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MOSCOW, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The value of the Russian ruble hit a historic low Monday when compared with U.S. and European currencies, the Russian Central Bank said. It took just over 40 rubles to buy one U.S. dollar, or just over 50 rubles to buy a euro, in Monday trading, the bank said. The bank said last week it was struggling to keep Russian inflation in check because of U.S. and European sanctions on Russian energy companies. Sanctions were imposed earlier this year because of Russian policies in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Kremlin rebels are fighting for more authority. Exports...

he Supreme Court has turned away appeals from five states seeking to prohibit same-sex marriages, paving the way for an immediate expansion of gay and lesbian unions. The justices on Monday did not comment in rejecting appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The court's order immediately ends delays on marriage in those states. Couples in six other states should be able to get married in short order. That would make same-sex marriage legal in 30 states and the District of Columbia. But the justices have left unresolved for now the question of same-sex marriage nationwide.

Iranian sites claim large explosion heard 'several kilometers away', shattered windows as far as 15 kilometers from blast. An explosion at Iran's Parchin nuclear plant has killed at least two people, according to Iranian media reports. The plant is located close to the Iranian capital Tehran, and the explosion has triggering speculation over a possible sabotage or assassination. The semi-official Isna news agency claimed the explosion took place after a fire erupted in an "explosive materials production unit".

p>The Talk Shows October 5th, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health; Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer; Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee; former Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. FACE THE NATION (CBS): Fauci; Reps. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md.; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.THIS WEEK (ABC): Frieden. STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Frieden; Sens. Lindsey...

Democracy demonstrators take to streets in Hong Kong

High-level North Korean delegation to attend AG closing ceremony North Korea plans to send a high-ranking delegation to the Incheon Asian Games closing ceremony Saturday, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said. According to official sources, the North informed the South on Friday that it wants to send Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon to the ceremony slated for 6 p.m. Saturday. The three officials plan to arrive via a direct air route from North Korea to Incheon at 10 a.m. Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae is expected to hold talks with the North Korean officials after their arrival. Hwang was recently...

The Pentagon is sending as many as 1,000 more troops to Africa to help fight the Ebola virus. The troops are being sent on top of the 3,000 President Obama has already ordered to help efforts in West Africa. ...

(CNN) -- Three Americans are fighting alongside Kurdish forces against the Islamic State terror group in northern Syria, a spokesman for the Kurdish group told CNN on Thursday. One of the Americans was identified by the Kurdish People's Protection Units, also known as the YPG, as Jordan Matson of Wisconsin. Matson is fighting in Haska province near the town of Jazaa, close to the Iraqi border, YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said by telephone.

Craig McKee - WISN @McKeeWISN BREAKING: Consulate Source: U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi to be released from Mexico tonight or Thursday morning. #breaking #wisn12

I thought this would be useful information: Departed Brussels 9/20 on United flight 951 at 10:30, arriving Washington Dulles at 18:36. http://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ua951/ Departed Washington Dulles 9/20 at 21:29 on United flight 822, arriving DFW at 00:01. http://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ua822/

Hundreds of airline passengers were exposed to the Liberian national before he landed in Dallas, last month, as it is revealed that he took at least three flights to get from Monrovia, Liberia to Texas. Officials announced that Thomas Eric Duncan flew through Brussels to get to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport - but no airlines operate a direct flight from the European capital to Dallas, meaning he had to take a connecting flight in between. U.S. officials have refused to release details of his itinerary, including which city he connected through - claiming that none of his fellow passengers are...

The commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and 700 of his troops will head to Liberia in late October as the military steps up its response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The "Screaming Eagle" troops from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will set up a headquarters in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, and will be joined by 700 combat engineers from several commands, the Pentagon said. Once the troops have arrived, Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, commander of the 101st, will replace Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, as commander of the U.S. military response to the Ebola...

Howdy everyone! October is here, Fall is here, and it's time for our 4th quarter FReepathon!! And it's going to be a great quarter. Elections coming up in November and we get to take the Senate away from Obama/Reid!! I don't blame anyone for not wanting to vote for the GOP-e, but we gotta take care of business first. We must wrest control of the Senate away from the Marxist democrats. It's only business. And our freedom. In the meantime, let's keep the lights on here at Free Republic. FR is funded solely by the donations provided by the people...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first case of Ebola has been diagnosed in the United States. This story is developing. Please check back for further updates

AP Article -- link only

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about Secret Service security protocols following a September 19 White House intruder breach. Hearing starts at 10am Eastern. C-Span Live: http://www.c-span.org/live/ Fox News article: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/09/30/white-house-intruder-made-it-to-east-room-officials-say/ Committee on Oversight and Government reform: http://oversight.house.gov/ Chairman Issa Preview Statement: http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Chairman-Issa-Preview-Statement.pdf

Fierce fighting has gotten closer and closer to Baghdad, with some reports saying the Islamic State is within one mile of the city limits.

GROVELAND, Fla. - Another bomb threat has been reported at a Lake County school on Monday morning, according to officials. Lake County Sheriff's Office said a bomb threat was reported at Clermont Middle School. Deputies and Clermont police officers are on scene investigating. It's not clear if evacuations have been ordered at Clermont Middle School. The second bomb threat report comes hours after students and staff were evacuated from South Lake High School in Groveland. School officials said students, who were taken to the school's football field, were not being released from the campus.

The Talk Shows September 28th, 2014 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Tony Blinken, deputy national security adviser; Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Angus King, I-Maine. MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Pre-empted by coverage of Ryder Cup golf. FACE THE NATION (CBS): Blinken; Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.THIS WEEK (ABC): House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; Vice Adm. John Miller, commander, U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Blinken; Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.