The Gavel Drops: House Speaker John Boehner said he woke up yesterday morning, prayed, and decided to resign from Congress. His announcement that he will leave Oct. 30th shocked Washington and opened the door for the Republican far right to …

Change and Climate: Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington today is expected to announce a national “cap and trade” program that will both limit and put a price on the emission of greenhouse gases. China is the world’s largest polluter. …

  PopeTour: After drawing crowds in the streets of Washington yesterday, Pope Francis this morning is to become the first Pope to address a joint session of Congress. He’ll be speaking to one of the most divided political bodies in …

The Great Migration: European Union ministers have overruled some of its members in a vote to apportion 120,000 refugees now in Greece, Hungary, and Italy among its member countries. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia voted “no” while Finland …

The Big Cheat: Volkswagen admitted today that 11 million cars around the world are equipped with the same software that was designed to defeat emissions tests on cars sold in the US. Previously the automaker said the software was in …

Critical Mass: Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a second Mass today in Havana’s Revolution Plaza, the heart of the officially atheist country. Yesterday President Raul Castro was present for the Mass and the Pope later met with former leader …

Under Pressure: Secy. of State John Kerry said yesterday that Syria’s dictator Bashar al Assad has to go and called upon Russia and Iran to help show him to the door. Syria’s continuing civil war is sending hundreds of thousands …

Arrest: Police in Arizona have arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of being the sniper who has hit 11 cars with bullets in recent weeks, mostly along the I-10 freeway in Phoenix. Leslie Allen Merritt, Jr, who works as a landscaper, …

The Great Migration: Croatia closed seven of eight border crossings with Serbia after being overwhelmed by a crush of migrants. Officials in Zagreb said 10,000 people crossed the border in the day after Hungary closed its border with Syria, and …

He Said, She Said, They said: Planned Parenthood, birthright citizenship, tax cuts, bankruptcy, national defense, Iran nukes, the $20 bill, making billions, Vladimir Putin …. Eleven Republican candidates duked it out over the issues and personalities last night at the …