Today's edition of quick hits.
* Syria: "President Barack Obama is rejecting Russia's military campaign in Syria, saying it fails to distinguish between terrorist groups and moderate rebel forces with a legitimate interest in a negotiated end to the civil war."
* This seemed new: "President Obama vowed Friday that he would not sign another short-term funding measure, pushing lawmakers to craft a long-term budget agreement."
* Obama's focus hasn't changed: "For the second day in a row, President Obama spoke forcefully about the scourge of gun violence in America."
* VW: "A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from at least 30 states and the District of Columbia are organizing a fast-moving investigation into the possibilities of consumer fraud and environmental violations by the German automaker Volkswagen."
* A sigh of relief on the East Coast? "A powerful and slow-moving hurricane that battered the Bahamas on Friday, causing severe flooding and widespread wind damage, is now forecast to stay out at sea as it moves north, largely sparing the East Coast a direct hit."
* Afghanistan: "Thirteen people, including six American service members, were killed early Friday when a U.S. C-130 transport plane crashed while taking off from an airport in Afghanistan, a U.S. military official said.... A cause for the crash has not been determined. The military official said there were no reports of hostile activity in the area at the time of the crash."
* Not good: "The director of the Secret Service knew that unflattering, private information about a congressman was circulating among agency staff members before it was leaked to the news media, contrary to an earlier statement made to federal investigators, according to two government officials briefed on the investigation."
* Cabinet change: "Education Secretary Arne Duncan will be stepping down in December, NBC News confirms. In an email to staff, Duncan said that he will be returning to Chicago to live with his family.... Deputy Secretary John King Jr. will step into his role after he departs, Duncan added."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.