Things You Might Have Missed

++Mahmoud Abbas on Holocaust Day called the Holocaust the worst human rights violation of modern times and denounced it in strong terms for an Arab. That he commented at all was stunning.

++Abbas also announced that with the new Palestinian unity with Hamas that Palestine will recognize Israel. Palestinian elections will take place within two months.

++Bizarre AP headline: "Anti-semiticism on the rise,fewer attacks on Jews." The reference was to anti-semiticism on the rise in Europe.

++The New York Times editorial today summarizes the "meaningful progress" in the Iranian nuclear talks.  They are in fact ahead of schedule, despite the resistance in the U.S. Congress.

++Syria has transported over 85% of their chemical weapons out of the country.

++President Obama was the first President in 50 years to visit Malaysia. Previously,LBJ visited.

++President Obama signed a ten-year security agreement with the Philippines.

++33 Pacific states reached an agreement on how to monitor and de-fuse maritime disputes.

++President Obama reiterated American support for its security agreements with Japan.

++President Obama pledged further steps to isolate North Korea.

++Tomorrow the EU and the United States will toughen  sanctions on Russia for their actions against the Ukraine. The Primary target is Vladimir Putin's wealth.

++Domestically,it is likely that the House will only pass two bills this year. The First is a continuing resolution to keep the government funded beyond October 1. The second is iffier--replenish the Highway Trust Fund.

++There will be no raise in the minimum wage. There will be no extended unemployment insurance. There will be no immigration reform bill even though John Boehner said he was "hellbent" on passing one. 

++The most interesting factoid of the day is Elizabeth Warren telling George Stephanopolis that she was a Republican until the 1990s but left the party when he openly sided with Wall Street.