Ben
Carsons Fundraising Spikes After Muslim Questioning
The super PAC supporting neurosurgeon Ben Carson for GOP president
has seen a surge of donations since his appearance Sunday on NBCs Meet
the Press, where Mr. Carson said he wouldnt advocate for a Muslim to
be president of the United States. We sent out an email to Carson supporters,
and weve never had an email raise so much money so quickly its unbelievable,
said John Philip Sousa IV, who chairs the 2016 Committee super PAC. My
phone has exploded over the last 48 hours of people wanting me to pass
on to Dr. Carson how much they respect his truthfulness and believe in
the American system, and how absolutely not should anyone who believes
in Sharia law come close to the White House. The people are on Dr. Carsons
side on this one sorry NBC you lose. Washington
Times
VOA VIEW: Carson's stock will go up.
Ted
Cruz, Stephen Colbert Spar Over Reagan, Marriage
"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert pushed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas,
to a place uncomfortable for most Republicans: Talking about differences
with former President Ronald Reagan. Cruz, a 2016 presidential candidate,
was singing Reagan's praises in an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen
Colbert" Monday. "If you think about the last 50 years, there is one Republican
who has a group of Democrats named after him: Reagan Democrats," he said.
"Those Democrats didn't come over because he was the squishiest, middle-of-the-road
candidate; they came over because he represented principles that were appealing."
CBS
Carson
Stands By Muslim President Remarks, Trump Weighs In
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said on Monday that he
"absolutely" stood by his comments about not supporting a Muslim president,
while also clarifying that he was referring to Muslims who had not rejected
Islamic Sharia law. "We don't put people at the head of our country whose
faith might interfere with them carrying out the duties of the Constitution,"
the retired neurosurgeon told Fox News' Sean Hannity. "If you're a Christian
and you're running for president and you want to make this [country] into
a theocracy, I'm not going to support you. I'm not going to advocate you
being the president." Fox
News
VOA VIEW: Carson's position is reasonable
- Trump blinked.
U.S.
Military Accused Of Telling Soldiers To Overlook Afghan Abuse Of Boys
The two U.S. soldiers used physical force to drive home their message
to the Afghan police commander who had been sexually abusing a boy. "I
picked him up, threw him to the ground multiple times and Charles did the
same thing," Dan Quinn, who was a U.S. Army captain at the time, told CNN.
"We basically had to make sure that he fully understood that if he ever
went near that boy or his mother again, there was going to be hell to pay."
The actions of Quinn and the other soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland,
against the American-backed police commander displeased their superiors
in the U.S. military. CNN
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Americans
Overpaying Hugely For Cancer Drugs
Americans are paying way over the odds for some modern cancer drugs,
with pharmaceutical companies charging up to 600 times what the medicines
cost to make, according to an independent academic study. The United States
also pays more than double the price charged in Europe for these drugs
- so-called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a potent class of cancer
pills with fewer side effects than chemotherapy. The analysis by pharmacologist
Andrew Hill of Britain's University of Liverpool, who will present his
findings at the Sept. 25-29 European Cancer Congress in Vienna, is likely
to fuel a growing storm over U.S. drug costs. Reuters
White
House Seeks Answers From China On U.S. Woman Detained In Spy Probe
The White House has contacted China's Foreign Ministry over the detention
of an American businesswoman accused of spying, a spokesman said on Tuesday,
in a case that blew up just as President Xi Jinping began a visit to the
United States. Sandy Phan-Gillis of Houston, Texas, has been held by Chinese
authorities for about six months under suspicion of spying and stealing
state secrets, according to a statement from her family released this week.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters it was "disconcerting"
that many of the U.S. government's questions "have gone unanswered" by
Chinese officials about the status of Phan-Gillis. Reuters
Getting
It Wrong: 'Everyone' Suffers An Incorrect Or Late Diagnosis
Most Americans will get a wrong or late diagnosis in their lifetimes,
a new report finds often with devastating effects. It's almost impossible
to quantify, but the problem is serious, and the lack of a coherent medical
system helps keep it under the radar, the National Academy of Medicine
finds in a new report. The solution involves getting pathologists and radiologists
more actively involved in a patient's diagnosis, the Academy, formerly
the Institute of Medicine, recommends. It's also calling for changes to
medical malpractice laws so professionals aren't afraid to own up to mistakes,
and going back to doing autopsies, culture changes at hospitals, clinics
and institutions and better use of technology. MSNBC
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With
Attention Fading, Trump Restarts Battle With Fox News
With Scott Walker's decision to end his presidential campaign dominating
the headlines, Donald Trump tried to get the attention back on himself
Monday night by restarting his war with Fox News only an hour after appearing
on the cable news channel. On Twitter, Trump called out Fox News host Bill
O'Reilly for treating him just as "unfairly" on The O'Reilly Factor as
he claimed the TODAY Show did earlier that day, angry because O'Reilly
didn't use the polls he felt were more favorable to him. MSNBC
Judge
Tells State Dept. To Find More Staffers To Process Clinton Emails
A federal judge urged the State Department to get more people on the
case reviewing and releasing the emails of former Secretary Hillary Rodham
Clinton and her top aides, saying Tuesday that all sides should be eager
to get the matter behind them. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan also rejected the
State Departments timeline for searching the aides emails and insisted
the government have them all put in an electronic system by the end of
this week, and do an initial search to see which ones are related to the
2012 Benghazi terrorist attacks next week. Washington
Post
People
Emit A Unique "Microbial Cloud" Of Bacteria
Every person emits a unique blend of microbes into the air, and this
"microbial cloud" is personalized enough that it could be used to identify
people, a new study finds.
The results "demonstrate for the first time that individuals release
their own personalized microbial cloud," James Meadow, the lead author
of the study, said in a statement. Trillions of bacteria live on and in
the human body. Together, these bacteria make up what researchers call
the human microbiome. CBS
YOU can speak out and be heard by having your own "Column" - Visit the "Public Opinion" Section above.
Heart
Attack Survivors, Rejoice: Sex Is Still Okay For Some
Many things change after a heart attack, but new research suggests
your sex life need not be one of them. German researchers studied more
than 500 heart attack survivors, men and women, over a 10-year period.
Patients who had sex at least once weekly had no higher risk of having
a heart attack than those having no sex at all. On the contrary, these
friskier patients tended to be healthier. The study was published Monday
in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. ABC
David
Petraeus Apologizes For Giving Classified Info To Alleged Mistress, Talks
Syria Strategy
Petraeus began his testimony by apologizing for the scandal that led
to his resignation and conviction in a federal court. "It was a violation
of the trust placed in me," he said. Testifying to the Senate Armed Services
Committee, Petraeus said the U.S. military should stop Assad's use of devastating
and indiscriminate barrel bomb attacks, which most observers agree are
cause for a majority of the death in Syria and the subsequent human migration.
We could tell Assad that barrel bombs need to end or we could stop their
air force from flying, Petraeus said. "We have that capability." ABC
Yellen
Speech A Chance For Her To Confirm Or Deny 2015 Liftoff
Janet Yellen has a chance this week to do one of two things: emphasize
that the Federal Reserve remains on track to raise interest rates in 2015,
or validate the view of many investors that liftoff will be delayed until
next year. The Fed chair delivers a speech Thursday in Amherst, Massachusetts,
on Inflation Dynamics and Monetary Policy. She wont take questions,
so its up to Yellen to decide if she wants to guide market expectations
by clarifying whether she is among 13 of 17 officials who saw a rate rise
as appropriate this year. Those projections, displayed as dots on a chart,
were released at the Sept. 16-17 Federal Open Market Committee meeting,
when officials held rates near zero amid financial market turmoil and uncertainty
over what slower global growth means for the U.S. outlook. Bloomberg
Judge
Rules 'Happy Birthday' In Public Domain
The music publishing company that has been collecting royalties on
the song "Happy Birthday to You" for years does not hold a valid copyright
on the lyrics to the tune that is one of the mostly widely sung in the
world, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge George H. King
determined the song's original copyright, obtained by the Clayton F. Summy
Co. from the song's writers, only covered the tune's musical arrangement
and not the lyrics. King's decision comes in a lawsuit filed two years
ago by Good Morning To You Productions Corp., which is working on a documentary
film tentatively titled Happy Birthday. The company challenged the copyright
now held by Warner/Chappell Music Inc., arguing that the song should be
"dedicated to public use and in the public domain." Philadelphia
Inquirer
U.S.
Envoy In Anti-ISIS Coalition To Step Down
Retired Marine Gen. John Allen has told the White House he will resign
later this fall as the Obama administration's envoy to the international
coalition against the Islamic State, according to U.S. officials. The departure
comes at a crucial moment in the fight against the extremists, as efforts
have stalled to drive them out of Iraq and to prevent them from expanding
their territory in Syria. In recent days, the administration has developed
plans for a more aggressive campaign in Syria, including expanding aid
to rebel forces - backed by U.S. air power - which have had some success
against the Islamic State on the ground. Philadelphia
Inquirer
Yankees
Legend Yogi Berra Dead At 90
Yogi Berra, a three-time MVP who was the backbone of a record 10 world-champion
Yankees teams in the 1940, 50s and 60s and who became one of the most beloved
figures in franchise history despite a lengthy estrangement from the team,
died Tuesday night, according to the Yogi Berra Museum. He was 90. Berra,
whose wife of 65 years, Carmen, died in March 2014, had been in failing
health for some time. His death was announced by the Yogi Berra Museum
and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J., to which Berra had devoted himself
in the final years of his life. Berra died of natural causes Tuesday at
his home. NY
Post
Breaking
Keystone Silence, Clinton Says She Opposes Pipeline
Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday she opposes construction of the
Keystone XL pipeline, breaking her longstanding silence over a project
criticized by environmentalists as a threat to the planet's climate. The
Democratic presidential candidate said she decided to speak out after concluding
the ongoing debate over whether the pipeline should be built had become
a distraction to larger efforts to fight climate change. That distraction,
she said, is "unfortunately, from my perspective, one that interferes with
our ability to move forward to deal with the other issues. Therefore I
oppose it." Tampa
Tribune
Republican
Bush Says Multiculturalism Wrong For US
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said Tuesday that multiculturalism
is bad for the United States, adding that immigrants who close themselves
off from American culture deny themselves access to economic rewards. The
former governor of Florida, who speaks fluent Spanish and often touts his
success winning Latino votes in a party that badly needs them, addressed
the issue in a packed northern Iowa diner as he met people in the crowd.
A young woman approached the candidate and asked how the federal government
could help refugees better incorporate into U.S. society. "We should not
have a multicultural society," Bush said, before beginning a longer explanation
of his views of what comprises culture in the U.S. Tampa
Tribune
VOA VIEW: The US should have its own cultural
identity.
USA
TODAY GOP Power Rankings, Week 4: Fiorina Is Queen Of The Hill
On the strength of two strong debate performances, Carly Fiorina has
vaulted to first place in USA Todays GOP Power Rankings, unseating Donald
Trump for the first time since we launched this project. This from a candidate
who did not even qualify for the main-stage debate in early August. Our
panel of about 30 smart political minds agreed that Fiorina is rising and
Trump appearing to fade. The survey also showed Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
sliding again, this time to 11th place, with the voting conducted before
he announced Monday night that he was dropping out of the race. USAToday
VA
Watchdog Shelves 36,000 Complaints, Draws Ire From Whistleblowers
The chief watchdog at the Department of Veterans Affairs investigates
less than 10 percent of the nearly 40,000 complaints it receives annually
about problems at the agency, even when they concern potential harm to
veteran health, Deputy Inspector General Linda Halliday said Tuesday. The
Office of Inspector General, which is responsible under federal law for
rooting out mismanagement and abuse at the agency, simply doesn't have
the resources, Halliday said at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs Committee. USA
Today
Pentagon
Officials Planning For War With Russia Just In Case
For the first time since the Cold War ended, American officials are
preparing contingency plans for war with Russia, Foreign Policy magazine
reported Friday.
The respected U.S.-based publication quoted current and former Pentagon
officials who said the Department of Defense had begun to revisit long-abandoned
strategies for armed conflict with the powerful nation. It comes five years
after then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates dismissed any need for inclusion
of battle with Russia in the Pentagon's long-term defense plan, and months
into a heavy arms buildup near Russia's border in Eastern Europe. Houston
Chronicle
Tropical
Storm Ida Is Meandering Over The Atlantic
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ida is meandering
over the central tropical Atlantic. The storm's maximum sustained winds
early Wednesday are near 40 mph (65 kph) with little change in strength
forecast through Thursday night. The storm is centered about 1,045 miles
(1,685 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving south
near 2 mph (4 kph). Houston
Chornicle
Congressman
Investigating If First Female Army Rangers Received 'Special Treatment'
A U.S. Congressman, citing "sources" who allege the Army's first female
Rangers received "special treatment," has asked the Pentagon for test scores,
evaluations and other documents related to their performance, according
to People. Instructors allege that First Lts. Kristen Griest and Shaye
Haver, both West Point alums and the first female soldiers to graduate
as Rangers, "did not carry the same amount of equipment as the men, did
not take their turn carrying the heavy machine guns and were given intensive
pre-training that was not offered to men," among other special exceptions,
sources told People, describing the information given to Rep. Steve Russell,
the Oklahoma lawmaker behind the request. Atlanta
Journal
VOA VIEW: The truth hurts.
BofAs
Next Hurdle: Stress Test Resubmission
Now that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has survived efforts to
take away his chairman title, the bank is preparing for its next challenge:
winning Federal Reserve approval for its stress test resubmission. In
March, as part of its annual stress testing of large banks, the Fed discovered
deficiencies and weaknesses in the lenders capital planning process.
The regulator told the bank it had until Sept. 30 to fix the issues and
resubmit its capital plan. On Tuesday, reporters interviewing CEO Brian
Moynihan after a shareholders meeting that the lender held in Charlotte
asked Moynihan about the capital plan resubmission. Charlotte
Observer
Social
Networks To Make $25B From Ads This Year
That's according to the latest projections from digital analytics firm
eMarketer, which Wednesday adjusted its 2015 social ad spend forecast upward.
Advertisers are spending more to reach people on social networks, Facebook
in particular, than originally anticipated. Globally, advertisers will
spend $25.14 billion this year on social network ads, which is up from
the firm's previous forecast of $23.68 billion. You can thank Facebook
-- and not Twitter -- for the sector's overall positive momentum. San
Diego Union
Pope
Francis Security Effort Gets First Test In Washington
The massive security apparatus protecting Pope Francis on his historic,
six-day trip to the United States got its first test Wednesday as a 5-year-old
California girl with a T-shirt and a message about immigration for the
pontiff made her way through a security barrier and onto his parade route.
Sophie Cruz of suburban Los Angeles initially shied away as a pair of security
officials approached her before she was encouraged to approach the vehicle
by Francis himself. Then she was quickly whisked to Francis' modified,
open-air Jeep popemobile, where the pope did what this pope so often does:
He gave her a hug and kiss. Kansas
City Star
Volkswagen
CEO Steps Down Amid Scandal
Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned Wednesday, days after admitting
that the worlds top-selling carmaker had rigged diesel emissions to pass
U.S. tests during his tenure. No replacement was announced, and VW still
has no easy exit from a scandal that has suddenly dented the reputation
for trustworthiness it spent decades building. Winterkorn took responsibility
for the irregularities found by U.S. inspectors in VWs diesel engines,
but insisted he was not aware of any wrongdoing on my part. Volkswagen
needs a fresh start also in terms of personnel, his statement said.
I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation. Maim
Herald
Ad
Blockers Rise As Ads Annoy, Bog Down Websites
When you visit a website, you often find yourself waiting and waiting
for advertisements to load. Video starts playing automatically, and animated
ads jump in front of what you were there to see. The seconds tick by. It
doesn't have to be this way. There are easy ways to block such annoyances,
and Apple is now permitting apps that block ads in its Web browser for
iPhones and iPads. All this might help users navigate, but it also threatens
the livelihood of websites and publishers that depend heavily on advertising
revenue companies like Google, Hulu and The New York Times. While the
rise in ad blocking isn't causing panic yet, publishers and content creators
are watching. SF
Gate
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Pelosi
Defends Abortion: I Know More About Having Babies Than The Pope
Pope Francis is arriving in Washington, D.C., today and the Senate
is voting on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, but it was earlier
this year that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) explained
her opposition to the bill by saying that she knew more about having babies
than the Pope. During Pelosi's weekly press briefing on Jan 22, CNSNews.com
asked her: "Is an unborn child 20 weeks into pregnancy a human being?"
Pelosi responded: "You know what? What we're talking about on the floor
of the House is something that says politicians should determine what effects
the health of a woman, her life, her health, and the rest. I don't think
it's up to politicians to do that. And that's why we are very overwhelmingly
opposing what is going on on the floor of the House." CNS
News
Petraeus
To Congress: Syria Is A 'Geo-Political Chernobyl ... Like A Nuclear Disaster'
Retired Gen. David Petraeus told lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services
Committee on Tuesday that the situation in Syria is a geopolitical Chernobyl
that will continue to pose a terrorist threat around the globe for decades.
Syria today, Mr. Chairman, is a geopolitical Chernobyl spewing instability
and extremism over the region and around the world, said Petraeus, whose
stellar career included directing the U.S. military worldwide and directing
the Central Intelligence Agency before an extra-marital affair forced his
resignation in 2012. CNS
News
Pope
Gives Symbolic Blessing To U.S.-Cuba Reconciliation
Pope Franciss arrival in the U.S. directly from Cuba Tuesday is a
purposeful bit of symbolism that affirms President Barack Obamas decision
to end the half century of U.S. estrangement from the island nation. Obama
was on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington with first
lady Michelle Obama, their daughters, Malia and Sasha, and Vice President
Joe Biden and his family to personally greet Francis. Its a courtesy U.S.
presidents rarely accord foreign leaders and it comes just two days after
the pontiff shook the hand of Fidel Castro, long a nemesis of American
political leaders. Bloomberg
Senate
Dems Block GOP Bill That Would Curb Late Abortions
Senate Democrats blocked Republican legislation Tuesday that would
prohibit most late-term abortions, the second time since this summer's
release of videos involving Planned Parenthood that they've derailed an
abortion-related drive by the GOP. Senators voted 54-42 to move ahead on
the legislation, but that fell six short of the 60 votes needed to advance
the bill. With Republicans holding 54 Senate seats and the two parties
sharply divided over abortion, the outcome was no surprise. But the showdown
afforded each side an opportunity to highlight its willingness to fight
to its most loyal voters and contributors. Tuesday's vote came less than
48 hours before a first-ever papal address to Congress. Pope Francis leads
a Catholic church that rejects abortion. Las
Vegas Sun
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Drug's
Price Changed Overnight To $750 A Tablet ... From $13.50
"This isn't the greedy drug company trying to gouge patients, it is
us trying to stay in business. It really doesn't make sense to get any
criticism for this." The "this" Martin Shkreli is referring to is the price
hike his company instituted after it last month acquired Daraprim, a 62-year-old
drug that the New York Times describes as "the standard of care" for treating
those suffering from the potentially deadly parasitic infection toxoplasmosis.
The overnight change made by start-up Turing Pharmaceuticals: from $13.50
a tablet to $750 a tablet. USA Today points out that's a 5,000 percent
increase. Shkreli justified the move by saying the overall impact will
be a minor one as there are only 12,000 or so prescriptions for the specialized
drug a year, and because the proceeds will go toward developing a newer
treatment with fewer side effects. Fox
News
Volkswagen
Scandal Widens
Volkswagen is being engulfed by a growing crisis over its attempt to
make millions of diesel cars appear cleaner than they are. The scandal
broke Friday, when U.S. regulators said the German company had programmed
some 500,000 vehicles to emit lower levels of harmful emissions in tests
than on the roads. Volkswagen stunned investors Tuesday by admitting that
the problem was much bigger than that: internal investigations had found
significant discrepancies in 11 million vehicles worldwide. CNN
U.S.
Stocks Head Lower On Renewed Concerns About Global Growth
The U.S. stock market swung lower on Tuesday as falling commodity prices
pulled raw-material producers and oil companies down. Drugmakers also dropped,
adding to their losses from Monday. KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor's
500 index sank 28 points, or 1.4 percent, to 1,939 as of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 221 points, or 1.3 percent, to 16,290,
and the Nasdaq composite dropped 87 points, or 1.8 percent, to 4,743. SELL
FIRST: JJ Kinahan, TD Ameritrade's chief strategist, said lingering uncertainty
over China's slowdown and the timing of the Federal Reserve's first interest-rate
hike in nearly a decade has made investors skittish. Las
Vegas Sun
Defense
Secretary Ash Carter Endorses 'Lean In Circles'
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced on Tuesday his department
is providing "unconditional support" for "Lean In Circles," a peer-to-peer
empowerment campaign for women. The empowerment campaign was started by
Facebook chief operating officer and best-selling author Sheryl Sandberg
with the stated goal of propelling women to leadership roles. Sandberg
is also the founder of LeanIn.org, a resource that helps users find "circles",
or meeting groups that women can attend to inspire one another for reaching
higher career goals. Secretary Carter attended such a meeting with Sandberg
in the Pentagon on Monday. Also in attendance was Air Force Secretary Deborah
Lee James, Army Brig. Gen. Patricia Frost and retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody,
the first woman to be awarded the rank of four star general in U.S. military
history. UPI
Revised
Data Show 17.6M Americans Gained Coverage Under Obamacare
Revised government data show 17.6 million Americans have gained coverage
under the Affordable Care Act, up more than 1 million from a March estimate.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell made the
announcement Tuesday during a speech at Howard University College of Medicine
in Washington, D.C. "Five years in, millions of people have new coverage
and the percentage of the uninsured has been reduced to the lowest level
on record," Burwell said, according to a press release. "We now have a
new opportunity before us to build on this progress." UPI
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Security
Forces On High Alert As Jewish Israelis Mark Yom Kippur
Security forces were on high alert Tuesday as Jews across the country
were set to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
The Jewish Day of Atonement comes amid increased tensions in Jerusalem,
which has recently seen rioting at the Temple Mount and an increase in
Molotov cocktail and stone-throwing attacks. There were also two attempted
separate terror attacks in Hebron on Monday night and Tuesday morning ahead
of Yom Kippur. On Monday night, a Palestinian man was killed when a grenade
intended to be used to harm Israeli soldiers near Hebron apparently detonated
prematurely while still in his hands. An initial investigation into the
incident found that the man was 23-year-old Diyaa Talahma, an Islamic Jihad
operative whose brother is being held in administrative detention in Israel.
Jerusalem
Post
German
Intelligence Chief Warns Refugees Could Be 'Easy Prey For Islamists'
The head of Germany's domestic intelligence services warned on Tuesday
that radical Islamists could seek to recruit young refugees coming to the
country. "There is a big worry that Islamists in Germany, on the pretext
of offering humanitarian help, could try to take advantage of the migrants'
situation to convert and recruit those seeking asylum," said Hans-Georg
Maassen, the president of the BfV domestic intelligence agency. "Our attention
is particularly focused on unaccompanied young refugees who could be easy
prey for Islamists," Maassen said. Jerusalem
Post
Russia's
Syria Military Build-Up Is Self-Protection - Kerry
Russia's military buildup in Syria appears to be limited to protecting
its own forces in the country, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on
Tuesday. Mr Kerry's comments follow reports that Russia is expanding its
military presence in Syria through the development of two additional bases.
Russia's bolstering of its military aid to Syria has concerned US officials.
But Mr Kerry said on Tuesday the US was prepared to work with Russia to
end Syria's bitter four-year war. He urged Russian president Vladimir Putin
to play a constructive part in finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict,
which has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.
Mr Kerry has been critical of Mr Putin's support for Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad, which he said on Tuesday was a factor in motivating foreign
fighters to travel to Syria to oppose Mr Assad. BBC
VOA VIEW: Kerry is weak and foolish.
Egypt
'Demolishes Thousands Of Homes' For Sinai Buffer Zone
Egypt has demolished more than 3,255 homes and other buildings in the
Sinai peninsula in violation of international law, Human Rights Watch says.
Troops began razing homes along the Gaza border in 2013 to create a "buffer
zone" and eliminate smuggling tunnels, after a surge in attacks by militants.
But those evicted are given little or no warning, no temporary housing
and inadequate compensation, HRW alleges. The Egyptian government insisted
that residents supported the demolitions.
Jihadist groups based in North Sinai, including an affiliate of so-called
Islamic State (IS), stepped up their attacks after the military overthrew
Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013. BBC
Hillary
Clinton Comes Out Against Keystone XL Pipeline Project
Hillary Clinton completed the biggest environmental conversion of her
presidential campaign to date on Tuesday pronouncing herself opposed to
the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Clintons newfound stated position
on Keystone offered up during an event in Iowa follows months in which
she refused to state her views on the pipeline project, claiming it would
be inappropriate given her recent service as secretary of state. While
in Barack Obamas cabinet, Clinton had indicated she was inclined to support
the project to transport crude from the Alberta tar sands to refineries
on the Texas Gulf Coast. Guardian
Coca-Cola
Discloses It Spent $119m On Health Research Over Five Years
Coca-Cola disclosed on Tuesday that it spent $118.6m on health research
and partnerships in the US over the past five years, including funding
for a group that was criticized for downplaying the role of sugary drinks
in fueling obesity. The worlds biggest beverage maker had vowed last month
to be more transparent about the various health programs and messaging
it funds. The pledge came after a New York Times story detailed the companys
financial support for the Global Energy Balance Network. The story said
the group promotes the idea that people are overly fixated on how much
theyre eating and drinking, rather than how much theyre exercising. Guardian
Ban
Urges Israelis, Palestinians To Defuse Tensions, Prevent Escalation
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged both the Israeli
and Palestinian sides to defuse tensions and prevent an escalation of the
current situation on the ground, during a recent phone call with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas. During Saturdays phone call, the Secretary-General
and President Abbas exchanged views on the recent tensions at the Haram
al Sharif/Temple Mount compound, according to a readout issued by Mr. Bans
spokesperson. The Secretary-General regretted recent instances of inflammatory
rhetoric which will only serve to increase mistrust and worsen an already
difficult situation on the ground and urged all to refrain from it. UN
News
UN
Agency Warns European Leaders Of Last OIpportunity For Response To Refugee
Crisis
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels today and tomorrow to
discuss the ongoing refugee and migration crisis, in what the United Nations
cautioned may be the last chance to create a coherent response to end the
suffering and exploitation of refuges and migrants. This is a crisis of
political will combined with lack of European unity that is resulting in
management mayhem, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António
Guterres. UN
News
ABC Online Canada National Post Daily Telegraph The Observer Wired News Xinhua News
VOA VIEW --Is the opinion of "Voice of Americans", which is a private entity not affiliated in any way with the United States government or any of its agencies. The opinions expressed here, in whatever medium or format, are not necessarily the opinions of the ownership or advertisers of this web site - 0415.