Obama calls GOP ‘captive’ to ideology
PURCHASE, N.Y. – President Barack Obama says there’s one reason Congress is broken, and it’s because the Republican Party is captive to an ideologically rigid, unproductive and cynical group.
Speaking at a fundraiser Friday, Obama urged like-minded Democrats to vote in November’s midterm elections.
Obama spoke at a pre-Labor Day barbecue held at the Westchester County, New York, home of Wall Street consultant Robert Wolf.
Auto sales dip, slowing consumer spending
WASHINGTON – U.S. consumer spending fell in July, with a drop in auto purchases accounting for most of the weakness. Income growth also slowed.
Consumer spending edged down 0.1 percent last month after a 0.4 percent increase in June, the Commerce Department reported Friday. It was the first decline in spending since January. Income growth slowed to 0.2 percent in July, the weakest showing in seven months.
The fall in spending came primarily from a decline in auto sales, which took a breather in July after posting big gains in recent months, although spending in other areas was also weak.
Hong Kong residents may get election clues
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s simmering summer of discontent gets even hotter Sunday when Beijing is expected to recommend restricting the first direct elections for the Chinese-controlled financial hub’s leader, stepping up chances of a showdown with democracy groups.
The former British colony, which was handed back to China in 1997, has been the scene of escalating tension for the past year after activists threatened a mass sit-in paralyzing the financial district if Beijing rules out genuine democratic reforms.
While both sides agree that residents should be allowed to elect the territory’s leader, known as the chief executive, starting in 2017, they’re deadlocked over how to choose candidates.
Palestinian leader says Hamas delayed truce
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Hamas on Friday for needlessly extending fighting with Israel in the Gaza Strip, casting doubt on the future of the Palestinian unity government that the Islamic militant group backs.
The remarks by Abbas come a few days after Israel and Hamas militants reached a truce after 50 bitter days of fighting.
More than 2,100 Palestinians were killed.
Several Egyptian mediated cease-fire attempts during the conflict failed. Hamas eventually accepted almost the same truce offered at the beginning.
Associated Press
