No Handshake: Despite recent hopes of improved relations, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani skipped a United Nations luncheon yesterday and a chance to shake hands with President Obama. But both expressed hope in their speeches to the UN. Rouhani said in his address to the General Assembly that Iran poses no threat to the world and is willing to negotiate over its nuclear program.

Earthquake: More than 300 people are dead after yesterday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. Many died in the collapse of mud huts. The quake formed a small new island off the coast.

Malled: The Kenyan government says the four-day siege of the Westgate shopping mall ended with 11 terrorists captured and five killed. Several of the terrorists may be Somali-Americans, and a white woman, possibly British, is reported to have been among the group. President Uhuru Kenyatta said, “We have been badly hurt, but we have been brave, united and strong.” Three floors of the building collapsed in one area of the mall, trapping an unknown number of bodies. The number of dead is still fluid, now listed as 61, with 63 people described by the Red Cross as missing.

Shutdown Countdown: Five days. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz yesterday opened a marathon speech saying, “I intend to speak in support of defunding Obamacare until I am no longer able to stand.” At one point he read “Green Eggs and Ham”. At our press time, he’s still speaking, but the Senate is expected today to approve a bill that preserves Obamacare.

The Price: The average price of an Obamacare insurance policy will be $249 a month, according to the Dept. of Health and Human Services. But prices will vary wildly depending on the state, personal income, family status and the level plan chosen. And you thought cellphone plans were complicated.

National: Home prices in July were up 12.4% from July 2012, but the recovery in housing prices is slowing, in part because of slightly higher mortgage rates.

• Four young men described as gang members have been arrested in the shooting of 13 people on a Chicago basketball court. Police say one of the four had been wounded in a shooting earlier in the evening and they went to shoot up the park they believed was controlled by a rival gang.

Baywatch: The Americans have made a stunning comeback in the America’s Cup finals on San Francisco Bay, beating New Zealand seven races in a row to tie it 8-8. The winner of the next race takes the cup.

Tat This: The Army set new rules banning recruits from having tattoos that show below the knee, below the elbow, and above the neck. It’s for decorum and uniformity, the Army says. Currently enlisted soldiers will be required to remove tattoos considered racist, extremist, or sexist. The tattoo removers are going to be busy.

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