As Investors Race to Stocks, The Dollar Weakens Further
If the U.S. economy is getting stronger, why is the dollar getting weaker?
Radical Cleric Tied to Shooting at Base in Texas
Intelligence agencies intercepted communications last year and earlier this year between the military psychiatrist accused of shooting to death 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, and a radical cleric in Yemen known for his incendiary anti-American teachings.
Palestinians See Threat to Group If Leader Resigns
The collapse of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s negotiating partner, was raised as a possibility on Monday, as several aides to its president, Mahmoud Abbas, said that he intended to resign and forecast that others would follow.
Don’t Forget Ida
Although this year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been a relatively quiet one, we are reminded in recent days that hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30. After going almost two months without a hurricane due to hostile conditions during the heart of the hurricane season, Hurricane Ida provided the late bloomer punch for this otherwise famished hurricane season. Spawned last Wednesday off the coast of Costa Rica, Ida lashed Nicaragua with heavy rain and waves. Unfortunately, 130 people were killed in El Salvador due to severe flooding there. Ida peaked as a category two storm, which was much stronger than anticipated, as it passed just northeast of Cancun, Mexico into the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It is projected to make landfall early today near Mobile, Alabama as a tropical storm. The main impacts will be the heavy rains — possibly up to half a foot (15 cm) — over the southeast as it makes a hard right turn and slows down after moving inland.
12 Slain, 31 Wounded in Shootings at Fort Hood
Twelve people were killed and 31 others were wounded Thursday in a shooting rampage at the sprawling Fort Hood Army post in Central Texas, apparently by an Army officer firing two handguns.
Shorts (left)
As the House moved toward climactic votes on legislation to remake the health care system, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday that middle-income families might be required to pay 15 percent to 18 percent of their income on insurance premiums and co-payments under the proposal.
After Setbacks, Small Successes For Gene Therapy
Not long ago, gene therapy seemed troubled by insurmountable difficulties. After decades of hype and dashed hopes, many who once embraced the idea of correcting genetic disorders by giving people new genes all but gave up the idea.
Obama Presses Afghan Leader on Corruption
President Barack Obama on Monday admonished President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan that he must take on what U.S. officials have said he avoided during his first term: the rampant corruption and drug trade that has fueled the resurgence of the Taliban.
Ford Returns to Profitability, But Faces New Challenges
While its cross-town rivals stumbled through bankruptcy this summer, the Ford Motor Co. pressed its advantage, and delivered surprising news Monday that its cost-cutting efforts and improving sales helped it earn nearly $1 billion in the third quarter.
Shorts (left)
The Ford Motor Co. posted a surprise third-quarter profit of $997 million on Monday and said it had had its first profitable quarter in North America in more than four years.
Shorts (right)
Suicide bombers attacked two major Pakistani cities on Monday — one of them the garrison city of Rawalpindi — as the army claimed control of one more Taliban stronghold in the northwestern tribal region of South Waziristan, officials said.
Transition Time
November has arrived, and this week will begin the slow descent from brisk autumn temperatures to those more typically associated with chilly New England winters. The steadily decreasing amount of daylight present during this time of year contributes to a drop of 10°F (5.5°C) in normal temperatures over the course of the month. The winter solstice will be here soon enough, but until then, 4:30 p.m. sunsets will be a regular feature.
Democrats Say House Bill Cuts Premiums for Many
As the House moved toward climactic votes on legislation to remake the health care system, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday that middle-income families might be required to pay 15 percent to 18 percent of their income on insurance premiums and co-payments under the proposal.
Urban Clinics Face Scrutiny In Health Bill
As Congress struggles to rein in health care costs as part of its sweeping reform efforts, hospitals in New York City and other urban areas that provide some of the most expensive care are among the primary targets.
People’s Republic of China Dismisses Its Minister of Education
Facing rising criticism over the quality of schools and a crush of jobless college graduates, China’s legislature announced Monday that it had removed the minister of education after six years on the job and replaced him with a deputy.
Tehran Rejects Nuclear Accord, Officials Report
Iran told the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Thursday that it would not accept a plan its negotiators agreed to last week to send its stockpile of uranium out of the country, according to diplomats in Europe and U.S. officials briefed on Iran’s response.
Clinton Challenges Pakistanis On Al-Qaida
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on a visit meant to improve relations with Pakistan, strongly suggested Thursday that some Pakistani officials bore responsibility for allowing al-Qaida terrorists to operate from safe havens along this country’s frontier.
Shorts (left)
Every year, the single largest gathering in the world is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca: 2.5 million people from 160 countries packed into a small city in Saudi Arabia for five days.
The Senate’s ‘Dr. No’ Poses a Health Bill Hurdle
Sen. Tom Coburn’s office is the rare Capitol Hill work space without a “me wall” — the display of photographs of a lawmaker standing beside presidents, foreign leaders and other dignitaries, all illustrating How Big a Deal he is.