 km radius. According to USGS, epicenter was located below the city of Benzilan at shallow depth of 10 km. China Earthquake Network Center said the epicenter is believed to be Xingfu Village in Nixi Township of Shangri-La.

Laser fusion experiment yields record energy
In the early morning hours of Aug.13, Lawrence Livermore's National Ignition Facility (NIF) focused all 192 of its ultra-powerful laser beams on a tiny deuterium-tritium filled capsule. In the nanoseconds that followed, the capsule imploded and released a neutron yield of nearly 3x1015, or approximately 8,000 joules of neutron energy—approximately three times NIF's previous neutron yield record for cryogenic implosions.

Swarm of strong earthquakes rattle Andreanof Islands region, Alaska
Earthquake sequence that started with M 7.0 on August 30 at 16:25 UTC generated 44 M1+ earthquakes until 07:00 UTC on August 31, according to USGS. In that timeframe, USGS reported 30 M 2.5+ earthquakes and 13 M 4.5+, with strongest being M 6.1 at 06:38 UTC and M 5.5 at 6:43 UTC today. The location of the swarm is south of Andreanof Islands and on top of the subducted plate where the oceanic Pacific plate subducts the North American plate at a very high speed.

Obama Backs Down, Seeks Congressional OK For Syria Action
Obama unexpectedly stepped back from a missile attack against Syria on Saturday and instead asked Congress to support a strike punishing Bashar Assad’s regime for the alleged use of chemical weapons.

The Traveling Ark Sails Into The US Army Fort Hamilton Base
For the first time in history did a traveling ark complete with live animals interactive displays, talking moose, etc…. show up at an US army base ..where it was admired and “wowed“ by all the soldiers , and their families,

GEOMAGNETIC UNREST
Earth's polar magnetic field is unsettled as our planet enters a stream of fast (~500 km/s) solar wind. The encounter is sparking the first auroras of September.

Strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off eastern Indonesia: USGS
A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

NASA's Chandra Observatory Catches Giant Black Hole Rejecting Material
The researchers found that the Chandra data from Sgr A* did not support theoretical models in which the X-rays are emitted from a concentration of smaller stars around the black hole. Instead, the X-ray data show the gas near the black hole likely originates from winds produced by a disk-shaped distribution of young massive stars.

Rebels Admit Responsibility for Chemical Weapons Attack
Rebels Admit Responsibility for Chemical Weapons Attack - Militants tell AP reporter they mishandled Saudi-supplied chemical weapons, causing accident. Syrian rebels in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta have admitted to Associated Press journalist Dale Gavlak that they were responsible for last week’s chemical weapons incident which western powers have blamed on Bashar Al-Assad’s forces, revealing that the casualties were the result of an accident caused by rebels mishandling chemical weapons provided to them by Saudi Arabia.

U.S. Reveals: Indyk Took Part in One Peace Meeting
The U.S. State Department revealed on Sunday for the first time that the U.S. envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian Authority talks had taken part in a meeting between the two parties since negotiations resumed in late July. "The negotiations have been serious, and U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk and his team have been fully briefed on the bilateral talks and also participated in a bilateral negotiating session," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. "As we have said in the past, we are not planning to read out the details of these meetings."

U.S. Sending Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier to Middle East
he nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria if needed, defense officials told the Reuters news agency on Sunday.

Abbas: US Promised Us Full Withdrawal as Basis of Talks
Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas said that the United States had promised him that it would support the PA's demands that Israel withdraw to the 1948 cease-fire lines as the basis for any final status agreement with Israel. The statement shoots down claims by Israeli officials, such as President Shimon Peres, that the PA had agreed to Israel's retention of the so-called “settlement blocs.”

White House to Congress: Help Israel, Bomb Syria
Obama is convincing congressmen to support a strike against Syria by saying that it will help protect Israel, reports Politico.

Arab states call for international action against Syrian regime
At an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Sunday evening, foreign ministers passed a resolution pressing the United Nations and the global community to “take the deterrent and necessary measures against the culprits of this crime that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for,” according to Reuters.

Taliban bombers attack US base in Afghanistan
Taliban militants have attacked a US base in eastern Afghanistan, sparking a lengthy gun battle in which three insurgents were killed. Reports say the attack on Torkham base in Nangarhar province unfolded after militants torched Nato supply trucks on the highway leading to the base.

Hamas slams Egyptian plan to create buffer zone with Gaza
The Hamas government said Sunday it was “surprised” to hear that Egypt is planning to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip. Ehab Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas government, said that there should be no buffer zones “between brothers and friendly countries.”

Analysis: Putin sees chance to turn tables on Obama at G20
Less than three months after Vladimir Putin was cast as a pariah over Syria at the last big meeting of world leaders, the Russian president has glimpsed a chance to turn the tables on Barack Obama. The U.S. president's dilemma over a military response to an alleged poison gas attack in Syria means Obama is the one who is under more pressure going into a G20 summit in St Petersburg on Thursday and Friday.

NYC cancels last day of music festival after deaths
The final day of a three-day dance music festival held on New York's Randall's Island was canceled Sunday after the deaths of two attendees and the hospitalizations of several others, apparently linked to drugs.

Syria minister: US strike on Syria 'would benefit al-Qaeda'
Any US military action against Syria would amount to "support for al-Qaeda and its affiliates," Damascus has said. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad also told the BBC that armed groups backed by America - not Syrian troops - had used chemical weapons.

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The Real Story Behind Middle East Reporting

Khaled Abu Toameh, 50, an award-winning Israeli journalist and documentary filmmaker, has reported on Arab affairs for three decades. He writes for The Jerusalem Post and the New York-based Gatestone Institute, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit international policy council and think tank, where he is a senior adviser. Since 1989, he also has been a producer and consultant for NBC News. He grew up in the Arab Israeli town of Baqa al-Gharbiyye near Haifa and studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He now lives in Jerusalem.



Feds forced churches to get baptism permits

The National Park Service began enforcing a policy recently that required churches to obtain special use permits in order to baptize in public waters. As part of the same permit process, the NPS also mandated that churches give the Park Service 48 hours advance notice of pending baptisms. But as any Baptist or Pentecostal in good standing knows – that’s a problem. “If the Holy Spirit is working on Sunday morning, you’re going to baptize Sunday afternoon,” Dennis Purcell told The Salem News. “You may not know ahead of time.”



International Longshore & Warehouse Union ILWU Disaffiliation

It is with regret but resolve that we have come to the point where the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) must cut formal ties with the ALF-CIO, ...Obama ran on a platform that he would not tax medical plans and at the 2009 AFL- CIO Convention, you stated that labor would not stand for a tax on our benefits. Yet the Federation later lobbied affiliates to support a bill that taxed our health care plans.



Defiant Assad challenges west over chemical weapons evidence

Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, has challenged the west to come up with "a single piece" of evidence that he has used chemical weapons. He warned that any military intervention in Syria could spark a "regional war". "The Middle East is a powder keg, and today the fuse is getting shorter," he said in an exclusive interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.



I was surrounded by vipers in Vatican, claims cardinal removed by the Pope

The Vatican's de facto prime minister has hit out at his enemies a day after being ordered out by the Pope, claiming that he was surrounded by "crows and vipers" who undermined him.



German intelligence concludes sarin gas used on Assad’s orders – reports

The German intelligence agency has enough evidence in its possession to conclude President Bashar Assad ordered the suspected chemical attack in Syria, Germany’s Der Spiegel reports, quoting the results of a secret security briefing.



Israel says it carried out joint missile test with US in Mediterranean

Israel has acknowledged conducting a joint missile test with the United States in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, responding to reports that Russian radar had detected a missile launch in the direction of the eastern Mediterranean. The Israeli Defence Ministry confirmed to Reuters that the test was conducted at approximately 9:15 a.m. Israel Daylight Time (2:15 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) Tuesday, about the same time that Russia's Interfax news agency reported that the launch was detected by a radar station at Armavir, near the Black Sea.



Increasing lava emission with pyroclastic flows at Fuego volcano, Guatemala

The volcano has been in moderate effusive activity for at least the past two weeks, feeding relatively small lava flows on the upper steep slope. A sudden increase in effusion rate seems to have caused the destabilization of the lava flows, generating rockfalls that turned into pyroclastic flows. The longest runout distance was reported as 2 km (INSIVUMEH). This is suggested by the appearance of strong tremor pulses the previous night.



Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS)

DARPA created the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program in July 2010 to help address these challenges. PCAS seeks to fundamentally increase CAS effectiveness by enabling dismounted ground agents—Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs)—and combat aircrews to share real-time situational awareness and weapons systems data. The system would enable ground agents to quickly and positively identify multiple targets simultaneously.



Iowa Democrat prayer: Thank God for abortionists!

Hey, this could be progress. About time last year, the Democratic National Convention booed when the platform committee tried to backtrack and add a mention of God that had been earlier removed. In Iowa, at least Democrats have gone back to openly praying, but perhaps they should be hoping that God isn’t listening:



Assad's arsenal: 100,000 missiles and rockets

According to estimates, the Syrian army has in its possession some 100,000 missiles and rockets. Several thousand of them, such as the Scud-D missiles, are considered very powerful and accurate and can reach any target in Israel. President Bashar Assad's army also has Russian-made SS-22 medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, which can carry some 120 kilograms of explosive material.



AMERICA, SYRIA, AND RUSSIA: OPENING THE GATES OF HELL

The whole world is reacting to President Obama’s decision for America to attack Syria over an alleged chemical attack because Assad’s forces had been accused of using chemical weapons several times in the last year, including the August 21st attack in the suburbs of Damascus. However, a number of news analysts such as Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul have called this a “False Flag” attack. What is happening in Syria will not only affect America, Russia, Great Britain, China, Syria, Iran, and Israel. It will affect the entire world because Syria, controlling major oil assets off its coast, occupies a critical position in the global oil economy.



Did a Volcanic Eruption Induce the Midwest 'Julytober'?

Throughout history, large volcanic eruptions have been known to influence climate. This summer, the Midwest experienced a cold wave referred to as "Julytober" following the June eruption of Mount Sheveluch in Russia. Experts continue to compare this eruption to others from history and debate whether it could have induced the cooler Midwestern weather.



Israel says missile launch was joint drill with US

Russia raised a brief alarm in the Middle East Tuesday after apparently detecting a joint Israel and US missile launch test in the Mediterranean. Israel’s Defense Ministry confirmed that it carried out a test of an Anchor missile, which was meant as a test of radar systems. The missile is launched from the air.



Missiles launched in Mediterranean towards Syrian coast, claims Russian defence ministry

Russia has claimed that its missile early warning system has detected the launch of two missiles from the central part of the Mediterranean Sea fired towards the Sea's eastern coastline. The launches took place at 10:16 am Moscow time (0616 GMT) and were detected by the ballistic missile early warning system in Armavir in southern Russia, the defence ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.



US leaves ‘unreliable’ British out in the cold

British military chiefs are being ejected from US meetings about Syria in the first direct consequence of David Cameron’s refusal to join military action. The role of senior British officers based at US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, has been downgraded because they cannot be trusted with high-level intelligence about a conflict with which they are no longer involved, military sources say.



Russia warns citizens of US extradition risk

The Russian foreign ministry has warned Russians against visiting countries that have extradition deals with the US, if they suspect they could face arrest and transfer to the US. A warning on the ministry website alleged that several Russians had been "in effect abducted and taken to the US" in "prejudiced court proceedings".



********* leaks: Japan pledges $470m for 'ice wall'

Japan is to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into building a frozen wall around the ********* nuclear plant to stop leaks of radioactive water. Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said an estimated 47bn yen ($473m, £304m) would be allocated. The leaks were getting worse and the government "felt it was essential to become involved to the greatest extent possible", Mr Suga said.



Egypt shuts down four TV stations

An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of four television channels, including one run by the Muslim Brotherhood, Ahrar 25. The Egyptian arm of al-Jazeera, Mubashir Misr, is one of those set to be shut down, along with the Islamist channels al-Quds and al-Yarmuk. Authorities have recently cracked down on media seen as sympathetic to...Morsi, and his Muslim Brotherhood.



Syrian refugees reach 2 million mark

The number of Syrian refugees has surpassed 2 million, half of whom are children, the UN refugee agency has said. "Today, the number of Syrian refugees passed the threshold of two million, and with no sign of this tragic outflow ending," the United Nation's refugee agency said Tuesday (3 September). It noted that more than a million are children under 17 years.



Report: Egyptian attack helicopters strike jihadist targets in Sinai

Egypt’s air force launched strikes at suspected jihadist networks in the Sinai Peninsula town of Sheikh Zuweid, not far from the border with Israel, according to local media reports. Army Radio reported that an Egyptian attack helicopter operating near the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip struck at armed Islamists, resulting in deaths. The exact number of casualties could not be confirmed, according to witnesses.



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Major Earthquake in Alaska, plus Western Pacific and Texas: Earthquakes 29-August-4 September 2013
Much of this increase is accounted for by aftershocks following the largest earthquake of the week, the M7.0 which struck in the northern Pacific.

Egypt: Christians Killed for Ransom
Not only are the churches, monasteries, and institutions of Egypt’s Christians under attack by the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters—nearly 100 now have been torched, destroyed, ransacked, etc.—but Christians themselves are under attack all throughout Egypt, with practically zero coverage in Western media.

Temple Mount: Arabs Pelt Jewish Visitors with Stones
Police forces were dispatched on Wednesday to break up Muslim stone throwers who were targeting Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount (Har Habayit). As soon as stones were thrown and riots broke out, police forces stepped in to make arrests.

Two earthquakes in one day startle Timpson residents
Timpson, Texas resident Tonya Burch felt a much less subtle rumble, "The house just started shaking for like 30 seconds," said Burch and explained that first tremor just before 5 wasn't unusual. What surprised her, was the second 4.3 magnitude quake that followed exactly 2 hours later. "The other ones were not like that, they were days apart," said Burch and expressed her gratitude that her home wasn't damaged, but she is concerned about the frequency of the quakes and what future rumbles could bring.

Alaska earthquake strikes near Aleutian Islands
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake was recorded Tuesday in waters off Alaska's remote Aleutian Islands region, where a 7.0 quake hit just last week. The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said there was no danger of a tsunami from the quake that hit Tuesday afternoon.

Moderate Earthquake Shakes Japan, No Tsunami or Damage Reported
TOKYO--A moderate earthquake shook many parts of Japan on Wednesday morning, although no damage was reported or tsunami warning issued. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake registered a magnitude of 6.9 and was centered near the Izu island chain about 580 kilometers south of central Tokyo.

Chicago Police Superintendent Threatens To Murder Concealed Carry Permit Holders
McCarthy said. “I don’t care if they’re licensed legal firearms, people who are not highly trained… putting guns in their hands is a recipe for disaster. So I’ll train our officers that there is a concealed carry law, but when somebody turns with a firearm in their hand the officer does not have an obligation to wait to get shot to return fire and we’re going to have tragedies as a result of that. I’m telling you right up front.” McCarthy doesn’t just seem to think it may happen; he almost seems to look look forward to it with some sort of vindictive wrath.

SJC to weigh wording of pledge
The state Supreme Judicial Court will begin hearing arguments this week in an atheist Acton couple’s quest to strike the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance their children say in the Acton-Boxboro Regional School District. The couple’s suit, filed anonymously on behalf of their three children, goes to the SJC tomorrow, with a pair of Washington, D.C., activist organizations 
taking part in the proceedings.

McCain: Shouting 'Allahu Akhbar!' Same as Christians Shouting 'Thank God!'
“I have a problem helping those people screaming that after a hit,” Kilmeade said. McCain responded: “Would you have a problem with an American or Christians saying ‘thank God? Thank God?’” He added, “That’s what they’re saying. Come on! Of course they’re Muslims, but they’re moderates and I guarantee you they are moderates.” McCain provided no evidence to suggest that Syrian opposition groups are moderate, as opposed to the wide swath of evidence suggesting that the opposition is heavily infested with al Qaeda.

What attack on Syria will mean
This war will not just be with a Syrian regime clinging tenuously to power. It will be a proxy war against Iran. If it were not for support from Iran, Bashar Assad would probably be out of power already. It would not even be an exaggeration to suggest Syria has become a client state of Iran, as has neighbor Lebanon. Think of Hezbollah as Iran’s terrorist foreign legion. It maybe represent the most significant military power in Syria and Lebanon. Last week, Iranian officials said if the U.S. launches missile attacks on Assad’s forces (meaning their own), Tehran would respond with missile attacks of its own – on Israel.

Russia's President Putin warns US over Syria action
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned America and its allies against taking one-sided action in Syria. He said any military strikes without UN approval would be "an aggression". US President Barack Obama has called for punitive action in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack.

Strong and shallow M 6.1 earthquake struck Haida Gwaii region, Canada
A strong and shallow M 6.1 earthquake struck Haida Gwaii region (Queen Charlotte Sound), Canada, at 20:19 UTC on September 3, 2013. USGS is reporting a shallow depth of 1 km.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee green-lights authorization of use of military force in Syria
Leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said they reached an agreement on Tuesday on a draft authorization for the use of military force in Syria that was much narrower than the request made by President Barack Obama, paving the way for a vote by the committee on Wednesday. Among other provisions, the draft, which was obtained by Reuters, sets a 60-day limit on US military action...

Senior PA official: Peace talks with Israel are going nowhere
Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are proving pointless and will not bear fruit without much greater pressure from Washington, a top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday. In the most d a m n i n g Palestinian assessment to date, Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the negotiations, which kicked off in late July after a three year hiatus, had made no progress.

Power cut leaves most of Venezuela without electricity
A power cut has left 70% of Venezuela without electricity, including parts of the capital Caracas. The blackout disabled traffic lights in the city, causing traffic chaos. It also partially disrupted the underground transport system.

Putin offers assurances on gay rights at Olympics
President Vladimir Putin sought to ease concerns that Russia's new anti-gay law would be used to punish athletes who display rainbow flags during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, while insisting that gays are not discriminated against in his country.

UPDATE 2-Record radiation readings near F u k u s h i m a contaminated water tanks
Radiation readings around tanks holding contaminated water at the crippled F u k u s h i m a nuclear plant have spiked by more than a fifth to their highest levels, Japan's nuclear regulator said, heightening concerns about the clean-up of the worst atomic disaster in almost three decades.

Ohio man who held 3 women captive commits suicide
The man who held three women captive in his home for nearly a decade before one escaped and alerted authorities has been found dead and is believed to have committed suicide, a prison official said. Ariel Castro, 53, was found hanging in his cell around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, located south of Columbus in central Ohio, JoEllen Smith, Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman, said early Wednesday.

S&P calls U.S. lawsuit retaliation for stripping 'AAA' rating
Standard & Poor's on Tuesday blasted a $5 billion fraud lawsuit by the U.S. government as retaliation for its 2011 decision to strip the country of its "AAA" credit rating.

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Increase in adult suicides prompts call for greater prevention efforts
The data show a 13 percent increase in the number of suicides, from 606 in 2010 to 684 suicides in 2011. Minnesota's suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 residents in 2011 was the highest since the early 1990s. Most of the increase in numbers from 2010 to 2011 is from men in their middle years, with the greatest increase in numbers for those 55-59 years of age. The suicide rate among seniors over 65 also increased in 2011 from a rate of 10.2 to 13.8 per 100,000.

Survey: Almost 90 percent of Internet users have taken steps to avoid surveillance
While 86 percent of the Internet users polled said they made some attempt hide what they do online, more than half of the Web users also said they have taken steps to avoid observation by organizations, specific people or the government, according to the survey.

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin set for collision over Syria at G20 summit
Russian president signals he will take action if America strikes at Assad as US counterpart admits relations have hit a wall

Egyptian Media Portray Obama as Satan
Popular and widely read Egyptian newspaper Al Wafd published the above picture today portraying U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama as Satan himself. The unflattering picture has been making the rounds on Facebook in the Middle East and, according to Al Wafd, is representative of the hatred growing numbers of people in the region have for the American president, thanks to his staunch and unwavering support for Islamists and jihadiis...

Russia Does Not Rule Out Backing Military Action in Syria – Putin
Russia does not rule out agreeing to a military operation in Syria, provided Damascus' responsibility for using chemical weapons is proven - but only with United Nations approval, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview broadcast Wednesday.

Kerry 'Lied' on Al-Qaida Presence in Syria – Putin
Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused US Secretary of State John Kerry of “lying” in Congress by saying there was no al-Qaida in Syria. “I watched the debates in Congress. A congressman asks Mr. Kerry: ‘Is al-Qaida there?’ He says: ‘No, we are telling you responsibly that they are not,’” Putin said in televised comments. Putin added that the Syrian rebels’ “main combat unit is al-Nusra, an al-Qaida unit. They [the US] are aware of that. … He [Kerry] lied. And he knows that he lied. This is sad.”

John Kerry reveals Arab countries have offered to PAY America to carry out full-scale invasion of Syria
John Kerry said during a hearing Wednesday in the House of Representatives that counties in the Arab world have offered to foot the entire bill for a U.S. military mission that destroys the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. 'With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assist, the answer is profoundly yes,' Kerry said. 'They have. That offer is on the table.'

Obama has Tripped over his own Red Line
Obama has tripped over his own red line - leaving the prestige and authority of his Office and America's reputation in tatters.

Syria: We Will Never Give In
Syria said Wednesday it was mobilizing its allies against a possible U.S.-led military strike over a suspected gas attack and would never give in, even if a third world war erupts.

In Yesha: Fear that 'Interim Accord' Awaits
Senior Yesha Council members warned that a Palestinian state would endanger the security of Israel. "This is not a threat or a scare tactic – it is a fact," said Yigal Dilmoni, who heads the hasbara (public information) department in the Council. "The establishment of such a state will not allow IDF soldiers to prevent terror attacks that are organized in Ramallah or Shechem, since international law does not allow such an incursion into a state like the one that is being planned," he said.

Syria war: Is it about the last gasp for the PetroDollar ?
Syria is about the last gasp for the Petro-Dollar, the emergence of energy pipeline geopolitics, the rise of the NatGas Co-op, the new dominance of Russian Gazprom, the eclipse of OPEC, the fall of the house of Saud, and a grand adjustment process in global commerce and banking. The NatGas Co-op eclipses OPEC and ushers in a new era.

2 injured in Tochigi, Japan tornado
Tornado in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan has injured at least two people, The Japan Meteorological Agency said. According to the Tochigi prefecture government, tornado around 12:30 pm damaged thirteen buildings. Tornado also damaged the roof of a primary school gymnasium in Yaita. Power outages have been reported in about 600 households in the city.

Ubinas volcano in Peru erupts for 5th time in two days
According to Peru This Week, Ubinas volcano in Peru send a column of volcanic gases and ash to a height of two kilometers. The Ubinas volcano explosions were purely phreatic, Volcano Discovery reported quoting the scientists from Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP). Officials confirmed the ash column does not pose a danger to people or livestock nearby.

Egyptian Newspaper’s Explosive Allegation: President Obama Is a Secret Muslim Brotherhood Member
Al Jazeera’s blog posted a story Monday featuring tweets from the Director of Research at the Brookings Center in Doha, Qatar, who reported that an Egyptian newspaper’s front page story claimed President Barack Obama is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Selective Racism Is the Newest Social Disease — And It’s Being Spread by Obama
in what should have been his greatest speech of all time, (although CNN gushingly disagrees with me) he has sadly regurgitated his typical “racial” talking points about nothing, as do most prominent liberal African American leaders of today, and presented no solutions to the plight of poverty, violence, unemployment, family breakdown, and education within the black community.

Rumsfeld Shocked After Finding Out On-Camera That Obama Said He Didn’t Draw a Red Line
During her interview, Fox News host Greta Van Susteren highlighted Obama’s Wednesday statement that he didn’t alone draw a “red line.” “He did draw it!” Rumsfeld interjected. “I’m just telling you what he said,” Van Susteren replied. “You’re kidding,” he said. “I didn’t see that.” “This president has tried to blame everybody or anybody, for everything,” Rumsfeld continued. “And leadership requires that you stand up, take a position, provide clarity, and take responsibility. I can’t imagine him saying that he didn’t draw the red line. He did draw a red line. We have ears!”

Sakurajima volcano (Japan): large explosion damages cars
A moderately large vulcanian explosion occurred this morning, producing significant fallout of lapilli and small bombs in several kilometers distance. Cars parked at the Arimura Lava observatory observation point to the south of the volcano were damages and windshields broken, at a distance of about 4 km. There are no reports of injuries to people. The ash plume from the eruption rose to approx. 12,000 ft (3.6 km) elevation, i.e. about 2.5 km km height.

Muslim Brotherhood in Syria: Shari’a or Death
Armed gunmen claiming to belong to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood gave a glimpse of their growing strength in Syria when they threatened 30 Kurdish fighters they took hostage last month with death if they didn’t accept Shari’ia law and the “Brotherhood’s” interpretation of Islam, a recently uploaded YouTube video showed.

Twitter Stunned After Iranian President Wishes ‘All Jews’ a ‘Blessed Rosh Hashanah’
Iran’s newly-elected president, Hassan Rouhani, turned to Twitter on Wednesday to wish the Jewish people a happy Jewish New Year. “As the sun is about to set here in #Tehran I wish all Jews, especially Iranian Jews, a blessed Rosh Hashanah,” Rouhani tweeted.

PA official: Israel offered to evacuate settlements, leave them intact
Israel has proposed leaving intact dozens of Jewish settlements and military bases in the West Bank as part of a package to establish a Palestinian state in provisional borders, a Palestinian official told The Associated Press on Wednesday, in the first detailed glimpse at recently relaunched peace talks. The official said the proposal is unacceptable to the Palestinians...

Internet Bible reading surges, now 4 in 10 read God's words digitally
God is still great in the eyes of Americans...While an amazing 88 percent of the nation’s homes own a Bible, more and more are switching to the internet, cell phones and iPad for their weekly inspiration, according to a sweeping new survey of Bible use. In their latest survey of Bible use, the American Bible Society finds that 41 percent of Americans used the internet to read the good book on a computer.

Al-Qaeda Linked Syrian Rebels Attack Christian Village
Al-Qaida-linked rebels launched an assault Wednesday on a regime-held Christian village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus -- part of a brutal battle of attrition each side believes it can win despite more than two years of deadlock. The attack came hours before a Senate panel voted to give President Barack Obama authority to use military force against Syria...

Syria rifts loom over G20 summit
World leaders from the G20 group of nations are set to meet in Russia amid sharp differences over military action against Syria's government. Ahead of the talks, Russia's Vladimir Putin warned that action without UN approval would be "an aggression". But US President Barack Obama said the credibility of the international community was on the line.

Kenya parliament holds emergency debate on ICC pull-out
Kenya's parliament is to hold an emergency session to debate leaving the International Criminal Court (ICC). Analysts say the motion is likely to be passed, making it the first country to cancel its ICC membership. The ICC has charged both President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto with crimes against humanity, which they both deny.

Georgia PM says 'why not?' on Eurasian Union
One day after Armenia said it will join Russia's Eurasian Union, Georgia's PM has said it might, in due course, do the same. Speaking on national TV on Wednesday (4 September), the Prime Minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said: "I am keeping a close eye on it [the Eurasian Union] and we are studying it. At this stage we have no position at all. If...we see that it is in our country's strategic interest, then, why not?

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Increase in adult suicides prompts call for greater prevention efforts
The data show a 13 percent increase in the number of suicides, from 606 in 2010 to 684 suicides in 2011. Minnesota's suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 residents in 2011 was the highest since the early 1990s. Most of the increase in numbers from 2010 to 2011 is from men in their middle years, with the greatest increase in numbers for those 55-59 years of age. The suicide rate among seniors over 65 also increased in 2011 from a rate of 10.2 to 13.8 per 100,000.

Survey: Almost 90 percent of Internet users have taken steps to avoid surveillance
While 86 percent of the Internet users polled said they made some attempt hide what they do online, more than half of the Web users also said they have taken steps to avoid observation by organizations, specific people or the government, according to the survey.

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin set for collision over Syria at G20 summit
Russian president signals he will take action if America strikes at Assad as US counterpart admits relations have hit a wall

Egyptian Media Portray Obama as Satan
Popular and widely read Egyptian newspaper Al Wafd published the above picture today portraying U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama as Satan himself. The unflattering picture has been making the rounds on Facebook in the Middle East and, according to Al Wafd, is representative of the hatred growing numbers of people in the region have for the American president, thanks to his staunch and unwavering support for Islamists and jihadiis...

Russia Does Not Rule Out Backing Military Action in Syria – Putin
Russia does not rule out agreeing to a military operation in Syria, provided Damascus' responsibility for using chemical weapons is proven - but only with United Nations approval, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview broadcast Wednesday.

Kerry 'Lied' on Al-Qaida Presence in Syria – Putin
Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused US Secretary of State John Kerry of “lying” in Congress by saying there was no al-Qaida in Syria. “I watched the debates in Congress. A congressman asks Mr. Kerry: ‘Is al-Qaida there?’ He says: ‘No, we are telling you responsibly that they are not,’” Putin said in televised comments. Putin added that the Syrian rebels’ “main combat unit is al-Nusra, an al-Qaida unit. They [the US] are aware of that. … He [Kerry] lied. And he knows that he lied. This is sad.”

John Kerry reveals Arab countries have offered to PAY America to carry out full-scale invasion of Syria
John Kerry said during a hearing Wednesday in the House of Representatives that counties in the Arab world have offered to foot the entire bill for a U.S. military mission that destroys the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. 'With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assist, the answer is profoundly yes,' Kerry said. 'They have. That offer is on the table.'

Obama has Tripped over his own Red Line
Obama has tripped over his own red line - leaving the prestige and authority of his Office and America's reputation in tatters.

Syria: We Will Never Give In
Syria said Wednesday it was mobilizing its allies against a possible U.S.-led military strike over a suspected gas attack and would never give in, even if a third world war erupts.

In Yesha: Fear that 'Interim Accord' Awaits
Senior Yesha Council members warned that a Palestinian state would endanger the security of Israel. "This is not a threat or a scare tactic – it is a fact," said Yigal Dilmoni, who heads the hasbara (public information) department in the Council. "The establishment of such a state will not allow IDF soldiers to prevent terror attacks that are organized in Ramallah or Shechem, since international law does not allow such an incursion into a state like the one that is being planned," he said.

Syria war: Is it about the last gasp for the PetroDollar ?
Syria is about the last gasp for the Petro-Dollar, the emergence of energy pipeline geopolitics, the rise of the NatGas Co-op, the new dominance of Russian Gazprom, the eclipse of OPEC, the fall of the house of Saud, and a grand adjustment process in global commerce and banking. The NatGas Co-op eclipses OPEC and ushers in a new era.

2 injured in Tochigi, Japan tornado
Tornado in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan has injured at least two people, The Japan Meteorological Agency said. According to the Tochigi prefecture government, tornado around 12:30 pm damaged thirteen buildings. Tornado also damaged the roof of a primary school gymnasium in Yaita. Power outages have been reported in about 600 households in the city.

Ubinas volcano in Peru erupts for 5th time in two days
According to Peru This Week, Ubinas volcano in Peru send a column of volcanic gases and ash to a height of two kilometers. The Ubinas volcano explosions were purely phreatic, Volcano Discovery reported quoting the scientists from Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP). Officials confirmed the ash column does not pose a danger to people or livestock nearby.

Egyptian Newspaper’s Explosive Allegation: President Obama Is a Secret Muslim Brotherhood Member
Al Jazeera’s blog posted a story Monday featuring tweets from the Director of Research at the Brookings Center in Doha, Qatar, who reported that an Egyptian newspaper’s front page story claimed President Barack Obama is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Selective Racism Is the Newest Social Disease — And It’s Being Spread by Obama
in what should have been his greatest speech of all time, (although CNN gushingly disagrees with me) he has sadly regurgitated his typical “racial” talking points about nothing, as do most prominent liberal African American leaders of today, and presented no solutions to the plight of poverty, violence, unemployment, family breakdown, and education within the black community.

Rumsfeld Shocked After Finding Out On-Camera That Obama Said He Didn’t Draw a Red Line
During her interview, Fox News host Greta Van Susteren highlighted Obama’s Wednesday statement that he didn’t alone draw a “red line.” “He did draw it!” Rumsfeld interjected. “I’m just telling you what he said,” Van Susteren replied. “You’re kidding,” he said. “I didn’t see that.” “This president has tried to blame everybody or anybody, for everything,” Rumsfeld continued. “And leadership requires that you stand up, take a position, provide clarity, and take responsibility. I can’t imagine him saying that he didn’t draw the red line. He did draw a red line. We have ears!”

Sakurajima volcano (Japan): large explosion damages cars
A moderately large vulcanian explosion occurred this morning, producing significant fallout of lapilli and small bombs in several kilometers distance. Cars parked at the Arimura Lava observatory observation point to the south of the volcano were damages and windshields broken, at a distance of about 4 km. There are no reports of injuries to people. The ash plume from the eruption rose to approx. 12,000 ft (3.6 km) elevation, i.e. about 2.5 km km height.

Muslim Brotherhood in Syria: Shari’a or Death
Armed gunmen claiming to belong to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood gave a glimpse of their growing strength in Syria when they threatened 30 Kurdish fighters they took hostage last month with death if they didn’t accept Shari’ia law and the “Brotherhood’s” interpretation of Islam, a recently uploaded YouTube video showed.

Twitter Stunned After Iranian President Wishes ‘All Jews’ a ‘Blessed Rosh Hashanah’
Iran’s newly-elected president, Hassan Rouhani, turned to Twitter on Wednesday to wish the Jewish people a happy Jewish New Year. “As the sun is about to set here in #Tehran I wish all Jews, especially Iranian Jews, a blessed Rosh Hashanah,” Rouhani tweeted.

PA official: Israel offered to evacuate settlements, leave them intact
Israel has proposed leaving intact dozens of Jewish settlements and military bases in the West Bank as part of a package to establish a Palestinian state in provisional borders, a Palestinian official told The Associated Press on Wednesday, in the first detailed glimpse at recently relaunched peace talks. The official said the proposal is unacceptable to the Palestinians...

Internet Bible reading surges, now 4 in 10 read God's words digitally
God is still great in the eyes of Americans...While an amazing 88 percent of the nation’s homes own a Bible, more and more are switching to the internet, cell phones and iPad for their weekly inspiration, according to a sweeping new survey of Bible use. In their latest survey of Bible use, the American Bible Society finds that 41 percent of Americans used the internet to read the good book on a computer.

Al-Qaeda Linked Syrian Rebels Attack Christian Village
Al-Qaida-linked rebels launched an assault Wednesday on a regime-held Christian village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus -- part of a brutal battle of attrition each side believes it can win despite more than two years of deadlock. The attack came hours before a Senate panel voted to give President Barack Obama authority to use military force against Syria...

Syria rifts loom over G20 summit
World leaders from the G20 group of nations are set to meet in Russia amid sharp differences over military action against Syria's government. Ahead of the talks, Russia's Vladimir Putin warned that action without UN approval would be "an aggression". But US President Barack Obama said the credibility of the international community was on the line.

Kenya parliament holds emergency debate on ICC pull-out
Kenya's parliament is to hold an emergency session to debate leaving the International Criminal Court (ICC). Analysts say the motion is likely to be passed, making it the first country to cancel its ICC membership. The ICC has charged both President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto with crimes against humanity, which they both deny.

Georgia PM says 'why not?' on Eurasian Union
One day after Armenia said it will join Russia's Eurasian Union, Georgia's PM has said it might, in due course, do the same. Speaking on national TV on Wednesday (4 September), the Prime Minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, said: "I am keeping a close eye on it [the Eurasian Union] and we are studying it. At this stage we have no position at all. If...we see that it is in our country's strategic interest, then, why not?

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Report: AIPAC to mount major lobbying blitz for Obama's Syria strike plan
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is set to "mount a major blitz" in support of US President Barack Obama's resolution to take military action in Syria, the Washington-based Politico website quoted officials with the group as saying on Thursday.

‘Obama Blinked’: Why Israelis Are Concerned Obama’s Change of Heart on Syria Strike Will Embolden Iran and Other Foes
While Israel has said repeatedly it’s not a party to the Syria conflict, Israeli lawmakers and analysts are voicing concern that President Barack Obama’s hesitation in making a decision about a military strike and sticking with it is sending a loud and “dangerous” message to Iran.

Arkansas Earthquake Today 2013 Hits Near Little Rock
USGS indicates to news that a 2.8 magnitude Arkansas earthquake began just after 4:57 pm local time today. The quake however had a shallow depth. USGS tells news that the quake started only three miles below ground level. As a result the quake had an impact neighboring communities.

Intercepted Secret Order Reveals Iran’s Plot for Revenge If U.S. Attacks Syria
Iran has ordered militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad if the Obama administration carries out a military strike against Syria, according to a secret order intercepted by U.S. officials.

Syrian Strikes Would Battle-Test Chinese Radars
With the arrival of a Chinese navy ship to the Mediterranean sector facing Syria,on top of the western and Russian naval deployment to that sector, it’s becoming obvious that China will use this conflict to test its electronic and cyber warfare capacities (just like the U.S. plans to do), presumably in preparation for a future conflict with the US navy in the South China sea.

Brutality of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma in West
The prisoners, seven in all, were captured Syrian soldiers. Five were trussed, their backs marked with red welts. They kept their faces pressed to the dirt as the rebels’ commander recited a bitter revolutionary verse. ...the commander, known as “the Uncle,” fired a bullet into the back of the first prisoner’s head. His gunmen followed suit, promptly killing all the men at their feet.

Largest Volcano on Earth Lurks Beneath Pacific Ocean
The world's largest volcano lurks beneath the Pacific Ocean, researchers announced today (Sept. 5) in the journal Nature Geoscience. Called the Tamu Massif, the enormous mound dwarfs the previous record holder, Hawaii's Mauna Loa, and is only 25 percent smaller than Olympus Mons on Mars, the biggest volcano in Earth's solar system, said William Sager, lead study author and a geologist at the University of Houston.

Officials: U.S. Military May Train Syrian Rebels
The Obama administration is considering a plan to use U.S. military trainers to help increase the capabilities of the Syrian rebels, in a move that would greatly expand the current CIA training being done quietly in Jordan, U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Any training would take place outside Syria, and one possible location would be Jordan.

Death, Destruction and Extremism: Are Syrian Christians Doomed if Rebel Fighters Seize Control?
No one can deny that the situation in Syria is dire. Death and destruction are ever-present. And when terror and chaos emerge, minority groups often have much to fear. That’s especially true for Syria’s Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the nation’s population. Increasingly, they’re being caught in the crossfire between numerous Islamic groups.

Russia Delivers 100-Page Report to U.N. Saying Syrian Rebels Behind Sarin Gas Attack in March
Russia has delivered a 100-page report to the United Nations that claims Syrian rebels are responsible for a sarin gas attack in March 2013 — an overlooked incident, it says, in the wake the alleged sarin attack in August that the United States and other nations say the Syrian government is behind, McClatchy news reports.

‘Yes We Can…Kill People’: Anti-war Activists Protest As Obama Visits Sweden - (Video & Stunning Images)
Obama's visit to Sweden wasn't smooth sailing as hundreds of anti-war protesters held up signs and used Obama's own campaign slogan of "Yes We Can," but adding "Kill People, " to the end of the slogan to make their point. They also held up signs saying "I have a dream; I have a drone" and waved Syrian and Egyptian flags. Other signs had Obama's picture on it with the caption "This is how a terrorist looks like," then they lit it on fire.

Insider Suggests Obama “Not Close” To House Votes On Syria
For those believing the Obama White House’s attempt to wage war against Syria and assist radical Islamists who wish to overthrow the Assad regime is nothing more than an attempt to save presidential face, the latest reports coming out of Congress should give you some measure of hope that common sense and an ear to public opinion might just prevail.

Turkey Reinforces Syria Border as Erdogan Backs U.S. Attack
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has expressed a willingness to join any international coalition against Syria, yesterday vowed to respond to any attack from its southern neighbor. He spoke after Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad was cited by the Wall Street Journal as saying that Syria will strike U.S. allies Israel, Jordan and Turkey if the Obama administration attacks his country over its alleged use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21.

Syrian Woman Drops Bombshell On McCain At Town Hall Meeting- Audience Applauds (Video)
A Syrian woman confronts John McCain at an AZ town hall, dropping a bombshell on him that her 18 year old cousin was killed 10 days ago, in Syria at the hands of the U.S. backed rebels. She informs him she has more family over there and she begs him, literally, to not support the bombing of Syria and causing more bloodshed.

Syria crisis: al-Qaeda seizes village that still speaks the ancient language of Christ
A branch of al-Qaeda fighting in the Syrian civil war has seized one of the few remaining villages where the original language of Christ is still spoken, residents say. Fighting raged through the picturesque mountain village of Maaloula, near Damascus, on Thursday, as the regime launched a counter-attack against the rebels.

Iran Plots Revenge, U.S. Says
The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria, officials said, amid an expanding array of reprisal threats across the region. ...While the U.S. has moved military resources in the region for a possible strike, it has other assets in the area that would be ready to respond to any reprisals by Syria, Iran or its allies.

G20 'divided' on Syria as Power criticises Russia
World leaders meeting for the final day of the G20 summit in Russia remain divided over military action in Syria. Italian PM Enrico Letta said the splits in opinion were confirmed at Thursday's working dinner in St Petersburg. A spokesman for the Russian presidency said a US military strike on Syria would "drive another nail into the coffin of international law".

Thirteen hospital patients in deadly brain disease scare
Thirteen hospital patients in the US states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire may have been exposed to a fatal brain disease, officials say. Authorities say potentially infected surgical equipment was used in procedures at two hospitals. They suspect a brain surgery patient had Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which has proteins that can survive standard sterilisation measures.

Snowden leaks: US and UK 'crack online encryption'
US and UK intelligence have reportedly cracked technology used to encrypt internet services such as online banking, medical records and email. Disclosures by leaker Edward Snowden allege the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the UK's GCHQ are hacking key online security protocols. The encryption techniques targeted are used by popular internet services such as Google, Facebook and Yahoo.

Unreported NSA spy systems revealed
...Jacob Appelbaum, an American investigative reporter who accepted the German Whistle-blower Prize on the behalf of former NSA agent Edward Snowden...said he is aware of one NSA programme which specifically targets types of software to sweep up data from people who are not terrorists. Another system sends NSA agents into urban areas to penetrate people’s home wireless networks.

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Strong Earthquake Strikes Guatemala
A 6.6 magnitude earthquake near Guatemala's border with Mexico has destroyed several homes and caused blackouts. The tremor was one of the strongest in Guatemala since a 7.4 magnitude earthquake last November killed 44 people in the west of the country.

Russia sends four more warships to eastern Mediterranean near Syria
The Russian navy has sent four more ships to the eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast, as the United States considers launching a military offensive against the Arab country.

US Congress Finds ‘Overwhelming’ Public Opposition to Force in Syria
After three days of non-stop phone calls from hundreds of Colorado constituents opposed to a US military strike on Syria, Rep. Doug Lamborn announced Friday he was “leaning against” a resolution giving US President Barack Obama the authority to take limited action.

U.K. Toys ‘R’ Us Going Gender Neutral
Toys “R” Us, a retail giant in the toy industry, bowed to pressure from U.K.-based lobbying group Let Toys Be Toys and will now market its products in a “gender-neutral” fashion within the U.K. Not only will advertisements eventually depict both boys and girls playing with the same toys—everything from guns to dolls to kitchen sets—Toys “R” Us stores will also be removing any explicit references to gender within their stores.

PA minister: Next prisoners' release in October
Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs Issa Karaka said that the next Palestinian prisoners’ release as past of the peace talks’ resumption will take place on October 29. According to Karaka, the next group of prisoners will be released regardless of diplomatic progress of the talks, adding that the prisoners will only be released to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

NSA decryption revelations 'provide roadmap' to adversaries, US warns
The Obama administration has responded to revelations on the NSA's successes in defeating online security and privacy published on Thursday by the Guardian, New York Times and ProPublica. In a statement issued on Friday, the office of the director of national intelligence (ODNI)...suggested the stories, ...published on the front pages of the New York Times and Guardian, were "not news", but nonetheless provided a "road map…to our adversaries".

Morsi Backers Terrorize Christians in Egyptian Town
While the United Nations worries about a local shooting in Florida, in Egypt a group of Islamists who back their nation's ousted leader, fellow Islamist Mohammed Morsi, have taken over the town of Dalga where 20,000 Christians now live under oppression, fear, and violence. Already, a 1600-year-old monastery has been burned and looted, and 40 Christian homes and businesses have been attacked (looted and burned), including the home of an 80 year-old priest...

Putin warns Russia could come to Syria's aid over US strike
...Putin escalated concerns about the fallout from any strike when he indicated in an interview published Wednesday that his country could send Syria and its neighbors in the region the components of a missile shield if the U.S. attacks. U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified this week that the Russians might even replace any military assets the U.S. destroys in a strike.

Syria crisis: US orders non-emergency personnel out of Lebanon
The US state department has ordered non-emergency US personnel to leave Lebanon and has approved voluntary evacuation from southern Turkey. The state department cited "current tensions the region" but did not specifically mention Syria. The department also warned US citizens travelling in the two countries to remain alert to potential danger.

Greece PM sees end to recession in Thessaloniki speech
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras says the country's six years of recession will end next year. He said that Greece was now an "island of stability" in an ever less stable region. Mr Samaras was speaking at the Thessaloniki trade fair, which has been the scene of protests about the country's tough austerity measures.

Obama tells US nation Syria 'not another Iraq or Afghanistan'
President Barack Obama told his war-weary country on Saturday that America needs to use limited military force in Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks, but said he did not want to enter into another costly and protracted war. "This would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan," Obama said in his weekly radio and internet address, previewing arguments he will make in a nationally televised address on Tuesday.

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Stun Grenades at Temple Mount Rioters
Israeli police fired stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian protesters after Friday prayers on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, arresting 15 of them, police said.

Tunisia crisis: Protesters call for Ennahda resignation
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have marched in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, calling for the resignation of the Islamist-led government. The rally marked a 40-day mourning period since the killing of opposition MP Mohammed Brahmi in July. His murder, along with the shooting of another prominent leftist politician in February, have sparked mass protests.

Somalia's Al-Shabab says it bombed Mogadishu eatery
The Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabab has said it bombed a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu, killing 15 people. The group said it had attacked the Village restaurant because it is frequented by Somali MPs. Explosions ripped through the restaurant in the lunchtime attack, which apparently involved a car bomb and a suicide bomber.

Vatican: 100,000 attend Syria peace vigil
Tens of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square for a four-hour Syria peace vigil late Saturday, answering Pope Francis' call for a grassroots cry for peace that was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in Syria and in vigils around the world.

Egypt army launches offensive against Sinai militants
At least nine Islamist militants have been killed in a major offensive by the Egyptian army in Sinai, security officials have said. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that tanks and troops, backed by Apache helicopters, had struck the militants in towns along the Gaza Strip border. The operation is said to be the biggest of its kind in recent years in Sinai.

Wildfire near Yosemite burns into fourth week
As a gigantic wildfire in and around Yosemite National Park entered its fourth week Saturday, environmental scientists moved in to begin assessing the damage and protecting habitat and waterways before the fall rainy season.

AP Analysis: NKorean charm offensive about money
Spring's threats of nuclear war have given way to a summer of mini-breakthroughs on the Korean Peninsula. But scratch the surface and Pyongyang's charm offensive seems more about money than any great leap forward in diplomacy.

US runs into resistance over strike on Syria
The U.S. tried to rally support on Saturday for a military strike against Syria, running into resistance from the American public and skeptics in Congress and from European allies bent on awaiting a U.N. report about a chemical attack they acknowledge strongly points to the Assad government.

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Stun Grenades at Temple Mount Rioters
Israeli police fired stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian protesters after Friday prayers on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, arresting 15 of them, police said.

Tunisia crisis: Protesters call for Ennahda resignation
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have marched in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, calling for the resignation of the Islamist-led government. The rally marked a 40-day mourning period since the killing of opposition MP Mohammed Brahmi in July. His murder, along with the shooting of another prominent leftist politician in February, have sparked mass protests.

Somalia's Al-Shabab says it bombed Mogadishu eatery
The Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabab has said it bombed a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu, killing 15 people. The group said it had attacked the Village restaurant because it is frequented by Somali MPs. Explosions ripped through the restaurant in the lunchtime attack, which apparently involved a car bomb and a suicide bomber.

Vatican: 100,000 attend Syria peace vigil
Tens of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square for a four-hour Syria peace vigil late Saturday, answering Pope Francis' call for a grassroots cry for peace that was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in Syria and in vigils around the world.

Egypt army launches offensive against Sinai militants
At least nine Islamist militants have been killed in a major offensive by the Egyptian army in Sinai, security officials have said. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that tanks and troops, backed by Apache helicopters, had struck the militants in towns along the Gaza Strip border. The operation is said to be the biggest of its kind in recent years in Sinai.

Wildfire near Yosemite burns into fourth week
As a gigantic wildfire in and around Yosemite National Park entered its fourth week Saturday, environmental scientists moved in to begin assessing the damage and protecting habitat and waterways before the fall rainy season.

AP Analysis: NKorean charm offensive about money
Spring's threats of nuclear war have given way to a summer of mini-breakthroughs on the Korean Peninsula. But scratch the surface and Pyongyang's charm offensive seems more about money than any great leap forward in diplomacy.

US runs into resistance over strike on Syria
The U.S. tried to rally support on Saturday for a military strike against Syria, running into resistance from the American public and skeptics in Congress and from European allies bent on awaiting a U.N. report about a chemical attack they acknowledge strongly points to the Assad government.

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Liberation theology finds new welcome in Pope Francis’ Vatican
Francis, who has called for “a poor church for the poor,” will meet in the next few days with the Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian theologian and scholar who is considered the founder of liberation theology.

Syria says it ‘welcomes’ Russian proposal on securing chemical weapons
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday said it welcomed a Russian proposal to avert U.S. military strikes by having Damascus turn over control of its chemical weapons to international monitors.

FOURTH Porn Actor Confirms Positive Test For HIV… As Fears Of An Epidemic Grow
Another porn star has revealed he has tested positive for HIV, the fourth such case reported in less than three weeks, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned. The male actor confirmed his diagnosis to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest nonprofit global HIV/AIDS organization in the world which is presently fighting for a statewide condom rule in California.

Fascinating Research Demonstrates Unborn Children Can Learn
Once the children were born, the scientists used electroencephalography (EEG) sensors to detect whether the newborn infants were able to recognize the word played repeatedly for them prior to birth. Their electric brain responses indicated they had developed a distinct memory of the word, they knew it.

Where Congress Stands on #Syria
In case you missed it, the Washington Post has an excellent graphic laying out where each Representative and Senator stands on the AUMF for Syria. The Post has divided Congress into four categories: “Against military action”, “Leans no”, “Undecided”, and “For military action”. Long story short: this is a winnable fight for those of us out there who want Congress to say “No” to the war.

John Kerry gives Syria week to surrender chemical weapons or face attack
US secretary of state has said that President Bashar al-Assad has one week to hand over his entire stock of chemical weapons to avoid a military attack, but said he had no expectation that the Syrian leader would comply.

Assad says his friends will hit US and allies if struck
Bashar Assad on Sunday warned America and its allies to expect multiple forms of retaliation, including a chemical attack, if the US goes ahead with a military strike on Syria, in remarks published Monday by CBS News. Assad, speaking to Charlie Rose in a Damascus interview, said Syria was “not the only player in the region” and, if an attack occurs, the US and allies in return “should expect everything. Not necessarily from the government.”

Gold treasure trove unearthed at base of Temple Mount
Hebrew University researchers on Monday announced the discovery of a rare trove of Byzantine-era gold and silver artifacts, the most impressive of which is a 10-centimeter solid gold medallion emblazoned with a menorah and other Jewish iconography. Israeli archaeologist: 'I have never found so much gold in my life!'

Computer program uses Twitter to 'map mood of nation'
British scientists have developed a computer program they say can map the mood of the nation using Twitter. Named Emotive, it works by accessing the emotional content of postings on the social networking site. The team, from Loughborough University, say it can scan up to 2,000 tweets a second and rate them for expressions of one of eight human emotions.

And now it's global COOLING! Record return of Arctic ice cap as it grows by 60% in a year
A chilly Arctic summer has left nearly a million more square miles of ocean covered with ice than at the same time last year – an increase of 60 per cent. The rebound from 2012’s record low comes six years after the BBC reported that global warming would leave the Arctic ice-free in summer by 2013.

Why Some Believe These ‘End Times’ Bible Verses Could Hold the Key to the Syrian Crisis
For starters, there’s one particular Bible passage that’s rekindling the entire discussion of how Syria fits into End Times theology: Isaiah 17:1-3. The verse reads, “’See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be ike the glory of the Israelites,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Some see biblical visions of doom in Syria trouble
The deadly violence percolating half a world away in Syria and the warnings of a possible U.S. attack have some people ...looking backward into ancient, apocalyptic prophecies in the pages of the Old Testament. In recent weeks, some dire prophecies have turned up on websites, in book stores, as the subject of Bible studies and in sermons by some Christians and others who see a link between the old passages and modern-day events in Egypt, Libya and Syria.

Syria Crisis Ultimatum: Kerry Tells Assad Turn in Chemical Weapons within One Week
US secretary of state John Kerry has given an ultimatum to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to avoid a military strike by turning over his entire chemical weapons arsenal to the international community within the next week. At a joint press conference with UK foreign secretary William Hague, Kerry said that America was not going to war but would launch an "unbelievably small and limited effort"...

VERY QUIET SUN:
The face of the sun is nearly blank. There are only two tiny sunspots and neither one is flaring. NOAA forecasters estimate no more than a 1% chance of M- or X-class flares during the next 24 hours.

Kurdish PKK rebels 'halt Turkey pull-out'
The rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) says it has halted its withdrawal from Turkey, a website linked to the armed militant group reports. The PKK accused the Turkish government of failing to move towards "democratisation and the resolution of the Kurdish problem", the Firat news agency reported. The PKK had started the withdrawal earlier this year, under a peace plan.

Lightning strike in San Antonio kills 1, injures other
A lightning strike in San Antonio has killed a eight years old boy and injured one other, local medias reported. The two boys were playing in a backyard Thursday night when the lightning hit.

Romania earthquake today shakes Bulgaria
M 4.6 moderate earthquake shakes Romania today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 15 km S of Hunedoara. It was 3.1 miles deep. Romania earthquake today was followed by two earthquakes (another M 4.2) in an interval of 22 minutes.

'Turkey deploys anti-aircraft missiles on Syrian border'
Turkey's army has deployed anti-aircraft missile batteries all along the country's southern border with Syria, Israel Radio quoted the Turkish media as saying Monday. According to the radio, Turkish television also said that American-made "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles were deployed in recent days on raised ground in the Hatay Province, in southern Turkey.


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United Nations’ War on Free Speech Continues
German federal authorities have responded to earlier criticism by the United Nations’ (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) of lax German hate speech measures with troubling proposals to restrict further freedom of expression. These developments in a case previously documented here demonstrate once again the dangers for freedom that foreign organizations can present, especially in light of international campaigns against “Islamophobia.”

Obama 'letting Muslim Brotherhood run anti-terror ops'
The Obama administration allowed into government agencies Islamic groups and activists tied to the Muslim Brotherhood who now influence U.S. anti-terrorism policies and endanger the nation, charges a newly released book.

Mt. Lokon active volcano erupts
Mount Lokon in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, erupted again at 6:30 a.m. local time on Monday, spewing volcanic material from the Tompaluan Lokon crater up to 1,500 meters in the air.

Liberman warns that Israel will topple Assad if he attacks
The statement was the clearest warning to Assad delivered by a top Israeli figure since the escalation of tension between Syria and the United States.

Obama Administration Denies AP Requests for Syria Evidence
The Associated Press ran a skeptical piece Sunday about the Obama administration's public case for military intervention in Syria in response to a reported Aug. 21 chemical attack. The AP's Zeina Karam and Kimberly Dozier wrote that "the U.S. government insists it has the intelligence to prove it, but the public has yet to see a single piece of concrete evidence produced by U.S. intelligence.

5.7-magnitude earthquake rocks Indonesia
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island this morning, the United States Geological Survey has said. The quake hit at 0311 IST 135 kilometres north-west of Gorontalo city at a depth of 46 km. The USGS’ Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system estimated the risk of fatalities and economic damage as very low.

Archaeologists’ Stunning Find: Ancient Treasure Trove at Temple Mount Is a ‘Once in a Lifetime Discovery’
...During excavations this summer, Dr. Eilat Mazar of Hebrew University of Jerusalem found stunning relics including 36 gold coins, gold and silver jewelry and a gold medallion, the university announced. The medallion has a menorah symbol etched into it, along with a ram’s horn, known as a shofar, and a Torah scroll. It’s believed the medallion was used to adorn a Torah scroll.

China renews push for control of internet
China's leaders have accelerated a renewed push for control of the internet with draconian new regulations that allow them to impose lengthy jail terms on those convicted of spreading online rumours or using social media to provoke unrest. Micro-bloggers who peddle "false information" or "slanderous comments" will face up to three years in prison...

Syria Agrees To Russia's Proposal To Put Chemical Weapons Under International Control
The big news is that Syria has agreed and welcomed Russia's proposal that all Syria's chemical weapon be put under international control. The twist is that Secretary of State John Kerry has threatened Syria to do just that, giving him a week to do so, or face attack, but according to the video report below, the US State Department has since issued an apparent retraction, saying it wasn't a genuine offer.

Global warming computer models collapse; Arctic ice sheets rapidly expand as planet plunges into global cooling
For years, we've all heard that global warming is threatening our planet. But now, in a stunning turnaround, world scientists are warning that an era of global cooling seems to be upon us, complete with extraordinary expansions of ocean ice being recorded in just the past year. Even the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report seems to indicate that an era of global cooling is now underway, according to many scientists.

NSA Affair: Germans Conduct Helicopter Flyover of US Consulate
The German government on Monday confirmed that a previously reported operation targeting potential American eavesdropping facilities located on German soil took place at the end of August. Both a spokesperson for Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Interior Ministry admitted on Monday that a Federal Police helicopter had conducted a low-altitude flyover of the United States Consulate in Frankfurt in order to take high-resolution photographs.

Government rejects the science behind neonicotinoid ban
The government says it accepts the EU ban on the use of some pesticides linked to bee deaths, but it rejects the science behind the moratorium. In a response to the Environmental Audit Committee, the government indicates it will not ban the use of these chemicals for gardeners. The Committee says they are disappointed with this approach.

New bird flu 'has unique traits'
The new flu which has emerged in China has unique traits, say scientists. It is able to infect both the nose, giving it the potential to spread easily, and penetrate deep in the lungs where it causes pneumonia. The authors of the American Journal of Pathology say the twin attack has not been detected in previous bird flus.

Syria conflict: France to float tough UN resolution
France will put a resolution to the UN Security Council to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control so they can be destroyed, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says. He said it would threaten "extremely serious" consequences if Syria breached its conditions. There would be a request for a complete inspection of all chemical weapons.

More clashes in southern Philippines' Zamboanga city
A stand-off between Philippine troops and Muslim rebels has continued for a second day, with reports of civilians being used as "human shields". At least four people were killed in Monday's violence in Zamboanga city in Mindanao, in the south of the country. Clashes began when a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) moved into the city early on Monday.

Central African Republic says scores killed in new clashes
At least 60 people have been killed in Central African Republic in fighting between former rebels and forces loyal to the president they ousted in March, officials say. A government spokesman said fighters loyal to Francois Bozize had seized the town of Bouca north of the capital. This is the first large-scale operation launched by the former president's forces since he was toppled in March.

Obama 'could pause Syria attack plans'
US President Barack Obama has said he will put plans for a US military strike against Syria on hold if the country agrees to place its chemical weapons stockpile under international control. But he said he was sceptical the Syrian government would follow through. As the US Congress debates authorising an attack, Russia on Monday proposed Syria relinquish its chemical weapons.

MEPs call for suspension of EU-US finance tracking deal
Press reports that the US intelligence agency secretly tapped into international bank transfer firm Swift have prompted MEPs to call for an immediate suspension of the EU-US terrorist financial tracking programme (TFTP) agreement. "We cannot continue loyal co-operation in data exchange with US Authorities with this NSA dark cloud hanging over our heads,” said Belgian Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt...

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Putin Plays Obama for a Fool
Putin has succeeded in making Obama appear to be weak and a fool in dealing with Syria. Even though Obama tried to take some of the credit for the proposal to place Assad’s chemical weapons under international control, it was clear that Putin was in charge.

Helm hard a starboard: Norway joins European right turn
The Conservative Party’s Erna Solberg, who is due to become Norway’s second female Prime Minister, won public support with promises of diversification of the oil-focused economy, privatization of state firms and tax cuts. The victory of rightist parties in Norway puts it on a par with countries like France, Hungary or Austria, where political forces sharing anti-immigration, protectionist and often anti-Muslim views are gaining popularity.

‘Russia to sell Iran anti-aircraft system, nuclear reactor’
Russia will supply Iran with five state-of-the-art S-300 anti-aircraft missile batteries and a new nuclear reactor in Bushehr...

Oil drops to near $107 a barrel after Obama speech
The price of oil dropped Wednesday after...Barack Obama said he asked U.S. lawmakers to postpone a vote authorizing the use of military force against Syria.Obama, in a televised speech to the nation late Tuesday, said he wanted to give Syria a chance to turn over its chemical weapons before he asks Congress for consent to intervene in the country's civil war.

Americans turn to God on 9/11 anniversary
As the nation solemnly remembers the victims of the 9/11 attacks, many Americans are turning their eyes to the Creator and humbling their hearts in prayer, repentance and fasting.

‘President Obama Needs Your Help Starting World War III!’
“President Obama needs your help starting World War III! Find out how you can help!” the video’s description reads. The supposed Kickstarter, appropriately titled “The World War III Project,” is being sponsored by the (obviously) fictitious “Americans for Whatever Barack Obama Wants Did You Know He’s Friends With Jay-Z?”

ALMOST-BLANK SUN
2013 is supposed to be a year of solar maximum. Indeed, the sun's magnetic field is poised to flip, a long-held sign that Solar Max has arrived. But if this is Solar Max, it looks a lot like Solar Min. The face of the sun is almost completely blank.

Scientists study Gippsland earthquake hotspot
Seismologists are describing the region as an earthquake hotspot. There were only 50 earthquakes recorded up until 2009, but since then there have been 700. The activity has been particularly high in the Strzelecki Ranges which lie between the Latrobe Valley and the Gippsland coastline. Locals have been intrigued by the tremors for years. Gary Gibson from the University of Melbourne says the motion in Gippsland is high.

Obama’s Approval Rating At All-Time Low
54 percent of 900 registered American voters who responded to the phone poll, conducted from Sept. 6-8, said they disapprove of Obama. The polling period occurred at a time of fresh, new embarrassments for the President, whose determination to find a pretense for a military strike against Syria has heightened Americans’ incredulity toward the commander in chief and diminished their esteem of America’s international reputation.

Taking Credit For Political Defeat And International Embarrassment, Obama Set To Give A Speech Like No Other
“It will be a White House address in which a president argues for an endeavor he is abandoning. It will be a president appealing for public support for an action he intends not to take. “We’ve never had a presidential speech like that!”

Obama signs executive order to allow shut down of all US communications
Barack Obama signed an executive order giving the Department of Homeland Security the ability to shut down all of the United States' communications systems upon his request. Barack Obama laid out a statement he titled "Assignment of National Security Emergency Preparedness Communications Function". No doubt a very confusing title. The reasoning behind his issuing of this executive order, is that he feels the government may one day need to access all of our telephones, computers, cable communications, etc., in the name of national security. "The Federal Government must have the ability to communicate at all times and under all circumstances to carry out its most critical and time sensitive mission."

'Either You Convert to Islam, Or You Will Be Beheaded'
The village of Maaloula has been taken over by Syrian rebels associated with al Qaeda, who have stormed the Christian center and offered local Christians a choice: conversion or death. A resident of the town said the rebels shouted “Allahu Akhbar” as they moved through the village, and proceeded to assault Christian homes and churches. “They shot and killed people,” he said. “I heard gunshots and then I saw three bodies lying in the middle of a street in the old quarters of the village. Where is President Obama to see what has befallen us?

2 million bikers to D.C.: 9/11 rally is on without permit
2 million bikers to D.C. to participate is a "no stop" rally. The 9/11 rally was denied a permit by the National Park Service, but will proceed anyway. According to U.S. News and World Report on Sept. 10, 2013, the parade is expected to tie up traffic on Wednesday in the nations capital.

Glenn Beck: America "Lost It's Superpower Status' This Week
"When I saw the story that Putin came out and said, ‘I just was wrestling a bear here about 10 minutes ago…and I called up Assad and I said, ‘Hey! You’re gonna give me your chemical weapons.’ And he said, ‘Okay, dude.’ After [Putin] made that statement and then the president said, ‘Okay, uh, we could do that…’ I thought to myself…we’re done as a superpower,” Beck said. “He has just put the final nail in the coffin."

Egypt bomb strikes Sinai intelligence HQ in Rafah
A car bomb has hit Egypt's intelligence headquarters in the Sinai peninsula, killing at least three soldiers, reports say. Twenty other people were wounded in the attack on the building in Rafah, on Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip. A second blast hit a nearby army checkpoint. It is unclear whether anyone was hurt.

Syria crisis: Barack Obama calls off Congress vote
US President Barack Obama has postponed a congressional vote on military action in Syria, vowing to pursue diplomacy to remove the regime's chemical weapons. Damascus has admitted for the first time that it has chemical weapons, and has agreed to abide by a Russian plan to hand over its arsenal. The US threatened strikes after a gas attack killed hundreds last month.

Report: Russia to supply S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the transfer of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, according to the prestigious Russian daily newspaper Kommersant. The newspaper reported on Wednesday that the Russian government will revive the transfer three years after it canceled the original transaction.

Hurricane Humberto Becomes First Hurricane of 2013 Season
Hurricane Humberto continues to move off to the northwest in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. Humberto became the first hurricane of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season Wednesday morning at 5 a.m. Humberto fell just three hours short of being the latest in the season that the first hurricane has developed.

North and South Korea set to reopen factory park, in latest sign of easing tensions
North and South Korea agreed Wednesday to restart operations at a jointly run factory park that Pyongyang shut down in April during a torrent of threats, the latest sign of easing animosity between the rivals.

Pakistan to release top Afghan Taliban prisoner
Pakistan has decided to release the most senior Afghan Taliban prisoner it is holding and could do so as soon as this month to jumpstart the struggling peace process, a senior Pakistani official said.

France says military option in Syria still valid
France said on Wednesday it remained determined to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over what it calls his use of chemical weapons if diplomacy fails, and a military strike was still possible.

House preps plan to avert shutdown, force Senate Obamacare vote
House Republican leaders are moving forward with a bill that would extend government funding until mid-December, averting a government shutdown but forcing the Democratically-controlled Senate into a vote on defunding the 2010 health care reform law.

U.S.-Israel missile test rebuked by Russia
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov summoned the Israeli and American military attaches in Moscow to rebuke them for last week's U.S.-Israel missile test, voicing his displeasure with the fact that Israel and the U.S. did not notify Russia about the test, the news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Putin Wins Again As Obama Puts Attack On Hold
Starting just 1 minute late, the President begab by unapologetically conjuring images of WWI and WWII and stuck to the line that "we know" Assad was responsible for killing his own people with Sarin. Then moved to fear-mongery over what Iran might do, adding that he was very much for strikes. But, in giving Congress the hot potato he knew decision would be difficult. The US military does not do 'pin ******** and a "targeted" strike will send a message to Assad. While recognizing the need for a diplomatic solution, Obama made it clear that those efforts would follow a military strike.

Baseball-sized meteor blows up spectacularly over Alabama
A baseball-sized meteor blasted over the southeastern United States on Monday night, creating a bright streak of light, a sonic boom and a ruckus on Twitter.

Moroccan Christian Jailed for 'Shaking the Faith of a Muslim'
A Moroccan Christian man has been jailed for two and a half years and fined for evangelizing, World Watch Monitor reports. Mohamed el Baldi, 34, from the town of Ain Aicha, was ordered at a September 3 court hearing to pay 5000 dirhams ($600) for "shaking the faith of a Muslim." He was arrested after his house was raided on August 28 and items linked to his faith, such as his Bible, were confiscated. Propagating Christianity is prohibited under Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code.

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13 Sep 13

The Pope Separates Jews from Israelis
One of the grave dangers in the Vatican's dialogue with Judaism is the Church's attempt to drive a wedge between the “good” and docile Jews of the Diaspora and the “bad” and arrogant Jews of Israel. It seems that there is no room for stubborn, faithful Zionists in the Pope's lenient smile. In his speeches, Jewish national aspirations are ignored, if not denigrated.

Egypt Tanks Cross Gaza Border Fence
Witnesses told the AFP news agency that two tanks "crossed the first Egyptian border fence along the corridor between Egypt and (Gaza), and drove along the road running next to the cement wall that Egypt built." They said it was the "first time Egyptian tanks have been in this area, although they didn't cross into the area ruled by Hamas," adding that the soldiers on top of the tanks had masked faces.

500,000 attend slihot prayers at the Western Wall since start of Jewish month of Elul
Thousands more arrived Thursday night for the final penitential prayer service before Yom Kippur, in which Chief Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef participated along with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. Throughout the month of Elul and especially in the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, tens of thousands came to the site – individually, as families or as part of an organized group – to recite the traditional prayers said at this time of year.

Security forces on high alert as Israelis mark Yom Kippur
Expecting many thousands of Jewish worshipers to gather at the Western Wall in Jerusalem at the start of Yom Kippur Friday evening, police have preemptively undertaken numerous security measures to safeguard them for the duration of the fast, which ends on Saturday evening.

Charles *****hammer: ‘Obama Has Been Played’
“Here is the president of the greatest democracy on Earth, being lectured — insultingly, really — in an American newspaper about human rights, about international law, about the protection of the elderly and children in wartime.” *****hammer said. “What we are seeing here is Putin so confident of himself…that he could actually engage in this,” *****hammer added. “It’s an index of how, sort of, Obama has been played and continues to be right now in Geneva.”

WSJ: Emails Show IRS' Lerner Targeted Tea Party Groups
In a February 2011 email, Lerner told her staff that a tea party issue is "very dangerous" and is something "Counsel and [Lerner adviser] Judy Kindell need to be in on ... Cincy should probably NOT have these cases." That contradicts former IRS Commissioner Steven Miller's comments in May that the targeting was merely the work of two "rogue" employees in Cincinnati.

Volcano prompts declaration of emergency in Peru
Peru declared a state of emergency Thursday in nine districts threatened by the Ubinas volcano, which has erupted seven times since September 1, spewing harmful gas and ash. Authorities are distributing masks and have given themselves a 60-day period to relocate villagers from areas where ash is damaging crops and polluting water sources.

Israel prepares for solemn, silent Day of Atonement
Jews traditionally spend the solemn day fasting and asking God for forgiveness at intense prayer services in synagogues. It caps a 10-day period of soul-searching that began with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year holiday. In Israel, the country virtually shuts down for Yom Kippur. Businesses, restaurants and offices close, and TV and radio stations go silent. Airports close and buses and trains stop running. Highways and roads become eerily quiet, devoid of vehicles.

'Unusual' outbreak hits Stanhope: Four foxes test positive for rabies
Four foxes have tested positive for rabies in Stanhope, an unusual occurrence that has prompted health officials to urge residents to get their pets vaccinated immediately. The rabies-infected animals were among five foxes destroyed by police and tested after they had charged two police officers and people walking their dogs in the vicinity of Lake Musconetcong.

NSA masqueraded as Google to spy on web users - report
The NSA used ‘man in the middle’ hack attacks to impersonate Google and fool web users, leaks have revealed. The technique circumvents encryption by redirecting users to a copycat site which relays all the data entered to NSA data banks.

Russia to expand Mediterranean fleet to 10 warships – Navy chief
“The task is crystal clear: to avoid a slightest threat to the security of the state. This is a general practice of all fleets around the world, to be there when a tension level increases. They are all going to act on operational command plan of the offshore maritime zone,” Chirkov told journalists on Friday. "Russia will be building up its Mediterranean fleet until it is deemed sufficient to perform the task set."

VOYAGER 1 HAS LEFT THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Researchers have long waited for one of the Voyager probes to leave the solar system. In a surprising turn of events, NASA announced today that Voyager 1 entered interstellar space a whole year ago! This event sets in motion a new era of exploration of the realm between the stars.

Arrow 3 trials successful, may move operational timetable ahead
Analysis of the Arrow 3 missile launch tests, which took place last February in the Israeli Air Force's Palmachim base in cooperation with American partners, revealed that the experiment was successful beyond all expectations, to an extent that may speed up the timetable for the declaration of the program as operational. Arrow 3 is the Israeli solution to intercepting long-range missiles that exit the atmosphere.

Assad tells Obama to stop arming rebels, or no deal
President Obama must promise not to arm rebel forces or Syrian dictator Bashar Assad will not hand over his chemical weapons...while demanding that Israel also surrender its nuclear arsenal. “When...the U.S....stops threatening us with military intervention and stops supplying terrorists with weapons, then we will consider it possible to finalize all necessary procedures and they will become legitimate and acceptable for Syria...

Al-Qaeda chief calls for attacks on US in 9/11 speech to followers
Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Al-Qaeda leader, has called on followers to commit attacks inside the US to "bleed America economically", in a speech marking the anniversary of the 9/11 strikes. In an audio message...Zawahiri laid out a plan of attack, saying he wanted a "few of the brothers" to commit small-scale strikes to trigger big spending by Washington on security, while awaiting the opportunity for a major onsalught later.

Syria crisis: Geneva talks on chemical weapons enter second day
The US and Russian foreign ministers, John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov, are meeting for a second round of talks on how to secure Syria's chemical weapons. But their talks in Geneva with UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi began with the wider issue of peace in Syria. Speaking afterwards, the three men said they had agreed to meet again later in the month to prepare for a long-delayed peace conference.

Herat attack: Afghanistan Taliban target US consulate
US and Afghan forces have fought off an attack by Taliban insurgents on the US consulate in the western city of Herat. Two Afghan police and one security guard were killed in the dawn assault, along with seven attackers. The US consulate said its staff were safe. The Taliban said they carried out the attack, which began with a huge blast at the compound gates, sparking a gun battle near consulate buildings.

Egypt extends state of emergency for two months
Egypt is extending its state of emergency for a further two months. The president's office said the decision had been taken because of the security situation. The current state of emergency was introduced in August after hundreds died following the clearing of protest camps set up in support of the ousted Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.

Thousands warned to evacuate amid Colorado floods
Thousands of people have been warned to evacuate the Boulder area of Colorado and a mountain hamlet as flooding swells creeks to dangerous levels. Storm rains have killed three people in the state and caused severe damage to property. Water levels in the Boulder Canyon are reportedly rising rapidly because of debris and mud blocking its mouth.


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CFPB's data-mining on consumer credit cards challenged in heated House hearing
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials are seeking to monitor four out of every five U.S. consumer credit card transactions this year — up to 42 billion transactions – through a controversial data-mining program... A CFPB strategic planning document for fiscal years 2013-17 describes the “markets monitoring” program through which officials aim to monitor 80 percent of all credit card transactions in 2013.

Brain amoeba found in tests of water supply where boy died in Louisiana
Tests of a Louisiana parish's water supply confirmed the presence of a rare brain-eating amoeba blamed for last month's death of a 4-year-old boy. The state's Department of Health & Hospitals said Thursday that tests conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found Naegleria fowleri in St. Bernard Parish water. The water is safe to drink, state officials said, although they cautioned against getting water in the nose.

CA Gov. Brown to Sign Bill Legalizing Non-Physician Abortions
A bill that would allow non-physicians to perform abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy is awaiting signature by Gov. Jerry Brown of California by Sep. 30. The bill, AB 154, passed both houses of the state legislature with strong support from Planned Parenthood and pro-choice groups. Planned Parenthood stands to benefit most directly from the bill, as non-physician staff at its clinics would be able to obtain abortion licenses.

US and Russia agree Syria arms deal in Geneva
Syria must give inspectors access to all chemical weapons ahead of their complete destruction, US and Russia agree. US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined a six-point framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week.

Japan launches 'affordable' Epsilon space rocket
Japan has launched the first in a new generation of space rockets, hoping the design will make missions more affordable. The Epsilon rocket is about half the size of Japan's previous generation of space vehicles, and uses artificial intelligence to perform safety checks. Japan's space agency Jaxa says the Epsilon cost $37m (£23m) to develop, half the cost of its predecessor.

Colorado flooding death toll rises as thousands warned to evacuate
The death toll from severe flooding in the US state of Colorado has risen to four, as authorities warn thousands to evacuate Boulder and outlying areas. The body of an unidentified Boulder woman was found after she was swept away from her submerged vehicle on Thursday, authorities have said. All Boulder County officers were closed on Friday as rainfall was expected to continue overnight.

Court sentences 4 men to death in New Delhi gang rape case
An Indian court sentenced four men to death Friday for the rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi, an attack that appalled the South Asian nation.

Al-Qaeda Vows to Slaughter Christians After US 'Liberates' Syria
While U.S. leaders continue pushing for war against the Syrian government, “Al-Qaeda-linked rebels,” reports AP, “launched an assault on a regime-held Christian mountain village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus... In the attack on the village of Maaloula, rebels commandeered a mountaintop hotel and nearby caves and shelled the community below, said a nun, speaking by phone from a convent in the village. She spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.”

Ingrid May Strengthen Into Hurricane Before Hitting South Mexico
Tropical Storm Ingrid may strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Mexico’s Atlantic coast as soon as late tomorrow. Ingrid and another storm on the country’s Pacific coast threatened heavy rain and “life-threatening” floods and mudslides.

Police clash with protestors in Mexico City, 31 people arrested
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in the main square of Mexico City on Friday, arresting 31 people, as the government took control of the historic center after weeks of protests by teachers. Federal police clashed with some protestors as they cleared the massive square, or Zocalo, for celebrations on Sunday, when President Enrique Pena Nieto is due to lead his first traditional remembrance of the heroes of Mexican independence.

Judge's Ruling Makes North Dakota First to Ban Abortions Based on Down Syndrome
Earlier this year, Governor Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota signed legislation that banned abortions because of gender selection and genetic defects, such as Down syndrome.

Survey Surprise: Many Americans See Syria as Sign of Bible's End Times
Should the United States bomb Syria? Your answer might depend on your eschatology (whether Christian or Muslim). LifeWay Research noticed how the Syrian conflict has prompted discussion of the End Times (i.e. dispensationalism) unlike previous debates over American intervention in foreign affairs. So it did a survey and found some surprising results: Almost one in three Americans see Syria's recent conflict as part of the Bible's plan for the end times.

Wisconsin teachers union decertified in latest blow to labor under Walker law
Teachers from one of Wisconsin’s largest unions have jumped ship -- voting overwhelmingly to abandon the group in the latest in a string of setbacks for the struggling labor movement following Gov. Scott Walker’s union overhaul two years ago.

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Mexico hit by severe storms on east and west coasts
Mexico is being battered by two severe storms - one on its eastern coast and another on its west, officials say. More than 5,000 people have been evacuated on the Gulf of Mexico coast ahead of Hurricane Ingrid which already has winds of 120km/h (75mph). It is expected to make landfall in the coming days.

Report: Syria transported chemical weapons to Iraq
Syria has moved 20 trucks worth of equipment and material used for the manufacturing of chemical weapons into neighboring Iraq, the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reported on Sunday. The government in Baghdad has denied allegations that it is helping the Syrian government conceal chemical stockpiles.

Kerry, Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem to discuss Syria, peace process
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem on Sunday, just one day after Washington and Moscow agreed to a deal that would see Syria decommission its chemical weapons stockpiles, Army Radio reported. Kerry arrived in Israel earlier on Sunday to update the Israeli premier on the latest diplomatic developments regarding the Syrian crisis.

Mexico hit by severe storms on east and west coasts
Mexico is being battered by two severe storms - one its eastern coast and another on its west, officials say. More than 5,000 people have been evacuated on the Gulf of Mexico coast ahead of Hurricane Ingrid which already has winds of 120km/h (75mph).

Colorado floods: Over 500 unaccounted for as 'devastating' rain looms
Colorado residents kept a wary eye on the sky as more rain is forecast for Sunday, and with it more fears of gushing rivers and cascading mudslides. Boulder County officials said up to 4 inches of rain could fall by afternoon, an amount Sheriff Joe Pelle described as "devastating."

Syria deal provides respite for Obama but leaves questions on using force
The Syria accord announced Saturday gives President Barack Obama at least a temporary way out of a foreign policy mess that has dragged on for weeks. For Obama's domestic agenda, the deal can be seen as a tactical victory because it provides a breather from a frustrating few weeks for the president and allows Obama and Congress to revert to trying to resolve their standoff over federal spending and raising the government's borrowing limit.

Israel has 80 nuclear warheads, report says
Israel possesses a stockpile of 80 nuclear warheads, all of which were produced by 2004, when Israel froze all production, according to a report published over the weekend. The report, in the September/October issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, cited US Defense Intelligence Agency figures.

California school district hires firm to monitor students' social media
A suburban Los Angeles school district is now looking at the public postings on social media by middle and high school students, searching for possible violence, drug use, bullying, truancy and suicidal threats.

Pakistani Taliban make demands before peace talks
The Pakistani Taliban have demanded that the government release militant prisoners and begin withdrawing troops from the group's tribal sanctuary before it will participate in peace talks. Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said Sunday the group's leadership decided on the confidence building measures while meeting to discuss the government's offer to negotiate

Japan's uncertain nuclear future
Japan has begun the process to become nuclear power-free for just third time in more than 40 years, after the country's only reactor was disconnected from the power grid ahead of planned maintenance.

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Assad government hails 'victory' in arms deal, troops attack
Syria's government hailed as a "victory" a Russian-brokered deal that has averted U.S. strikes, while President Barack Obama defended a chemical weapons pact that the rebels fear has bolstered their enemy in the civil war.

China builds fast to trigger drone race with America
CHINA has sent a military drone on what is thought to be the first mission of its kind in a significant show of the country’s determination to match America and Japan in the technology of warfare. Japanese F-15 jet fighters scrambled from a base in Okinawa last Monday to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle, which turned back towards the Chinese coast.

Mexico hit by severe storms on east and west coasts
Mexico is being battered by two severe storms - one on its eastern coast and another on its west, officials say. More than 5,000 people have been evacuated on the Gulf of Mexico coast ahead of Hurricane Ingrid which already has winds of 120km/h (75mph). It is expected to make landfall in the coming days.

Report: Syria transported chemical weapons to Iraq
Syria has moved 20 trucks worth of equipment and material used for the manufacturing of chemical weapons into neighboring Iraq, the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reported on Sunday. The government in Baghdad has denied allegations that it is helping the Syrian government conceal chemical stockpiles.

Kerry, Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem to discuss Syria, peace process
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem on Sunday, just one day after Washington and Moscow agreed to a deal that would see Syria decommission its chemical weapons stockpiles, Army Radio reported. Kerry arrived in Israel earlier on Sunday to update the Israeli premier on the latest diplomatic developments regarding the Syrian crisis.

Colorado floods: Over 500 unaccounted for as 'devastating' rain looms
Colorado residents kept a wary eye on the sky as more rain is forecast for Sunday, and with it more fears of gushing rivers and cascading mudslides. Boulder County officials said up to 4 inches of rain could fall by afternoon, an amount Sheriff Joe Pelle described as "devastating."

Syria deal provides respite for Obama but leaves questions on using force
The Syria accord announced Saturday gives President Barack Obama at least a temporary way out of a foreign policy mess that has dragged on for weeks. For Obama's domestic agenda, the deal can be seen as a tactical victory because it provides a breather from a frustrating few weeks for the president and allows Obama and Congress to revert to trying to resolve their standoff over federal spending and raising the government's borrowing limit.

Israel has 80 nuclear warheads, report says
Israel possesses a stockpile of 80 nuclear warheads, all of which were produced by 2004, when Israel froze all production, according to a report published over the weekend. The report, in the September/October issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, cited US Defense Intelligence Agency figures.

California school district hires firm to monitor students' social media
A suburban Los Angeles school district is now looking at the public postings on social media by middle and high school students, searching for possible violence, drug use, bullying, truancy and suicidal threats.

Pakistani Taliban make demands before peace talks
The Pakistani Taliban have demanded that the government release militant prisoners and begin withdrawing troops from the group's tribal sanctuary before it will participate in peace talks. Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said Sunday the group's leadership decided on the confidence building measures while meeting to discuss the government's offer to negotiate

Japan's uncertain nuclear future
Japan has begun the process to become nuclear power-free for just third time in more than 40 years, after the country's only reactor was disconnected from the power grid ahead of planned maintenance.

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Detroit Government Shuts Down Power Because Residents Didn’t Conserve Electricity
“We did start calling our customers prior to taking them down and asking them to turn off air conditioners, but they weren’t responding as fast as we would like them to so we had to send them a strong message by turning the power off.”

Livni 'Willing to Cede Control of Jordan Valley'
In addition, Livni has agreed to divide Jerusalem between Israel and a future state of “Palestine” in Judea and Samaria, as well as a large scale eviction of Jews from communities in Judea and Samaria – whereas Netanyahu believes that communities need to remain under Palestinian sovereignty, with proper security arrangements.

Abbas: Meet Our Conditions, Then We Can Have Peace
Israel’s “peace partner”, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has once again outright rejected an Israeli demand to ensure a peace agreement that does not harm its security. In a speech on Sunday to graduates of a university in Jericho, Abbas also clarified that unless all of the PA’s demands are met, there will not be a peace agreement with Israel.

New Police Toy Resembling ‘Ray Gun’ Can Disable Threatening Vehicles Via EMP
A new gadget built by Diehl Defense, much like a portable Electro-Magnetic Pulse ray gun, can disable a vehicles electronic circuitry rendering it useless in battlefield or pursuit conditions. This technology was put to the test on the battlefield of Afghanistan in 2011, while police departments and militaries around the world will likely grovel over the device. Deihl Defense is also a maker of guided missiles and other weaponry.

ALL QUIET ALERT
With the Sun's disk almost completely devoid of sunspots, solar flare activity has come to a halt. Measurements by NOAA's GOES 15 Ssatellite show that the sun's global x-ray emission, a key metric of solar activity, has flatlined. The quiet spell is a bit strange because 2013 is supposed to be a year of solar maximum, with lots of flares and sunspots. upporting this view are data from NASA-supported observatories which show that the sun's magnetic field is poised to flip--a long-held sign that Solar Max has arrived. Nevertheless, solar activity is low.

NSA ‘Follow the Money’ branch spied on Visa customers, SWIFT transactions – report
The NSA has been widely monitoring international banking and credit card transactions, a new report says referencing Edward Snowden’s leak. The agency targeted Visa customers and global financial service SWIFT and created its own money flows database.

Putin to visit Iran for first time in six years
Russian president meets with his Iranian counterpart, asserts Tehran’s right to atomic energy program.

They Will Be the Most Hunted People On the Planet
Let the Crucifixions Begin. DHS is lining itself up against Christians. The Army is lining up against Christians. Obama has always been against Christians. As Supreme Commander of the military, Obama has encouraged/permitted the United States military to participate in the persecution of Christians.

Israel hails Syria chemical weapons deal
Israel today welcomed a US-Russia agreement that, if implemented, would result in the removal or destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons and its ability to produce them. The US-Russia agreement on a framework to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons stockpile comes ahead of the expected release of a UN report tomorrow that is likely to confirm that chemical weapons were used outside Damascus on Aug. 21 but probably won't make a determination of who was responsible.

Armed EPA raid in Alaska sheds light on 70 fed agencies with armed divisions
The recent uproar over armed EPA agents descending on a tiny Alaska mining town is shedding light on the fact that 40 federal agencies – including nearly a dozen typically not associated with law enforcement -- have armed divisions. The agencies employ about 120,000 full-time officers authorized to carry guns and make arrests, according to a June 2012 Justice Department report.

More Heavy Rains for Battered Colorado Flood Zone
Days of heavy rains and flooding have turned the state's Rocky Mountain foothills into high risk zones, with dozens of washed out roads and bridges turning entire communities into disaster areas short on supplies and services. At least four people were known dead by late Sunday, with two others officially missing and presumed dead.

Earth's axial precession regulates life-supporting system of oceans
The finding that nitrogen fixation is determined by precession-driven upwelling appears to indicate that the ocean's fixed nitrogen reservoir is resilient and that the ocean biosphere can recover from even the most dramatic ecological changes, said second author Daniel Sigman, Princeton's Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences.

Strong M 6.0 earthquake near Andreanof Islands, Alaska
Earthquake registered as M 6.0 (USGS) occurred near Andreanof Islands, Alaska at 16:21 UTC on September 15, 2013. The epicenter was at the sea, located 83 km SSW of Atka, Aleutian Arc, Alaska at coordinates 51.540°N 174.794°W. The depth was at 22.8 km (14.2 miles). EMSC registered M 5.9 at a depth of 10 km. This area is rattled with earthquake swarm since late August.

Seismic data reveal 'hotspot' passed under United States
2011 Virginia earthquake points to scars from ancient mantle plume.

Yellowstone jolted with small earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey says the 3.6 magnitude temblor occurred just before 10 a.m. with the epicenter located about 6 miles north of Old Faithful, one of the park’s main attractions.

Typhoon Man-yi hits Japan, 200 flights cancelled, fears for ********* plant
At least 200 domestic flights have been cancelled as Typhoon Man-yi hit southern Japan. With torrential rains expected on Monday, contaminated water is feared to seep into the groundwater at ********* nuclear plant. Typhoon Man-yi will hit direct southern parts of the main island Honshu on Monday morning, possibly around 9 am in Shizuoka prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

No joke this time: Is the pope Catholic?
“Is the pope Catholic?” goes the quip most Catholic faithful thought they would never ask … at least not seriously. But with a series of recent pronouncements and decisions bucking papal tradition, Pope Francis has many Catholics wondering if the Catholic Church will survive his papacy. In recent days, the Pope has declared that non-believers – not just non-Catholics, but even atheists – can gain salvation and be admitted into heaven, while his new appointment to be secretary of State, the second most important position in the Vatican, has suggested the Vatican is ready to rethink celibacy and the clergy, suggesting priests and nuns might be allowed to get married.

Syria: nearly half rebel fighters are jihadists or hardline Islamists, says IHS Jane's report
Nearly half the rebel fighters in Syria are now aligned to jihadist or hardline Islamist groups according to a new analysis of factions in the country's civil war. Opposition forces battling Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria now number around 100,000 fighters, but after more than two years of fighting they are fragmented into as many as 1,000 bands.

US, France and UK to seek tough UN resolution on Syria
France, Britain and the United States agreed at a trilateral meeting in Paris on Monday to seek a "strong and robust" United Nations resolution that sets precise and binding deadlines on removal of Syria's chemical weapons, the office of French President Francois Hollande said.

Nearly 6,000 villagers evacuated after volcano erupts in western Indonesia
Nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated from their villages following the eruption of Mount Sinabung in western Indonesia. The 2,600-meter (8,530-feet) volcano in North Sumatra province erupted early Sunday after being dormant for three years, sending thick ash into the sky with small rocks pelting neighboring villages.

Obama: Syria Deal Could Influence Iran Nuclear Talks
U.S. President Barack Obama says he and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have exchanged letters about the situation in Syria, and that diplomacy backed by military threat is a model for negotiating with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions.

Koreas restart operations at Kaesong industrial zone
South Korean workers have returned to the Kaesong industrial park in North Korea, five months after work was halted amid high political tension. Trucks and cars began crossing the border into North Korea at exactly 08:00 (23:00 GMT Sunday).

Analysis: House Republicans go for broke in fiscal battles
Another down-to-the-wire fight, potentially more toxic than usual, is rapidly shaping up in the U.S. Congress as conservatives prepare to exploit looming fiscal deadlines to derail President Barack Obama's signature healthcare reform law.

Japan tells 300,000 homes to evacuate as typhoon hits
Typhoon Man-yi hit central Japan Monday, with almost 300,000 households told to evacuate and fears the storm could go on to hit the crippled ********* nuclear plant. The typhoon made landfall in Toyohashi, Aichi prefecture, shortly before 8:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday), packing gusts of up to 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Abortion Clinics Closing at Record Rate
For Abby Johnson, the closing of a single Planned Parenthood center demonstrated her dramatic reversal from abortion clinic director to leading pro-life advocate. But for pro-lifers throughout the United States, it marked another exhibit in a hopeful trend—abortion centers are shutting down at an unprecedented rate. The total so far this year is 44, according to a pro-life organization that tracks clinic operations.

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Why Is The New York Times Always Wrong on Israel?
The New York Times is at it again in its continuing presentation of inaccurate statements and misleading assertions concerning the State of Israel. First was the headline in an article of September 10, 2013 that “The 1967 border is a source of strain in the Israeli-Palestinian Talks.” Then on September 15 it published an unusually tendentious article, “Two-State Illusion: the idea of a state for Palestinians and one for Israelis is a fantasy that blinds us and impedes progress.”

W. Va. teen allegedly killed by "friends"
Skylar Neese, a 16-year-old honors student, vanished July 6, 2012 after slipping out of the bedroom of her Star City, W. Va. home, but few believed she'd run away. The truth emerged on Jan. 3, 2013 when one of Neese's friends admitted plotting with another teenage girl to kill her, a revelation that shocked even police. Two girls that Skylar considered among her best friends, had carried out a plot to stab her to death then bury her in the Pennsylvania woods some 30 miles away.

AP Reported Navy Attack Day Before It Happened!
The Associated Press, as shown in this screenshot of an ABC story, reported the DC Navy Yard shooting on September 15th, a day before it actually happened. Nearly identical to an incident that happened at Sandy Hook, is there any explanation for this? Notice the headline; then notice the date right below it. The commenters on this story picked this right up as shown in the 2nd screenshot down below. Conspiracy theory forums are having a blast with this one….what’s going on? Is this still more proof of another false flag unfolding before our eyes?

How America morphed into 'Bizarro World'
Compared with the vibrant nation it once was, today’s America has become a different country. Divided, angry, squabbling, the world’s largest debtor nation, with rampant divorce, family breakdown and unprecedented sexual anarchy, 1 in 7 on food stamps, 1 in 9 on antidepressants – on so many levels America is disintegrating.

When Did Military Bases Become 'Gun-Free Zones'?
It hasn't always been the case that only MPs can carry firearms on U.S. military bases. A mere twenty years ago, "gun free zones" made their way to these facilities under the watch of President Bill Clinton. In other words, thanks to Clinton, citizens who join the military to use guns to defend liberty abroad cannot practice their constitutional right to keep and bear arms while on active duty at home.

Extreme Space Weather Storms Spark Satellite Failures, Study Suggests
Most of the glitches, from 1996 to 2012, coincided with high-energy electron activity during declining phases of the solar cycle, the study found. Over an extended mission, the researchers warn that this phenomenon could also cause the satellites' backup amplifiers to fail.

LONELY SUNSPOT, QUIET SUN
The sunspot number has dropped to its lowest level of the year. Solitary sunspot AR1841 sits all alone at the center of an otherwise blank solar disk. It is quiet and poses no threat for strong flares.

Scotland’s weather: Storms show winter on the way
SCOTLAND experienced all four seasons in one day yesterday, as the first storm of autumn swept across the country, bringing chaos to the country’s roads. Torrential rain, accompanied by gale-force winds, gave way to sunny periods, before the wet weather returned. The Cairngorms were hit by gusts of 100mph, with snow anticipated last night, and the Forth Road Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles after wind speeds of 69mph were recorded.

IDF to stop securing border communities
The IDF will stop securing communities adjacent to the northern and southern borders, the IDF's Operations Branch has decided. A total of 22 towns situated near the Lebanese border, Sinai and the Gaza Strip will no longer enjoy army security. West Bank settlements were not included in the decision, which prompted anger in the Gaza vicinity area.

Athens rocked by earthquake but no casualties reported
A magnitude 4.5 quake struck central Greece just before 1500 GMT and was followed by a stronger tremor, the Athens Geodynamics Institute said. Fire brigade officials said they had not received any calls for assistance.

Earthquake Swarm Rattling Yellowstone National Park
More than 100 earthquakes have shaken Yellowstone National Park since last Tuesday, with the strongest, a tremblor of 3.6 magnitude, felt Sunday, according to the University of Utah Semisograph Stations.

Senate Panel Votes For State Run Media
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the so-called media shield bill with a vote of 13-5 and sent it to the Senate floor. ... this bill protects the government shills in the mainstream media, but not the people doing the real reporting, the people who have dragged the mainstream media kicking and screaming into reporting the truth about issues such as Fast and Furious, Benghazi, the brutality of the Obama backed Syrian rebels. It won't protect the very people that pushed back against the puppet media to stop Barack Obama from starting World War 3.

Obama waives ban on arming terrorists to allow aid to Syrian opposition
President Obama waived a provision of federal law designed to prevent the supply of arms to terrorist groups to clear the way for the U.S. to provide military assistance to "vetted" opposition groups fighting Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. Some elements of the Syrian opposition are associated with radical Islamic terrorist groups, including al Qaeda...Assad's regime is backed by Iran and Hezbollah.

Official: Obama and Netanyahu to meet in Washington on September 30
The meeting, which was not immediately confirmed by a Netanyahu spokesman, would be incorporated in the Israeli leader's scheduled attendance at the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York.

UPDATED: Syria helicopter crashes near Turkey border: NGO
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some of its sources reported that the helicopter was shot down from across the Turkish border while others said Syria's rebels were responsible. The private Turkish Dogan news agency said that the helicopter exploded in the air and then fell to the ground, 400 metres (yards) from the Yayladagi district of Hatay province on the border with Syria.

Egypt army storms Islamist-held town
Egyptian troops have stormed the central town of Dalga, which has been held by Islamists loyal to the ousted president, Mohammed Morsi. Army and police backed by helicopters entered the town early on Monday. Coptic Christians living in the town of 120,000 people had appealed for help, saying they could not pray safely and were being taxed by "thugs".

USS San Antonio arrives in Haifa for 'routine port visit'
The USS San Antonio, an amphibious transport dock ship, arrived at the port of Haifa on Wednesday for what the US Navy called a "routine port visit." Captain Randell Dykes said the visit was a "well deserved break for sailors and marines, and for many is the first time they have visited Israel.

Mexico storms Ingrid and Manuel leave trail of destruction
Mexican authorities have declared a state of emergency in more than 20 towns in eastern Tamaulipas state after Tropical Storm Ingrid hit the area. The government has also allocated emergency funds to western Guerrero state, where Tropical Storm Manuel caused severe flooding. The two almost simultaneous storms have affected two-thirds of the country, said Interior Minister Osorio Chong.

Washington Navy Yard gunman named as Aaron Alexis
A gunman who died after killing 12 people at a naval installation in Washington DC has been identified as a former US Navy serviceman. Aaron Alexis, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas, died in a gun battle with police during the rampage at Washington Navy Yard. Eight others were injured in the attack, which began at about 8:20 local time (12:20 GMT) on Monday.

********* 'Emergency Measure': Pumping Radioactive Water Into Pacific After Typhoon
After Typhoon Man-Yi tore through Japan and hit the ********* area, workers feared that heavy rainfall caused by the typhoon would raise the water levels to the point where flooding would occur, they decided to open the barriers and release what TEPCO claims was low level contaminated, aka radioactive water into the Pacific. The amount of water released is not known.

Penthouse publisher FriendFinder Networks files for bankruptcy
FriendFinder Networks (FFNT.PK), which publishes the adult magazine Penthouse, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday with the aim of cutting its debt load as the company struggled to make certain loan payments, a court filing showed. The holding company, which also houses internet sites such as adultfriendfinder.com, listed out estimated liabilities of $500 million to $1 billion and assets less than $10 million, according to a court filing.

Turkey downs Syrian helicopter, claims it violated airspace
A Turkish F-16 jet has shot down a Syrian MI-17 attack helicopter, saying it made a 2 km incursion into its airspace and ignored warnings. The Turkish military has released a statement saying that it first identified the Russian-built helicopter 26 nautical miles (48 km) away from its airspace, and radioed the pilots until it was within 5 nautical miles (9 km) of it.

Islamist Nour party walks out of Egypt's constitution talks
Egypt's second biggest Islamist party on Monday walked out of a committee amending the constitution, to protest against moves to curb the influence of Islam in state affairs. The Salafist al-Nour party, which backed the army's overthrow of the more moderate Islamist Mohamed Mursi from the presidency in July, said it was not quitting the committee but wanted to show its anger.

Bangladesh: Abdul Kader Mullah gets death penalty for war crimes
Bangladesh's Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of an Islamist leader against his jail term for war crimes and sentenced him to death. In February Abdul Kader Mullah, of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was convicted by a special tribunal of crimes during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

Why is France pushing so hard on Syria?
In a secretive compound north of Paris, colored blips and blotches on a computer-screen map of Damascus depict an armored vehicle at a highway, tanks, a blown-up building in a suburban field. An unusual glimpse at France's military intelligence headquarters demonstrates how closely the French are watching what's happening in Syria — and how involved the French government is in ending Syria's civil war.

Why a US recovery may send Treasurys, dollar crashing
The Federal Reserve's expected move to scale back monetary stimulus signals that the U.S. economy is gaining traction, but some economists argue that the good growth story is precisely why things look bad for the dollar and bond markets.


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Egypt arrests prominent Muslim Brotherhood spokesman
Demonstrating determination to quash the Muslim Brotherhood rather than seek to draw the Islamist group back into the political fold, Egyptian authorities on Tuesday arrested a prominent spokesman for the organization and renewed a freeze on the financial assets of senior leaders. The latest steps by the interim government, reported by Egypt's state news agency MENA, appeared to be an effort to capitalize on the strong anti-Brotherhood sentiment that cuts across much of the country's political spectrum and has buoyed the interim government.

Glenn Beck Dissects Move by Obama on Syria That He Says May Amount to ‘Treason’
“Just so we are all clear on this, let me read article 3, section 3 of the U.S. Constitution about treason,” Beck said. “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” Beck noted that he recently said in a New York Times article that he has never called for the impeachment of President Obama. “At the time I said that, I suspected that we were giving aid and comfort and weapons to Al Qaeda, but I was still holding out some sort of hope that you could never really prove it...

Fed Chair Hopefuls Are “Lapdogs for the Establishment”: Jim Rogers
While Congressional members and economists push their pick for Fed chair, international investor Jim Rogers tells The Daily Ticker: it doesn’t matter who Obama picks because all Fed Chair candidates “are lapdogs for the establishment.” He expects any new Fed chair will continue current policy, which he says is “insane.” "They should stop all of this, printing $1 trillion every year,” says Rogers, author of “Street Smarts: Adventures on the Road and in the Markets.” He explains: “The world will suffer very badly, very badly when this comes to an end. It’s an artificial sea of liquidity.”

Witness testifies on church burning in ICC trial of Kenyan deputy president William Ruto
Mr Ruto faces three counts of crimes against humanity, including being an "indirect co-perpetrator" of murder, persecution and forcing people from their homes. His is the first of two trials at the ICC linked to that post-election violence.

Brainwashing: Scientists Discover How to Erase and Create Memories
Scientists have figured out how to make a nightmare that is only found in comic books, movies, and spy thrillers a reality. University of California at Irvine (Orange County) researchers have discovered how to use chemicals to wipe or erase memories from the brains of rodents. If that wasn’t scary enough, scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have figured out how to implant false memories in rats. The same scientists have also figured out how to eliminate the false memories without affecting other memories. What’s really frightening is that these aren’t the only scientists doing such work.

Bloomberg Newsgate is Obamagate
Obama Administration has been leaking bogus government unemployment reports, along with bogus major reports on the energy markets, to Bloomberg News who then, in return, leak the reports to corrupt criminal banks like Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and its energy market enabler Traton Energy out of Stanford, Connecticut.

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven
In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.

Football analyst fired for criticizing homosexuality
In the video (see below, beginning at the 3:52 mark), James, in response to a question about whether benefits should be extended to those in same-sex civil unions, refers to homosexuality as “a choice,” adding that those who engage in homosexuality will “have to answer to the Lord for their actions.” He added, “We should not give benefits to those civil unions. … It should not occur.

1 in 3 Americans Link Syrian Conflict to Bible's End-Time Prophecy, Survey Finds
A recent survey has shown that nearly one in three Americans believe that Syria's ongoing civil war is part of the Bible's plan for the end times. One in four believe that a possible U.S. attack on Syria could lead to the Battle of Armageddon. And one in five believe the world will end in their lifetime.

Glenn Beck Dissects Move by Obama on Syria That He Says May Amount to ‘Treason’
Glenn Beck asked on Tuesday why exactly we are not discussing treason or impeachment with regard to the president’s recent decision to waive restrictions under a federal law that prohibits arming terrorists. “...let me read article 3, section 3 of the U.S. Constitution about treason,” Beck said. “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”

Cabinet Establishes Team to Evaluate Reducing the Use of Cash
The Cabinet, today (Tuesday, 17 September 2013), unanimously approved the establishment of a team to evaluate reducing the use of cash. The team, to be chaired by Prime Minister's Office Director General Harel Locker, has been authorized to formulate an outline on a policy for reducing and restricting the use of cash as a means of payment in the Israeli economy. The team has been established at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to step up the war on the "black capital."

Dennis Kucinich Interviews Syria President Bashar al-Assad: Reports
The interview was reported by ITV and Sunday Times reporter Hala Jaber. Jaber said that the interview was done on September 17 and will probably broadcast in the next couple of days. When questioned by multiple people, she said multiple sources confirmed the interview. “Fox TV conducted interview is for sure. Am told its Kucinich, we shall see when interview out,” she said. Fox News has not confirmed the interview as of yet. Kucinich is against any U.S. military action in Syria, according to posts of his on Twitter. In a segment on Fox earlier in September, he questioned why America “would risk a wider war” by launching any sort of attack against the country.

You Won’t Believe What We Found in Another ‘Widely Adopted’ High School Textbook
A South Carolina high school, and possibly many others, are reportedly using a different history textbook that also contains a highly questionable interpretation of the Second Amendment. Additionally...a separate controversial advanced placement history textbook, which acts as a study guide for the advanced placement U.S. history exam, seems to diminish the Second Amendment, is directly linked to Common Core standards, TheBlaze has learned.

Truckers Threatening to ‘Shut Down Washington, D.C.’ for Three Days Straight
A group of truckers are reportedly planning to shut Washington, D.C. down for three days straight starting on Oct. 11 to protest the “corruption against the Constitution.” The “Truckers To Shut Down America” Facebook page has more than 16,000 likes, though it is unclear how many truckers actually intend on taking part in the disruptive protest.

Muslim Brotherhood backer gets DHS promotion
The Obama administration has promoted a Homeland Security adviser – who is a self-declared Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood supporter – to senior fellow within the Cabinet-level department of the federal government. Mohamed Elibiary, who was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council by former Secretary Janet Napolitano in 2010, tweeted Sept. 12 that he has been reappointed to the position and promoted.

SOCIALIST PARTY OF AMERICA RELEASES THE NAMES OF 70 DEMOCRAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
With their new found leader, Barack Obama, the Socialist Party of America felt secure enough to announce the names of 70 democrats in Congress that belong to their caucus.” MA Members of the Socialist Party of America Caucus are as follows: Hon. John Olver (MA-01) Hon. James McGovern (MA-03) Hon. Barney Frank (MA-04 Hon. John Tierney (MA-06) Hon. Ed Markey (MA-07) Hon. Michael Capuano (MA-08) The Socialist Party of America announced in their October 2009 newsletter that 70 Congressional democrats currently belong to their caucus.

Time to Put An End to Army Bases as Gun-Free Zones
Beginning in March 1993, under the Clinton administration, the army forbids military personnel from carrying their own personal firearms and mandates that "a credible and specific threat against [Department of the Army] personnel [exist] in that region" before military personnel "may be authorized to carry firearms for personal protection." Indeed, most military bases have relatively few military police as they are in heavy demand to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Maj.-Gen. Alon: We can't rely on int'l force
For the third time over the past few weeks, IDF forces encountered early Tuesday morning armed and organized resistance during a nighttime operation to arrest terror suspects, this time in Jenin. Until recently, the Palestinian resistance to the arrests was spontaneous and unarmed. ...GOC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Nitzan Alon warned that more and more areas in refugee camps...were becoming havens for Palestinian terrorists.

Mexico storms kill at least 24 and force thousands to evacuate homes
Tropical Storm Manuel swept onto Mexico’s Pacific coast while Hurricane Ingrid swirled offshore on the other side of the country, as heavy rains and landslides caused at least 24 deaths and led authorities to evacuate thousands. Stormy conditions led some communities in affected states to cancel Independence Day celebrations planned for Sunday and Monday.

Gas prices set record: 1,000 days above $3 a gallon
By now every driver knows the drill: The price of gasoline ratchets up, there's an outcry among motorists who feel gouged at the pump and then things settle down as the higher price becomes the new normal. Well, AAA has come up with a sobering statistic: the average price of gasoline will surpass $3 per gallon Tuesday for the 1,000th consecutive day. That's never happened before, the motoring organization says.

Syria tells Russia it has proof rebels used chemicals
Syria has given Russia new "material evidence" that Syrian rebels used chemical weapons in an attack on 21 August, a Russian minister has said. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also said a report by UN inspectors on the alleged use of chemical weapons was politicised, biased and one-sided. He said the inspectors had only investigated the attack in Ghouta on 21 August, not three previous incidents.

Tony Abbott sworn in as Australia prime minister
Tony Abbott has been sworn in as Australia's prime minister, days after his Liberal-National coalition ended six years of Labor government. Mr Abbott, 55, took the oath at Government House in Canberra in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce. His conservative coalition won a comfortable lower house majority in the 7 September polls.

American poverty figure edges up to 46.5 million
The number of Americans in poverty rose slightly last year to 46.5 million, according to US Census data, despite a stock market recovery. The figure edged up from 46.2 million in 2011, meaning the national poverty rate remains unchanged at 15%. It is the sixth year in a row that the rate failed to improve, despite the US being out of recession since 2009.

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Magnitude 5.8 earthquake hits F u k u s h i m a
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude 5.8 struck F u k u s h i ma a Prefecture early Friday morning but no tsunami warning has been issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, the Kyodo news service reported.

If Obama had a fan, he�d look like Aaron Alexis
Here�s even more bad news for all our liberal friends who are making another futile effort to exploit the actions of an insane murderer to advance their political goals: The guy who murdered at least 12 people at the DC Navy Yard was on their team. First we learned that Alexis didn’t use an evil AR-15 to kill all those people. Instead, he used a nice, friendly, Biden-approved shotgun:

House Oversight memo: Washington Post’s tea party coverage inspired IRS to target conservatives
The Washington Post’s anti-tea party coverage inspired IRS officials to improperly target conservative groups, according to a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee memo. “The IRS first identified and elevated the Tea Party applications due to media attention surrounding the Tea Party…Media attention caused the IRS to treat conservative-oriented tax-exempt applications differently,” according to a September 17 House Oversight memo entitled “Interim update on the Committee’s investigation of the Internal Revenue Service’s inappropriate treatment of tax-exempt applications.”

Turkey shuts border gate after clashes on Syrian side
Turkey has closed one of its border gates to Syria after an al Qaeda-affiliated rebel group clashed with units of the Arab- and Western-backed Free Syrian Army in the Syrian town of Azaz near the Turkish frontier, a Turkish official said on Thursday.

The Church and organized labor’s new orthodoxy
The two groups are hardly alike. One is concerned with the material; the other occupied with things spiritual. But last week they were united, as the leaders of both appeared ready to break with tradition and leave behind a history of exclusion. These moves haven’t attracted much notice: but if the two leaders follow through, the consequences will be enormous.

Implications of the US-Russia Agreement About Assad
When the bulk of the bi-partisan Congress and the majority of the American people expressed their loud opinion (and it was quite deafening) against the use of military force in Syria, Obama was stripped of the only support he hoped to have in his efforts to stop Assad’s mad dash toward further use of chemical weapons.

"Rejoice...Be Wholly Happy", Says the Bible on Sukkot - Tonight
Wednesday evening at sundown is the start of the holiday of Sukkot (Tabernacles), one of the three major festivals (shlosha regalim) of the Jewish calendar in which, in Temple days, the Jewish people were enjoined to "go up to Jerusalem." Sukkot, coming immediately after the solemn month of Elul and the High Holy Days, is the holiday on which the Bible encourages all of us to "be wholly happy".

‘Go home’: German far-right party sends hate mail to ethnically-mixed politicians
A far-right party in Germany wants politicians of mixed ethnic backgrounds to ‘go home’. It sent them one-way plane tickets ahead of the Sunday election, which quickly resulted in public outrage.

Surveillance court orders transparency review of its NSA opinions
The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on Friday ordered government lawyers and intelligence officials to review the court’s opinions related to the scope and constitutionality of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, the statute that the NSA has cited as its authority for its mass collection of U.S. telephone records in recent years. At the request of the American Civil Liberties Union and Yale Law School’s Media Freedom and Access Information Clinic, the court ordered the U.S. government to review the court’s opinions for possible declassification, giving lawyers until Oct. 4 to do so.

‘When they become PM, they realize how utterly dependent Israel is on the US’
Eitan Haber, Rabin’s closest aide, says he personally never believed Arafat was a partner and isn’t sure that Rabin did either. And yet, Haber insists, Rabin thought he could reach a permanent accord with Arafat because he, Rabin, would lead the effort, and he, Rabin, could attain the goal.

Temple Mount: Is it worth fighting for?
In 1967 Moshe Dayan shocked much of the Jewish world as well as the Muslim world when he handed the keys to the Temple Mount to the Islamic Waqf. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol made plans for the eventual takeover of Mount Moriah – the Temple Mount. He formulated a plan in which the management of that holy site would be led by a committee of Muslims, Christians and Jewish clerics in order to safeguard the freedom of prayer for each of the three faiths.

IRS continued to target Tea Party groups after granting them tax status, lawmaker says
The Internal Revenue Service continued to target conservative political groups even after approving their applications for tax exempt status, a key Republican lawmaker said Wednesday. The IRS acknowledged in May that agents had improperly targeted tea party and other conservative groups for additional, sometimes burdensome scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status.

Hurricane Manuel slowly moves closer to Mexico's western coast
Manuel, a small tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, was about 20 miles northwest of Altata and 85 miles southeast of Los Mochis, traveling north at 3 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported in its 5 a.m. EDT advisory.

Ned Goodman:The dollar is about to be dethroned as the world’s de facto currency
In his nearly eight minute speech, the 75 year old CEO of Dundee Capital Markets and Chancellor of Brock University painted a picture of the upcoming change in reserve currency control by the U.S., and how the dollar will soon be replaced as nations around the world rush to get rid of their currency reserves.

AWAKENING SUN
After a week of deep quiet, the drowsy sun is waking up. Five new sunspots were numbered on Sept. 17th as the sun hurled a series of CMEs (movie) into space, none Earth directed.

Shallow 5.4 magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea
The quake, which hit at 6:53 am (2053 GMT Wednesday), was just 6.5 kilometres (four miles) deep, the USGS said. It was located 75 kilometres east-north-east of Wewak and was 761 km from capital Port Moresby.

Obama: 'Raising the Debt Ceiling...Does Not Increase Our Debt,' Though It Has 'Over 100 Times'
In a speech at the Business Roundtable headquarters in Washington, D.C., Obama dismissed concerns about raising the debt ceiling by noting that it'd been done so many times in the past: "Now, this debt ceiling -- I just want to remind people in case you haven't been keeping up -- raising the debt ceiling, which has been done over a hundred times, does not increase our debt; it does not somehow promote profligacy.

Assad: Syria needs one year to destroy chemical weapons
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is committed to a plan to destroy his country's chemical weapons but warned it could take about a year. Speaking to Fox News, Mr Assad again denied claims that his forces were responsible for a deadly chemical attack near Damascus on 21 August. The Syria disarmament plan was unveiled by the US and Russia last weekend.

Ukraine approves EU deal despite Russian objections
Ukrainian government ministers have approved a draft agreement with the EU, which includes a free trade pact. If formally signed in November, it would be the EU's furthest-reaching treaty with a country not currently negotiating membership. EU ministers have said the deal is dependant on Kiev introducing extensive reforms, and are urging the release of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa
Egyptian security forces are fighting gun battles in a town near Cairo after launching an operation targeting "criminal and terrorist hotbeds". At least 28 suspected militants have been held in Kerdasa, state TV says. But several hours after the operation started, security forces were having to take cover from gunfire.

UK and France going own way on military co-operation
Britain is forging ahead on military co-operation with France, while warning about EU "interference" on defence. The two countries are the EU's leading military powers. They spent €92 billion on defence last year (more than Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain put together), according to Swedish NGO Sipri.

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Obama resumes lying about the debt ceiling
Kessler peels away the crusty layer of legalism poured over Obama’s comment, and finds it only takes a few licks to reach the Tootsie Role center of falsehood, listing numerous incidents where the debt ceiling was employed as leverage for various issues.

McCain Blasted at Town Hall: "I Would Have You Arrested for Treason"!
At a town hall September 6th, Senator John McCain was confronted by an attendee with a laundry list of charges, including the U.S. sponsorship of terrorism and “treason.”

No time left for negotiations with Iran: Israeli minister
Iran is on course to develop a nuclear bomb within six months and time has run out for further negotiations, a senior Israeli minister said. Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said Iran still believed it had room for maneuver in dealing with world powers, and that unless it faced a credible threat of U.S. military action, it would not stop its nuclear activities.

Scoring the Syria Deal
Diplomacy has never witnessed anything like the dizzying and erratic sequence of events relating to Syria that began on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and ended 3½ weeks later, on Saturday, Sept. 14. Who won, who lost? It’s too soon for a definite answer, but Bashar al-Assad is in the driver’s seat, suggesting that he, Putin, and the mullahs will gain while Obama, Erdoğan, and Israel will lose.

Scientists ‘Very, Very Confident’ They’ve Found Extraterrestrial Life – See What It Looks Like
“In the absence of a mechanism by which large particles like these can be transported to the stratosphere we can only conclude that the biological entities originated from space. Our conclusion then is that life is continually arriving to Earth from space, life is not restricted to this planet and it almost certainly did not originate here.” If this is in fact the case, Wainwright said it would “change our view of biology and evolution.” “New textbooks will have to be written!” he added.

Putin to visit Iran for first time in six years. Historic trip will raise renewed interest in the “Gog & Magog” prophecies.
“Vladimir Putin has accepted an Iranian invitation to visit the country and meet with newly elected President Hasan Rouhani, a spokesman for the Russian president confirmed,” reports the Times of Israel. “Putin has been invited to Iran, and he will certainly take advantage of this kind invitation,” the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday. “The dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.”

The rabbi, the lost ark and the future of Temple Mount
Rabbi Chaim Richman shows me into a darkened room, strokes his beard and pulls out his smartphone. He has a specially designed app that works the lights. The room illuminates. He taps the screen again, and a heavy curtain slides open. There, resplendent in brilliant gold – and rather smaller than I expected – lies the Ark of the Covenant. “This isn’t the real lost ark,” he says. “The real one is hidden about a kilometre from here, in underground chambers created during the time of Solomon.” I look at him askance. “It’s true,” he says. “Jews have an unbroken chain of recorded information, passed down from generation to generation, which indicates its exact location.

5.1-magnitude earthquake hits northwest China
An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted the junction area of northwest China's Gansu and Qinghai Provinces on Friday morning. No casualties have been reported so far, according to local authorities.

MINOR CME
A magnetic filament erupted from the southeast quadrant of the sun on Sept. 19th. The eruption hurled a faint CME into space. It should have minimal impact on Earth, however, because of its slow speed and low density.

Arctic sea ice up 60 percent in 2013
About a million more square miles of ocean are covered in ice in 2013 than in 2012, a whopping 60 percent increase -- and a dramatic deviation from predictions of an "ice-free Arctic in 2013," the Daily Mail noted.

House to vote to derail Obamacare, fund government
Republicans controlling the House are moving to ship to the Senate a measure that would prevent a government shutdown but cripple the health care law that's the signature accomplishment of President Barack Obama's first term.

Biblical-Era Town on Sea of Galilee Discovered; Did Jesus Sail There?
Evidence of a 2,000-year-old town on the Sea of Galilee has been discovered by archaeologists in the Ginosar Valley of Israel that they believe may have been the biblical town of Dalmanutha.

NASA Mars Rover Finds No Sign of Methane, Telltale Sign of Life
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has come up empty-handed in its search for methane in the planet's atmosphere, a gas that on Earth is a strong indicator of life, officials said on Thursday. The rover landed on Mars in August 2012 to determine whether the planet most like Earth...

Syria Deputy Prime Minister: The Civil War Has Reached a Stalemate
Neither side can win the civil war in Syria — which has reached a stalemate — and Damascus will call for a cease-fire with the rebels at proposed peace talks in Geneva, the country's deputy prime minister said in an interview with the Guardian. "Neither the armed opposition nor the regime is capable of defeating the other side," Qadri Jamil told the newspaper. "This zero balance of forces will not change for a while."

Pope Warns Church Must Find Balance or Fall 'Like House of Cards'
Pope Francis said the Catholic Church should not allow its bans on gay marriage, abortion and contraception to dominate its teachings, but must be a more welcoming Church where priests are understanding pastors and not cold, dogmatic bureaucrats. In a dramatically blunt interview with Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit monthly, Francis said the Church had locked itself up in "small things, in small-minded rules". It must find a new balance between upholding rules and demonstrating mercy, "otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards..."

White House Confirms Obama-Netanyahu Meeting
"The president will welcome Israeli prime minister Netanyahu to the White House on Monday, September 30," spokesman Jay Carney said, according to AFP. Carney noted the two leaders would discuss progress on final status negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, as well as Iran, Syria and developments in the Middle East.

Two Hundred Million Europeans See Israel as Nazi State
Political Islam is the latest totalitarian ideology chosen by Europe to move towards liquidating the Jewish people - and it is working.

Seismologists Puzzle Over Largest Deep Earthquake Ever Recorded
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake that struck deep beneath the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24, 2013, has left seismologists struggling to explain how it happened. At a depth of about 609 kilometers (378 miles), the intense pressure on the fault should inhibit the kind of rupture that took place.

Will the Dead Sea be eaten by sinkholes? Huge chasms are appearing in the region at a rate of one per day
The Dead Sea is drying up at an incredible rate leaving huge chasms of empty space in its wake. These chasms appear in the form of large, devastating sinkholes and are increasing in number throughout the region. Experts claim they are now forming at a rate of nearly one a day, but have no way of knowing when or how they will show up.

Shikotsu volcano (Hokkaido, Japan): seismic unrest and deformation
Seismic activity accompanied by inflation were recorded under the western flank of Tarumai stratovolcano (the most active vent of the system, located on the SW rim of the Shikotsu caldera) between late June and early July this year. Following this period of deformation, deep seismicity under the western flank has increased above background since the beginning of July.

Airlines told to avoid path near Indonesia volcano
More than 15,000 residents have fled a volcano that rumbled to life less than a week ago in Indonesia and local airlines have been warned to avoid flying near the mountain as thick ash continues to spew from its crater, an official said.

China Intensifies Social-Media Crackdown
A forceful campaign of intimidation against China's most influential Internet users has cast a chill over public debate in the country and called into question the long-term viability of its most vibrant social-media platform. In an offensive that some critics have likened to the political purges of the Mao era, Beijing has recently detained or interrogated several high-profile social-media figures...

Warning of three-person IVF 'risks'
Concerns about the safety of a pioneering therapy that would create babies with DNA from three people have been raised by researchers. The advanced form of IVF could eliminate debilitating and potentially fatal mitochondrial diseases. Writing in the journal Science, the group warned that the mix of DNA could lead to damaging side-effects.

Pope Francis: Church too focused on gays and abortion
Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church is too focused on preaching about abortion, gay people and contraception and needs to become more merciful. He warned that the Church's moral structure could "fall like a house of cards" unless it changed. The Pope used the first major interview of his papacy to explain comments he made in July about homosexuality.

Typhoon Usagi moves towards Philippines, Taiwan
The Philippines and Taiwan are braced for Typhoon Usagi, which meteorologists say could become the most powerful typhoon of 2013. The typhoon was 560km (350 miles) east-southeast of Taiwan and 360km (225 miles) from the northern Philippines on Friday morning, weather officials said. Both Taiwan and the Philippines have issued alerts and warned boats to exercise caution.

Nigeria's Boko Haram unrest: Scores dead in Benisheik raid
At least 87 people have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno state, according to local officials. Disguised in military uniforms, the militants set up checkpoints outside the town of Benisheik and shot dead those trying to flee, witnesses said. ...Boko Haram, which wants to create an Islamic state across Nigeria, has waged a deadly insurgency since 2009.

Mexico storms: Death toll up to 97 as Manuel loses force
Mexican authorities say 97 people have been killed by storms that hit the country earlier in the week. In the village of La Pintada, near the Pacific coast, a landslide partially engulfed the town. At least 15 bodies have been recovered and almost 70 residents are missing, the authorities said.

Colorado flood death toll rises, amid oil spills
The death toll from historic flooding that hit Colorado last week has risen to seven people, as the state faces 10 oil spills caused by the deluge. Colorado's oil agency said it was tracking two "notable" and eight minor spills across the flood area. Three other people are missing and presumed dead after a week of heavy rains were capped by flash-flooding.

Navy Yard shooting: Swat team awaits answers
Members of a Washington DC Swat team who the BBC has learned were ordered not to respond to Monday's Navy Yard shootings have yet to be contacted by the authorities. The Capitol Police tactical response team was told by a supervisor to leave the scene instead of aiding municipal officers, sources told the BBC.

Arab states call on Israel to join global anti-nuclear weapons treaty
Iran says Israel's nuclear activities "threaten regional peace and security"; US officials: Nuclear arms-free Middle East will not be a reality until there is Arab-Israeli peace and Iran curbs its program. Arab states will push ahead with a bid to single out Israel for criticism over its assumed atomic arsenal at this week's UN nuclear agency meeting, despite

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‘Intrusive and Unsettling’: Man Rigs E-Z Pass Toll Tag to Show It Tracks Cars Outside of Tolls
A New Jersey man modified his E-Z Pass — a device used to automatically pay highway tolls — to alert him every time his it was being connected to by an outside source. He found it wasn’t just when passing through tolls that his device was being read. ...The man recorded video of the device being read in non-toll areas and presented his findings at the hacking conference Defcon, which took place in August.

Homeland Security to test BOSS facial recognition at junior hockey game
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will test its crowd-scanning facial recognition system, known as the Biometric Optical Surveillance System, or BOSS, at a junior hockey game this weekend. With assistance from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, DHS will test its system at a Western Hockey League game in Washington state.

Super typhoon cuts power, unleashes landslides in northern Philippines
The year's most powerful typhoon slammed into the Philippines' northernmost islands on Saturday, cutting communication and power lines, triggering landslides and inundating rice fields, officials said. Packing winds of 185 kph (114 mph) near the center and gusts of up to 220 kph, Typhoon Usagi weakened after hitting the Batanes island group, and is moving slowly west-northwest at 19 kph towards southern China, the weather bureau said.

Pakistan 'frees top Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar'
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Afghan Taliban, has been freed from jail in Pakistan, reports say. There is no official confirmation. The Afghan government had requested his release to boost the Afghan peace process and has hailed the move. Mullah Baradar is one of the four men who founded the Taliban movement in Afghanistan in 1994.

US House passes budget bill that would defund healthcare law
US lawmakers have passed a budget bill that would keep the government operating, while defunding President Barack Obama's healthcare law. The Republican-led House of Representatives voted 230-189, largely along party lines, in favour of the controversial measure. The Democratic-controlled Senate has promised to strip the "defund Obamacare" provision next week.

Islamic Movement leaders warn of 'Israeli plan to destroy al-Aksa Mosque'
Tens of thousands of Israeli-Arabs attended the "Al-Aksa is in Danger" rally in Umm al-Fahm on Friday, organized by the Islamic Movement's northern branch. ...Islamic Movement leaders warned the Arab and Islamic world against "Israel's plan, which has lately gained the support of right-wing MKs, to destroy the Aksa Mosque and to build a Jewish temple at the site."

Yemen violence: Twin attacks on army 'kill 40'
At least 40 people were killed when suspected al-Qaeda militants launched simultaneous attacks on army targets in southern Yemen, officials say. Two car bombs reportedly exploded at a camp in Shabwa province, killing about 30 soldiers and wounding many others. In a second assault in the area, gunmen shot dead another 10 soldiers in the town of Maifaa.

N Korea postpones family reunions over South's 'hostility'
North Korea is indefinitely postponing scheduled reunions of families separated by the Korean War, a government statement has said. The statement did not provide details other than accusing unidentified conservatives in South Korea of "hostility" towards Pyongyang. North Korea regularly makes such claims about the South.

Pakistan to free Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Baradar on Saturday
Former Afghan Taliban second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is to be released from prison in Pakistan on Saturday, the foreign ministry says. A spokesman said the release was to "further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process". Mullah Baradar is one of the four men who founded the Taliban movement in Afghanistan in 1994.

Atom bomb nearly exploded over North Carolina in 1961: UK paper
A U.S. atom bomb nearly exploded in 1961 over North Carolina that would have been 260 times more powerful than the device that devastated Hiroshima, according to a declassified document published in a British newspaper on Friday.

Pope seeks historic easing of rigid Catholic doctrine
Pope Francis has urged a break with the Catholic Church's harsh "obsession" with divorce, gays, contraception and abortion, in an interview signalling a dramatic shift in the Vatican's tone.

China: NKorea ready to make nuclear commitment
China's foreign minister pushed Friday for the restart of international talks on North Korea's nuclear program, saying that Pyongyang is ready to recommit to the goal of denuclearization. North Korea withdrew from the aid-for-disarmament talks in 2009, and over the past year has made clear it wants to be treated as a nuclear weapons state.

Chemical watchdog examines Syria weapons details
The world's chemical weapons watchdog has begun on Saturday to examine details of Syria's chemical arsenal supplied by the regime, as rebels agreed a truce with jihadists in a key border town.China urged a quick implementation of a landmark US-Russian deal to destroy Syria's chemical stockpile, as the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tasked with dismantling the weapons said it has received an initial report from President Bashar al-Assad's regime on the arsenal.In New York, UN envoys were due to resume talks on a draft Security Council resolution that would enshrine the plan to neutralise the lethal weapons.

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Triple swarm of earthquakes shakes Yellowstone
Until recently, Bob Smith had never witnessed two simultaneous earthquake swarms in his 53 years of monitoring seismic activity in and around the Yellowstone Caldera. Now, Smith, a University of Utah geophysics professor, has seen three swarms at once. "It's very remarkable," Smith said. "How does one swarm relate to another? Can one swarm trigger another and vice versa?"

The rabbi, the lost ark and the future of Temple Mount
In Jerusalem, rabbis are designing a new hi-tech temple. There's only one problem: they want to build it on the holiest place in the city for Muslims.

Typhoon Usagi Bears Down on Hong Kong, Threatens China
Hong Kong raised its third-highest storm signal as Severe Typhoon Usagi approached, with the city braced for floods and hundreds of flights canceled.

Hacking U.S. Secrets, China Pushes for Drones
For almost two years, hackers based in Shanghai went after one foreign defense contractor after another, at least 20 in all. Their target, according to an American cybersecurity company that monitored the attacks, was the technology behind the United States’ clear lead in military drones. “I believe this is the largest campaign we’ve seen that has been focused on drone technology,” said Darien Kindlund...

Pakistan church blast kills dozens
A bomb blast outside a church in the Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least 60 people and injured more than 100 others, officials say. They say two suicide bombers blew themselves up as people were coming out after Sunday Mass. The victims were said to include women and children.

'Turkey will likely never join the EU due to members' prejudice'
Turkey will probably never join the European Union because of prejudicial attitudes by the bloc's existing members, Ankara's chief EU negotiator said, in what appeared to be the first high-level acknowledgment that its decades-long bid might fail. Turkey was more likely to negotiate special access to the EU market, like Norway, EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said...

Report: Israelis join Kenyan effort to rescue hostages from terrorists
Israeli forces have joined Kenyan troops in the effort to save hostages from al-Qaida-linked Somali terrorists at a Nairobi mall where gunmen killed at least 59 people on Saturday, AFP reported on Sunday. "The Israelis have just entered and they are rescuing the hostages and the injured," AFP quoted a security source as saying.

Russia ready to send observers to Syria
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia is ready to send military observers to Syria to ensure security for efforts to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons. But he says Russia is not considering sending a full military contingent. Under a U.S.-Russian plan, Syria is to give up its chemical weapons. Security is one of the plan's major challenges, including how to prevent theft of the weapons.

Iranian president brags about deceiving the West
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has gone on a charm offensive lately with multiple interviews with American media promising collaboration, but a recent video shows he takes pride in deceiving the West.

Islamist gunmen holed up with hostages in Nairobi siege, 59 dead
Islamist militants were holed up with hostages on Sunday at a shopping mall in Nairobi, where at least 59 people have been killed in an attack by the al Shabaab group that opposes Kenya's participation in a peacekeeping mission in neighboring Somalia.

Will Japan's elderly get burned by 'Abenomics'?
As Japan undergoes a seismic shift in economic policy that promises to end two decades of stagnation, one unsuspecting segment of society may be getting a raw deal: the elderly. "For those older persons that are retired, inflation is a threat in light of the pension system's low generosity, as it erodes the real value of their savings," said Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics.

More than 60 killed in Iraq funeral bombing
At least 60 people have been killed at a funeral in the mainly Shia Muslim Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. A tent where mourners were gathered was hit by two explosions, one of them a suicide car bomb. A third explosion followed as police, ambulances and firefighters gathered at the scene, according to one report.

Iran's elite military warns of dangers of dealing with U.S
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard has warned of the dangers of dealing with U.S. officials, ahead of expected diplomatic contacts, underlining the internal challenges President Hassan Rouhani could face to improve ties with the West.

Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage
The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product. The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution. Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage.

Russia says opposes any resolution threatening force against Syria
Russia on Sunday criticized what it said were Western attempts to use a Syrian chemical arms disarmament deal to seek a U.N. resolution threatening force against President Bashar al-Assad's government. Syria has handed over information about its chemical arsenal to a U.N.-backed weapons watchdog, meeting the first deadline of the ambitious U.S.-Russia deal that averted the threat of Western air strikes.

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Egypt court bans all Muslim Brotherhood activities
An Egyptian court has banned the Muslim Brotherhood group and ordered its assets confiscated in a dramatic escalation of a crackdown by the military-backed government against supporters of the ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

'Overpasses for Obama's Impeachment' teams with 'Truckers To Shut Down America'
The group, "Overpasses for Obama's Impeachment" announced today that they will be teaming up with the "Truckers To Shut Down America" group, the brainchild of a concerned American and a former trucker, Zeeda Andrews.

Soros-Funded Website Attacks Christians
Throwing logic aside, a left-wing petition on the popular website Change.org has taken aim at popular preacher and radio personality Bradlee Dean and his participation in the Minnesota state fair recently.

UN General Assembly could see real Mideast breakthroughs
After several years of speechifying, sanctioning and pre-negotiating, the United States faces the prospect of real diplomatic breakthroughs on three of the Middle East’s most daunting crises.

Report of Unemployment by State Doesn’t Paint a Pretty Picture
Unemployment rose in 18 U.S. states in August as many employers reported cutting jobs. Weaker hiring obviously raises serious questions about the already sluggish job market.

‘Might Be Greatest Man Alive’: These Catholics — and a Few Celebrities — Gush Over Pope Francis’ Remarks on Homosexuality, Abortion
Here’s a look at Catholics attending Sunday services around the globe who said they were heartened by Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the church has become too focused on “small-minded rules” on hot-button issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and contraceptives. TheBlaze reported that Francis’ remarks aren’t what some social conservatives want to hear, but these worshipers applauded what they heard as a message of inclusion from the man who assumed the papacy just six months ago.

Violent eruption and series of major pyroclastic flows at Santa Maria, Guatemala
The explosions, accompanied by shock waves that could be heard in 20 km radius, produced an ash plume that rose to about 4.5 km altitude or about 2 km height above the crater. Significant (but smaller compared) ash plume rose from the pyroclastic flows. Ash fall occurred in Quetzaltenango, Santa María de Jesús, Zuníl and other areas downwind.

Triple swarm of earthquakes shakes Yellowstone
Until recently, Bob Smith had never witnessed two simultaneous earthquake swarms in his 53 years of monitoring seismic activity in and around the Yellowstone Caldera. Now, Smith, a University of Utah geophysics professor, has seen three swarms at once. "It's very remarkable," Smith said. "How does one swarm relate to another? Can one swarm trigger another and vice versa?"

Obama’s UN agenda: Iran, Syria, Israel
Obama will open meetings at the United Nations on Monday focusing on diplomatic opportunities on three vexing issues: Iran’s disputed nuclear program, Syria’s chemical weapons use, and elusive peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

'Big One' is due, quake experts say
Sitting on a major fault line, Oregon is "like an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy, due any time now" for a major earthquake, a geologist with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management told an overflow crowd Friday in Medford. "We're in the zone, and we'd darn well better get ourselves ready for it,"

Black-mob violence destroys U.S. landmark
The “high crime” part. The gang-infested part. The poor part. The urban part. The sketchy part. The part that local media calls every name imaginable except one: The black part. Otherwise, most of the 22.5 miles of this trail is a safe, sometimes bucolic experience for runners, bikers, strollers and even equestrians. As long as they stay away from the trail near Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Since 2011, dozens of people have been beaten, robbed, pushed off bikes and threatened in that part of the trail. All of the suspects in this violence and mayhem are black.

Russian offers troops to help remove Syria chemical arms
Russia can send its military personnel to help in the proposed operation to eliminate Syria's chemical arms, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says. Mr Lavrov told Russian TV that military observers could help Syria destroy its stockpiles under a US-Russian deal. He also accused the US of using "blackmail" over a UN resolution.

Typhoon Usagi kills at least 25 people in China
Typhoon Usagi has killed at least 25 people in Guangdong province of south China, the government has said. Winds of up to 180 km/h (110 mph) were recorded in some areas, toppling trees and blowing cars off roads. Its victims drowned or were hit by debris. The storm has affected 3.5 million people on the Chinese mainland.

Ukraine and EU ridicule Russian threats
EU personalities and Ukrainian politicians have made light of Russia's latest threat against Ukraine if it signs an EU pact. Speaking at a conference in Yalta, Ukraine, at the weekend, Sergei Glazyev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Russia will economically ruin Ukraine if it takes the EU path.

A Race For The 51st State
First eight counties in northeastern Colorado wanted to secede and create their own 51st state, then came five counties in Western Maryland, and now a grassroots citizen movement from Northern California residents has begun with the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors taking the first step in what would be a long journey, by voting 4-1 in support of a citizen-led initiative “to commence the Constitution’s Article 4, section 3 process of carving out a new state from an existing state just like the state of Maine was created out of the state of Massachusetts,” said Supervisor Marcia Armstrong.

Somali militants say Israeli forces attempted to enter besieged Nairobi mall
Somali Islamist group al Shabaab said on Monday Israeli and Kenyan forces have tried to enter the besieged Nairobi shopping center but we unsuccessful, Reuters reported, citing the group's spokesman. "Israelis and Kenyan forces have tried to enter Westgate (mall) by force but they could not, the mujahideen (fighters) will kill the hostages if the enemies use force," Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage...

$270 million worth of cocaine found on Air France flight
There was something odd about the 30 suitcases that showed up on a flight from Venezuela. The colorful bags weren't registered to any of the passengers on the plane. When French officials opened them up, they discovered why -- 1.3 tons of pure cocaine were stuffed inside the anonymous bags. The street value of the stash? About 200 million euros, or $270 million.

Israeli soldier killed in West Bank city of Hebron
The Israeli army says one of its soldiers has been killed in a shooting in the West Bank city of Hebron. Officials said the soldier had been on patrol in the city, which was packed with Jewish people visiting for a week-long religious festival. The 20-year old soldier died in hospital after being hit in a suspected sniper attack.

Netanyahu Is Said to View Iran Deal as a Possible Trap
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, stepping up his effort to blunt a diplomatic offensive by Iran, plans to warn the United Nations next week that a nuclear deal with the Iranian government could be a trap similar to one set by North Korea eight years ago, according to an Israeli official involved in drafting the speech.

Nairobi shopping mall attack: three Britons among 68 dead
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, warned that the number of British dead in Saturday’s atrocity was likely to rise and signalled some could be hostages. The Prime Minister is preparing to chair an emergency response meeting this morning. Late on Sunday night a Kenyan military spokesman said an operation to end the standoff was nearing its end, with "about 10" hostages still being held.

Angela Merkel wins historic third term in German elections
Angela Merkel is heading for a third term as Germany’s chancellor, as exit polls showed she could even be on course for the historic achievement of an absolute majority in the country’s parliament.

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Putin positioning himself as new power player in the Mideast, but to what end? Will this ally of Iran & Syria become hostile to Israel?
A growing number of journalists, political leaders, and foreign policy analysts are noting that Vladimir Putin is aggressively positioning himself as a new and increasingly influential force on the global stage generally, and in the Middle East, in particular.

Deny Communion For Pelosi
The Vatican's highest-ranking American said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Catholic politicians who support abortion should be denied communion. "This is a person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave sin — cooperating with the crime of procured abortion — and still professes to be a devout Catholic," said Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome.

Island emerges near Gwadar coast after earthquake
QUETTA: In a rare development, an island emerged off Gwadar coast after a powerful earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck Pakistan on Tuesday.According to DIG Gwadar Moazzam Jah, the island's altitude is 20 to 40 feet and width around 100 feet. Talking to Geo news, the DIG said that the island emerged at a distance of 350 feet in the sea from the Gwadar coast.

Pakistan quake tremors felt across UAE, Oman; some buildings evacuated
An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale has hit rural southwest of Pakistan, with tremors felt as far away as the UAE, Oman and parts of India.

Imprisoned Iranian Pastor Reportedly Leads ‘Over 30 People to Christ’
Despite his plight, which includes intense pain, suffering and mistreatment, Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh, recently revealed an intriguing fact during an address she delivered at Liberty University — a tidbit that will likely enrage Iranian officials: The detained Christian has reportedly “led…over 30 people to Christ.”

Pope expresses good will to Muslims in letter to Sunni imam
Pope Francis has indicated respect “for Islam and Muslims” in a letter to the head of the main cultural institution of Sunni Islam, marking the end of Ramadan. Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar University, perhaps the highest authority in Sunni thought, received the Pope’s letter at the hands of Archbishop Jean-Paul Gobel, apostolic nuncio to Egypt, on Sept. 17, Fides News Agency reported. A statement from the Cairo-based university said that the Holy Father’s letter expressed hope in the attempt to further “understanding among Christians and Muslims in the world” and “to build peace and justice.”

Islam Is The Greatest Threat To World Peace Since Hitler’s Nazis
Islamic jihadism continues to cast its dark shadow across the world. The atrocity in the Nairobi shopping center is a chilling reminder of the global reach of this vile ideology.

Egypt court bans Muslim Brotherhood, orders its assets confiscated
An Egyptian court on Monday ordered the Muslim Brotherhood to be banned and its assets confiscated in a dramatic escalation of a crackdown by the military-backed government against supporters of the ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi. The ruling opens the door for a wider crackdown on the vast network of the Brotherhood, which includes social organizations that have been key for building the group's grassroots support and helping its election victories. The verdict banned the group itself -- including the official association it registered under earlier this year -- as well as "any institution branching out of it or ... receiving financial support from it," according to the court ruling, made public on Egypt's state official news agency MENA.

Syria’s Christians Nearing Extermination
While many were fixated on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent letter to the American people, another letter from another Russian leader—this one directly addressed to the U.S. president—was missed. On September 10, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill issued a letter addressed to “His Excellency Mr. Barack Obama, President, United States.” Whether one wishes to interpret this communique as a product of politics or sincerity, it accurately highlights the plight of Syria’s Christians, especially in the broader context of a larger civilizational struggle.

QUIET SUN
Today is another day that seems more like Solar Min than Solar Max. All of the sunspots on the Earthside of the sun are quiet, and solar activity is low.

Tens of thousands attend priestly blessing in Jerusalem
The semiannual mass priestly benediction service — or Birkat Kohanim -- took place Sunday morning at the Western Wall. Tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers crowded the plaza to receive the blessing from the Kohanim, descendants of Aaron who make up the priestly caste. Both new chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, participated as well.

US braces for shutdown a week before budget deadline
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would prevent a shutdown at the price of defunding what has become known as "Obamacare." The president has warned that this is a non-starter, and now the House and Senate are left with one week to thrash out a compromise. Should they fail, several government agencies will close on October 1, placing hundreds of thousands of non-essential staff on unpaid leave.

At UN, Israel likely to stand alone against Iran
While Western powers appear ready to embrace Rouhani, who will speak later Tuesday, Netanyahu expected to warn against trusting the new Iranian president.

Why retirement of Lois Lerner doesn’t end IRS tea party scandal
Lois Lerner, the Internal Revenue Service official under fire for her department’s targeting of tea party groups, has retired effective Monday, according to the IRS. But that development does not end the scandal that burst into the open last May, when Ms. Lerner revealed that tea party groups were undergoing extra scrutiny in their applications for tax exemption. Lerner, who was director of the IRS’s section on tax-exempt organizations, had been placed on paid administrative leave, and remains under subpoena by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is investigating the scandal.

Obama, Bill Clinton Join Forces to Campaign for Obamacare
Obama will use an international conference hosted by former President Bill Clinton tomorrow in New York to kick off what the White House is calling an aggressive campaign to promote Obamacare.

Kissinger, Brzezinski: Obama's Syria Actions 'Misconceived, Badly Calculated'
Appearing on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" on Sunday Brzezinski and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger agreed that the United States and Russia share a common interest in avoiding American military action in the Syria.

North Korea acquires key components needed to enrich uranium
The estimations by two US nuclear experts are in line with a report by the Institute for Science and International Security in August that suggested that North Korea has dramatically increased the size of the uranium enrichment facility at its Yongbyon nuclear plant. More recent satellite images indicate that North Korea has started procedures to restart the reactor at the facility.

10 Commandments Monument Toppled in Washington
A stone monument of the Ten Commandments that sits on a street behind the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington and was the subject of controversy in the past has been toppled by vandals. The 3-foot-by-3-foot granite monument weighs 850 pounds and sits out front of the headquarters of Faith and Action, a Christian outreach ministry.

Cruz Sets Confrontational Tone as Senate Debate Begins
The Senate plunged into debate over legislation to fund the government while cutting of money for the new health-care law, with both sides accusing the other of threatening to bring about a government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) opened debate by denouncing the bill passed by the House Friday that embodies conservatives’ campaign to “defund Obamacare,” as the health law is known.

Human role in warming 'more certain' - UN climate chief
Scientists are more certain than ever that greenhouse gases from human activities are heating the planet, the head of the UN's climate panel says. Rajendra Pachauri made the comments in an interview with BBC News. The panel is due to deliver its latest report on the state of the climate later this week in Stockholm, Sweden.

UN chemical weapons inspectors 'to return to Syria'
Russia's government says UN chemical weapons inspectors are expected to return to Syria on Wednesday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they would investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks at Khan al-Assal, Sheikh Maqsoud and Saraqeb. The inspectors had been preparing to do so when chemical weapons were fired at suburbs of Damascus on 21 August, killing hundreds of people.

Iran nuclear issue and Syria to dominate UN assembly
The UN General Assembly's annual meeting starts on Tuesday, with the focus on talks between Iranian and US officials, and the Syria crisis. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif will meet diplomats including US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss Iran's nuclear programme. It will be the highest level US-Iran contact for more than 30 years.

Australia Climate Council revived after being axed
An Australian climate change body scrapped by the new government has been relaunched as a non-profit organisation reliant on public donations. Prime Minister Tony Abbott axed the Climate Commission, set up by the previous government, last week. But the group resurrected itself as the Climate Council, saying it hoped "Obama-style" public donations raised online would keep it open.

Nairobi attack: UK woman and Americans 'among militants'
A British woman is thought to be among militants who killed at least 62 people at a Kenyan shopping centre, the country's foreign minister has said. Amina Mohamed said the woman had "done this many times before" and "two or three" Americans were also attackers. Earlier, Kenya's interior minister said all of the militants were men, although some may have been dressed as women.

EU sets stage for Iran-US breakthrough
Warm words from top EU diplomats in New York have set the stage for a potential breakthrough in the decades-long confrontation between Iran and the US. EU foreign relations chief Catherine Ashton told ...that she "was struck … by the energy and determination that the foreign minister demonstrated" on reaching a deal on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme.

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Brain-Eating Amoeba in Louisiana Linked to Hurricane Katrina?
The deadly brain-eating amoeba that recently killed a four-year-old Louisiana boy may be linked to unsafe water conditions created by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, experts say. The boy, Drake Smith Jr., died from a rare but deadly swelling of the brain caused by Naegleria fowleri, a species of single-celled organism known as an amoeba.

Ted Cruz keeps on talking after marathon Obamacare protest on Senate floor
Ted Cruz had just finished a 21-hour speech on the Senate floor in protest of the federal health care law when he was bombarded by a pack of eager reporters waiting for him outside the chamber. As though he were back on the floor, the Texas lawmaker kept right on speaking. “I hope over the course of this filibuster, the issues that were the heart of this debate were put on front and center for the American people,” he said. “Obamacare isn’t working.”

Are You Prepared For An Extremely Bitterly Cold Winter? Solar Activity Is At A 100 Year Low
The Old Farmer’s Almanac and other weather forecasters that rely on solar activity as a factor in their weather forecasts are projecting that this upcoming winter will be bitterly cold. Solar activity is at a 100 year low, and even though we were supposed to be in the midst of a solar maximum this year, our sun has been eerily quiet. So precisely what in the world is going on?

Islamic Terror Groups Are Killing Christians All Over The World And Obama Wants Us To Ally With Them
Over the past couple of days, we have witnessed some absolutely horrific examples of Islamic terror groups specifically targeting Christians and those from other non-Muslim religions. Sadly, this is not a new phenomenon. Radical Islamic jihadists are constantly attacking churches and slaughtering Christians all over the planet.

World's largest ark of the covenant donated to Israel
Filipino Christian businesswoman Grace Gupana donates the world's largest replica of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel • The ark goes on display in Jerusalem Tuesday.

French town unveils Jewish treasure hidden before Holocaust
Members of the town’s former Jewish community hid the cache of thousands of items — including old Torah scrolls and texts from the 16th century — in the space of a double ceiling, designed especially for concealment, according to the report.

US default risk is real, Washington warns Wall Street
Money lenders trust America so implicitly that they generally dismiss the risk it won’t pay its debts. But in the US capital, fears are growing that political dysfunction might trigger the unthinkable. A few years ago one would have said, ‘Don’t be silly. Of course they will raise the debt ceiling.’ But one can’t say that any more.

North Korea seen close to miniaturizing nuclear warhead
North Korea is close to developing a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range ballistic missile, a Chinese expert said in Seoul Wednesday.

Syrian army hitting militants hard in Damascus suburb
The Syrian army continues to tighten the noose around foreign-backed militants in the town of Jobar in east of the capital Damascus, Press TV reports.

Obama's startling linkage of Iran and Israeli-Palestinian peace
By equating Israeli-Palestinian violence with an Iranian nuclear bomb, US President Barack Obama in his speech Tuesday morning before the UN General Assembly appeared at first glance to have blown this conflict out of all reasonable proportions. Hard to imagine how continued violence in Jerusalem or Ramallah could compare to a mushroom cloud from Tehran.

Were ‘Black Flags Of Jihad’ Flying Over NYC’s Muslim Day Parade?
As dozens of innocent victims were massacred and hundreds more injured during Al-Shabaab’s attack on a shopping mall in Kenya (where they reportedly let Muslims go and terrorized non-Muslims), some handmade flags resembling the black flag of Islamic jihad were spotted flying around New York City:

Troops clash with Palestinians on Temple Mount
The Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount was the scene of clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli police Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of skirmishes as Jewish pilgrims have flocked to the site over the holiday.

Attackers claim 137 civilians dead, Kenya denies
Al-Shabab group tweets allegations that army buried civilians alive in mall, used chemical gas.

US lawmakers unenthused by drive for rapprochment with Iran
“We support the willingness of the Obama Administration to test the credibility of the Iranian regime’s diplomatic overtures,” Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte said in a statement released Tuesday. “However, we are deeply skeptical about the real motivations behind Iran’s charm offensive.

Pakistan earthquake creates new island, 'mud volcano' to blame
Seismologists suspect the island is a temporary formation resulting from a "mud volcano," a jet of mud, sand and water that gushed to the surface as the temblor churned and pressurized that slurry under the ocean floor.

US will use 'military force' to secure Middle East interests: Obama
Obama warned Tuesday that the United States was ready to use military force to protect US and global interests in the Middle East and Africa.

Moderate earthquake jolts Shangla
According seismic centre the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.7 on the Richter Scale, while its epicentre was in Afghanistan’s Hindukush region at a depth of 163 kilometre.

Militant Sunni group takes aim at minorities
A Sunni militant group known for targeting rival Muslims has emerged as a dangerous new player in Pakistan, sending a pair of suicide bombers this week to detonate themselves inside a church in the deadliest ever attack against Pakistani Christians. The brutal assault, which killed 85 worshippers during Sunday services, was the first time that a militant group has taken direct aim at Pakistan's tiny Christian community.

Pakistan earthquake latest: Death toll 238 and rising; New island created
UPDATE: Officials said 238 deaths had been confirmed so far, 208 in Awaran district, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue teams reach more villages in the remote area. ...The 7.7-magnitude quake hit in the Awaran district of Baluchistan province on Tuesday afternoon, destroying scores of mud-built houses and prompting a new island to rise from the sea just off the country's southern coast.

Number of Dutch killed by euthanasia rises by 13 per cent
The number of Dutch people killed by medical euthanasia has more than doubled in the 10 years since legislation was changed to permit it, rising 13 per cent last year to 4,188. Voluntary euthanasia or physician assisted suicide, where a doctor is present while a patient kills themselves, usually by drinking a strong barbiturate potion, has been legal in the Netherlands since 2002.

Euro Model toys with retro Nor'easter this weekend
Above are the maps from the EURO model for Sunday and Sunday night. The LOW gets caught under the HIGH, and may push West than North. The other models are not in this arena so we'll watch and wait. I'm not saying this is in any way shape or form like Sandy..it just has a few little things that trend to that idea.

Kerry to sign UN arms treaty, despite senators' opposition
Secretary of State John Kerry plans to sign a controversial U.N. treaty on arms regulation on Wednesday, a senior State Department official told Fox News -- despite warnings from lawmakers that the Senate will not ratify the agreement. A State official said the treaty would "reduce the risk that international transfers of conventional arms will be used to carry out the world's worst crimes," while protecting gun rights.

Islamist rebels in Syria reject National Coalition
Eleven Islamist rebel groups in Syria have announced they do not recognise the authority of the main opposition alliance, the National Coalition. A joint statement says: "All groups formed abroad without having returned to the country do not represent us." They also call for the opposition to unite under an "Islamic framework".

Empty F-16 jet tested by Boeing and US Air Force
Boeing has revealed that it has retrofitted retired fighter jets to turn them into drones. It said that one of the Lockheed Martin F-16 made a first flight with an empty cockpit last week. Two US Air Force pilots controlled the plane from the ground as it flew from a Florida base to the Gulf of Mexico.

Turkey, Jordan say world has responsibility to end Syria war
Turkey and Jordan called on Tuesday for a more robust international effort to end Syria's civil war, saying the global community had a responsibility not to abandon the Syrian people. Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Jordan's King Abdullah made the remarks while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

Pakistan church bombing death toll hits 81 as and Christians protest deadly attack
Angry Pakistani Christians on Monday denounced the deadliest attack ever in this country against members of their faith as the death toll from the church bombings climbed overnight to 81.

Shale oil poses threat to Gulf exports
Shale oil production could pose a threat to exports from the Gulf region, whose energy wealth has given it pivotal role in the global market and a geopolitical importance, experts say. Saudi Arabia is the world's top oil producer, but is only marginally ahead of the United States, whose output is gaining rapidly thanks in part to development of oil shale reserves.

Syria crisis: 'Deadly blast' hits capital Damascus
Several people have been killed and wounded in an explosion in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Syrian state TV reports. The state new agency Sana said a "terrorist bombing" attack had taken place in the Tadamon district in the south of the capital. Tadamon has been a battleground between rebel forces and the army for months.

Pakistan earthquake: Hundreds dead in Balochistan
A powerful earthquake has killed at least 208 people in Pakistan's remote south-west province of Balochistan. The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Tuesday afternoon at a depth of 20km (13 miles) north-east of Awaran, the US Geological Survey said. Many houses were flattened and thousands of people have spent the night in the open.

Iran ready for nuclear talks, says President Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he is prepared to engage in "time-bound and results-oriented" talks on his country's nuclear programme. He told the UN General Assembly's annual meeting in New York that sanctions against Iran were "violent".

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Vatican declares Nancy Pelosi may no longer receive Communion
The Vatican’s chief justice, Cardinal Raymond Burke, said the California Democrat should no longer receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, according to CNS News.

Pakistan earthquake island belching poisonous gas
A new island that popped up off the coast of Pakistan Wednesday following a deadly, 7.7-magnitude quake on Tuesday has been belching poisonous gas and killing fish, the BBC reported. "There were dead fish on the surface.

Who Should I Vote for in the 2016 Elections?
As discerning Christians, we should select those candidates whose philosophy of government, while not perfect, is closer to Scripture than the others'. Second, until Jesus Christ rules the world from David's Throne, there never will be a perfect candidate. In the mean time, we are left with the task of selecting from among flawed human beings those who will be our next political leaders. Thus, the issue becomes not which candidate has a perfectly pure Christian worldview, but rather who of the competing candidates has a worldview that is closer to the Scripture in comparison to that of their competitors.

Researchers warn of 'hit and run' cyber attackers
Security researchers said Wednesday they uncovered a "cyber mercenary" team which specializes in attacks on targets in Japan and South Korea, and warned of more operations of that nature. Kaspersky Labs identified the group as "Icefog," and said evidence points to it being based in China.

Homemade sarin was used in attack near Damascus – Lavrov
Russia has enough evidence to assert that homemade sarin was used on August 21 in a chemical attack near Damascus, the same type but in higher concentration than in an Aleppo incident earlier this year, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said.

Global warming believers are feeling the heat
Already we have had a taste of the nonsense to come: a pre-announcement to the effect that “climate scientists” are now “95 per cent certain” that humans are to blame for climate change; an evidence-free declaration....

George H.W. Bush a witness at same-sex wedding
Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, attended the ceremony joining Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen as private citizens and friends on Saturday, spokesman Jim McGrath said.

John Kerry Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty at General Assembly
John Kerry signed the controversial U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, while attending the body’s annual General Assembly. If enacted, the treaty would allow for international regulation of the $70 billion-a-year conventional arms trade, which ranges from small arms to warships.

Al-Shabaab Targets Non-Muslims
September 25, 2013: In an email sent to Associated Press office, Al-Shabaab spokesperson writes that the attackers of the Westgate Shopping Mall, carried out a meticulous vetting process, separating the Muslims from the non-Muslims, by asking them some fundamental questions that only a Muslim would know. After letting the Muslims go free, they initiated indiscriminate firing.

Biblical-era town discovered in Galilee
Ken Dark of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom believes to have found the ancient town of Dalmanutha, described in the Gospel of Mark as the place Jesus sailed to after miraculously feeding 4,000 by multiplying a few fish and loaves of bread.

Turkish FM: Israel must do more to normalize ties with us
Turkey’s foreign minister says there has been “some progress” in improving Turkish-Israeli relations but Israel has not yet fulfilled all conditions for normalizing ties.

Nicaraguan on alert after volcano blast
A volcano in Nicaragua has erupted with a mighty blast and a column of ash, then quietened down again, the government said. No one was hurt but villagers near the Telica volcano in the northwest of the Central American nation were told to remain on alert. The mountain is about 1000 metres tall.

COMET ISON ON TRACK TO BECOME 'IMPRESSIVE'
Amateur astronomers around the world are photographing Comet ISON as it approaches Mars in the predawn sky. The comet is not as bright as some forecasters expected.

Somalia President: Al-Shabab Could Attack the United States
The Somali-based terrorist organization al-Shabab, which claimed credit for the devastating attack in Nairobi this week, is an international organization that could attack anywhere, including the United States, according to the president of Somalia. ...“Al-Shabab is not a Somali agenda, it’s an international agenda. Al-Shabab is working with an international capacity in terms of trading and financial resources,” he said.

Death toll climbs to at least 349 after powerful Pakistan earthquake
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck northwest Pakistan rose to at least 349 early Thursday, authorities said. The Pakistani military said it had rushed almost 1,000 troops to the area and was sending helicopters in the wake of Tuesday's temblor. An island mass measuring about 60 feet high, 100 feet long and 250 feet wide was created off the coast of Pakistan following a powerful earthquake. Most of the victims were killed when their houses collapsed. At least 550 people were injured.

IRS Watchdog: $67 Million Missing from Obamacare Slush Fund
The IRS is unable to account for $67 million spent from a slush fund established for Obamacare implementation, according to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report released today. The “Health Insurance Reform Implementation Fund” (HIRIF) was tucked into Obamacare in order to give the IRS money to enforce the tax provisions of the healthcare law.

Strong earthquake hits East Turkey again
An earthquake measuring four on the Richter scale hit the Erchish region of Van province in the east of Turkey last night, "Sabah" newspaper reported on Thursday. According to data received from Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, the earthquake took place at 05:55 am local time at a depth of about 5 kilometers. No casualties or damages are reported as a result of the earthquake.

Iran wants nuclear deal in months, says President Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he wants to reach a deal with world powers on Tehran's nuclear programme in three to six months. He told the Washington Post he saw a resolution of the issue as a "beginning point" in easing US-Iran relations. Mr Rouhani said he was fully empowered by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to negotiate on the issue.

Very Strong earthquake near Acari, Peru kills 3
M 7.0 very strong earthquake in Southern Peru today has claimed lives of three people, local medias reported. At least six people have been injured in a house collapse in Paucar del Sara Sara in Ayacucho.

5.7-magnitude quake hits off Mexico coast—USGS
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of southern Mexico early Thursday, US seismologists said, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties on land. The quake was located in the Pacific Ocean, some 106 kilometers (66 miles) southwest of the city of Puerto Madero, in Mexico, the United States Geological Survey reported on its website.

Russia: Ready to guard Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles
Russia is ready to help guard Syria's chemical weapons sites when President Bashar Assad's chemical arms stockpiles and factories are destroyed, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Thursday by news agencies. "We will be ready to help in guarding those facilities where work is being carried out," Interfax news agency reported Ryabkov as saying at an arms fair.

Hezbollah's role in the Syrian Civil War
Deploying "hit squads" of highly trained fighters in Syria and setting up bases near the Israeli side of the Golan Heights are a couple of the ways Hezbollah are leaving their imprint on the Syrian conflict. ...Regional security officials told Reuters there are now between 2,000 and 4,000 Hezbollah fighters, experts and reservists in Syria.

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Philippines Earthquake Today 2013 Strikes Near Cabra
A 5.2 magnitude Philippines earthquake today 2013 has struck near Cabra. A strong Philippines earthquake today September 27, 2013 has hit off the coast. Damage assessment is pending.

World powers say window open for Iran nuclear deal
The US and its international partners emerged from a meeting with Iran declaring that a “window of opportunity has opened” to peacefully settle their nuclear standoff. But diplomats asked Tehran to come back with a detailed plan of action to reassure the world it is not trying to build an atomic bomb.

World powers reach deal to eliminate Syria chemical weapons
The five permanent members of the deeply divided UN Security Council reached agreement Thursday on a resolution to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons, a major step in taking the most controversial weapon off the battlefield of the world’s deadliest ongoing conflict.

Assad: We have weapons that could blindside Israel
“Originally, we produced chemical weapons in the 1980s as a deterrent to Israel’s nuclear capabilities,” Assad said in an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated, Lebanon-based Al-Akhbar newspaper, adding that “today, we have weapons that are far more important and sophisticated and that can blindside Israel in the blink of an eye.”

WEAK MAX
The weakest Solar Max in 100 years continues today with another 24 hours of quiet. None of the sunspots on the Earthside of the sun are actively flaring.

Gun-rights activists sue Maryland to block new firearms law
Gun-rights activists in Maryland have filed a federal lawsuit to block the state's new gun law before new requirements on assault weapons and large magazines go into effect Oct. 1. In the lawsuit in filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Maryland, the plaintiffs argues the the Second Amendment and case law protect their right to own assault rifles and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Governments stealing from bank accounts
The questionable practice of “bail-ins” begun by Cyprus a year ago to keep banks solvent is beginning to spread to other nations, and holders of large deposits are starting to see their balances plunge literally overnight.

White House compares GOP to terrorists as government shutdown nears
Senior White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer on Thursday compared Republican lawmakers to suicide bombers as the showdown over a possible government shutdown intensified. “We are for cutting spending, we are for reforming our tax code, we are for reforming entitlements,” Mr. Pfeiffer told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “But what we are not for is negotiating with people who have a bomb strapped to their chest.”

Scientists accidentally create real-life lightsaber
‘What we have done is create a special type of medium in which photons interact with each other so strongly that they act as though they have mass, and bind together to form molecules.

Kerry Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty — Civilian Disarmament Advancing
Kerry addressed the world body: On behalf of President Obama and the United States of America, I am very pleased to have signed this treaty here today. I signed it because President Obama knows that from decades of efforts that at any time that we work with — cooperatively to address the illicit trade in conventional weapons, we make the world a safer place. And this treaty is a significant step in that effort.

Small quake rattles Hawaii island
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook Hawaii island's Puna district this morning. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which struck at 8:36 a.m., was centered 25 miles south of Hilo and 17 miles south-southwest of Hawaiian Paradse Park. The epicenter was about 5.7 miles deep, according to the USGS.

War is Coming in Syria Regardless of Chemical Weapons
After beating the drums of war for a few days, the news media is reporting the threat of war in Syria has passed. They claim the issue was all about the use of chemical weapons and it is now heading for a peaceful diplomatic solution. Unfortunately, nothing they have reported so far is true.

U.S., Russia agree on Syria U.N. chemical arms measure
Ending weeks of diplomatic deadlock, the United States and Russia agreed on Thursday on a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that would demand Syria give up its chemical arms, but does not threaten military force if it fails to comply. ...if Syria fails to comply with the resolution, the council would impose unspecified punitive measures under Chapter 7, which would require a second resolution that Russia could veto.

Mexico's Acapulco hit by heavy rain and fresh floods
Torrential rain has caused fresh floods in the Mexican beach resort Acapulco, less than two weeks after two storms killed 139 people. Authorities evacuated people from high-risk areas and closed schools, after flooding reached more than 1m (3ft). Acapulco was one of the areas worst affected by the bad weather, which left thousands of tourists stranded.

Republicans demand healthcare law delay for debt rise
Republicans have said they will only agree to raise the US debt ceiling if the Obama health law is delayed a year. The demand headlines a conservative wish list that the party is set to put forward in negotiations over the federal borrowing limit. President Barack Obama hit back by accusing Republicans of "crazy" scaremongering about the health law.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad call for a third intifada
On the eve of PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s speech at the UN General Assembly, a number of Palestinian groups called for launching a third intifada against Israel. The calls were issued in protest against visits by Jewish groups to the Temple Mount.

Preparing for shutdown, government plans furloughs
More than a third of federal workers would be told to stay home if the government shuts down, forcing the closure of national parks from California to Maine and all the Smithsonian museums in the nation's capital. Workers at the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs wouldn't be around to process visa and passport applications, complicating the travel plans of hundreds of thousands.

U.S. sues company over miner's religious objection to handscan
A Pennsylvania mining company sued by the federal government on behalf of a worker who refused a biometric handscan because he believes in the Bible's mark of the beast prophecy, said on Thursday that it supports religious freedom.

Russia, China Hold Large-Scale War Games
Pentagon intelligence agencies are closely watching Russian and Chinese war games now taking place in Europe and Asia involving tens of thousands of troops.

Toll in Peshawar church bombings rises to 83
The death toll from the suicide bombings at a church on Sunday has risen to 83 after two more injured succumbed to their injuries. Earlier, 81 victims of the tragedy were laid to rest in graveyards across Peshawar. A four-member committee had been constituted to probe the deadly bombing and a new security plan has been prepared for the protection of minorities.

Syria chemical weapons: UN discusses draft resolution
The UN Security Council has discussed a draft resolution on ridding Syria of chemical weapons after the US and Russia agreed the text. A vote in the 15-member Council could now take place later on Friday, diplomats at the UN in New York said. The agreement breaks a two-and-a-half year deadlock in the UN over Syria.

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Pastor shot, killed during church service
A pastor was shot and killed during a church service on Friday night in Calcasieu. According to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kim Myers, it happened around 8:20 p.m. at the Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center at 307 Deshotel Lane in Lake Charles. Myers said Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was shot "as he was preaching."

Pakistan's Christians fear for their lives
..."Christian children in government schools are not treated well. They call them sweepers and tell them they can't eat with them or drink with them..."Many of our people were once low caste [Hindus] so they're treated as nothing at all. There is a psychological problem with the Christians, they become so timid and scared. They're supposed to be very brave. But we are refugees in our own country ... like flies on the wall."

White House preps fall immigration push
The White House is getting ready to launch a major fall blitz for immigration reform — this time, one that appears to be more about partisanship than partnership with Republicans. While Washington may be consumed in the latest continuing resolution crisis and debt ceiling drama, it’s also just days away from massive new push on an issue many had written off months ago.

Iran nuclear: Rouhani faces protesters on UN return
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been met by hardline protesters chanting "Death to America" on his return from the UN forum in New York. During his trip, President Rouhani had suggested a shift in tone on Iran's controversial nuclear programme. This culminated in a phone call with US President Barack Obama - the first such top-level conversation in 30 years.

Pakistani quake area struck again
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has struck south-west Pakistan, in a region where at least 400 people died in a quake earlier this week. There were no initial reports of casualties from the quake, centred in the remote province of Balochistan. Reports said already damaged buildings collapsed in the new tremor which sent people running into the streets.

FHA needs $1.7 billion taxpayer subsidy
The Federal Housing Administration plans to tap $1.7 billion in taxpayer money at the end of the month to cover its losses — a first for an agency that has been self-sustaining since its 1934 creation. The FHA has played a pivotal role in propping up the housing market by backing low- down-payment loans for borrowers after the mortgage market unraveled and other lending sources dried up. It accounts for nearly 20 percent of all home-purchase mortgages.

Nearly two mass shootings per month since 2009, study finds
There have been almost two mass shootings per month in the U.S. for five consecutive years -- yet such cases account for only a tiny fraction of firearm killings, according to a report by a coalition of mayors eager to stave off gun violence in the country.

NJ legal battle over gay marriage will continue
A judge's ruling Friday that New Jersey must allow gay couples to marry will not be the last word on the issue after Gov. Chris Christie's administration said it would appeal to a higher court.

Iran nuclear: Obama and Rouhani speak by phone
US President Barack Obama has spoken by phone to Iran's Hassan Rouhani - the first such top-level conversation in more than 30 years. Mr Obama spoke of a "unique opportunity" to make progress with Iran's new leadership, amid a flurry of diplomacy over its nuclear programme.

Greece's Golden Dawn leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos held
Greek police have arrested the leader of the far-right Golden Dawn party, Nikolaos Mihaloliakos, on charges of forming a criminal organisation. Another Golden Dawn MP has been held and more warrants issued, police say.

US sending bankrupt Detroit $300 million. Think 'stimulus,' not 'bailout.'
The Obama administration is pledging nearly $300 million in federal dollars to Detroit to help shore up basic infrastructure priorities, such as improving public transit and police and eradicating blight. Just don’t call it a bailout – a term that's still toxic on Capitol Hill, on both sides of the aisle.

Gold Climbs Higher as U.S. Government Nears Shutdown
On Friday, gold (NYSEARCA:GLD) futures for December — the most active contract — increased $15.10 to close at $1,339.20 per ounce, while silver (NYSEARCA:SLV) futures edged 7 cents higher to finish at $21.83.

U.N. Security Council demands elimination of Syria chemical arms
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday that demands the eradication of Syria's chemical weapons but does not threaten automatic punitive action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government if it does not comply.

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Israel Arrests Iranian Suspected of Plan to Attack U.S. Embassy
Israel arrested an Iranian man suspected of preparing attacks in exchange for $1 million against sites that included the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, according to the country’s national security agency.

Officials: Iranian-Linked Hackers Breached U.S. Navy Computer Network
U.S. officials say an unclassified Navy computer network was breached about two weeks ago by hackers believed to be linked to Iran. Officials say it appears the hackers may been working as proxies for the Iranian government. Cyberattacks originating in Iran have been a persistent issue for U.S. government and businesses, particularly energy companies.

House delays Obamacare as shutdown nears
House Republicans forced through a short-term government funding bill that delays Obamacare and permanently repeals a tax on medical devices, setting up their most dramatic face-off ever with President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats. The vote to delay Obamacare was 231-192, with two Republicans voting against the bill, while two Democrats supported it.

Iraq explosions target Kurdish city of Irbil
A series of explosions has rocked the Iraqi city of Irbil, the capital of the autonomous province of Kurdistan, killing two people and injuring 18. Three car bombs and a roadside bomb targeted the security forces HQ and the interior ministry. Irbil is a stable part of Iraq and the region has not witnessed such attacks in the past six years.

India PM Singh in 'terror' warning to Pakistan ahead of talks
Indian PM Manmohan Singh has said Pakistan must stop being "the epicentre of terrorism", ahead of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Mr Singh also stressed that he shared Mr Sharif's hopes for better relations between the two Asian rivals. Ahead of their meeting in New York, Mr Sharif called for a "new beginning" with Delhi.

Shanghai free-trade zone launched
A free-trade zone in Shanghai, China's economic hub, has been launched as the world's second-biggest economy prepares to test long-awaited economic reforms. Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng attended the opening ceremony for the zone, which covers 29 sq km (11 sq miles). Mr Gao said the zone would help "implement a more active opening-up strategy".

UN probes new alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria
UN inspectors are investigating seven alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria - three of which happened after the 21 August Damascus incident that led to threats of US military action.

Golden Dawn supporters rally following arrests
Supporters of the far-right Golden Dawn party have gathered outside police headquarters in Athens, after the party's leader, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, three more MPs and 13 others were detained.

Pakistan explosion: Dozens killed in Peshawar market
An explosion has ripped through a market in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, leaving at least 31 dead and dozens wounded, officials say. Police said a bomb had exploded in the Kissa Khwani market, with shops and vehicles set alight. The blast comes a week after a double suicide bombing that killed at least 80 people at a church in the city.

Egyptian FM urges Israel to sign non-nuclear treaty
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Saturday called for a nuclear-free Middle East in his address to world leaders at the United Nations. According to Egytian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabe'a, Fahmy mentioned Israel and Syria in particular in his call for Mideast countries to declare their support for a region "free from weapons of mass destruction, as well as from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."

Pakistan quake toll reaches 515, big aftershock jolts region
The death toll from an earthquake in southwestern Pakistan has reached 515, a provincial official has said, as insurgent attacks threaten relief efforts and survivors complain of lack of shelter from the scorching sun.

Report: NSA maps out a person's social connections
For almost three years the National Security Agency has been tapping the data it collects to map out some Americans' social connections, allowing the government to identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, The New York Times reported.

U.S. concerned about Turkey's choice of Chinese missile system
The United States said on Saturday it had expressed serious concerns to Turkey over its decision to co-produce a long-range air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm under U.S. sanctions.

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Israel Arrests Iranian Suspected of Plan to Attack U.S. Embassy
Israel arrested an Iranian man suspected of preparing attacks in exchange for $1 million against sites that included the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, according to the country’s national security agency.

Officials: Iranian-Linked Hackers Breached U.S. Navy Computer Network
U.S. officials say an unclassified Navy computer network was breached about two weeks ago by hackers believed to be linked to Iran. Officials say it appears the hackers may been working as proxies for the Iranian government. Cyberattacks originating in Iran have been a persistent issue for U.S. government and businesses, particularly energy companies.

House delays Obamacare as shutdown nears
House Republicans forced through a short-term government funding bill that delays Obamacare and permanently repeals a tax on medical devices, setting up their most dramatic face-off ever with President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats. The vote to delay Obamacare was 231-192, with two Republicans voting against the bill, while two Democrats supported it.

Iraq explosions target Kurdish city of Irbil
A series of explosions has rocked the Iraqi city of Irbil, the capital of the autonomous province of Kurdistan, killing two people and injuring 18. Three car bombs and a roadside bomb targeted the security forces HQ and the interior ministry. Irbil is a stable part of Iraq and the region has not witnessed such attacks in the past six years.

India PM Singh in 'terror' warning to Pakistan ahead of talks
Indian PM Manmohan Singh has said Pakistan must stop being "the epicentre of terrorism", ahead of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Mr Singh also stressed that he shared Mr Sharif's hopes for better relations between the two Asian rivals. Ahead of their meeting in New York, Mr Sharif called for a "new beginning" with Delhi.

Shanghai free-trade zone launched
A free-trade zone in Shanghai, China's economic hub, has been launched as the world's second-biggest economy prepares to test long-awaited economic reforms. Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng attended the opening ceremony for the zone, which covers 29 sq km (11 sq miles). Mr Gao said the zone would help "implement a more active opening-up strategy".

UN probes new alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria
UN inspectors are investigating seven alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria - three of which happened after the 21 August Damascus incident that led to threats of US military action.

Golden Dawn supporters rally following arrests
Supporters of the far-right Golden Dawn party have gathered outside police headquarters in Athens, after the party's leader, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, three more MPs and 13 others were detained.

Pakistan explosion: Dozens killed in Peshawar market
An explosion has ripped through a market in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, leaving at least 31 dead and dozens wounded, officials say. Police said a bomb had exploded in the Kissa Khwani market, with shops and vehicles set alight. The blast comes a week after a double suicide bombing that killed at least 80 people at a church in the city.

Egyptian FM urges Israel to sign non-nuclear treaty
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Saturday called for a nuclear-free Middle East in his address to world leaders at the United Nations. According to Egytian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabe'a, Fahmy mentioned Israel and Syria in particular in his call for Mideast countries to declare their support for a region "free from weapons of mass destruction, as well as from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."

Pakistan quake toll reaches 515, big aftershock jolts region
The death toll from an earthquake in southwestern Pakistan has reached 515, a provincial official has said, as insurgent attacks threaten relief efforts and survivors complain of lack of shelter from the scorching sun.

Report: NSA maps out a person's social connections
For almost three years the National Security Agency has been tapping the data it collects to map out some Americans' social connections, allowing the government to identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, The New York Times reported.

U.S. concerned about Turkey's choice of Chinese missile system
The United States said on Saturday it had expressed serious concerns to Turkey over its decision to co-produce a long-range air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm under U.S. sanctions.

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