1. OBAMA TO ADDRESS U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON MUSLIM WORLD
President Obama will step onto the world stage on Tuesday to address the United Nations on the escalating crises in Iran, Syria, and the broader Muslim world. The U.S. commander in chief will paint a picture of a resilient America that won't let anti-U.S. rage and riots abroad deter its diplomacy. His remarks come as GOP rival Mitt Romney ripped Obama's policy abroad as being too "merciful." Obama will also reaffirm his commitment to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists that it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. [Reuters]
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2. BOMBS EXPLODE IN SYRIAN SCHOOL
Several bombs exploded Tuesday inside a school in the Syrian capital of Damascus, where, activists say, regime forces are maintaining their security headquarters. State-run television quoted the director of the school as saying seven people were injured and that the bombs were planted by "terrorists," a term President Bashar al-Assad uses for rebels who are trying to oust him. Activists say nearly 30,000 people have died in the 18-month-old uprising against Assad's rule. [Associated Press]
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3. AHMADINEJAD CALLS ISRAEL A 'FAKE REGIME'
In a fiery speech at the U.N., Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel a "nuclear-armed regime" protected by the United States. The speech sparked a walkout by Israel's U.N. ambassador, Ron Prosor. The U.S. delegation remained seated, unlike in the past, when it has walked out when Iran attacked Israel directly. The heated rhetoric comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up his call for the U.S. to draw a "red line" with regards to Iran's nuclear program. [Associated Press]
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4. MARINES FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES IN URINATION CASE
Two Marines will face criminal charges stemming from their alleged urination on corpses of Taliban fighters last year in Afghanistan. The incident became public, and caused international outrage, after a video surfaced in January showing the Marines relieving themselves on three dead men. The Marines, Staff Sgts. Joseph W. Chamblin and Edward W. Deptola, will also face charges for not reporting misconduct of junior Marines. [NBC News]
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5. JAPAN CONFRONTS TAIWANESE BOATS
Near a group of disputed islands claimed by Japan, China, and Taiwan, the Japanese coast guard used cannons to disperse Taiwanese fishing boats on Tuesday, "widening a territorial dispute that has already pitted Japan against China and threatened vital trade relations in the region." The confrontation came just a day after a similar open-sea dispute with Chinese fishing vessels off the coast of the islands. The uninhabited islands, call Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are near coveted fishing grounds and large gas reserves. [New York Times]
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6. GINGRICH PREDICTS ROMNEY WILL SUPPORT AKIN
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stumped on behalf of struggling Republican Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin on Monday, predicting that the GOP establishment and Mitt Romney would back the candidate by Election Day. Romney, of course, has called for Akin — under fire for his comments last month about "legitmate rape" — to bow out of the race. Gingrich said GOPers have a "moral obligation" to back Akin, especially if they want to win a majority in the Senate. [Politico]
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7. IPHONE 5 SALES TOP 5 MILLION IN FIRST WEEKEND
Not too shabby. Apple said it sold more than 5 million iPhone 5s in the first three days after its launch. However, the number is smaller than analysts had expected, with some predicting as many as 10 million could be sold. Still, the latest sales are a record for any phone and beat last year's iPhone 4S launch by 1 million. [CNN]
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8. FACEBOOK STOCK TUMBLES 9.1 PERCENT
Facebook Inc.'s stock took a big hit Monday, falling 9.1 percent to $20.79 a share. The decline comes following a devastating article by financial magazine Barron's, which said the No. 1 social network's stock is "still too pricey." A key issue is how to advertise to Facebook users as more and more go on the site on their mobile devices. Andrew Bary of Barron's said success in the mobile arena is "no sure thing" as ads must fit onto much smaller screens without alienating users. [Associated Press]
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9. CHAOS ERUPTS OVER SEAHAWKS WIN
The NFL's replacement refs continue to court controversy. In one of the most bizarre and eyebrow-raising finishes in recent football history, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Green Bay Packers on Monday night on a Hail Mary touchdown pass that many fans believed was an interception rather than a touchdown. Confusion reigned on the field as the replacement refs struggled to sort through a pile of players and seemed unable to agree with each other on the correct call. Video replays seem to show a Packers defender intercepting the ball rather than a Seahawks receiver catching it. This is just the latest blown call in the young NFL season, in which the real referees have been locked out over a salary dispute. [ESPN]
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10. CHRIS BROWN TESTS POSITIVE FOR POT
R&B bad boy Chris Brown has tested positive for marijuana, causing a Los Angeles judge to set a November hearing to determine if the singer violated probation stemming from his 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown is currently halfway through a five-year probation sentence. [Reuters]
