Reuters - Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama warmed up on Monday for a potentially crucial debate by unleashing another volley of personal attacks on each other's character in an increasingly ugly White House race.

Reuters - Governments around the world grasped at new measures to contain the fast-spreading credit crisis on Monday but stock, bond and commodity markets saw investors betting on deepening uncertainty and a sharp global downturn.

Reuters - Oil dropped more than 6 percent to below $88 a barrel on Monday as a global market rout churned concerns that faltering fuel demand could slow further.

Reuters - The United States is upsetting the nuclear arms balance by failing to offer a fully-fledged replacement for the START arms control treaty when it expires next year, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Reuters - Germany offered a blanket bank deposit guarantee on Sunday in a bid to contain the spreading credit crisis as officials clinched deals to rescue Germany's Hypo Real Estate and recapitalize two other European banks.

AP - The world's financial markets face an uncertain and possibly volatile week as investors await details about how the Treasury will implement the government's financial rescue package — and watch for any further fallout from the credit crisis around the globe.

AP - The Taliban are furious about the latest apparent U.S. missile strike in Pakistan, indicating a senior militant may be among two dozen people killed, officials and residents said Sunday.

AP - Rattlesnakes aren't to be trifled with, but if you're trying to collect the sound of every creature in the West that slithers, hops, flies or flops, distance isn't a luxury you can afford.

AP - With plenty of power to go with their improved pitching, the Philadelphia Phillies are ready for anything in the NL championship series. Bring on the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I like our chances," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Sunday after Philadelphia clinched its first trip to the NLCS since 1993 with a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

AP - And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret.

AP - Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

AP - With the passage of the $700 billion rescue package, the financial industry will face greater congressional scrutiny in coming weeks and months.

AFP - The German government, the Bundesbank central bank and market regulators agreed with the banking sector Sunday on a new 50-billion-euro rescue package for stricken bank Hypo Real Estate, the finance ministry said.

AP - Another road win against a division opponent has the Washington Redskins in perfect position to make a run at the NFC East. Clinton Portis ran for 145 yards and one touchdown, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a TD pass and the Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles 23-17 on Sunday.