RAY SUAREZ: Jim, Tropical Storm Gustav moved slowly in the Caribbean today and took aim at the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm could be a hurricane again when it hits Jamaica tonight. It's already killed nearly 60 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Forecasters said Gustav could head toward Louisiana next week. And New Orleans braced for a hit, as it faced the anniversary of Katrina tomorrow. City officials started planning evacuations, as the governor declared an emergency.
And Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, flew in to inspect things.
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security: This is the first serious threat we've had to the Northern Gulf Coast of the United States since a couple years ago when we had Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
So it's going to be the first occasion we have to see in real time the way the planning and the efforts we've put into rebuilding our response capability actually play out, as we have a storm approaching.
RAY SUAREZ: Also today, Tropical Storm Hanna formed far out in the Atlantic. It's the eighth named storm of the season.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. today of stirring up the trouble in Georgia. He told CNN the motive was "creating a competitive advantage for one of the candidates fighting for the post of U.S. president."
That was an apparent reference to Republican John McCain. But in Washington, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino rejected the charge and urged calm.
DANA PERINO, White House Spokeswoman: Those claims, first and foremost, are patently false, but it also sounds like his defense officials who said they believed this to be true are giving him really bad advice.
We've had strong statements, but I don't think that necessarily equates an escalation in the rhetoric. It's that people feel very strongly that territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence are to be respected.
RAY SUAREZ: Perino also said the U.S. would consider scrapping a commercial nuclear pact with Russia. It calls for promoting deals in uranium and related technology.
In Iraq today, U.S. forces arrested a top Shiite government official at a Baghdad airport. He's accused of leading Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and of organizing a bombing that killed four Americans last June.
In another development, the U.S. military reported two more soldiers killed in the last 24 hours.
A four-day battle wound down today in southern Afghanistan. The U.S. coalition said more than 100 Taliban militants were killed. Fighting first broke out on Monday, after insurgents ambushed U.S. and Afghan forces as they patrolled.
U.S. military leaders confirmed today they held a secret meeting with commanders from Pakistan. It happened Tuesday aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean. The two sides talked about growing violence of militants based in Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan.
Today, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs, said he's encouraged the Pakistanis are taking action. He denied there was any pressure.
ADM. MIKE MULLEN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff: There was no ultimatum. I mean, that is not -- in my view, that doesn't work in this kind of relationship-building.
And more than anything else, I think it was that. We clearly went through what the challenges are, the specifics of it, what we think the threat is, how to get at it.
RAY SUAREZ: In recent weeks, Pakistani troops have carried out several offensives against the militants.
The price of oil fell today, amid hopes that U.S. and world agencies would tap reserves if there's hurricane damage in the Gulf of Mexico. In New York, oil dropped more than $2.50 to finish back under $116 a barrel.
And the Commerce Department announced the gross domestic product increased more than 3 percent in the second quarter. In response, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 212 points to close at 11,715. The Nasdaq rose 29 points to close at 2,411.
Back to you, Jim.
