The financial crisis spreads across the globe, despite government bailouts in both the U.S. and aboard. The Dow plunges more than 200 points in early trading, joining markets around the world that have also reported sharp drops.

The presidential race gets nasty with both campaigns dredging up events from decades ago to smear one another. The campaign of Democrat Barack Obama highlights Republican John McCain's role in the 1990s Keating Five scandal. That move comes after Sarah Palin's charge that Obama "pals around with terrorists" because of his past association with 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
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Weeks after Hurricane Ike's assault on the U.S. Gulf Coast, the environmental damage is starting to become apparent. Some 500,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, along with gasoline and other chemicals.

The Sunday Times reports that Britain's commander in Afghanistan believes the Taliban can't be defeated by military means. Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith says the insurgency might end if the militants were involved in political negotiations.