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Quote of the day. "When you're in Taybeh, you understand God's sense of humor." Maria Khoury, organizer of an Oktoberfest celebration in Taybeh, West Bank, to promote Palestinian culture and commerce amid the Israeli occupation and to draw attention to the Palestinian Christian minority (Los Angeles Times)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
SBC ethics czar Land comes out in favor of Tennessee mosque "After opposing the building of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, the Southern Baptist Convention's chief spokesman on public policy has come out in support of Muslims seeking to build a new Islamic center in Murfreesboro, Tenn."
Young Christians Optimistic Despite Christian America's Demise (Gabe Lyons, CNN Belief Blog) "Christian America" as we've known it is no doubt coming to an abrupt close, and the jury is out on how the next generation of Christians will shape public perceptions or solve pressing global concerns. Only time will tell, but if you ask them, they'd tell you the future is bright."
Obama's new culture war over government's role (Michael Gerson, Washington Post) "As a candidate, it was a measure of Barack Obama's political innovation and ambition that he set out to win religious voters, including evangelical Christians. As president, his failure in this effort is equally revealing."
NEWS AT HOME
Election polling. Democrats make slight gains in poll "Less than a month before the midterm elections, the political landscape remains strongly tilted toward Republicans, although Democrats have made modest improvements with voters since their late-summer low point, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll." Poll: GOP voters are more fired up "A Gallup Poll analysis released Monday underscores the huge "enthusiasm" advantage Republicans hold a month before elections that will determine control of Congress and help shape the rest of President Obama's term."
Tax cuts. Obama's economic advisors divided on Bush-era tax cuts "Two members of President Obama's economic advisory board pressed him Monday to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for two years, triggering an unexpected debate at the White House about an issue that will play a major role in the mid-term elections."
Immigration. Deportations of immigrants with criminal convictions have increased, fed says "More illegal immigrants with criminal convictions are being deported in recent years, driving up the number of people being removed from the United States, according to data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
Mine safety. Mine safety's black hole "For safety experts and miners' families, these recent disasters tell a familiar story: Enforcement efforts have been hampered by a backlogged appeals system and the lack of penalty for repeat offenders. The new federal crackdown still couldn't ensure safe conditions underground."
Transportation system failing. Report: U.S. transportation system failing "The United States is saddled with a rapidly decaying and woefully underfunded transportation system that will undermine its status in the global economy unless Congress and the public embrace innovative reforms, a bipartisan panel of experts concludes in a report released Monday."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Financial reform. World leaders at impasse over proposals for financial reform "Two years after investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed and the financial system faltered, world leaders are deadlocked over key proposals for ensuring that such a crisis doesn't happen again, and concern is spreading that the chance for common action has waned."
Climate change. China calls on rich nations to improve emission targets "China today called on wealthy nations to dramatically increase the rate at which they plan to cut their carbon emissions at international climate negotiations in Tianjin."
NATO fuel convoys attacked. NATO convoys besieged in Pakistan "Militants carried out two new attacks on NATO convoys in Pakistan on Monday as the government closure of a vital entry point into Afghanistan continued for a fifth day, underscoring the fragility of the coalition forces' most important war supply route." U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels "With insurgents increasingly attacking the American fuel supply convoys that lumber across the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, the military is pushing aggressively to develop, test and deploy renewable energy to decrease its need to transport fossil fuels."
Drones kill Germans. 'Germans killed' in US drone strike "A suspected US drone strike has killed eight fighters in northwest Pakistan, with Pakistani intelligence officials saying that at least five of them were Germans." Taliban 'remove Germans' bodies' "Security sources have closely linked the area to a reported al-Qaeda plot to attack European cities." Drones Kill Westerners in Pakistan "The missile strikes were part of an escalating barrage of attacks by the C.I.A. over the past month, and come amid tension in European capitals over the possibility that operatives of Al Qaeda who are based in Pakistan and North Africa might be planning terrorist attacks somewhere on the continent."
Afghanistan. Afghan offensive fails to reassure residents "As NATO steps up its operation around Kandahar city, vowing that the Taliban will have nowhere to hide, residents remain fearful, saying militants simply bide their time and return." Afghan, U.S. forces face growing insecurity in key province "The difficulties in Baghlan province in Afghanistan's north are emblematic of the uphill battle the United States faces in trying to stabilize Afghanistan enough to begin drawing down troops next year. While the U.S. military has focused on the Taliban's southern strongholds, the militants and allied groups have been gaining ground in the north."
Mideast peace talks. Egypt president warns of 'global terror' if Mideast peace talks fail "Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has warned that a failure in Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations would lead to "violence and terrorism" across the world."
Iraq. Maliki-Allawi deal could end impasse "Key supporters of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and representatives of his biggest rival are discussing a power-sharing deal that could break the nearly seven-month political impasse in Iraq and deliver the kind of inclusive government the United States has been advocating." Baghdad Wrangling Rattles Iran Ties "As Iraqi politicians wrangle through a seventh month of government-formation talks, an unexpected casualty is emerging: Iranian influence over the country's fractured Shiite groups."
Recycling in Cairo. The recycling capital of the world: Fuel of the Nile "In the shadow of the Coptic Christian church cut into the sandy rock face, lies Moqattam
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