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World News Once a Week |
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| Published Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
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| Reuters/Robert Galbraith: A worker climbs on a "living roof" in San Francisco, California. |
Issue 118
The "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" kicked off last Monday, but much of the world is still feeling the heat. Top leaders were shown the door in both South Africa and Israel, and their replacements are struggling to assume the reins. Meanwhile, the debate over Wall Street's epic meltdown headed to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers sweated it out over a proposed $700 billion bailout. As the US presidential race
moves closer to a rolling boil, John McCain caused friction with his proposal to delay Friday's debate. And in North Korea, the Yongbyon reactor stands to get a whole lot hotter, after officials removed safety seals and gave inspectors the boot.
Speaking of splitting particles, physicists may take belated summer vacations after the Large Hadron Collider suffered a breakdown. Luckily, this week provided a new scientific marvel at which to direct our wonder: gene therapy that can restore sight to the blind. The onset of cool weather raises the question: if we can cure blindness, why not the common cold? Until science
catches up, try eating an apple a day. And for those dipping the fruit in honey come Monday night, have a happy (and healthy) 5769.
- Eli Dvorkin |
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| Top Stories |
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Troubled waters rise as US bails
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With the US economy headed off the rails, Congress is debating a taxpayer-funded bailout of epic proportions. While the government has already funneled billions into Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG, the Bush administration is now requesting an additional $700 billion rescue fund to
purchase troubled mortgage-related assets from banks. Lawmakers greeted the proposal with skepticism, arguing that the money
will do nothing to correct the underlying problems of limited oversight, poor corporate governance, irresponsible spending, and risky lending practices.
Despite such reservations, most politicians agree that any salvage effort must be enacted quickly. However, concerns abound that the communal sense of urgency may sideline legislative efforts at reform and leave taxpayers
footing a huge bill.
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Pakistan reeling from recent attacks
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After a bombing at the Islamabad Marriott Hotel last Saturday and the kidnapping of a senior Afghan diplomat on Monday, newly elected Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari is facing serious pressure to curb
the rising tide of insurgency. On Tuesday, Zardari took time away from the UN General Assembly to meet privately with President
Bush and discuss counter-terrorism initiatives — an opportunity he used to urge US restraint in the region, especially after
reports surfaced of a downed US spy plane.
As Taliban and al-Qaeda strikes have increased in recent months, the US has taken advantage of a porous western border with Afghanistan to pursue insurgents into Pakistan.
The military maneuvers have aggravated tensions between Islamabad and Washington.
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Mbeki, ministers quit in South African shake-up
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South African prime minister Thabo Mbeki agreed to resign this week in response to mounting pressure from fellow members of the African National Congress. Mbeki's
rival, the left-leaning Jacob Zuma — whose dismissal on corruption charges paved the way for Mbeki's departure — is eventually
expected to take over the presidency. On Tuesday, 11 ministers sympathetic to Mbeki quit their posts; the resignations considerably
rattled South African financial markets.
Mbeki's legacy is decidedly mixed. Though South Africa has enjoyed steady economic growth under the cerebral leader's tenure,
the country is still home to a huge underclass, with unemployment estimated at 25-40%. In addition, Mbeki's anti-scientific
stance on the AIDS crisis has incensed researchers and activists.
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| Newswire |
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| Below the Fold |
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Chávez signs China trade pacts
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China and Venezuela signed a slew of trade agreements this week, during President Hugo Chávez's visit to Beijing. The US government
expressed particular concern over the rumored sale of 24 fighter jets to Caracas, which Chinese officials refused to confirm.
| El Universal | Voice of America |
Net closes around Palin hacker
Investigators honed in on David Kernell — the son of a Tennessee Democratic state representative — in connection with last week's hacking of Governor Sarah Palin's Yahoo! email account. The hacker's IP address and handle, "Rubico," are both linked to the 20-year-old
student.
| Computerworld | ChannelWeb |
Finland faces another school shooting
A 22-year-old gunman went on a rampage at a vocational college in Kauhajoki, Finland, killing ten bystanders and himself.
The incident — coupled with a similar tragedy last November — has prompted a re-examination of the country's entrenched gun culture.
| Belfast Telegraph | Guardian |
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| Masthead |
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Managing Editor
Benjamin Hart
Deputy Editor
Eli Dvorkin
Contributing Editors
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Nick Earhart
Doug Levy
Jessica Loudis
Andrew Phillips
Production
Adda Birnir
Tom Starkweather
Andrew Steinmetz
Publishers
Mark Mangan
Sascha Lewis
Design
Groundwave Design Corp.
Production Design
Jonathan Rahmani
Cultural Partner
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