>> we take this personally. we are all committed to playing by the rules. doing things the right way here. and for people to say that that's not what is happening is very disturbing. >> the school has been in touch with the ncaa and the case launched its investigation in to the allegations. "sports illustrated" said the stories are based on interviews with 60 former oklahoma players who were at the school from 2001 to 2010. quick two cents on this. these players make a ton of money for these universities. they should be compensated somehow. you take that out of the equation. they don't desperately need to make money. pay them a stipend where they can get a pizza on friday night. >> every time i hear somebody from a university or the ncaa say we take these allegations seriously and we are disturbed by this, i am not. i don't care.

these kids, they bring in a ton of money. >> they work their butts off. >> yes. all they do is play and play and play. these poor guys. >> not get rich but a little something to get them through the semester. >> they are so against it and i never did understand why. >> i don't either. a few moments ago we told you that diane sawyer sat down with president obama. more on the interview including his reaction to president bashar al-assad's threat to attack back. later, the family tangling with the monsters of the swamp. you are watching "world news now." ♪ of "world news now" weather brought to you by our time.com. >"world brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com.

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as we told you president obama is calling it a potentially significant breakthrough. syria welcoming the idea of turning over all of their chemical weapons for destruction. >> it comes as president obama admitted he was losing support in congress for a military strike against syria. abc's diane sawyer sat down with the president and here's more on what he had to say. >> if bashar al-assad gave up control of his chemical weapons, international authority, are we back from the brink? is military strike on pause?

>> absolutely. if in fact that happened. i don't think we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility of a military strike, and i don't think that now is the time for us to let up on that. now the key is can we see a sense of urgency? >> how long does he have to show, a week, a month? >> this is one of those situations where the stakes are high but they are long term. they are not immediate. they are not imminent but they are serious. >> bashar al-assad has said, everything is possible in terms of retaliation. >> should expect everything. should expect everything. >> do you feel at this moment, look at everything that's possible that the american people should brace for retaliation? >> no.

look, we take all precautions, but understand assad's capabilities are not significant compared to ours. they are significant compared to an opposition that are not professional fighters. >> they have allies, iran, hezbollah. >> they are significant relative to 400 children that they gassed. they are not significant or relative to us. iran is not going to war with the united states over the use of weapons that they, themselves object to. hezbollah recognizes that this is something assad should not have done. it is true that both iran and hezbollah have asymmetrical capabilities where they could threaten an embassy, perhaps covertly. but those are the kinds of threats and risks that we deal with every day in the region. i think it is important for us to understand that if, in fact, the choice is between a world in which dictators and other countries start to believe it is

acceptable to use chemical weapons on civilians and children, it will make it more dangerous for us. >> thank you fwlmpt thank you very much, diane. >> of course the presidential speech tonight. >> 9:00 please watch. much more news ahead. coming up in our next half hour, the family that gators together stays together. one family in mississippi has wild ideas about spending quality time together. >> in our next half hour, pope benedict modern man. how he is helping people in need by picking up the phone. you are watching world news now. ♪ how he is helping people in need by picking up the phone. you are watching world news now.

♪ >> all right. the annual alligator hunt in mississippi has come to a close

but not without setting another record. >> hunters caught a monster gator tipping the scales at 741 pounds. >> it takes a special kind of hunter. >> reporter: they are monsters that can grow to epic proportions. out here on the mississippi delta, he caught this 723 pound ail gator. >> a paralegal by day and alligator hunter at night. >> alligator queen. >> alligator queen. >> 700 pounds is something that could eat you. pretty exciting. >> reporter: the state says hunting helps to control an exploding gator population. why are they so big? because for years, nobody was allowed to hunt them. so the gators kept growing and growing. alligators grow well in to old age and if left long enough, some grow to 19 feet. that's the length of an average rv. so we set out to find them. >> going slow because you don't want to spook them.

>> reporter: after hours of watching gators hide under water, this one showed his face. >> i hear him. while beth didn't net one of the big ones on the hunt, hours later, another team caught a 741 pounder. a new record. don't mistake these for calm waters. out here it's "jurassic park" under the mississippi river. abc news, the mississippi delta. >> this is comforting. the state of mississippi requires hunters attend a mandatory alligator hunting safety course before they are allowed which is a good idea. because if you just decide let's go get some gators. could be dangerous. you have to know what you are doing. >> hunting season is ten days. i'm sure they're out every day. you have only a ten-day window. so if you don't get the big gator -- >> when you get it what do you do with it, sell it? do people want the skin? i'm imagining skin the poor thing. >> must be some kind of commercial use, right?

>> i hope so. >> i should know the answer because i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all. so. >> i should know the answer because i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all.

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of the leading ordinary brand. use less with bounty select-a-size. time for "the mix." we have been going back and forth on this one. it is a strange study but we will lay it on you and see what you think. it is a study about the erotic parts of the body, least and most erotic. we will start with the least erotic part of the body, according to the study, the feet. the study -- you hear about these foot fetish people. >> there's web sites dedicated it this stuff. >> that came the lowest rank out of 41 body parts followed closely by the kneecaps. by the kneecaps. isn't that strange. >> i know about the feet fetish web sites. >> how? >> just because of wandering around the internet and getting in to places i didn't want to get in to. >> is that what they call it?

>> you guys done? keep your mouth busy. >> anyway, backs of legs are another -- backs of legs and the most popular, the twigs and berry and flower. >> the nether regions. >> followed by the lips. the ears. inner thighs and shoulder blades them shoulder blades. >> this is sexual or attractive. >> the most sexual linked in the brain. any way it leaves out the eyes, the bust and all those other good things. >> that's what i don't understand. leaves out the biggest ones on the list are not on the list. >> the kneecaps and shoulder blades. >> you have very hot ears, diana. >> you were saying you don't notice things unless there is something wrong with them. >> exactly. who knows. this is fun. so new orleans hosted the 2013

beard and mustache championship. >> really. >> we have our winners. take a look. >> this is chris kristovic. lots of hair sprayer. denver holcomb, he won the natural mustache category. look, that is two feet end to end -- maybe a little hair spray. and then jeff langam won natural beard. that is a big old beard. >> i wonder what we would look like with beards. who would win that contest between you and i? hi, there. >> i'm very santa claus-ish if you ask me. you'll find me at the latest freak show at coney island. >> there you go. nicely done. >> is it my turn. >> yes. 15 seconds. >> the guy who is a bank robber suspect put up the picture. a big dude wearing a pink wig and polka dot dress. how is that for 15 seconds. >> the bearded lady. more hope that an attack could be avoided. wearing a

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this morning on "world news now." attack uncertainty. new hope an attack could be avoided. a team that shall not be named. why some sports journalists are refusing to call the redskins, the redskins. >> and pope francis reaches out to those in need by reaching out for the phone. and in "the skinny," we thought we had seen miley cyrus cross the line. turns out we haven't seen anything yet. do you believe that? it is tuesday, september 10th. >> from abc news, this is "world news now" with john muller and diana perez. >> good tuesday morning. we begin this half hour with a possible solution to the syrian crisis. russia proposed that syria turn over chemical weapons for

destruction. the syria foreign minister has embraced the idea. >> speaking to abc's diane sawyer, the president appeared to be in favor of the plan, saying doing so without a military strike is his overwhelming previous. he says the threat of military action may be enough. >> i don't think that we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility of a military strike. >> majority leader harry reid says he has put off any vote on military strikes while the new avenue is explored. >> with more on regional reaction, we turn to molly hunter who is joining us via skype from the turkish border. >> big move, russia urging syria to give up its weapons, saying they can honcho this transition, them giving up their weapons. it sounds like a potential game changer. what's the reaction there? >> reporter: absolutely, john.

it is a potential game-changer. in many ways, it is exactly what the u.s. oopts -- no chemical weapons in bashar al assad's hands. but if it is a real offer from the russians, it threatens to erode support for military action. we have seen the senate push off a vote already. we will have to see how people react tonight after president obama speaks. this russian offer is also a sign that russia believes the u.s. will actually go through with the strikes. it reads like a last-ditch effort to kind of give president bashar al assad a way out. the bad news, john, is if russia and syria are willing to give up chemical weapons they may believe that assad can win the war with or without these chemical weapons. >> you are in turkey on the syrian border. are there any reactions from russia's proposal from where you are? >> reporter: there is. they are certainly talking about it, diana. turkish leaders are not enthusiastic. as i mentioned, this minimizes

the possibility of a u.s. strike. a strike that turkey supports but wants no direct role in. turkey's foreign minister said this morning the longer the international community waits the more massacres we will see inside of syria. they would very much like to see the u.s. act decisively are. >> let's talk about allies like turkey. what are they looking for from president obama tonight as he addresses the nation? >> john, they are looking for action. turkey, jordan, saudi arabia, they are all looking for the u.s. to push ahead with this proposed military strike that president obama has been speaking about so much in recent days. of course the million dollar question is what will the president do if congress doesn't approve military action. the president's speech is running at 4:00 a.m. it is live at 4:00 a.m. here local time, but you can bet leaders in the region will be up and watching. >> molly hunter, live in turkey, thank you for that. the crisis in syria is the

subject of the presidential address to the nation. we will have it on air and on-line at 9:00 eastern time. returning to home now. there have been no charges filed against george zimmerman following a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife. it took place at a house they used to share in florida. shellie zimmerman called to report that george zimmerman punched her father in the face and grabbed her ipad and smashed it and said that zimmerman was ominously threatening her with a gun. >> he continually has his hand on his gun and says, "step closer." >> and what? >> he is going to shoot us. >> hours later shellie zimmerman changed her story and said she never saw a gun. police at the scene never found either. his attorney denies zimmermaner punched his -- zimmerman ever punched his father-in-law. a legal blow for abercrombie & fitch. a federal judge ruled that they illegally fired a worker for taking off the head scarf.

the company claimed the scarf violated its looks policy which it says is part of the marketing strategy. >> this isn't the first time that abercrombie & fitch has fallen in to a black spotlight when it comes to their treatment of employees and also the treatment of their customers because their jean sizes didn't go past a certain number. >> rough go of it in the press no doubt about it. the company -- the trial is scheduled for later this month and the judge said the jury is free to award punitive damages if it chooses. we'll see. >> absolutely. we will keep an eye on this one. a diary allegedly obtained by the "new york post" says that robert f. kennedy jr. had dozens of affairs during his marriage. it talks about how he dealed with his "lust demons," according to the "new york post."

his wife killed herself last year. kennedy an environmental lawyer, radio host and activist denies he kept a diary. newly discovered painting by vincent van gogh has gone on display. the van go museum says the work called "sunset at mantamajor" was painted in 1888 at the height of the artist's career. it has been in a private collection of a family. they bought it at auction in '91 but experts thought it was a fake. >> check it out. apple is expected to announce an upgrade to the iphone 5 today. the iphone 5s is expected to have a fingerprint reader that will allow users to access their phone with a mere swipe of a finger. they are expected to reveal a lower cost iphone 5c. it will come in yellow, white, green and blue. sure to brighten up any fan's day.

>> why not? now for weather and a look at a scene from early winter perhaps. here it is from above. the hail in a denver neighborhood appeared like a blanket of white. >> dumped there from a storm that resulted from two fronts colliding and they will be having issues the next couple of days. >> doesn't make me happy. no. >> not at all. >> no. >> checking the maps you will see rain and flooding for denver, the entire southwest. in fact, there will be heavy rain in south texas, southern florida and the interior of the southeast, clear and dry along the coast. >> warming up here in new york. we will get to 84 degrees today readings in the 90s from detroit to chicago, dallas, and phoenix. low 80s in the northwest and a look at anchorage, just 55 degrees. a neighborhood stray is happy to be down to earth after a harrowing ordeal that dragged out three days. >> the cat found his way up a 30-foot pole in amarillo, texas and of course he couldn't get

down. he struggled to keep his balance for 36 hours as concerned residents tried to coax it down with food. the fire department and electric company said they don't cat rescues. >> but the utility had a change of heart. a crew showed up to save the day. the cat is enjoying a new home. he was adopted by one of the onlookers and fed an given water so it could go to sleep, i'm sure. >> they don't do rescues unless the local tv cameras show up and it is embarrassing for them not to do a rescue. >> because there is a cat at the top of a pole for three days. can't sleep, can't eat. >> and probably leading the news. lady gaga gets to live a childhood fantasy here on abc. it is pretty sweet. we will show you. first, what's in a name? why a growing number of sports journalists are refusing to say a name of a team in washington, d.c. you are watching "world news now."

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[ applause ] that was that. rafael nadal won the second u.s. open title. 13th grand slam tournament win. congratulations. >> unbelievable. he battled novak djokovic for three hours and 20 minutes with some rallies lasting more than

50 strokes in the end he claimed the trophy and the $3.6 million in prize money. 3.6 million bucks. after the djokovic summed it up saying nadal was too good to beat. i watched some of that and he was on fire. nobody could beat that guy. another day maybe but not this day. >> it is monday, that was yesterday, monday night football is back. we start with the texans visiting the chargers. phillip rivers threw four one of his four touchdown passes. >> the texans mounted a comeback and scored the final 24 points including a field goal to win it. as time expired the texans won. >> early in the game, the high-octa high-octane ee high-octane eagles' offense took on the redskins. michael vick threw two touchdown

passes and ran for another one late in the third quarter. it was 33-7 eagles. washington scored three straight touchdowns to make the score more respectable. phillies still win this one. they will come back here 33-27. >> our producer suzanne is happy about that. she is a fillies' fan. redskins are at the center of a growing controversy with pressure to change its name. >> some of the sports biggest reporters refuse to use the word but the team is putting up a major defense. >> reporter: what's in a name? ♪ controversy for washington's nfl team one of the leading sports journalists, peter king of "sports illustrated," says he won't use the name anymore saying he's increasingly bothered by the word. he joins a growing list of sports writers. >> i don't want to use it anymore. it is something that i don't want to do. i don't want to preach about it. >> reporter: some native american groups are turning up the heat. >> what flashes in to my mind is our ancestors being skinned. it is painful.

it is hurtful, and it is time that it changed. >> reporter: one tribe running a radio ad calling on the nfl commissioner to act. >> the term redskins is obviously wrong, insensitive and unacceptable. >> reporter: the owner is adamantly opposed. dan snyder, who became a billionaire in advertising and media has said, "we'll never change the name. it is that simple. never. you can use caps." >> mascot is a proud native american symbol. it means a lot. >> reporter: the redskins take the field for the 80th year but this year they will only be called washington by some. david kerley, abc news, landover, maryland. >> interesting one. a lot of tradition in the name. growing up it was just a team but if you think about it, the brown or white skins would be odd to hear. this is interesting the washington redskins originated as the braves. they were based in massachusetts in 1932 and brave is an indian name that doesn't have the

racist connotations. you're an indian brave, you're a warrior. >> do you go back to that? this is not a new controversy. it has been brewing for quite sometime. they have had that name for a long time. since the inception of that name people have been upset about it. maybe it is time we all come around because if they were named anything else that was a racial slur to anybody else in the country, their name would be changed like that. >> it is hard not to see the point of the native american woman who said it is offensive. >> it is offensive to one person it is offensive. miley cyrus may have crossed the line. may. >> lady gaga lives out a childhood dream. you are watching "world news now." eam. "the skinny" is next. you are watching "world news

♪ this is quick and simple. we just want to show it to you this is quick and simple. lady gaga was on "good morning america" and she performed her show "applause." it was an indoor concert she put on for the audience and just the stage was incredible. a yellow brick road and the audience was wearing hats that looked like a field of poppies. look at this. it is really cool. ♪ i stand here waiting for you

♪ is it right or is it wrong >> there you have it. she changes outfits over and over again. at the vmas. she was flanked by the scarecrow, the lion and the tin man. hair's coming off. she is becoming a witch. one of the wicked witches of the west or east. she is holding the apple. >> that was a real show. >> she always puts on an incredible show. we wanted to show you the video. >> props to our gma crew who honchoed that. >> arsenio is back on late-night tv. check him out. he is back. a lot of changed in his 19 years since his popular late-night show from the first go around

ended but he is big on being with the crowd. other talk shows came about and he lost more and more. he said he wanted to get more balance in his life and spend more time with his family. he said he is returning with the balance including the support of his 13-year-old son, arsenio, jr. >> i can't wait to watch that show. i think it will be pretty good. miley cyrus is making headlines once again. this time she decided she was going to go completely nude, yeah, in her new video. i don't know who she appeals to. she is 20 years old. what grown man that is past maybe 20 years old wants to see her completely naked? >> you don't think teenagers, on both sides, boys and girls, think this is something cool. >> there you have part of it. she eventually strips completely down. this is her second single from

her album called "bangers." her album is called "wrecking ball." it hit the internet and blew up. >> is it supposed to be sexy or funny? >> i don't know. makes me uncomfortable. number one, she's naked. and number two, she was under age two days ago. this is uncomfortable. >> i feel like i need to take a shower right now. >> yes. my eyeballs need a shower. >> pretty much. >> good news. long-time howard stern cohost robin quivers declared she is declared cancer free after a long battle. fantastic news there. she's been broadcasting from her home by some kind of phone line. she had a grapefruit size tumor removed from her bladder in may of 2012 and through this she missed two episodes despite radiation therapy, chemo and invasive operations. she's back on the show. she broke her silence this morning telling the full story of her ordeal.

she kept it close to the vest. she's back. they don't know if she will be back in the studio yet and she is also promoting a new book. she is healthy. >> yeah. >> good for her. so ditch your dishcloth and switch to a fresh sheet of bounty duratowel. look! a fresh sheet of bounty duratowel leaves this surface cleaner than a germy dishcloth, as this black light reveals. it's durable, cloth-like and it's 3 times cleaner. so ditch your dishcloth and switch to bounty duratowel. the durable, cloth-like picker-upper.

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to whiten as well as a $500 treatment. crest 3d white whitestrips. well, the modern man of the well, the modern man of the hour this morning at least is pope francis. >> from carrying his own bags to paying his own bills, francis has been going out of his way to show he's a man of the people. >> that is why this is our favorite story of the day. now he is picking up the phone and calling people out of the blue. abc's dan harris has the story. >> reporter: they are calling him the cold, calm pope. francis' habit started shortly after he got the job of pope last spring. he called to cancel his newspaper subscription and called the cobbler to tell him someone else would be picking up

his shoe. the latest call to anna romano who wrote the pope a letter saying she was pregnant and she learned her boyfriend was married with children. "i recognized his voice right away," she said in an interview with an italian tv station. he told me i was very strong and brave to keep my baby. this is one of a dozen spontaneous calls he has made, including to a woman who said she feared retaliation after reportedly raped by a policeman to a man angry with god after his brother was murdered and another young man worried about finding a job after he graduated. >> this is what compassion is. suffering with somebody else. the pope picking up the phone is his way of saying let me be there with you. >> reporter: the chattiness of francis appears to be part of an effort to be a different kind of pope. he took a selfy with visiting tourists. he doesn't live in the palace, instead a simple room. as for the pregnant romano, when she said she feared no priest would baptize an illegitimate

baby, the pope reportedly said, "you know, there's always me." >> you have to be careful if you don't recognize the number. never know who's calling. >> reporter: dan harris, abc news, new york. >> pretty amazing. >> always me he said if you can't find a willing pastor to baptize your baby. >> the pope will do it. >> why not. >> that's the way to roll. if she has a boy she will name the boy francis. >> i have known women that were frances, too. so it would work. >> it would work. >> he does this on the phone and have you seen the images -- one image where this child who says he wants to be a priest one day comes up to him and in his pope mobile, and he is crying. pope francis grabs him, hugs him, talks for a while. he is known to do these thing. -- these things. pope of the people. >> i am writing a letter to the pope right now. i need a new big screen tv. >> this is abc's "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades. two decades.

you know, from a young age. i definitely want to major in political science. become the mayor or something. make the situation better for other people. my name is justin, and i am your dividend.

good morning. i'm john muller. >> i'm diana perez. hare are some of the top headlines on "world news now." a deal may be in the works for syria to get rid of chemical weapons and avoid a military strike. president obama calls the plan a potentially significant breakthrough. it came up in meetings at the g-20 summit last week. the fire burning in san francisco is still growing, and residents are warned about about heavy smoke in the air. in shasta county, at least 20 structures have been damaged by wildfire. the governor of hawaii is calling for a special session to vote on legalizing gay marriage. if they pass the bill, they would join 13 states and the district of columbia in allowing

gays to mary. and endurance swimmer diana my ad breaking her silence over her record-breaking swim last week from critics who claim her feat was too good to be true. those are the top stories on this wednesday. good tuesday morning, everyone. as the president prepares to speak to the nation about the crisis in syria. he is considering a new option. the russians propose a deal to syria to rid itself of chemical weapons to avoid a military strike. >> the deal was first talked about last week at the g-20 summit during a meeting between president obama and the russian president. president obama spoke to abc's diane sawyer last night. >> i think there will be time during the course of the debates here in the united states for the international community, the russians and syrians to work with us to see is there a way to resolve this. >> reporter: the

russian-brokered deal may provide cover for president obama who was facing an uphill battle on capitol hill over the military strikes. >> with more on how the new proposal may be playing out in the region we are joined by alexander marquardt in bay couth route. >> how will the syrians respond to the president's comments that there may be no strike. >> reporter: good morning, diane and john. i think the sound you are hearing is a south of relief from the syrian capital of damascus. there's no question the syrian regime of president bashar al-assad will be happy with this outcome. short of congress blocking a strike on syria, just allowing the war to continue as it is, this is the best possible case scenario for assad. as you mentioned, this scenario has been floated for a while. it is incredible to think it may have come about as the result of

an off-handed comment by secretary of state j ker yesould3 its chemical weapons. it shows just how eager and russia are to av now, on the other se rebel forces are going to be very disappointed saying that once again they have been begging the u. hoping that americas military targets but that they won't. >> let's talk about the stockpiles, these alleged stockpiles that syria has. how significant are they? >> they are extremely significant. they are believed to have one of the third or fourth biggest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world, and that includes some of the nastiest stuff out there including mustard gas and the nerve agent sarin. sarin was alleged to have been used in that chemical weapons attack on august 21st. what's remarkable is until yesterday syria didn't even acknowledge they had chemical weapons. now they are saying they will hand them over to the international community to be destroyed. make no mistake, this is a huge undertaking. there are dozens of chemical weapons facilities spread all over syria. so for the united nations or some international body to go in and try to secure and then destroy all of the chemical

weapons is incredibly difficult. there's so much of this stuff. it has been moved around. this process could take years. then on top of that, they have to do it while the civil war continues to rage around them. >> speaking of that civil war, does this change anything? >> reporter: well, let's assume that the international community were able to take control and destroy all of syria's chemical weapons. on the one hand, it removes an incredibly dangerous weapon from assad's arsenal. but remember the number of people the u.s. said were killed is 1400. the death toll for the last two and a half years is over 100,000 and that includes both sides. so on the battlefield itself it will change very little. the regime has huge stockpiles of conventional weapons that are

highly deadly and when they start to run out of those, they have russia and iran to replenish their supplies. while it would weaken assad a little bit it doesn't tie his hands. >> all right. thank you. >> form former secretary of state hillary clinton threw her support behind the military threats. >> the world will have to deal with this threat as swiftly and comprehensively as possible. >> hillary clinton met with the president privately. she was there to speak about wildlife trafficking along with her daughter chelsea. she began her speech discussing the crisis in syria and said if they surrendered chemical weapons it would be an important step. >> but this cannot be another excuse for delay or obstruction. >> reporter: these were clinton's first public comments about the issue and she stressed she will continue to support the president and hopes congress will, as well.

>> the assad regime inhuman use in weapons of mass destruction against innocent women, men and children violates a universal norm at the heart of our global order. and therefore it demands a strong response from the international community led by the united states. >> reporter: clinton, a potential 2016 presidential contender, is expected to discuss the issue tonight in philadelphia. she will be given the liberty medal. this year by another possible presidential contender, jeb bush. in washington, shoshana walsh, abc news. >> the crisis in syria is the subject of the presidential address to the nation. abc news will carry it on air and on-line as well. sudden back to the news at home. an incident that led to george zimmerman being detained at a house with his estranged wife. >> reporter: police called to

george zimmerman's home after his wife made this terrified sounding 911 call. >> i don't know what he is capable of. i'm really, really scared. >> reporter: police called to zimmerman's home after this terrifying 911 call. >> i don't know what he's capable of. i'm really scared. >> reporter: you can hear shellie zimmerman describe the assault. >> he punched my dad on the nose. he has a mark on his face. and he took my ipad out of my hand and smashed it and cut it with a pocket knife. >> reporter: at about 2:00 p.m., shell ie said she came with her father to the house to pick up her things when the altercation began. >> he continually has his hand on his gun and says step closer. >> step closer and what? >> he is going to shoot us. >> reporter: you hear shellie break down. >> oh, my god. oh, my god. >> reporter: police now say zimmerman never had a gun on him. it was in his trunk all along. both sides accuse the other of being the aggressor.

it is zimmerman's latest tangle with the law nearly two weeks after his acquittal for killing trayvon martin, he was stopped for speeding on a texas highway and last week slapped with a $250 speeding ticket. >> that's for your speed. >> reporter: days ago, this explosive interview with his wife shellie just after she filed for divorce. >> in my opinion, he feels -- >> for now police say there will be no charges in this latest incident. zimmerman is free to go, once again. matt gutman, abc news, miami. an oklahoma charter school is changing its policy on dreadlocks after the ban prompted outrage across the country. a girl went home in tears after she got a verbal warning after she arrived at school with her hair and dreadlocks stating that afros and dreadlocks were unacceptable.

thousand signed a petition after her parents pulled her from the school. new york city voters will go to the polls bringing to close one of the memorable primary races in the city's colorful history. most notably was the candidacy of former congressman anthony weiner who was forced to admit he continued to send racy messages even after stepping down from office. he gave an interview to lawrence o'donnell. >> beating up on someone. >> all i wanted -- >> that's not hard to do, lawrence. anyone can do it, and frankly, a lot of people have done it better than you. >> i hope when you lose you can find life without this. >> you don't -- you don't give a rat's patooty about me or anything else. >> that's not true. >> you don't vote in the city. i care about the people i'm fighting for. i care about the city. you don't like things you know about me. you want to make fun of me on television. join the club. frankly, bigger guys than you have been trying to knock me down. >> wow! all right, that interview is

getting a lot of attention on-line. they are returning to replace bloomberg who ran city hall for 12 years. >> can't wait to see what happens. >> man, oh man. maybe that's the last shot we're going to hear from anthony weiner for a while. also from here in new york, tennis great rafael nadal claimed his second u.s. open title. he battled djokovic for three hours and 20 minutes. some of the rallies lasted more than 50 strokes. in the end it was nadal who pulled away to claim his 13th grand slam title. nadal won the french open this year. he's the first man to win at least one major trophy in nine consecutive seasons and looked good doing it. >> really good. time to check the weather for this tuesday. rain with possibility of flooding in the rockies and the southwest. dry along the west coast. much of the east coast as well but rain for southern texas in to florida. >> 89 in miami. 90s for most of the middle of the country.

high 70s new mexico in to montana. 83 seattle. 81 boston. the newest attraction on the vegas strip is rolling to completion today. >> the high roller is on the way to becoming the world's biggest ferris wheel and today the outer wheel will be hoisted in to place. it is on track to open next year with 1500 l.e.d. lights. >> the high roller will be 55 stories high. riders will pay 30 bucks for a 30-minute spin and a bird's eye view of the entire strip. that looks like it's only halfway done. worries me a little bit. >> like the pirate ship. >> true. coming up high-profile confession. >> the drunk driver who killed a man and then told the world what he said and why his public regret sparked controversy. we told you about a proposal to require a waiting period for tattoos. you told us what you think. we will share your answers. you are watching "world news now." ♪

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with new olay regenerist micro-sculpting cream. with 2 new anti-aging ingredients. visible wrinkle reduction starts day 1. see younger looking skin before you finish one jar. new from olay. i never want to feel so alone that i consider doing something harmful. if this is you, say something. please. welcome back. a man in ohio set to be charged with vehicle homicide after posting an on-line confession video that is going viral. >> he posted the video describing the night of heavy drinking that led to a dwi accident that killed a 61-year-old navy vet. >> reporter: in a pressed blue shirt and with a gaggle of cameras chasing him, matthew cordal, the man behind the drunk driving confession video

entitle theed "i tilled a man," his identity is initially obscured. >> all drinking really heavily. >> reporter: then the 22-year-old reveals himself. >> my name is matthew cordal. on june 22nd, 2013, i hit and killed vincent condition -- vincent canzani. when i get charged, i will plead guilty and take full responsibility. >> reporter: a promise written on a piece of paper. it is part of a movement called "because i said i would." started by alex sheen, who recorded the video. >> if you're trying to preserve yourself, this is a dumb idea. that's not what matt is trying to do here. he is trying to send a message that convinces people not to be irresponsible. >> reporter: they both want everyone to make their own promise. >> i'm begging you, please don't drink and drive. your victims could still be saved.

>> reporter: too late for his victim, a 61-year-old navy vet. his estranged daughters reject the apology but his ex-wife thinks it is sincere. >> i do believe he is truly sorry for what he has done. >> reporter: there's debate about how the video confession will affect his sentence. i spoke with the prosecution's office who said it is fair to say that it helped to speed up the process. abc news, new york. >> interesting one, right. >> really is. some members of the victim's family said the reason they thought he did this is they were hoping that there would be a little bit of -- >> empathy. >> sympathy, leniency to help him out during the court trial that he did this video and came forward. it's tough. the victim's gone. no matter how sympathetic you want to be to this guy. he got drunk, got in a car and killed this guy. that's the bottom line. >> no doubt. he faces a potentially an 8 1/2 year prison sentence more news ahead. washington, d.c.'s proposed

think before you ink law. >> viewers spoke up and we will tell you what your overwhelming opinion is. ♪

♪ we got an amazing response from our question of the day yesterday. >> it is a hot button issue of whether washington, d.c., should impose a 24-hour waiting period on tattoos and body piercing. >> the think before you ink law prevent what some say is a problem that some people show up drunk or on a whim and then regret their decision later. >> yesterday we asked the question, should there be a waiting period for a tattoo. >> more than 200 of you

responded, and overwhelmingly the answer is no. here's a sample. >> gretchen nichols says, "quite possibly the most ridiculous idea i have ever heard of and i'm deaf. so i don't hear a lot." >> another viewer points out that tattoos are generally well-thought-out decisions and don't pose a threat to others. why attempt to make a law? >> jenni bee of vermont asks is there a waiting period for marriage or parenthood because they are more permanently scarring. and by the way, there's wait ing period for parenthood, nine months. and a waiting period for marriage, depending where you live, 24 hours. >> a viewer in south dakota says "i would be happier to see an age law passed." i think that makes a lot of sense. >> agree with that. >> and another writes there's so much control over my body as it is. please let my tattoos alone. >> can't argue with that. we were able to find at least one, but apparently we had to really search for the response.

in response to support for the waiting period, it came from sandy la salle. i think it is a great idea i am sure there are plenty of people who have regrets. >> i'm sure there are plenty of people that regret it but we are free to make up our mind in this country. >> there are web sites full of regrettable tattoos. >> how do you legislate every potential dumb thing a person can do? when it is dangerous and people's lives are on the line, okay. but when it's like getting a tattoo -- i don't know if there is an age limit. maybe you have to be 18 to get a tattoo. >> i believe there is. i don't know. bunn, piercings and tattoos is a personal decision, and if you're the type of person that gets wasted and that's what you want to do with your 50, 100 bucks, when you're drunk, who's the government to stop you? >> like we said yesterday, are you going to legislate you are not allowed to dye your hair blonde if you have black hair for 24 hours because you have to think it it? or have green highlights without thinking about it. >> can't get colored contact lenses or eyeglasses if you don't need them.

>> can't buy speedo and go to spring break. >> can't wear tank tops or short skirts. to spring break. >> can't wear tank tops or short skirts. it helps make me who i am every piece is important... it's like a self-portrait this part.. makes my eyes blue... so that's why the sun makes me sneeze... i might have an increased risk of heart disease... arthritis gallstones hemochromatosis i'll look into that stuff we might pass onto to our kids... foods i might want to avoid... hundreds of things about my health... getting my 23andme results it really opened my eyes... the more you know about your dna the more you know about yourself... i do things a little differently now... eat better... ask more questions change what you can, manage what you can't hdnet3 go to 23andme.com and order your dna kit for only $99 today.

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♪ a new view on the view. >> the 17th season amid big fanfare with big changes, too. marcy gonzalez was there with the behind-the-scenes look. >> today is about you, you beautiful woman. >> celebrating barbara walters. ♪ on the first day of her final season on the air of "the view."

>> when you say the first day of the rest of my life, that's not how i feel. i feel happy the show is in the 17th year. i never expected it. i love doing it. i'm going to be doing other things for abc news and i think it will be a very good year. >> reporter: season 17 of the hit show kicking off with barbara, whoopi, sherri and the show's newest cohost. >> hello to our newest show host jenny mccarthy. >> she gave welcome to her first guest, boyfriend donny wahlberg. >> hi, baby. you look handsome. >> thank you. >> the wet one she laid on him and the attempt at twerking, tame compared to what sherri shepherd says could be in store. >> i don't know if human resources knew what they were doing when they hired jenny. they don't even know. she was tame today but just getting warmed up. >> she plans to avoid talking about her controversial opinion that have a link between vaccines and autism. instead promising fun and plenty of surprises this season.

her first and barbara's last. >> if i were hired at season 18 i would have felt i missed out on a lot. this is an historic year. she is one of the top journalists ever and i will learn a lot from watching her this year. >> reporter: while we won't see her after this season, barbara walters will be working behind the scenes continuing as co-executive producer of "the view." marcy gonzalez, abc news, new york. >> she will shake things up for sure. >> i think so. i can't wait. >> a lot of personality. >> i think this is going to be the season to watch. barbara's last, jenny's first. this is a lot going on. this is the one. a lot of great guests that will send off barbara in style. >> absolutely. she is getting warmed up. i bet she will make you a little cray-cray. >> yeah, little cray. i bet she will make you a litit will little cray-cray. >> yeah, little cray.

>> my responsibility as my responsibility as commander in chief is make sure i think of long-term security interests and the use of chemical weapons in a significant way. >> this morning on "world news now," avoiding an attack. new developments that could allow the u.s. to avoid a military strike on syria. it is the strike that becoming increasingly unpopular. plus -- the community is wondering how her team accounts for that incredible speed. facing her skeptics, cuba-to-florida swimmer diana my ad prepares to explain her sudden and controversial burst of speed during that record-breaking swim. then wrangling reptiles. we will introduce you to a family hunting monster alligators and tell you why they

do it. it is tuesday, september 10th. >> from abc news, this is world news now with john muller an diana perez. >> good tuesday morning, everyone. we will begin with details about a possible diplomatic breakthrough on syria. president obama telling diane sawyer a military strike could be avoided if syria agrees to destroy the stockpile of chemical weapons. >> the agreement will give president obama a way to save face since he is admitting that his plan for a strike maybe defeated on capitol hill. karen travers is joining us with the latest. >> good morning, john. good morning, diana. the obama administration continues to push for a strike against syria. across the country and on capitol hill, there is increasing skepticism. yesterday, a surprise proposal from russia really shook things up. in an interview yesterday with diane sawyer, president obama was direct. >> is military strike on pause? >> absolutely. >> reporter: the pause comes

after a dramatic 11th hour diplomatic curve ball that may pull the u.s. back from the brink of an attack on syria. they said look for syria to put the chemical weapons under international control and then destroy them. president obama called it a modestly positive development. but said the threat of military action is needed to stay on the table. >> i don't think that we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility of a military strike. >> reporter: syrian president bashar al-assad was defiant in an interview with cbs this morning's charlie rose. >> reporter: will there be attacks against american bases in the middle east if there is an air strike? >> should expect everything. should expect everything. >> reporter: president obama seemed to rule out any syrian retaliation. >> understand, assad's capabilities are not significant compared to ours. >> reporter: last night senate majority leader harry reid said he's postponing the vote to authorize a strike that was planned for tomorrow. the move gives president obama

more time to lobby lawmakers to support his plan and more time for a diplomatic solution. >> i think there will be time during the course of the debates here in the united states for the international community, the russians and the syrians, to work with us to see if there is a way to resolve this. >> in the u.s., there is increasing opposition to a strike on syria. a new abc news/"washington post" poll found nearly 2/3 of americans are against it. back to you. >> thank you for that. more members of congress also against this after listening to a classified briefing from five senior administration officials. two more lawmakers came out in opposition of the strikes. even undecided members acknowledged the vote stands virtually no chance of passing the house. so can the president sway the public? abc news will carry his address to the nation live tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern. no charges are being filed against george zimmerman following a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife. it took place at the house they used to share in florida.

shellie zimmerman called 911 to report george was threatening her with a gun and punched her father. she said she was scared because she didn't know what zimmerman was capable of. >> he punched my dad in the nose. my dad has a mark on his face and took my ipad out of his hand and smashed it and cut it with a pocket knife. >> reporter: hours after reporting the incident, shellie zimmerman admitted she never saw a gun and police never found a gun. george zimmerman's attorney also denies that zimmerman ever punched his father in law. in montana a new bride has been charged with killing her husband by pushing him off of a cliff eight days after their wedding. friends of jordan graham said she was having second thoughts about getting married. authorities say she initially lied about what happened. graham eventually told an fbi agent that she and cody johnson were arguing at glacier national park in july. she said she shoved him in the back and he fell off the cliff. now to the destructive fires burning in the west. the wildfire burning in a san francisco bay area wilderness

park is growing. the mt. diablo fire is forcing more people to leave their home and leading to a smoke advisory for area residents. further north in shasta county, two fires are burning in happy valley area. at least 20 structures have been damaged or destroyed. hawaii could soon become the latest state to legalize gay marriage. the governor called for a special legislative session next month to move forward on a bill that will allow gays to marry. support seems evenly divided among lawmakers in the house. even the governor says he is not sure if it will pass. a state law that allows blind people in iowa to own guns is stirring up debate across the country. some advocates for the blind say denying gunner with mitts for weapons -- denying gun permits for weapons violates the americans with disabilities act. and others are concerned about safety of a firearm in the hands of someone who cannot see.

>> one, they are not required -- no one is required to show proficiency in having firearm, the ability to shoot, maybe 60% or at least hit the target. and how to use it. familiarity. >> the law took effect in 2011. some sheriffs say despite the reservations, they have to abide by the law. fresh from his trip to north korea, dennis rodman arrived in north korea in signature style. the former nba star revealed that the former secretive leader now has a baby daughter, and he got to hold her. he made this appeal to obama. >> why, obama, are you afraid to talk to dromd? you're not afraid to -- talk to dennis rodman? you're not afraid to talk to beyonce and jay-z. i'm important now. let's go there, obama, talk to me. >> rodman said he will go back to north korea to help select local players for north korea versus the u.s. basketball game. >> endurance swimmer diana nyad is defending her record swim from cuba to key west.

she plans to meet with members of the swimming community who say they are skeptical about the swim. with more on the controversy, here's abc's dan harris. >> reporter: when she staggered ashore on key west last week, diana nyad, age 64, became an instant icon of perseverance. >> you're never too old to chase your dreams. >> reporter: pretty soon the questions began. fellow long distance swimmers crunched the numbers based on gps data posted by nyad's team. the first 24 hours she went 1.6 miles an hour. then, according to her critics, she appears to have rocketed up to three miles an hour and then four and then briefly six, which is faster than a u.s. olympic speed swimmer. >> the community is wondering how her team accounts for that incredible speed. >> reporter: did she hold on to the boat during this time or get in? nyad's team said she just got lucky that strong currents helped her to paddle to key west one day ahead of schedule. there is a question about the fact that according to her blog for a period of seven hours,

nyad did not stop to eat or drink. >> i say in my own experience of marathon swimming i find it hard to go more than an hour without feeding. it is hard to imagine even if my life depended on it. >> reporter: my ad told "the new york times" she's "never cheated on anything in my whole life." if she cheated she had a lot of help. she was accompanied by 40 people on four boats. in an era where so many sports heros have been brought low, those inspired by diana nyad hope she will not become another one. dan harris, abc news, new york. >> what do you think? >> i want to believe her. you know what i mean? she seems like a person of integrity, but it is very eyebrow raising to hear these experts say that an olympic swimmer does six miles an hour. i guess i'm not qualified to make a judgment but i'm predisposed to say i believe her. >> you know, i also -- first of all, she finished a day before she was supposed to finish. >> a whole day. >> a whole day.

there is no independent media monitoring her every move, which still took her 54 hours to do and it's that seven-hour stretch that everyone's concerned about. the person who you saw said even if my life depended on it i couldn't go more than an hour of swimming without getting something to eat and get a rest and she did it seven hours. doesn't make sense. at the same time, these people who were helping her were all volunteers. to keep it under wraps without getting paid. >> you wonder if the shoe will drop. i hope not. details of the meeting and what she will say haven't taken place yet. she will address her critics. bombshell allegations about the football program in oklahoma state university. in a series of articles starting to be published today, "sports illustrated" reports the osu program broke rules including paying for performance. among other allegations players paid for jobs in which they did little or no work and tutors doing class work for players to

give them passing grades. >> we take this personally. we are all committed to playing by the rules. doing things the right way here. and for people to say that that's not what is happening is very disturbing. >> the school has been in touch with the ncaa and the case launched its investigation in to the allegations. "sports illustrated" said the stories are based on interviews with 60 former oklahoma players who were at the school from 2001 to 2010. quick two cents on this. these players make a ton of money for these universities. they should be compensated somehow. you take that out of the equation. they don't desperately need to make money. pay them a stipend where they can get a pizza on friday night. >> every time i hear somebody from a university or the ncaa say we take these allegations seriously and we are disturbed by this, i am not.

i don't care. these kids, they bring in a ton of money. >> they work their butts off. >> yes. all they do is play and play and play. these poor guys. >> not get rich but a little something to get them through the semester. >> they are so against it and i never did understand why. >> i don't either. a few moments ago we told you that diane sawyer sat down with president obama. well, coming up, more on the interview including his reaction to president bashar al-assad's threat to attack back. later, the family tangling with the monsters of the swamp. you are watching "world news now." ♪ swamp. you are watching "world news now." ♪ of "world news now" weather brought to you by our time.com. >"world brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com. brought to you by our time.com.

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as we told you president obama is calling it a potentially significant breakthrough. syria welcoming the idea of turning over all of their chemical weapons for destruction. >> it comes as president obama admitted he was losing support in congress for a military strike against syria. abc's diane sawyer sat down with the president and here's more on what he had to say. >> if bashar al-assad gave up control of his chemical weapons, international authority, are we back from the brink? is military strike on pause?

>> absolutely. if in fact that happened. i don't think we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility of a military strike, and i don't think that now is the time for us to let up on that. now the key is can we see a sense of urgency? >> reporter: urgency meaning how long does he have to show it's real, a week, a month? >> how long does he have to show, a week, a month? >> this is one of those situations where the stakes are high but they are long term. they are not immediate. they are not imminent but they are serious. >> and bashar al assad has said, "everything is possible in terms of retaliation." >> should expect everything. should expect everything. >> do you feel at this moment, look at everything that's possible that the american people should brace for retaliation? >> no. look, we take all precautions, but understand assad's

capabilities are not significant compared to ours. they are significant compared to an opposition that are not professional fighters. >> they have allies, iran, hezbollah. >> they are significant relative to 400 children that they gassed. they are not significant or relative to us. iran is not going to war with the united states over the use of weapons that they, themselves object to. hezbollah recognizes that this is something assad should not have done. it is true that both iran and hezbollah have asymmetrical capabilities where they could threaten an embassy, perhaps covertly. but those are the kinds of threats and risks that we deal with every day in the region. i think it is important for us to understand that if, in fact, the choice is between a world in which dictators and other countries start to believe it is acceptable to use chemical weapons on civilians and

children, it will make it more dangerous for us. >> thank you. >> thank you very much, diane. >> of course the presidential speech tonight. >> 9:00 please watch. much more news ahead. >> coming up in our next half-hour, the family that gators together stays together. one family in mississippi has wild ideas about spending quality time together. and ahead in our next half-hour, pope benedict, modern man. how he is helping people in need by picking up the phone. you are watching world news now. ♪

♪ ♪ >> all right. the annual alligator hunt in mississippi has come to a close

but not without setting another record. >> hunters caught a monster gator tipping the scales at 741 pounds. >> it takes a special kind of hunter. >> reporter: they are monsters that can grow to epic proportions. out here on the mississippi delta, beth trammel caught this 723-pound alligator. >> a paralegal by day and alligator hunter at night. >> alligator queen. >> alligator queen. dustin bachman, another alligator hunter. >> 700 pounds is something that could eat you. pretty exciting. >> reporter: the state says hunting helps to control an exploding gator population. why are they so big? because for years, nobody was allowed to hunt them. so the gators kept growing and growing. alligators grow well in to old age and if left long enough, some grow to 19 feet. that's the length of an average r.v. so we set out to find them.

>> going slow because you don't want to spook them. >> reporter: after hours of watching gators hide under water, this one showed his face. >> i hear him. while beth didn't net one of the big ones on the hunt, hours later, another team caught a 741 pounder. a new record. don't mistake these for calm waters. out here it's "jurassic park" under the mississippi river. abc news, the mississippi delta. >> this is comforting. the state of mississippi requires hunters attend a mandatory alligator hunting safety course before they are allowed which is a good idea. because if you just decide let's go get some gators. could be dangerous. you have to know what you are doing. >> bay the way, hunting season for gatesors only ten days. i'm sure they're out every day. you have only a ten-day window. so if you don't get the big gator -- >> when you get it what do you do with it, sell it? do people want the skin? i'm imagining skin the poor thing. >> must be some kind of commercial use, right?

>> i hope so. >> i should know the answer because i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all. use i'm a crocodile and alligator hunter by night. >> you do it all.

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of the leading ordinary brand. use less with bounty select-a-size. time for "the mix." time for "the mix." we have been going back and forth on this one. it is a strange study but we will lay it on you and see what you think. it is a study about the erotic parts of the body, least and most erotic. we will start with the least erotic part of the body, according to the study, the feet. the study -- you hear about these foot fetish people. >> there's web sites dedicated it this stuff. >> that came the lowest rank out of 41 body parts followed closely by the kneecaps. by the kneecaps. isn't that strange. >> stop looking at me, jack. i know about the feet fetish web sites. >> how? >> just because of wandering around the internet and getting in to places i didn't want to

get in to. >> is that what they call it? >> you guys done? >> keep your mouth busy, jack. >> anyway, backs of legs are another -- backs of legs and the most popular, the twigs and berries and the flower. you get what -- >> the nether regions. >> followed by the lips. the ears. inner thighs and shoulder blades -- the shoulder blades? >> this is sexual or attractive. >> the most sexual linked in the brain. anyway, it leaves out the eyes, the butts, and all those other good things. >> that's what i don't understand. leaves out the biggest ones on the list are not on the list. >> the kneecaps and shoulder blades. >> you have very hot ears, diana. >> you were saying you don't notice things unless there is something wrong with them. >> exactly. who knows. this is fun. so new orleans hosted the 2013 beard and mustache championship.

>> really. >> we have our winners. take a look. >> this is chris kristovic. lots of hair sprayer. denver holcomb, he won the natural mustache category. look, that is two feet end to end -- maybe a little hair spray. and then jeff langam won natural beard. that is a big old beard. >> i wonder what we would look like with beards. who would win that contest between you and i? hi, there. >> i'm very santa claus-ish if you ask me. the bearded lady. you'll find me at the latest freak show at coney island. >> there you go. nicely done. >> is it my turn. >> yes. 15 seconds. >> the guy who is a bank robber suspect put up the picture. a big dude wearing a pink wig and polka dot dress.

thisning o this morning on "world news now." attack uncertainty. as lawmakers come out against a military strike, there's new hope an attack could be avoided. a team that shall not be named. why some sports journalists are refuses to call the redskins the redskins. and pope francis reaches out to those in need by reaching out for the phone. and in "the skinny," we thought we had seen miley cyrus cross the line. turns out we haven't seen anything yet. do you believe that? it is tuesday, september 10th. >> from abc news, this is "world news now" with john muller and diana perez. >> good tuesday morning. we begin this half hour with a possible solution to the syrian crisis. russia proposed that syria turn

over chemical weapons for destruction. the syria foreign minister has embraced the idea. >> speaking to abc's diane sawyer, the president appeared to be in favor of the plan, saying doing so without a military strike is his overwhelming previous. he says the threat of military action may be enough. >> i don't think that we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility of a military strike. >> majority leader harry reid says he has put off any vote on military strikes while the new avenue is explored. >> with more on regional reaction, we turn to molly hunter who is joining us via skype from the turkish border. >> big move, russia urging syria to give up its weapons, saying they can honcho this transition, them giving up their weapons. it sounds like a potential game changer. what's the reaction there?

>> reporter: absolutely, john. it is a potential game-changer. in many ways, it is exactly what the u.s. wants -- no chemical weapons in bashar al assad's hands. but if it is a real offer from the russians, it threatens to erode support for military action. we have seen the senate push off a vote already. we will have to see how people react tonight after president obama speaks. this russian offer is also a sign that russia believes the u.s. will actually go through with the strikes. it reads like a last-ditch effort to kind of give president bashar al assad a way out. the bad news, john, is if russia and syria are willing to give up chemical weapons they may believe that assad can win the war with or without these chemical weapons. >> you are in turkey on the syrian border. are there any reactions from russia's proposal from where you are? >> reporter: there is. they are certainly talking about it, diana. turkish leaders are not enthusiastic. as i mentioned, this minimizes

the possibility of a u.s. strike. a strike that turkey supports but wants no direct role in. turkey's foreign minister said this morning the longer the international community waits the more massacres we will see inside of syria. they would very much like to see the u.s. act decisively are. >> let's talk about allies like turkey. what are they looking for from president obama tonight as he addresses the nation? >> john, they are looking for action. turkey, jordan, saudi arabia, they are all looking for the u.s. to push ahead with this proposed military strike that president obama has been speaking about so much in recent days. of course the million dollar question is what will the president do if congress doesn't approve military action. the president's speech is running at 4:00 a.m. it is live at 4:00 a.m. here local time, but you can bet leaders in the region will be up and watching. >> molly hunter, live in turkey,

thank you for that. the crisis in syria is the subject of the presidential address to the nation. we will have it on air and on-line at 9:00 eastern time. returning to home now. there have been no charges filed against george zimmerman following a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife. it took place at a house they used to share in florida. shellie zimmerman called to report that george zimmerman punched her father in the face and grabbed her ipad and smashed it and said that zimmerman was ominously threatening her with a gun. >> he continually has his hand on his gun and says, "step closer." >> and what? >> he is going to shoot us. >> hours later shellie zimmerman changed her story and said she never saw a gun. police at the scene never found either. his attorney denies zimmerman ever punched his father-in-law. a legal blow for abercrombie & fitch. a federal judge ruled that they illegally fired a worker for taking off the head scarf.

the hollister store in san mateo claimed the scarf violated its looks policy which it says is part of the marketing strategy. >> this isn't the first time that abercrombie & fitch has fallen in to a black spotlight when it comes to their treatment of employees and also the treatment of their customers because their jean sizes didn't go past a certain number. >> rough go of it in the press no doubt about it. the company -- the trial is scheduled for later this month and the judge said the jury is free to award punitive damages if it chooses. we'll see. >> absolutely. we will keep an eye on this one. a diary allegedly obtained by the "new york post" says that robert f. kennedy jr. had dozens of affairs during his marriage. it talks about how he dealed with his "lust demons," according to the "new york post." his wife killed herself last year. kennedy an environmental lawyer, radio host and activist denies he kept a diary. newly discovered painting by

vincent van gogh has gone on display. the van go museum says the work called "sunset at mantamajor" was painted in 1888 at the height of the artist's career. it has been in a private collection of a family. they bought it at auction in '91 but experts thought it was a fake. >> check it out. apple is expected to announce an upgrade to the iphone 5 today. the iphone 5s is expected to have a fingerprint reader that will allow users to access their phone with a mere swipe of a finger. they are expected to reveal a lower cost iphone 5c. it will come in yellow, white, green and blue. sure to brighten up any fan's day.

>> why not? now for weather and a look at a scene from early winter perhaps. here it is from above. the hail in a denver neighborhood appeared like a blanket of white. >> dumped there from a storm that resulted from two fronts colliding and they will be having issues the next couple of days. >> doesn't make me happy. no. >> not at all. >> no. >> checking the maps you will see rain and flooding for denver, the entire southwest. in fact, there will be heavy rain in south texas, southern florida and the interior of the southeast, clear and dry along the coast. >> warming up here in new york. we will get to 84 degrees today readings in the 90s from detroit to chicago, dallas, and phoenix. 70s across the reeks -- the rockies. low 80s in the northwest and a look at anchorage, just 55 degrees. a neighborhood stray is happy to be down to earth after a harrowing ordeal that dragged out three days. >> the cat found his way up a 30-foot pole in amarillo, texas

and of course he couldn't get down. he struggled to keep his balance for 36 hours as concerned residents tried to coax it down with food. the fire department and electric company said they don't cat rescues. >> but the utility had a change of heart. a crew showed up to save the day. the cat is enjoying a new home. he was adopted by one of the onlookers and fed an given water so it could go to sleep, i'm sure. >> they don't do rescues unless the local tv cameras show up and it is embarrassing for them not to do a rescue. >> because there is a cat at the top of a pole for three days. can't sleep, can't eat. >> and probably leading the news. lady gaga gets to live a childhood fantasy here on abc. it is pretty sweet. we will show you. first, what's in a name? why a growing number of sports journalists are refusing to say a name of a team in washington, d.c. you are watching "world news now." you are watching "world news now."

"world news now" weather, brought to you by consumer cellular.

[ applause ] that was that. rafael nadal won the second u.s. open title. 13th grand slam tournament win. congratulations. >> unbelievable. he battled novak djokovic for three hours and 20 minutes with some rallies lasting more than

50 strokes in the end he claimed the trophy and the $3.6 million in prize money. 3.6 million bucks. >> after the match, djokovoajok summed it up saying nadal was too good to beat. i watched some of that and he was on fire. nobody could beat that guy. another day maybe but not this day. >> it is monday, that was yesterday, monday night football is back. we start with the texans visiting the chargers. phillip rivers threw the first of his four touchdown passes. >> the texans mounted a comeback and scored the final 24 points including a field goal to win it. as time expired the texans won. >> early in the game, the high-octane eagles' offense took on the redskins. michael vick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another one late in the third quarter. it was 33-7 eagles. washington scored three straight touchdowns to make the score more respectable.

phillies still win this one. they will come back here 33-27. >> our producer suzanne is happy about that. she is a phillies' fan. redskins are at the center of a growing controversy with pressure to change its name. >> critics say it's offensive to native americans, and some of the sport's biggest reporters refuse to use the word but the team is putting up a major defense. >> reporter: what's in a name? ♪ controversy for washington's nfl team, one of the leading sports journalists, peter king of "sports illustrated," says he won't use the name anymore saying he's increasingly bothered by the word. he joins a growing list of sports writers. >> i don't want to use it anymore. it is something that i don't want to do. i don't want to preach about it. >> reporter: some native

american groups are turning up the heat. >> what flashes in to my mind is our ancestors being skinned. it is painful. it is hurtful, and it is time that it changed. >> reporter: one tribe running a radio ad calling on the nfl commissioner to act. >> the term redskins is obviously wrong, insensitive and unacceptable. >> reporter: the owner is adamantly opposed. dan snyder, who became a billionaire in advertising and media has said, "we'll never change the name. it is that simple. never. you can use caps." >> mascot is a proud native american symbol. it means a lot. >> reporter: the redskins take the field for the 80th year but this year they will only be called washington by some. david kerley, abc news, landover, maryland. >> interesting one. a lot of tradition in the name. growing up it was just a team but if you think about it, the brown or white skins would be odd to hear. this is interesting -- the washington redskins originated as the braves. they were based in massachusetts in 1932 and brave is an indian

name that doesn't have the racist connotations. you're an indian brave, you're a warrior. >> do you go back to that? this is not a new controversy. it has been brewing for quite some time. they have had that name for a long time. since the inception of that name people have been upset about it. maybe it is time we all come around because if they were named anything else that was a racial slur to anybody else in the country, their name would be changed like that. >> it is hard not to see the point of the native american woman who said it is offensive. >> it is offensive to one person it is offensive. miley cyrus may have crossed the line. may. >> lady gaga lives out a childhood dream. you are watching "world news now." d news now." eam. "the skinny" is next. you are watching "world news

this is quick and simple. lady gaga was on "good morning america" and she performed her show "applause." it was an indoor concert she put on for the audience and just the stage was incredible. a yellow brick road and the audience was wearing hats that looked like a field of poppies. look at this. it is really cool. ♪ i stand here waiting for you

♪ is it right or is it wrong >> there you have it. she changes outfits over and over again. at the vmas. she was flanked by the scarecrow, the lion and the tin man. hair's coming off. she is becoming a witch. one of the wicked witches of the west or east. she is holding the apple. >> that was a real show. >> she always puts on an incredible show. we wanted to show you the video. >> props to our gma crew who honchoed that. that looks really good. >> yeah! >> absolutely. arsenio back on late night tv, made his debut. first guest, chris tucker. they had fun dancing. check him out. he is back. a lot of changed in his 19 years since his popular late-night

show from the first go around ended but he is big on being with the crowd. other talk shows came about and he lost more and more. he said he wanted to get more balance in his life and spend more time with his family. he said he is returning with the balance including the support of his 13-year-old son, arsenio, jr. >> i can't wait to watch that show. i think it will be pretty good. miley cyrus is making headlines once again. this time she decided she was going to go completely nude, yeah, in her new video. i don't know who she appeals to. she is 20 years old. what grown man that is past maybe 20 years old wants to see her completely naked? >> you don't think teenagers, on both sides, boys and girls, think this is something cool. >> there you have part of it. she eventually strips completely down. this is her second single from her album called "bangers." her album is called "wrecking ball."

it hit the internet and blew up. >> is it supposed to be sexy or funny? >> i don't know. makes me uncomfortable. number one, she's naked. and number two, she was under age two days ago. this is uncomfortable. >> i feel like i need to take a shower right now. >> yes. my eyeballs need a shower. >> pretty much. >> good news. long-time howard stern cohost robin quivers has been dealing with cancer and has been declared cancer free after a long battle. fantastic news there. she's been broadcasting from her home by some kind of phone line. she had a grapefruit size tumor removed from her bladder in may of 2012 and through this she missed two episodes despite radiation therapy, chemo and invasive operations. she's back on the show. she broke her silence this morning telling the full story of her ordeal. she kept it close to the vest. she's back.

they don't know if she will be back in the studio yet and she is also promoting a new book. she is healthy. >> yeah. >> good for her. the studio yet and she is also promoting a new book. she is healthy. >> yeah. >> good for her. so ditch your dishcloth and switch to a fresh sheet of bounty duratowel. look! a fresh sheet of bounty duratowel leaves this surface cleaner than a germy dishcloth, as this black light reveals. it's durable, cloth-like and it's 3 times cleaner. so ditch your dishcloth and switch to bounty duratowel. the durable, cloth-like picker-upper.

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to whiten as well as a $500 treatment. crest 3d white whitestrips. well, the modern man of the well, the modern man of the hour this morning at least is pope francis. >> from carrying his own bags to paying his own bills, francis has been going out of his way to show he's a man of the people. >> that is why this is our favorite story of the day. now he is picking up the phone and calling people out of the blue. abc's dan harris has the story. >> reporter: they are calling him the cold call pope. francis' habit started shortly after he got the job of pope last spring. he called to cancel his newspaper subscription and called the cobbler to tell him someone else would be picking up his shoe. the latest call to anna romano

a 35-year-old who wrote the pope a letter saying she was pregnant and she learned her boyfriend was married with children. "i recognized his voice right away," she said in an interview with an italian tv station. he told me i was very strong and brave to keep my baby. this is one of a dozen spontaneous calls he has made, including to a woman who said she feared retaliation after reporting being raped by a policeman to a man angry with god after his brother was murdered and another young man worried about finding a job after he graduated. >> this is what compassion is. suffering with somebody else. the pope picking up the phone is his way of saying let me be there with you. >> reporter: the chattiness of francis appears to be part of an effort to be a different kind of pope. he took a selfy with visiting tourists. he doesn't live in the palace, instead a simple room. as for the pregnant romano, when she said she feared no priest would baptize an illegitimate baby, the pope reportedly said,

"you know, there's always me." >> you have to be careful if you don't recognize the number. never know who's calling. >> reporter: dan harris, abc news, new york. >> pretty amazing. >> always me he said if you can't find a willing pastor to baptize your baby. >> the pope will do it. >> why not. >> that's the way to roll. if she has a boy she will name the boy francis. >> i have known women that were frances, too. so it would work. >> it would work. >> he does this on the phone and have you seen the images -- one image where this child who says he wants to be a priest one day comes up to him and in his pope mobile, and he is crying. pope francis grabs him, hugs him, talks for a while. he is just known to do these things. pope of the people. >> i am writing a letter to the pope right now. i need a new big screen tv. >> this is abc's "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades. two decades.

making news in america this morning -- a welcome proposal. as the president prepares to address the nation on syria, a diplomatic solution now appears to be on the table. we're live in washington with the very latest. domestic dispute. george zimmerman is taken into custody after his estranged wife called 911. >> he continually has his hand on his gun. and he keeps saying, step closer. >> what kicked off the argument? and will any charges be filed? strange sighting. something unusual makes a flyover a baseball game. and cameras were rolling. and tough talk. new this morning, things get heated between anthony weiner and a reporter. >> you don't like things that you know about me. you want to make fun of me on television. join the club.