Shares of Lehman Brothers, the nation’s fourth-largest securities firm, have plummeted to the lowest level in a decade. Its upcoming third quarter earnings announcement is expected to reveal record losses. The firm is also reported to be selling its prized investment management business.

The BBC has surveyed people in 22 countries, asking who they would pick to be the American president.

North Korea was expected to hold a lavish parade for its 60th anniversary, with armaments and military hardware on display. Instead, it was scaled back and leader Kim Jong II was absent. Why? Chinese sources in the South Korean press report that the leader is gravely ill.

The Large Hadron Collider was built to explain the mysteries of the universe — what everything is made of and how the universe is held together. On its first day of operation, scientists circulated a beam of protons around the collider's 27 km tunnel. Eventually, scientists will introduce another beam traveling in the opposite direction, both traveling close to the speed of light. What happens when the two beams collide? The Takeaway talks with BBC science correspondent Tom Feilden.

At a historic concert in February, the New York Philharmonic performed in Pyongyang, North Korea. In one particularly emotional moment, the orchestra played "Arirang," the most popular and best-known folk song in the Koreas. Even after the orchestra left, audience members remained, misty eyed as they waved goodbye. The Takeaway replays audio from the historic event, with comments from WNYC's John Schafer and New York Philharmonic president Zarin Mehta.

Treating an adult for bipolar disorder can be difficult, but what happens when it's a three-year-old child?

While Sarah Palin gets the spotlight, she’s not the only big political story out of the northernmost state. Alaska’s Ted Stevens, the Senate’s longest serving Republican in office, faces prosecution for major corruption charges. His trial is moving ahead, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for this morning. He is also in a tight election fight for his Senate seat against Anchorage mayor Mark Begich. The Takeaway talks with Alaska Public Radio Network correspondent Libby Casey, who examined the case against Stevens and the Senate race.

OPEC oil ministers agreed to trim overall output by more than 500,000 barrels a day over the next 40 days. The small but symbolic gesture is meant to avoid new turmoil in the markets and prop up falling prices. Javier Blass, the FT commodities correspondent, talked with The Takeaway about the meeting’s outcome and the behind the scenes negotiations between Russia and OPEC.

A serial killer has killed 10 young black women and one man in Los Angeles since 1985. The killer went dormant for years, occasionally reemerging. Eight unsolved homicides from the 1980s show links to DNA tests and ballistics from a 2002 case, then one in 2003 and another in 2007. Police knew a deadly stalker was in their midst a year ago, and ordered a special task force. But no one told the public or families of the victims until the story broke in the L.A. Weekly. The Takeaway talks to journalist Christine Pelisek about a killer in L.A. who has been around for 22 years, lays dormant and then strikes, and is now known as the “Grim Sleeper."

The Paralympics began this week in Bejing and we’re checking in with some of the athletes representing the United States. Scott Rodgers, captain of the US Paralympic Wheelchair fencing team, parries with John.

Some people learn science from books, and physics from looking at traces of tiny particles... or, for the general public, you can just hook up your iPod. Kate McAlpine penned the "Large Hadron Rap" months ago, and it's gotten 1.6 million views since hitting Youtube. McAlpine talks physics with the Takeaway from Geneva, Switzerland.

This hurricane season, Haiti has faced down four devastating storms in less than a month. Relief agencies are struggling to help thousands of flood victims, and hundreds of Haitians have died. Meanwhile, in South Florida, home to the largest Haitian expat community in the U.S., money and food has started pouring in. The Archdiocese of Miami has put out a call for donations, and churches across the region are busy taking them in.

In a report released this morning, Lehman Brothers has posted losses of 3.9 billion dollars for the third quarter. Shares of Lehman Brothers have fallen to the lowest level in more than a decade, as investors worry that the firm is running out of options to raise capital.

News that OPEC could cut more than 500,000 barrels a day of production has sent oil prices to their lowest levels since April 1st.

U.S. stock futures are eating into overnight gains this morning after an update from Lehman Brothers Holdings failed to allay worries about the future of the firm.