The latest news on Veterans Day, Obamas Visit the White House, Automaker Bailout, Election Analysis, Economy, Presidential Poll, Abortion, Catholic Bishops, Iraq, Congo, Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Select Op-eds.

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Veterans Day. World recalls end of World War I "Ceremonies are being held across the globe to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I." Veterans Day (Washington Post editorial) "On this day 90 years ago, 'the monstrous anger of the guns,' in the words of the British war poet Wilfred Owen, was finally sated -- but only for a time. It was on Nov. 11, 1918, that the most destructive war yet fought in modern history ended by mutual agreement, with the guns still firing madly and men still dying right up to the hour of armistice: 11 a.m."

Obamas visit White House. Obamas Make Symbolic Visit to Future Home: White House "Barack Obama visited the White House yesterday for a long and cordial meeting with the man he will succeed, setting aside two years of withering criticism of President Bush's record to discuss the economy and tour the presidential living quarters." Politics aside at the White House "They arrived early, greeted their hosts genially and took a polite tour of their soon-to-be home. If only the handoff of the U.S. presidency were as simple as Barack and Michelle Obama's visit to the White House."

Automaker bailout? Obama Asks Bush to Back Rescue of Automakers "President-elect Barack Obama yesterday urged President Bush to support immediate aid for struggling automakers and back a new stimulus package, even as congressional Democrats began drafting legislation to give the Detroit automakers quick access to $25 billion by adding them to the Treasury Department's $700 billion economic rescue program." Obama Asks Bush to Provide Help for Automakers "The struggling auto industry was thrust into the middle of a political stand off between the White House and Democrats on Monday as President-elect Barack Obama urged President Bush in a meeting at the White House to support immediate emergency aid."

Election analysis. For South, a Waning Hold on National Politics "By voting so emphatically for Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama - supporting him in some areas in even greater numbers than they did President Bush - voters from Texas to South Carolina and Kentucky may have marginalized their region for some time to come." In Northeast, Lost in a Blue Wave "Among the biggest casualties from last week's election here in the Northeast may be the Republican Party itself."

Economy. When the Cupboard Is Bare "Since the spring, the number of people showing up hungry at food pantries and soup kitchens has surged, straining the capacity of many organizations in the vast, largely unseen and lightly financed network of volunteer emergency feeding operations." As a road to a better economy, an old idea gains ground "As recently as a few months ago, the idea of trying to bolster the troubled economy by pumping money into public works projects such as roads and bridges was dismissed as too slow -- not the quick pick-me-up that was needed. But today, economists and policymakers are beginning to change their minds."

Presidential poll. Poll: Hopes soaring for Obama, administration "Americans have soaring hopes for the incoming Obama administration and an even higher opinion of the Democrat they just elected president, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows. Nearly seven in 10 adults, or 68%, said they have a favorable opinion of President-elect Barack Obama. Almost that many -- 65% -- said they think the country will be better off four years from now."

Abortion. Ohio abortions decrease again "The number of abortions performed in Ohio continues to fall. In 2007, 30,859 pregnancies were terminated, down more than 6 percent from the previous year and the lowest number since the state began keeping statistics in 1976."

Catholic bishops. U.S. Bishops Urged to Challenge Obama "The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops told his fellow prelates Monday that while they should 'rejoice' at the election of an African-American president, they should confront him over his support for abortion rights." Catholic voting tied to economy "U.S. Catholic bishops at their annual meeting brushed off an apparent disregard among Catholic voters for church doctrine on abortion, saying the economy, not their teachings, was to blame." O'Malley heartened, worried by election "As much of the nation celebrates the first election of an African-American as president, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley is visibly moved by the moment, but also horrified by what he sees as Barack Obama's 'deplorable' record on abortion rights." [ Read interview with Cardinal O'Malley ] Cardinal sees odds Obama must face "Chicago's Cardinal Francis George applauded the rise of an African-American to the White House, but he cautioned that President-elect Barack Obama faces 'formidable' odds in serving the good of all."

Iraq. Iraqi spokesman says the U.S. 'final text' on security pact is not enough "Iraq's government spokesman said the proposed U.S. changes to a draft security agreement were 'not enough' and asked Washington to offer new amendments if it wants the pact to win parliamentary approval." Suicide bombings rock Iraq "Iraq suffered one of its bleakest days for several months yesterday when a volley of suicide bombings in Baghdad and the northern town Baqouba killed at least 35 people and wounded scores more." Girl of 13 becomes youngest suicide bomber "A 13-year-old girl became the youngest suicide bomber to wreak havoc in Iraq yesterday, killing five Iraqi guards in a town that has become notorious for deadly attacks by women bombers."

Congo. Congo troops 'looting villages' "Army troops have been looting and targeting civilians in villages in eastern DR Congo, a U.N. spokesman says." Cholera threatens Congo refugees "As 200,000 people in camps around the besieged town of Goma face hunger and a potentially deadly outbreak of cholera, the European Union said yesterday that it was too early to send troops to bolster the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo."

Israel. ANALYSIS / No leader before Olmert has explicitly called for return to '67 borders "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert chose to strike on the most sensitive day of Israel's calendar, Yitzhak Rabin Memorial day. He did so both in the Knesset and on Mount Herzl, in order to lay out his vision -- Israel must pull out of all the territories quickly, before it loses international support for a two-state solution."

Pakistan. Pakistanis Mired in Brutal Battle to Oust Taliban "But what was initially portrayed as a paramilitary action to restore order in the area has become the most sustained military campaign by the Pakistani Army against the Taliban and its backers in Al Qaeda since Pakistan allied itself with the United States in 2001." Captured battle plan reveals Taliban strength "The map tells a war story of its own. Sketched by a Taliban commander, it is of a stretch of territory fought over in Bajaur between the Pakistani Army and the insurgents."

Afghanistan. Obama to Explore New Approach in Afghanistan War "The incoming Obama administration plans to explore a more regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan -- including possible talks with Iran -- and looks favorably on the nascent dialogue between the Afghan government and 'reconcilable' elements of the Taliban."

Commentary. Obama's win promotes democracy in the Arab world (Daoud Kuttab, Jerusalem Post) "A curious thing has happened as Americans were choosing their first black president. Democracy suddenly ceased to be a bad word for many genuine democrats in the Middle East." Beyond the Fat Cats(Bob Herbert, New York Times) "The fat cats who placed the entire economy at risk with their greed and manic irresponsibility are trying to lay claim to every last dime in the national Treasury. Meanwhile, we're nowhere close to an economic recovery program that will help the people who are hurting most."