The mother of an American journalist who's believed to be a hostage of Islamic militants1 is pleading for the release of her son. Shirley Sotloff in a video seen on al- Arabiyyah Television asking the leader of the group Islamic State to free her 31- year- old son Steven Sotloff. I ask you to please release my child. As a mother I ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over. Sotloff was last seen in 2013 and has been threatened with death by the militants on the video unless the US stops air strikes on the group. The same video shows another American journalist James Foley being beheaded by militants.
The current ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians has now survived its first full day. NPR's ** says the Palestinians of Gaza are greeting the end of the 7- week war with mixed emotions. Thousand of Palestinians turned out in Gaza city for what Hamas built as victory celebrations. They flourished green Hamas flags and brightly coloured balloons. They threw candies as several dozen masked militants from Hamas's military wing arrived in trunks to pose before the cameras with their clash takeoff. But this
festive2 mood is
tampered3 by the knowledge that there'll be a massive task repairing the destruction calls by Israeli missiles and
artillery4 over 50 days. With war over, at least for now, some families with more than 2000 dead in Gaza, are opening mourning tents, so friends and relatives can gather to pay their respects. ** NPR News, Gaza.
The Department of Homeland Security must ensure Mexican nationals under
deportation5 orders are given every opportunity to see an immigration judge. NPR's John Bernetts explains that it's a part of a settlement announced today in a
lawsuit7 between the ACLU and the government. The ACLU says that the federal agency in their
zeal8 to quickly
deport6 Mexican nationals used decepted and coercive practices to get immigrants to sign their own deportation papers. So- called voluntary departure means the immigrants cannot re- enter the United States for up to 10 years. 9
deported9 Mexicans who were plaintiffs in a lawsuit have been allowed to return to their homes in southern California, where they will try to convince an immigration judge to let them stay. The government said in a statement in no case is
coercion10 or
deception11 tolerated. Under the settlement, immigration enforcement officers must now
fully12 inform immigrants of their due process rights and give them an opportunity to get legal help. If a federal judge approves class action provisions, thousands more Mexican immigrants could be
eligible13 to return to this country. John Bernetts, NPR New, Austin.
Somewhat an unusual move on the part of giant General Motors. The automaker says its moving production of its Cadillac SRX crossover SUV out of Mexico into the US. Automaker says it will begin producing next generation SRX to display in Springhill, Tennessee. The Complex International currently pushes over 2300 hourly workers.
On Wall Street the Dow was up 15 points. You are listening to NPR.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is declaring victory in the war against Hamas, saying a recent ceasefire in Gaza gives nothing to the group. Speaking during a nationally broadcast news confernce, the Israeli leader said Hamas was hit hard during 7 weeks of fighting. He also said under a ceasefire due to agree this week, Hamas did not have any of its demands met. More than 2000 Palestinians died in the fighting. Hamas has also declared victory.
Soccer is the latest sport to be in the crosshairs on the issue of
concussions14. Players and parents of players fall to class action law suing California today against soccer's international governing body, USd- based new soccer organizations. NPR's Tom Goldman reports the suit is about to force rule changes to better protect against head injuries. The suit targets FIFA, soccer's governing body,
alleging16 the organization has failed to
enact17 concussion15 rules to protect players. The lawsuit also names US Youth Soccer and American Youth Soccer for allegedly not adhering to up- to- date concussion guidelines. The plaintiffs are not asking for damages to cover injured players; instead they want rule changes including limits on heading the ball for players under 17, and allowing for extra substitutions so players could be medically evaluated. Concussions became an issue in this summer's World Cup in Brazil. There were several incidents in which players who appeared days from head injuries were allow to keep playing that violates currently accepted concussion
protocol18. Tom Goldman, NPR News.
The appeal's court has overturned the hate- crime convictions of 16 Amish found guilty in beard and hair cutting attacks on fellow members of their faith. 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio agreed with the lawyer for the
defendants19. Amish
initially20 found guilty of hate- crimes were carrying out the attacks of
retaliation21 against other arms should defy the
authoritarian22 ** of leader, **.