Debate rule change likely to help Fiorina

WASHINGTON – CNN on Tuesday amended its criteria for the next Republican presidential debate, giving former technology executive Carly Fiorina a better chance at appearing in the Sept. 16 primetime affair.

The news network announced the change following weeks of public pressure from Fiorina and her supporters.

Fiorina, the only woman in the GOP field, likely would not have been among the top 10 candidates on the debate stage as determined by the original terms, which relied on national polling conducted between July 16 and Sept. 10. The new terms add any candidate who ranks in the top 10 in polling between Aug. 6 and Sept. 10 – a period that better reflects Fiorina’s rise in the polls.

U.S. pushes China to free prisoners

WASHINGTON – The United States is demanding that China release a well-known Christian lawyer and religious figures detained last month ahead of a meeting with a visiting senior U.S. diplomat.

David Saperstein, the U.S. ambassador at-large for religious freedom, said the detentions of attorney Zhang Kai and the others were a “particularly alarming development” as it came while he was in China preparing to meet the group. Saperstein said there was “no excuse” for the detentions, particularly as Chinese authorities had encouraged his August 20-28 visit to take stock of religious freedom in the country.

PLO leader may not seek re-election

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told political confidants he won’t seek re-election to the top posts in the Palestine Liberation Organization or his Fatah movement in upcoming elections, two participants in the meeting said Tuesday.

In such a scenario, Abbas would still retain his most important post, as president of the Palestinian self-rule government.

Rumors have been swirling that the 80-year-old plans to step down as president, after a decade on the job, because all roads to Palestinian statehood appear blocked. Critics have cast Abbas’ latest moves as an attempt to consolidate control and sideline opponents.

Associated Press