RTC Director

US House Passes Budget Bill That Defunds Health Care Law

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a temporary funding measure that would keep the government operating, but defunds President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

The Republican-controlled House passed the measure Friday by a vote of 230-189, largely along party lines.

The resolution will now go to the Democratically-controlled Senate where it is unlikely to pass, setting the stage for a potential partial government shutdown if a budget agreement is not reached by the end of the month.

Republican House members are strongly opposed to President Obama's health care law and have voted to repeal it 42 times.

House Speaker John Boehner argues that a majority of Americans are against the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans refer to as 'Obamacare.'

"Our message to the United States Senate is real simple: The American people don't want the government shut down, and they don't want Obamacare.''

The latest public opinion survey shows that 42 percent of Americans approve of the Affordable Care Act, while 52 percent oppose it.

President Obama sharply criticized the Republican-led House Friday, saying, "You do not have to threaten to blow the whole thing up just because you do not get your way."

The debate over a funding bill is likely to be followed by another political battle over raising the debt ceiling, expected around mid-October.

by RTC Director

Vice President Biden Visits Mexico for Trade Talks

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is urging the United States and Mexico to develop a stronger economic partnership, saying it is the most important part of the relationship between the two countries.

Biden told Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Friday there should be a greater flow across the border of "people, goods and information."

Biden traveled Friday to Mexico City to launch the High-Level Economic Dialogue established between the two nations during President Barack Obama's visit to Mexico in May.

"Mr. President, you and I have continued our conversation on security," said Biden. "We also agreed that no part of a relationship is more important than expanding economic opportunity, to improve the lives of our citizens. That's why I came to Mexico today to launch the first ever U.S.-Mexican High Level Economic Dialogue.''

Peña Nieto said the economic initiative is a joint commitment by both countries to bring greater prosperity to North America. "Vice President Biden's visit to Mexico reaffirms this shared vision by both governments.  The interest that both governments insist through our relations that the North American region be stronger, more solid, more consolidated, and that it really is pivotal for the global development in the 21st century.''

Two-way trade between the United States and its southern neighbor is now up to nearly $500 billion a year, making Mexico the U.S.'s third largest trading partner.

The vice president's talks with the Mexican president were expected to address other common interests as well, including cooperation on education, research and security. But both Mexican and U.S. officials indicated Mexico's concerns about U.S. cyber-spying would not be part of the agenda.

Officials from Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American nations expressed anger after documents leaked by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden revealed the U.S. National Security Agency had been spying on communications in their countries.

The Mexican president discussed the NSA disclosures issue with Obama at the G20 summit in Russia earlier this month, and Obama administration officials say it is something the U.S. and Mexico are continuing to work through.

In addition to visiting Mexico, Biden had planned to travel to Panama earlier this week, but that trip was postponed so he could stay in Washington to work on Syria.

by RTC Director

Death Toll in Nigerian Militant Attack Rises to 143

Nigerian officials say the death toll from an attack by Islamist militants earlier this week has risen to 143.

An official with the Environmental Protection Agency says authorities have been collecting corpses since the attack took place Tuesday in northeastern Borno state.

Militants believed to be from the group Boko Haram burned scores of homes and buildings in and around the town of Benisheik. Residents say the militants also pulled people from their cars to kill them.

Local witnesses told VOA that the Boko Haram fighters were better armed than soldiers who tried to fight them, and that the militants looted the town, taking away food and numerous vehicles.

In a separate incident on Friday, Nigerian officials say nine suspected members of Boko Haram were killed in a gunbattle with security agents in the capital, Abuja.

The state security force says several other people were wounded in the early morning clash, which happened in at an unfinished home in a community for Nigerian lawmakers.

Spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar says two captured Boko Haram members had told agents about a buried stash of weapons at the site.

"And so a joint security team had to proceed to recover the arms. So when they got here, they came under attack, and of course they had to respond back."

Ogar told reporters that 12 Boko Haram suspects were arrested.

Two self-professed Boko Haram members were brought in front of reporters and admitted to belonging to the group.

Residents of the community told VOA they doubted the young men were Boko Haram members, saying they were paying rent to stay in the house.

Boko Haram says it is fighting to impose a strict form of Islamic law on Nigeria's Muslim-majority north. The militants have been blamed for thousands of deaths since launching an insurgency against the government in 2009.

Borno is one of three northeastern states where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and deployed additional troops in May to fight Boko Haram. Rights groups have criticized the military for heavy-handed operations they say have led to hundreds more deaths.

Source-VOA

by RTC Director

Nearly 100 Dead After Mexico Storms

Mexican rescue workers continued the grim search Friday for people missing after strong storms triggered mudslides that engulfed parts of several towns and villages on both coasts.

People are searching the wreckage in La Pintada, west of the resort city of Acapulco, for 68 people missing since a landslide cascaded down a hill Wednesday, burying homes and schools in its path. The mayor of the local municipality told reporters at least 15 bodies have been pulled from the rubble.

Nearly 100 people have died in Mexico from the flooding and landslides triggered by Hurricane Ingrid on the Gulf Coast and Tropical Storm Manuel on the Pacific coast.

Authorities on Friday partially reopened landslide-damaged roads out of Acapulco, giving thousands of tourists stranded in the flooded resort city a new way out of the devastation.

The Mexican army and commercial airlines had managed to evacuate more than 5,000 of the 40,000 tourists left stranded in Acapulco before some of the streets reopened.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon extended condolences to the Mexican people and said the United Nations stands ready to help efforts to respond to humanitarian needs resulting from the disaster.

by RTC Director

Pollution Rules Proposed for New US Power Plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed new rules to cut carbon pollution from new coal-fired power plants. EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said the new standards "can slow the effects of climate change and fulfill our obligation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children."

Power plants are the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States, accounting for one-third of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. The new plants will be required to limit carbon pollution and phase in new, cleaner technology.

Battle lines are being drawn.

Opponents like the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington say the new standards could lead to the end of coal-fired power plants and higher electricity prices. Supporters like the Energy Study Institute say the new rule would "stimulate a more technologically innovative, resilient and competitive move to a cleaner energy economy."

The rules will be finalized after a 60-day comment period. Another measure that would require cuts in climate-changing emissions from existing plants is expected to be introduced next year.

by RTC Director