1. America honors JFK
Thousands gathered in Dallas, the site of John F. Kennedy's assassination, to pay tribute to the former president on Friday. The ceremony, honoring the 50th anniversary of the president's death, featured historian David McCullough, who read excerpts from Kennedy's speeches. Many other observances were held across the nation, too. [New York Times]
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2. Iran nuclear deal appears imminent
Things are looking up in Geneva, where negotiators from a half dozen world powers and Iran are coming closer to a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear program. The key sticking points, largely centering on Iran's enrichment of uranium and one particular partially built reactor, seemed to have largely been overcome. Any deal would largely just be a first step on the road to a longer-lasting comprehensive agreement that is still likely months away. [Los Angeles Times]
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3. ObamaCare signup delayed
The Department of Health and Human Services will delay open enrollment in ObamaCare in 2015. The signup start date will be pushed back to November 15, from October 15, and the enrollment period will be extended to eight weeks instead of seven. Health officials hope the extra time will allow insurance companies and consumers to avoid the glitches from the first rollout. The White House insists it's not about pushing the deadline until after the midterm elections. [CNN]
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4. Islamist factions in Syria unite to create massive rebel army
The six major Islamist groups in Syria merged to form the Islamist Front under common leadership. The newly united rebel army poses a serious threat to Western-backed military forces. The head of the Islamic Front told Al Jazeera their goal is "to topple the Assad regime completely and build an Islamic state." [Reuters]
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5. Iraq is rocked by bombings, again
Bombings and shootings broke out in Iraq on Friday, killing at least 23 people. The violence is part of a wave of sectarian attacks throughout the country. The attacks have not been claimed by any one organization, but the Iraqi government is blaming Sunni militant groups, including al Qaeda. [Reuters]
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6. 100-million-year-old ocean discovered under Chesapeake Bay
Researchers discovered the remains of an ancient saltwater ocean trapped a half-mile underground. An asteroid that smashed into the area around 35 million years ago created a crater that preserved about 3 trillion gallons of seawater. According to government hydrologists, the find is "the oldest large body of ancient seawater in the world."[USA Today]
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7. Afghanistan rejects call to sign a security pact with the U.S.
A representative for Afghan President Hamid Karzai rejected a U.S. plea to sign a security agreement by the end of the year. Karzai suggested sealing the Bilateral Security Agreement in April 2014, which the U.S. also rejected. If no agreement is reached, the U.S. could pull the majority of its troops by the end of next year. [Reuters]
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8. Google patents robot to help people manage their social media
The software learns users' social media patterns to mimic their response to updates and messages on social media. The program still needs refinement, but Google hopes it will help manage the deluge of virtual connections.[BBC]
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9. Comcast mulls a bid for Time Warner
Comcast shareholders are urging management to consider bidding on Time Warner Cable Inc, according to CNBC. The report said Time Warner prefers Comcast to buy it, but earlier this month Reuters reported Charter Communications is also interested. [Reuters]
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10. Bitcoin accepted in space voyages
Virgin Galactic announced it will accept Bitcoin as currency in future trips into space. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, wrote in a blog post Friday, "Bitcoin, the virtual currency, has really captured the imagination recently as one of the world's most innovative businesses looking to the future." [Forbes]
