Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat in no uncertain terms that Iran’s nuclear plan was a danger for the Middle East. (Iran Focus)

Top American U.N. official is removed from his position in Kabul, this after he publicly campaigned against Afghanistan presidential election fraud.  (Reuters)

Now that the Senate Finance Committee has voted down two key Democratic public-option amendments to the health care bill, the fate of such reform lies in Obama’s hands. (Politico)

After years of increased government control, deep economic strife is causing Russia PM Vladimir Putin to push for privatization at the country’s big businesses. (WSJ)

The New York Times is still weighing pay-model options. The paper thinks it could make everyone happier if it could just figure out how to make money out of that new-fangled internet, but at this point they lack a clear proposal from any party. (New York Observer)

SAMOA BEARS BRUNT: Earthquake in the South Pacific triggers a deadly tsunami that rips through Samoa killing over 100 people.

The Age | Al-Jazeera | CS Monitor | Economist | NYT | Reuters | WSJ

RINO Hunts: the Cap-and-Tax 8

In the past couple months Conservatives have introduced us to a hip new concept: the “RINO.” That is, Republicans in Name Only.”

Obviously this term is being used to call out party posers, but aren’t RINO hunters afraid that without this majestic creature their entire party might make the endangered species list?

Conservative talking-head and 80’s Rock ‘n Roll hack Ted Nugent posted on stoptheaclu.com,

We must not make the mistake of keeping the GOP tent so big that there’s room for RINOs. They are in the business of producing conservative defeats. Instead, join me in the new Conservative Revolution. Let’s go out and win another one for the Gipper.

No, they’re not worried. Especially not in the great state of South Carolina, where Congressman Bob Ingliss (R-SC) is being targeted by Conservative-leaning big game hunters at every turn. Despite his “A” grade rating from the Natinal Rifle Association and his staunch opposition to the Clinton’s in the 90s, Ingliss faces major opposition from primary challengers that claim he is not conservative enough. This is because Ingliss voted in favor of censuring Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for his “you lie” outburst during President Obama’s September 9 address to Congress.

RINO hunters want to “purify” the party by removing centrist politicians, but how exactly do they go about doing this? Purchasing a T-Shirt, perhaps?  Leaving the RINOS nasty messages that their staffers will surely delete?

There will certainly be more to come on this, so keep your rifles loaded.

Meantime: check Human Event’s list of top ten congressional RINOS.

China is seeking to double its African oil reserves by bidding for up to 6 billion barrels of Nigerian crude, according to a leaked letter from the Nigerian president. (Telegraph)

A cash-rich China has used the global financial crisis as an opportunity for a strategic expansion in oil and other commodities that it needs to fuel its rapidly expanding economy.

While it won’t happen this decade, Time Warner is considering selling Time Inc., its media conglomerate. (Crain’s)

The Egyptians have presented a peace proposal to the two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah… and they actually like it! The two groups will go to Egypt in October to discuss it more at length. (Al Jazeera)

A British 14-year-old girl dies just a few hours after receiving the vaccine for cervical cancer. (AP)

Shots still ring out in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, one day after 128 opposition protesters were killed in clashes with government forces. (News24)

Five months ago, swine flu anxieties caused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to order all the country’s pigs be slaughtered. Now, the waste that was once their job to devour is piling up in the streets, causing a garbage crisis. (Bloomberg)

Iran says it’ll refuse to discuss a newly declared nuclear plant during forthcoming talks, and also warns it will avoid future cooperation if the West continues “past mistakes.” O-kay… (Reuters)

– Staff

Iran's nuclear sites

 Testing missles capable of striking Israel, U.S. military bases in the Middle East and parts of Europe, right after the G-20 and just ahead of nuclear talks with world powers? BBC analysis:

The big fear is that ultimately Iran will have a fully-fledged inter-continental ballistic missile.

These missiles already cover pretty much the whole of the Middle East and a good chunk of Turkey as well, and maybe the fringes of Europe.

I think Iran would say with some justice its missile programme is the strongest deterrent it has got.

It probably cannot prevent Western jets getting through and Western missiles getting through. But it could – and I think Israel knows for example – that if it did strike Iran, it would have to take into account the possibility of really substantial casualties if Iran did unleash its long-range missile pack.

View the full story & video here.

Director and ex-Pat Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland. He was heading to the Zurich Film Festival to receive an award. If his appeals are denied he will be extradited to the United States to face sentencing for his 1977 conviction for having sex with a 13 year old girl. (NYT)

Angela Merkel will remain Germany’s Chancellor after a landslide election win this weekend. She will be ditching her former coalition partners, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Social Democrats (SPD), to form a center-right coalition with the Free Democrats (FDP). (France 24)

Getting to know you: Angela Merkel. (Reuters)

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has ordered an end to state censorship ahead of national elections. Sure, dude. (Al Jazeera)

The U.S. Treasury is set to pump ailing state housing agencies with funds to provide mortgages for low-income borrowers through Freddie & Fannie — the nation’s largest home-lending sources — in another effort to widen accessibility to home loans. (Bloomberg)

Poland okays law forcing castration for captured pedophiles. Prime Minister Donald Tusk: the accused are ‘not human.’ What California should have been thinking? (Reuters)

New Yorker speaks with Nobel Prize winning Columbia University Economist Joseph Steiglitz on dollars and cents. (The New Yorker)

When the U.S. Supreme Court opens for Fall next week, it will consider whether life-without-parole for minors who haven’t committed murder counts as cruel and unusual punishment. (Los Angeles Times)

– Staff

And to be clear, peep the world’s official nuclear powers: U.S., Russia, France, Britain and China. Then there are those other (self?-) declared ones: North Korea, India, Pakistan. Then the stealthily unofficial: Israel, and Iran. (Reuters)

Hamas has been having problems consolidating its power in Gaza since the most recent Israeli Invasion. What does this mean for Palestinians? (Foreign Affairs)

Somali pirates took another ship off the coast of Mogadishu. (BBC)

India’s first lunar mission data uncovers water in moon soils. For shame, NASA. (Bloomberg)

The Economist is not impressed with world leaders at New York’s climate change meeting. (Economist)

Yesterday, Eric Cantor (R-VA) defended his callous treatment of a constituent with a sick relative. I mean, telling her to find a charity or like, “an existing government program” is totally sympathetic or whatever, right? (TPM)

US Ambasador to Russia says the “heavily edited video” of his second secretary with Russian prostitutes is a fake effort to “smear him in the eyes of his contacts.”  The old Russian editing tactic is nothing new… (Moscow Times)

Thanks Hipsters! Brooklyn’s economy is fairing better than the rest of New York City’s. (Crain’s)

– Staff

But if Edolphus Towns (D-NY) has anything to say about it, $425 billion is not enough to buy BofA’s peace of mind. The Congressman is still battling with the bank to retrieve documents explaining whether or not it mislead investors about Merrill’s health. His argument – that details of BofA’s transaction are protected by attorney-client privilege – is old news. The new news is that BofA sent Towns a stack of redacted, irrelevant documents in response to his request for files concerning the purchase. It’s on.

Shorty after this insubordination, the SEC warned it would widen its investigation into the BofA/Merrill tryst (lets call it a tryst now). Coincidence?

Look BofA, the government is broke, so if you have money, show it to us. Like a trip to the dentists or a pap smear, this will only hurt more if you struggle.

A Candian citizen sues his government and its foreign minister for his alleged arrest, exile, and torture in Sudan. He is seeking $27 million in damages. (Globe and Mail)

Barney Frank is gaining support for a government watchdog agency of consumer financial products like credit cards, mortgages and the like. (Politico)

Sarkozy runs in Central Park during his stay in NYC. Hot. (Daily Mail)

Ahmadinejad spread his usual warm and fuzzies at the UN General Assembly calling Israel’s policies “barbaric” and accusing the West of hypocrisy.

“The awakening of nations and the expansion of freedom worldwide will no longer allow them to continue their hypocrisy and vicious attitudes.”

Blah, blah… Give us something new Mamou-mou. (Al Jazeera)

The Atlantic Wire and Max Fisher present The Five Worst Parts of Max Baucus’ Health Care Bill. (Atlantic Wire)

– Staff

Bulgaria’s Irina Bokova wins Unesco leadership vote after defeating eight others for the postion, including Egypt Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni . (Al Jazeera)

Al Quaeda threatens terrorist attacks against Germany unless it pulls out of Afghanistan. On Sunday the Germans go to the polls. (BBC)

The recession is forcing senior citizens in the U.S. out of retirement and back to work, according to a new survey. (Reuters)

With the coming 50th anniversary of the Communist victory, China stops issuing foreigners permission to enter Tibet. (NYT)

Australians awoke on Wednesday to red skies, as a dust storm sweeps through the east side of the country. (Times Online)

Today, Conde Nast executives must submit 2010 budgets cut by at least 25%. McKinsey & Co. has been reviewing their practices, with an eye for cost-cutting, since July. (Crain’s)

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is requesting federal disaster aid to cope with flooding in his state. (Georgia Public Broadcasting)

The San Ysidro checkpoint between California and Mexico – the U.S.’s busiest border crossing — closes after smugglers and police engage in a shootout on the border which left four injured. Officials said it’s the first time the crossing has closed since President Kennedy’s 1963 assassination. (Los Angeles Times)

–Staff

Honduras’ ousted President Zelaya returns home after over two months of exile. (BBC)

Oil trading company Trafigura pays $50 million to 31,000 people in the Ivory Coast over toxic waste settlement – victims agree death & disease has ‘no link’ to waste exposure. (Al Jazeera)

According to the U.S. Census, the number of  immigrant residents in the country declined for the first time in about 40 years, as economic downturn soils the country’s rep as land-of-opportunity for the foreign-born. (WSJ)

China appeals a recent WTO ruling that the state violates its free-trade agreements by requiring its importers to channel foreign publications and audiovisual products — including music sold on the internet — through government-run entities. (Bloomberg)

Busy Japanese couples pay actors to play their friends. (Telegraph)

From Afghanistan, Gen. McChrystal: Certain Pakistani and Iranian spy services aiding the Taliban. (Los Angeles Times)

New species of fish discovered off the coast of Bahia, Brazil. No, you can’t eat it but yes, it looks totally awesome.  (NatGeo)

Scientific advances find new a way to tap into natural gas resources- by extracting it from shale rock. (NPR)

China’s recent influx of aid to African nations — drawn from its pool of foreign currency savings – risks fostering corruption, rather than correction. (NYT)

– Staff