Thursday, September 18 2008

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Asian markets drop sharply overnight in response to Wall Street woes

Stocks fell overnight across Asia following the drop in U.S. stock markets. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell by more than three percent in the morning session. There were similar declines in Hong Kong and South Korea.

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Who's next to fall on Wall Street?

Wall Street wasn't prepared for the recent falls of huge financial institutions: Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG. Who's next?

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L.A. train crash triggers questions of railway safety

When 25 people died last week in Los Angeles in a head-on train collision, it highlighted the absence of important safety equipment, even on the nation’s most heavily used rail lines. With travelers increasingly seeking an alternative to road and air travel, funding and regulation of railways is not keeping pace.

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Unigo.com reviews colleges drawing from those who know them best: students

A new startup Web site, Unigo.com, aims to be an impartial clearinghouse for real-life information on colleges and universities written and photographed by the students who attend them.

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What insurance giant AIG's struggles mean for consumers

The Federal Reserve Board gave AIG $85 billion to avoid a fire sale of its assets. Just what does this mean for consumers? After riding an economic rollercoaster this week, should consumers hang on for what is next on the scene?

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NATO, the United States and the politics of command

Defense Secretary Robert Gates was recently in Kabul, Afghanistan, addressing growing anger from people who believe the United States is responsible for civilian deaths in the country. Earlier this month, a strike on the western province of Herat led to seven civilian deaths, according to the United States — as many as 90, according to the United Nations and Afghanistan's government. Gates is now traveling to London to push a plan where U.S. Central Command, not NATO, would lead forces in the fight against the Taliban.

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Looking at political polls as the convention bounces settle

Polls taken after John McCain tapped Sarah Palin as his running mate, the Republican National Convention, and the Wall Street meltdown say McCain is still seen as a "Typical Republican."

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Could regulation have helped stave off dives in emerging markets?

As Americans continue to grapple with the escalating market crisis, global markets in emerging nations are already faring much worse. Could this have been prevented with more (or different) regulation? Can last minute U.S. measures now help save a sinking world economy?

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Global map shows prevalence of multiple sclerosis in North America and Europe

Multiple sclerosis, once considered a disease that affected mainly those in Europe and North America, is actually a global concern. The Atlas of MS, the most comprehensive MS research study ever undertaken, was launched this week. For a look at the latest findings, The Takeaway checks in with the man who spearheaded this three-year endeavor.

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After bailouts and bankruptcies, looking ahead

After an unprecedented series of bailouts and bankruptcies this year, we’ve been left wondering, Will there be more? The Takeaway explores bailouts and paybacks of the past, and what's on the mind of Americans, with David Leonhardt.

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Addressing rising world poverty needs a new approach to relief

Every year, the international community spends billions of dollars on emergency relief — helping people who are suffering from famine and natural disasters. Now the aid organization CARE International is arguing that that money is being wasted. They say that money should be spent protecting people from the causes of poverty. That way, more can be done for the 220 million people living on what it calls 'the edge of emergency.'

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Green machines: Searching for environmentally friendly electronics companies

Electronics are getting smaller, but they are still a big problem when it comes to the environment, from the chemicals that go into making them to the toll they take on the planet when we throw them away. What should green consumers look for when purchasing a gadget?

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What happens when you die? UK researchers study near-death experiences

We may know a lot about what happens to the body when we die, but what about the mind? Researchers are trying to find out, carrying out the world's largest scientific study in near-death experiences.

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