National News
U.S. Embassy in Libya Attacked,
4 Americans Killed
Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, were killed when protesters angry about an online film considered offensive to Islam attacked the U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya Tuesday, Sept. 11.
According to a CNN article, members of a radical Islamist group called Ansar al-Sharia protested near the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, where NATO jets established no-fly zones last year to stop ground attacks from the then Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Witnesses told CNN that the group clashed with security forces in the city, blocking roads leading to the consulate.
The attack ensued when suspected Islamic militants fired on the consulate in the eastern Libyan city with rocket propelled-grenades and set it ablaze, according to the News Limited Network.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened in other countries, but as for Libya, the operation was meticulously executed,” Mohammed al-Megaryef said to the News Limited Network. “The attack itself and the manner in which the attack occurred…confirms that this was planned and programmed to achieve a purpose.”
According to ABC News, following the tragedy, President Obama reflected at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on what he said has been a “tough day” for the country, mourning the loss of the four Americans killed in the attack, vowing justice for their killers and pledging that U.S. diplomacy would be unwavering “because the world needs us.”
In a statement Tuesday night, Sept. 11, Mitt Romney accused the Obama administration of sympathizing with the Libyan protesters who attacked the consulate, according to the Washington Post.
McDonald’s to Add Calorie Counts
to Menus for Customer Awareness
McDonald’s announced this week that they would begin posting calorie counts on their restaurant and drive-thru menus early next year.
According to the Huffington Post, the move pre-empts a stipulation that is part of the federal health care bill that requires restaurant chains with more than 20 locations to post calories in their stores.
The national law is new, but McDonald’s has already posted calorie counts in some cities like New York City and Philadelphia. Some foreign countries require the same, including Australia, South Korea and the U.K., according to the Huffington Post.
The idea behind calorie posting is that it will educate consumers about how many calories they eat, in hopes that it will curb problems related to overeating, including obesity and diabetes, the Huffington Post said.
But some people are wondering if the move will actually have an effect on the behavior of consumers.
An article on policymic.com said that researchers have not found the dramatic reaction they had hoped for in New York City, where publicly listed calorie counts have been mandated since 2008.