National:

Teen Arrested for Bringing Clock to School Receives White House Invite

Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year old Muslim high school student, was arrested on Monday after bringing a homemade clock, mistaken by a teacher for a bomb, to school. Texas police announced Wednesday that no charges will be filed against Mohamed. Mohamed said he was a part of robotics club at his middle school and wanted to show his teacher the electronic clock he created. His English teacher confiscated the clock when the alarm went off during class, and Ahmed was then taken to the principal’s office and subsequently arrested. The Mohamed family suspects the arrest may be linked to racial profiling, due to their last name and September 11. #IStandWithAhmed became a trending hashtag on Twitter, and President Barack Obama has invited Ahmed to bring his clock to the White House. nbcnews.com

Six Hikers Found Dead, One Still Missing in Zion National Park Flash Flood

Six people are dead and another missing from a group of hikers trapped by floodwaters in Zion National Park, a result of heavy rainfall on Monday. The group obtained a permit to hike Keyhole Canyon Monday morning, just hours before park officials closed the canyon due to flash flood warnings. Park officials stated there was no way to reach the hikers to alert them of the floodwaters. The hikers were residents of California and Nevada, all in their 40s and 50s. Rangers found the group’s car, but saw no sign of the missing individuals. It was determined unsafe to send a rescue crew because of falling darkness and the canyon filling with water. abcnews.go.com

Former ‘Daily Show’ Host Lobbies for Extension of Sept. 11 Health Programs

Former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart lobbied Wednesday for lawmakers to extend the 9/11 health programs, joined by 100 9/11 first responders. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and other New York-area members of Congress asked for Stewart’s help in gathering support for the permanent extension of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides compensation and healthcare to first responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks. Stewart agreed to help lobby for the programs, scheduled to begin expiring at the end of the month, after Gillibrand appeared on “The Daily Show” in July. Stewart is credited with aiding the passage of the initial legislation in 2010, bringing four sick first responders onto his show to pressure Republican lawmakers filibustering the passage of the bill. While more than 30 Republicans have endorsed the extension proposal, supporters are still looking for more cosponsors because of resistance to permanent funding of the programs. abcnews.go.com

International:

New Analysis Finds Antidepressant Paxil Increases Risk of Suicide in Youth

The weekly peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ published a study Wednesday which disproves reports made in 2001 that the antidepressant Paxil is safe for use among teenagers. The research was new analysis of the same data collected fourteen years ago, originally used to support the claim that Paxil was effective for teens. Over the years, Paxil and similar drugs have been labeled with strong warnings as to the potential suicide risk for children, adolescents and young adults. The antidepressant is said to be less risky for adults with depression who are over the age of 25. GlaxoSmithKline, the producer of Paxil, stated the original conclusion of the drug being safe for youth is true and pointed out their willingness to release the original data for reanalysis as evidence of their transparency concerning the drug’s safety. nytimes.com

Rioting Erupts as Migrants Attempt to Cross Closed Serbia-Hungary Border

Hundreds of migrants have gathered at the Serbia-Hungary border near the Serbian town of Horgos. Hungarian police used tear gas and water cannons to drive migrants back from the border as they threw stones and water bottles at the riot police. Several migrants suffered from the tear gas and were treated by ambulances that arrived on the Serbian side. Many migrants are hoping to reach Germany, but Hungary closed its border with Serbia on Tuesday. It is now illegal to cross or damage the border fence, and offenders are to be arrested and tried in Hungarian court. The Serbian foreign ministry has expressed consternation over Hungary’s use of tear gas and water cannons across the border into Serbian territory. bbc.com

Saudi Arabian Construction Halted in Light of Grand Mosque Crane Accident

A report on state-run Saudi Arabian radio announced Tuesday that Saudi Arabia’s King issued a decree to halt all Saudi Binladin Group construction projects throughout the kingdom until a full investigation of the deadly crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca last week can be completed. More than a hundred people were killed and another 238 injured by the falling construction crane. The Saudi Binladin Group, founded by the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s father, was in charge of the Grand Mosque expansion project, also known as the Masjid al-Haram. The incident occurred during strong thunderstorms with gusty winds and just 10 days before the Hajj — an annual pilgrimage which will bring an expected two million people to Mecca — begins. cnn.com