Wall Street crisis. Stocks Slump as Investors Run to Safety "The financial crisis entered a potentially dangerous new phase when many credit markets stopped working normally as investors around the world frantically moved their money into the safest investments," Battered financial markets nervously await what's next "The world of free-market finance as we know it is over. The U.S. government this year has placed on its books the liabilities of a major investment bank, two mortgage-finance giants, and the nation's largest insurer." Conservatives rip bailouts as affront "The Federal Reserve's unprecedented $85 billion takeover of American International Group is prompting a fierce backlash among many Republican stalwarts who openly decried the Bush administration's recent string of financial bailouts as a betrayal of the party's long-held, free-market philosophy." Scrambling to Clean Up After A Category 4 Financial Storm "You know you're in a heap of trouble when the lender of last resort suddenly runs out of money."
Foreclosures. Sales up, prices down as foreclosures flood Southern California home market "So many foreclosed homes are for sale in Southern California that these distressed properties will soon dominate the market, forcing prices down even further."
Hurricane Ike. Confusion Rules Road in and Out of Galveston "People may have food but they most likely do not have power. Flooded basements are drying out, but health and sanitation problems loom. Residents are clamoring to be let back in to inspect their damaged homes - though most are being turned away - and some of the workers sent to help their city are heading out." Tempers flare as Hurricane Ike relief efforts continue "But in hard-hit Galveston Island, Hurricane Ike's widespread devastation left frazzled city officials sniping at one another about the crush of residents who wanted to return to a place that medical experts said is a health hazard."
Veterans. Veteran health-care bills languish in Congress "Despite an abundance of tributes to the heroism and patriotism of wounded veterans, Congress might leave town to campaign before acting on key bills to help them."
Pell grants. Pell Grants Said to Face a Shortfall of $6 Billion "Battered by a worsening economy, college students are seeking federal financial aid in record numbers this year, leading Bush administration officials to warn Congress that the most important federal aid program, Pell Grants, may need up to $6 billion in additional taxpayer funds next year."
DC gun bill. House Democrats push through pro-gun bill"Conservative House Democrats defied party leaders Wednesday and pushed through legislation that loosens gun laws in the District, saying that the Second Amendment trumps their party's long-standing advocacy of Home Rule in the nation's capital."
Election problems. High Turnout, New Procedures May Mean an Election Day Mess "Faced with a surge in voter registrations leading up to Nov. 4, election officials across the country are bracing for long lines, equipment failures and confusion over polling procedures that could cost thousands the chance to cast a ballot."
Community organizing. Community organizers have deep roots in democracy "The confusion over the role of community organizers may stem from the fact that, by their own admission, anyone can qualify to be one, so long as they take a lead in motivating people to bring about change."
Malaria deaths. Seven African nations cut malaria deathsA"t least seven African countries or regions have cut the number of malaria deaths by half following an intensive drive to protect people from the disease, the World Health Organisation said today."
Yemen . US Embassy in Yemen bombed "Two suicide car bombs and rounds of militant gunfire killed at least 16 people, including six attackers, outside the American embassy in Sana yesterday. It was the deadliest attack on an American target in several years," U.S. Embassy hit in Yemen, raising militancy concerns "A suicide bomber exploded his car Wednesday morning outside the US embassy in the worst attack on the American compound in recent years. It comes at a time when Yemen is coping with an increasingly active Islamist militancy." Arrests follow Yemen embassy blast "Yemeni authorities have reportedly arrested at least 19 people after a suicide car bombing and shooting at the US embassy in Yemen killed 16 people."
Israeli election. Israel's Foreign Minister Prevails in Party Election "Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni narrowly won election Wednesday to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the leader of Israel's Kadima party," New Golda Meir' Livni in narrow victory "Touted as the new Golda Meir, former Mossad agent-turned-politician Tzipi Livni has emerged as the new head of Israel's ruling party and was set to become the Jewish state's second female prime minister." Israel's Livni wins race for top ruling party job "Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, chosen as the new leader of the ruling Kadima party, is said to disdain backroom dealing, but that is precisely what lies ahead if she is to become prime minister." Monumental tasks await Israel's newest political star, Tzipi Livni "All the tests that Tzipi Livni has had in her nine years in politics are dwarfed by what she will be experiencing starting on Thursday, even before the most dramatic test of them all: the premiership."
Israel-Palestine. Archbishop Tutu to UN: Show concern for Israeli suffering as well "Archbishop Desmond Tutu appealed to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday to show the same concern for protecting Israelis from Palestinian attacks as it does for Palestinians suffering under Israeli occupation."
Pakistan . Another U.S. missile strike in Pakistan provokes anger "A U.S. missile strike in Pakistan further inflamed relations between the two anti-terrorism allies, just hours after the American military chief vowed to "respect Pakistan's sovereignty." U.S. Strike Reported as Mullen Consults Pakistanis "A new reported U.S. missile strike inside Pakistan threatened to undermine American efforts to defuse a growing confrontation with Pakistan over aggressive U.S. military actions against Islamist extremists in the country's turbulent northwest border region." Pakistan 'was not warned' about US strike on tribal region "Pakistan today said it had not been warned about a US missile strike in a north-western tribal region despite assurances from Washington that it respected the Muslim nation's sovereignty."
Afghanistan . Gates Tries to Ease Tension in Afghan Civilian Deaths "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates sought Wednesday to defuse growing tensions with the Afghan government over civilian deaths, expressing his "sincere condolences" and promising speedier compensation and investigation after such casualties." Afghan civilian death toll undermines U.S. support "In a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pledged to do more to prevent civilian deaths from military operations. Mr. Gates's vow comes on the heels of a new UN report saying that the number of civilian casualties jumped by 39 percent in 2008," Insurgents in Afghanistan show strength, sophistication "A summer of heavy fighting during which Western military leaders had hoped to seize the initiative from Islamic militants has instead revealed an insurgency capable of employing complex new tactics and fighting across a broad swath of Afghanistan."
Iraq . In Iraq, seven U.S. soldiers die in helicopter crash "For the second time in three days, twin bombs tore through a busy Baghdad street, killing at least eight people and harking back to a terrorist tactic used when sectarian violence was at its height. In southern Iraq, seven U.S. troops died when their helicopter crashed early today outside Basra." US deaths in Iraq helicopter crash "Seven US soldiers have been killed after their helicopter crashed as it was attempting to land in southern Iraq,"
Iran . U.S. Steps Up Its Criminal Prosecution of Illegal Technology Exports to Iran "At a time of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, the American initiative has produced a spike in criminal prosecutions against at least 70 individuals and companies over illegal exports to Iran since late 2006, many involving military components." Material Was Sent To Iran for Bombs, Indictment Alleges "A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted 16 foreign individuals and companies in a broad conspiracy to send restricted dual-purpose U.S. electronics and other items to Iran for use in roadside bombs against U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." U.S. Files Charges on Iran Exports "Federal prosecutors unsealed charges against alleged members of a global network procuring potentially sensitive electronic components for Iran -- including some, they said, that were used to make deadly roadside bombs used against U.S. troops in Iraq." Russia ratchets up US tensions with arms sales to Iran and Venezuela "Russia snubbed its nose at the United States today by announcing plans to sell military equipment to both Iran and Venezuela."
Canada-EU trade. Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA "Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election."
India . '06 Blueprint Leak Intensifies Concerns Over U.S.-India Deal "In January 2006, an Indian government agency purchased newspaper ads seeking help in building an obscure piece of metal machinery. The details of the project, available to bidders, were laid out in a series of drawings that jolted nuclear weapons experts who discovered them that spring."
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