1 | Paris
Carbon Emissions Plunge
The recession has its silver linings. According to a forthcoming report by the International Energy Agency, sluggish trade, dwindling industrial output and greener government policies have put global carbon dioxide emissions on track to drop 2.6% in 2009, the largest slide in 40 years. Analysts hope the dip will bolster efforts to reach a new climate pact in Copenhagen in December. But so far, despite repeated calls for action, world leaders have made scant progress toward replacing the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
2 | Washington
Senate Focuses on Health Care
More than 500 amendments have been submitted for the 10-year, $856 billion health-care bill proposed by Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, but it remains to be seen how many will make it in. While the Montana lawmaker has said he doesn't expect to materially alter the bill's structure, he plans to use the markup period to address concerns from fellow Democrats over its cost. Baucus not only must keep the 13 Democrats on the 23-member committee on board but also hopes to woo Senator Olympia Snowe, the sole Republican member expected to vote for the package.
3 | New York
Gaddafi Goes Off
The question is, Will he be invited back? Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi used his first U.N. General Assembly appearance to deliver a rambling 100-min. tirade in which he dubbed the Security Council a "terror council," suggested Israel was behind John F. Kennedy's assassination, warned of a "fish flu" and plugged his website.
4 | Bogotá
Spy Agency Gone Rogue
Colombia has announced plans to dismantle its domestic intelligence service in the wake of a ballooning scandal. Agents of the DAS, as it is known, are accused of wiretapping judges, reporters and government critics. President Alvaro Uribe will petition Colombia's Congress to liquidate the agency--which has more than 6,000 employees and reports directly to the President--and create a trimmed-down replacement.
5 | New York
Obama to Paterson: Scram!
President Obama's name won't be on the ballot, but the White House is plunging into the fray for 2010's elections regardless. The President and his top aides have intervened in races in at least half a dozen states, most recently urging unpopular New York Governor David Paterson not to seek re-election. (Paterson still cordially greeted Obama in Albany Sept. 21.) Congressional redistricting in 2010 makes statehouse control key, though some say the politicking looks crass. Former GOP guru Karl Rove called Paterson's treatment by the White House "ham-handed."
Democratic Primary Races
NEW YORK
Governor
David Paterson
vs.
Andrew Cuomo [X] (potential)
PENNSYLVANIA
Senate
Arlen Specter [X]
vs.
Joe Sestak
COLORADO
Senate
Andrew Romanoff
vs.
Michael Bennet [X]
[X] Apparent White House favorites
6 | Paris
Sarkozy Smear Trial Begins