10 things you need to know today: September 6, 2014

1. Ukraine, pro-Russian rebels begin ceasefire

An open-ended ceasefire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian militants seems to be holding, but both sides are still on edge. The agreement, signed on Friday by Ukraine, Russia, and Moscow-backed separatists, stipulates withdrawals of heavy weaponry, exchanges of prisoners, and distributions of humanitarian aid in eastern Ukrainian cities that have been hardest hit in the past four months. The fighting has claimed more than 2,600 civilian lives and left thousands more homeless, according to the United Nations.

The New York Times The Associated Press

2. President Obama delays executive action on immigration

After promising to take executive action on immigration before the end of the summer, President Barack Obama decided on Friday to wait until after the November congressional elections, White House officials reported today. Obama had pledged on June 30 to review recommendations for executive action and "adopt those recommendations without further delay," but partisan fighting following that promise sent Congress into its recess without any final bill. And while immigration advocacy groups called on Obama to act independently, officials said Obama made his decision based on concern from Senate Democrats facing tough re-election races.

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The Associated Press

3. Pentagon confirms death of leader of militant group al Shabaab

Ahmed Abdi Godane, leader of Islamist militant group al Shabaab, was killed in a U.S. airstrike earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed on Friday. While U.S. forces carried out a missile and laser-guided munitions attack on Godane's Somalia encampment on Monday, Pentagon officials said they required several days to confirm the results of the airstrike. Godane took over as al Shabaab's leader in 2008, turning the al-Qaeda-affiliated group into one with international reach. But his death may prove "a game changer … for al Shabaab," Abdi Ayante, director of the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, said. "What is likely to happen is a struggle for power."

Reuters

4. 'Unresponsive' American plane crashes near Jamaica

An American aircraft crashed about 14 miles off the coast of Jamaica on Friday, after the pilot became unresponsive, officials said. Rochester businessman Larry Glazer and his wife, Jane Glazer, were aboard the plane, according to their son. The aircraft was bound for Florida, but U.S. military jets were dispatched to escort the plane when it drifted toward Cuba, before finally crashing near Jamaica, presumably after running out of fuel. Officials believe those aboard the plane may have suffered from hypoxia, which can be fatal if supplemental oxygen is not quickly provided. A search and rescue operation is under way.

Time

5. Pilots' strike forces Lufthansa to cancel 200 flights

Lufthansa canceled more than 200 flights as the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union went on strike from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday at Frankfurt's airport. This is the fifth employee protest against the airline this year, and is part of a dispute between Lufthansa and pilots over "transition payments" for pilots to retire early, which the airline wants to discontinue. Lufthansa set up more than 500 cots for passengers unable to find hotels in Germany proper "for Visa reasons," and the airline additionally booked 2,200 hotel rooms "as a precaution."

The Associated Press

6. U.S. unemployment rate falls only slightly to 6.1 percent

The latest jobs figures released on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the unemployment rate dropped only slightly to 6.1 percent, and the U.S. economy created just 142,000 new jobs in August, significantly less than the 230,000 jobs projected by economists. That is the lowest employment growth in eight months, and it may affect whether the Federal Reserve and Fed chair Janet Yellen decide to move forward on raising interest rates.

TheWeek.com Time

7. Apple CEO promises more iCloud security in wake of hacking scandal

After the recent hacking of a number of female celebrities' private, nude photos, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised this week that the company would increase security on its iCloud service. Users will now receive a notification if others attempt to hack into iCloud accounts, and they will receive notifications when an account password is changed. Cook denied, however, that Apple's existing security features were to blame for the hacked celebrity accounts. "When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say, 'What more could we have done?,' I think about the awareness piece," Cook said. "(But) that's not really an engineering thing."

The Wall Street Journal

8. Flooding in Kashmir, east Pakistan kills more than 100 people

More than 100 people have been killed by flash floods and landslides as monsoon rains continue to pound the disputed region of Kashmir and eastern Pakistan. The Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority warned of "exceptionally high floods" this weekend, and soldiers and rescue workers have continued to move thousands of civilians to higher ground via boat. Officials estimate at least 100 village through the Kashmir valley have been inundated by overflowing streams and rivers.

The Associated Press

9. Margaret Atwood writes story that won't be published for a century

Margaret Atwood became the first author to contribute to "The Future Library Project," a literary-art installation that will not be completed until 2114. Scottish artist Katie Paterson planted 1,000 trees earlier this summer in Norway; each year for the next century, an "outstanding" writer will be selected to pen a text about "imagination and time." At the end of the 100 years, the trees will be cut down and the contributed stories printed on the paper. "It goes right back to that phase of our childhood when we used to bury little things in the backyard, hoping that someone would dig them up, long in the future, and say, 'How interesting,'" Atwood said.

The Guardian

10. Starbucks announces upcoming 'express stores'

Starbucks announced on Friday that it will launch a new "Starbucks Reserve" line of stores, beginning with a Seattle-based location in December. The company said it intends to initially launch 100 stores, but it hopes to expand the line to as many as 1,500 locations around the globe. The express stores will focus on Starbucks' higher-end, small-batch coffee products, offering fewer options, but the promise of corresponding shorter wait times and a "mobile ordering" option.

Starbucks Newsroom