IT’S OFFICIAL: US NATIONAL DEBT UNDER BARACK OBAMA DOUBLES TO 20 TRILLION DOLLARS

When President Obama signs into law the new two-year budget deal Monday, his action will bring into sharper focus a part of his legacy that he doesn’t like to talk about: He is the $20 trillion man.

Mr. Obama’s spending agreement with Congress will suspend the nation’s debt limit and allow the Treasury to borrow another $1.5 trillion or so by the end of his presidency in 2017. Added to the current total national debt of more than $18.15 trillion, the red ink will likely be crowding the $20 trillion mark right around the time Mr. Obama leaves the White House.

When Mr. Obama took over in January 2009, the total national debt stood at $10.6 trillion. That means the debt will have very nearly doubled during his eight years in office, and there is much more debt ahead with the abandonment of “sequestration” spending caps enacted in 2011.

“Congress and the president have just agreed to undo one of the only successful fiscal restraint mechanisms in a generation,” said Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union. “The progress on reducing spending and the deficit has just become much more problematic.”

Some budget analysts scoff at the claim made by the administration and by House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, that the budget agreement’s $112 billion in spending increases is fully funded by cuts elsewhere. Mr. Boehner left Congress last week.

“The Boehner-Obama spending agreement would allow for unlimited borrowing by the Treasury until March 2017,” said Paul Winfree, director of economic policy studies at The Heritage Foundation. “This deal piles on billions of dollars to the national debt by increasing spending over the next three years and then not paying for it for a decade — with half of the offsets not occurring until 2025.”

The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that only about half of the increased spending in the budget deal is paid for. Rather than a spending increase of $80 billion over two years, the nonprofit group said, the actual spending hike is $154 billion when interest costs and budget gimmicks are factored into the equation.

“OF THIS $154 BILLION, ABOUT $78 BILLION IS PAID FOR HONESTLY” THROUGH MEDICARE REFORMS, REDUCTIONS IN FARM SUBSIDIES, ASSET SALES AND OTHER MEASURES, THE GROUP SAID. “THE REMAINING $56 BILLION OF THE LEGISLATION — MOSTLY THE WAR SPENDING INCREASE AND INTEREST COSTS — IS NOT PAID FOR AT ALL.”

Of course, Congress bears equal responsibility for the high level of debt. A prime reason that Mr. Boehner left office was conservatives’ displeasure with his accommodation of the president’s budget requests, aside from three years of “sequestration” spending caps that helped limit annual deficits.

“We will be raising the debt ceiling in an unlimited fashion,” said Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who tried to filibuster the budget deal before the Senate approved it in the wee hours of Friday. “We will be giving President Obama a free pass to borrow as much money as he can borrow in the last year of his office. No limit, no dollar limit. Here you go, President Obama. Spend what you want.”

EVER-EXPANDING DEBT

The president said Friday that the agreement “is paid for in a responsible, balanced way.”

“This agreement will strengthen the middle class by investing in education, job training, and basic research,” Mr. Obama said. “It will keep us safe by investing in our national security. It protects our seniors by avoiding harmful cuts to Medicare and Social Security. It locks in two years of funding and should help break the cycle of shutdowns and manufactured crises that have harmed our economy.”

When Mr. Obama talks about fiscal matters, he usually takes credit for cutting the deficit by two-thirds. He also is correct that annual budget deficits have fallen from $1.4 trillion in fiscal 2009, in the depths of the recession, to $439 billion in fiscal 2015.

But the president rarely, if ever, mentions the accumulation of those annual deficits and what the rising national debt means for the country, for the presidents who will follow him and for the nation’s ability to pay for its priorities. source

TWO WEEK HEATWAVE: Britain to bask in 22C for hottest start to November EVER

THERE may only be seven weeks to go until Christmas, but that did not stop Britons flocking to the BEACH as the country saw the hottest start to November since records began.

By NATHAN RAO & LEVI WINCHESTER

PUBLISHED: 09:01, Mon, Nov 2, 2015 | UPDATED: 09:15, Mon, Nov 2, 2015

Unseasonably warm November weather has delayed the arrival of winter this year (GETTY)

There was no need for extra layers yesterday as pictures from across Britain showed dozens of people sunbathing in balmy spring-like weather on Brighton beach.

One man appeared so overjoyed by the pleasant conditions that he even plunged into the sea to make the most of the warm weather.

Across the country the mercury touched 72.3F (22.4C) in Ceredigion, Mid Wales, beating the previous record of 71.1F (21.7C) set in Prestatyn, north Wales, in 1946.

It is the highest November temperature recorded by the Met Office since it began collecting data in 1910.

LNP

Britons flocked to Brighton beach yesterday to make the most of the pleasant weather (GETTY)

LNP

The warm conditions even sparked one couple to indulge in ice cream (GETTY)

In Wales thousands of day trippers heading to the mountains and coast with youngsters playing on the sands.

One of the warmest Halloweens on record saw thermometers hit 67F on Saturday in Hampton, south-west London.

Overall the first 10 days of November may see only subtle changes with very mild south to south-westerlies prevailing

Richard Chapman, The Weather Network

But the warm weather could be set to stick around a while longer as forecasters are predicting up to two weeks of balmy spring-like weather.

Forecasters say the balmy weather is set to continue and it could feel like 72F (22C) later this week.

Warm winds from the Continent have so far held off any hint of winter’s approach with the rest of November looking to follow suit.

The outlook for the next 10 days is dry and settled as official figures show October turned out to be warmer and sunnier than average.

But there is a downside. Yesterday morning saw heavy fog at Heathrow, forcing the cancellation of about 50 flights.

The Met Office even issued a severe weather warning for more fog across England and Wales.

GETTY

The unusual weather has brought heavy fog covering parts of England (GETTY)

The thick fog was still causing chaos as Briton woke this morning as it threatened to ground more flights and cause rush hour delays.

Around 45 have already been "pre-cancelled" at Heathrow today, while those planning to fly from Gatwick Airport have been advised to check ahead for any disruption.

Richard Chapman, of The Weather Network, said: “Into midweek, the mild, and largely dry pattern continues for many areas.

“Overall the first 10 days of November may see only subtle changes with very mild south to south-westerlies prevailing.”

GETTY

Temperatures in Wales peaked at 22.4C yesterday (GETTY)

Exacta forecaster James Madden said overnight frosts were a risk in rural spots.

However the weather promises to stay “friendly” over the coming week with a largely balmy Bonfire Night.

Netweather forecasters said with mild winds temperatures will feel close to 72F in the South by Friday with the North touching 64F.

Activists say suspected Russian jets hit Syria's Palmyra

By SARAH EL DEEB2 hours ago

BEIRUT (AP) — Suspected Russian warplanes bombed the outskirts of Islamic State-held Palmyra on Monday, sending smoke rising out of an area that includes a historic castle overlooking the Syrian city's Roman ruins, activists said.

An activist in Palmyra who goes by the name Nasser al-Thaer said at least eight airstrikes struck the area of the Islamic-era castle, sending smoke and clouds of dust rising from the hill where the castle is located. An earlier round of airstrikes on Sunday hit behind the castle, al-Thaer told The Associated Press in a series of telephone messages.

He said it was difficult to assess damage because of the ongoing airstrikes.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 10 suspected Russian airstrikes targeted the castle area in Palmyra, causing damage. The group, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, did not provide further details.

Palmyra, seized by the IS group in May, is home to world-famous Roman ruins and was one of Syria's most attractive tourist destinations. The Islamic State group has destroyed a number of its renowned sites, including the Temple of Bel and the iconic Arc of Triumph, because it believes ancient artifacts promote idolatry.

Activists also reported suspected Russian airstrikes on a nearby town, Qaryatain, which was seized by IS fighters in August. The Observatory said at least 10 people were killed in the central town. The Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said at least 15 civilians were killed after the airstrikes hit a bread distribution center.

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This photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Monday, No …

There was no immediate comment from Russian officials. In comments to the Syrian state news agency SANA, a military official said the Russian Air Force, in cooperation with the Syrian Air Force, carried out 131 sorties which resulted in destroying 237 terrorist targets during the past 48 hours, including "destroying fortified bases, shelters, and a heavy machinegun sites used by (IS) in the surroundings of Palmyra."

The airstrikes come a day after Islamic State fighters expanded their presence in the central Homs province. IS fighters seized the town of Mahin, east of Qaryatain, on Sunday, and attacked the majority-Christian town of Sadad. The new expansion brings the IS group closer to a highway linking Damascus to the central Homs province, threatening to endanger government supply routes.

IS strongholds lie in the northern Aleppo province and the eastern Raqqa, Deir el-Zour and Hassakeh provinces. Beyond its presence in central Palmyra, a city that in ancient times served as a caravan route between the Roman Empire and South Asia, the group has a limited presence in the central Hama province and on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.

Russia has said its air campaign is aimed at helping the Syrian government defeat the IS group and other "terrorists," but many of its airstrikes have hit Syrian rebel groups and areas where IS is not present.

Also on Monday, the IS group claimed responsibility for last week's slaying of two Syrian activists in Turkey.

Ibrahim Abdul-Qadir and Fares Hamadi were found dead in an apartment in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa on Friday. Abdul-Qadir was a founding member of "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently," a collective of activists who document the Islamic State group's atrocities in its de facto Syrian capital. Both men are from Raqqa.

A video posted on social media warns "apostates" that "the arm of the Islamic State will reach you, wherever you are." The video shows Hamadi's body, with his throat slit, in a dark room. Abdul-Qadir was not shown. The video does not make clear whether it was shot in Sanliurfa. It's unclear when the two were killed.

_________________

Associated Press writer Zeina Karam in Beirut contributed to this report.

4 Israelis stabbed, Palestinian attacker dead as violence spikes

By Joe Dyke4 hours ago

Jerusalem (AFP) - Four Israelis were stabbed in separate attacks Monday, the first outside Jerusalem and the West Bank in 10 days, while a Palestinian teenager who tried to knife a soldier was shot dead.

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Israeli border police also stormed a Palestinian university in the occupied West Bank, following more than a month of violence that has raised fears of a third Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

An Israeli in his seventies was left in serious condition after he was stabbed by a Palestinian in Netanya, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Tel Aviv.

The attacker was "neutralised", police said.

Earlier, three Israelis were stabbed in attacks near the central bus station in Rishon LeZion, about 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Tel Aviv, a police statement said.

The attacker, a 19-year-old Palestinian from Hebron in the West Bank, stabbed two people on the pavement and a third in a clothes store, the statement added.

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A member of the Israeli security forces cleans off the blood at the scene of a stabbing attack carri …

The foreign ministry said one of the victims was an 80-year-old woman, while the country's medical service said two of the three Israelis stabbed were in severe condition.

The attacker was arrested by security forces after he was locked in the shop, police said.

The attacks were the first outside of the West Bank and Jerusalem since October 22, according to the Israeli authorities.

Nine Israelis, 68 Palestinians -- around half of them alleged attackers -- and an Arab Israeli have been killed in a wave of violence since the start of October.

The foreign ministry has reported 57 stabbing attempts, six car rammings and five shootings since the beginning of October.

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Israeli police and forensic experts inspect the scene of a stabbing attack in the Israeli city Risho …

The violence was originally focused in and around Jerusalem but the epicentre moved to Hebron over the past week.

The random nature of the attacks, and the fact that most of the assailants were apparently acting alone, has made it harder for Israeli security forces to react.

Police also said they uncovered an explosive device when they searched a car on Monday near Hebron.

The last successful bomb attack in Israel was on a bus in Tel Aviv in November 2012, according to Israeli officials.

- Stabbing foiled -

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A Palestinian demonstrater uses an axe to try and destroy a part of the Israeli separation wall sepa …

Also on Monday, a 16-year-old Palestinian, Ahmed Abu El Rob, attempted to stab an Israeli soldier at a border crossing in the northern West Bank and was shot dead, police said.

A second Palestinian, allegedly an accomplice, was arrested.

Elsewhere, Israeli border police stormed a university in the town of Abu Dis after clashes with students protesting Israel's separation barrier and Palestinian deaths.

The clashes erupted after students from Al-Quds University gathered to demonstrate at the foot of the controversial barrier that separates Abu Dis from Jerusalem.

Israel says the barrier, which stretches inside the West Bank, is necessary for security, while Palestinians brand it an "apartheid wall".

At least one protester used an axe as a makeshift sledgehammer to strike the wall.

The students then pulled back into the campus and rained stones on border police who approached the gates.

Israeli forces retaliated by firing rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades before forcing open the gates of the university and going inside.

The number of wounded in the confrontation was not immediately clear.

But Palestinian medics said many people were hit by rubber bullets and injured in the upper parts of their bodies, while others suffered from smoke inhalation due to tear gas.

Israel is the Real Terrorist State