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NYC's Bloomberg launches European city-innovation contest, extending his approach overseas
• NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering European cities millions of dollars to be government groundbreakers, tapping his personal fortune to extend his cities-as-civic-laboratories campaign overseas as the end of his own tenure nears.
• The billionaire businessman-turned-politician invited about 600 sizeable European cities Tuesday to compete for 9 million euros -- about $12 million -- in prizes, from his personal foundation, for novel plans to improve urban life.
• The competition could signal how Bloomberg aims to maintain and broaden his impact on government after his 12-year tenure ends in December.
• "I am a big believer in the power of cities to shape the future," Bloomberg said in a statement to The Associated Press ahead of a news conference at London City Hall. He said the contest would spotlight "bold ideas which can take root in Europe and spread around the world."
• Modeled on a Bloomberg Philanthropies contest that awarded $9 million to five U.S. cities this year, the European competition seeks ideas that solve problems or make government more efficient or citizen-friendly.
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Obama to address Iran, Syria in UN speech aimed at building on diplomatic opportunities
• NEW YORK (AP) -- Seeking to build on diplomatic opportunities, President Barack Obama is expected to signal his willingness to engage with the new Iranian government if Tehran makes nuclear concessions long sought by the U.S. and Western allies.
• Obama, in a planned address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday morning, also will call on U.N. Security Council members to approve a resolution that would mandate consequences for Syria if it fails to cooperate with a plan to turn its chemical weapons stockpiles over to the international community.
• The president's address will be closely watched for signs that he may meet later in the day with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, a moderate cleric who has been making friendly gestures toward the U.S. in recent weeks. Even a brief encounter would be significant given that the leaders of the U.S. and Iran haven't had face-to- (Continued on page 31)
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