JIM LEHRER: The Federal Reserve cut a major interest rate again today. It was the Fed's latest effort to thaw out credit and slow the slide into recession.
The central bank cut its target rate for overnight loans between banks by another half point to just 1 percent. A statement said the Fed acted because the pace of economic activity appears to have slowed markedly.
China cut interest rates today, as well. Major European banks are expected to act later this week.
The stock market rallied on the Fed announcement, then lost it all in the closing minutes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up falling 74 points to close just below 8,991. The Nasdaq rose more than 7 points to close at 1,657.
World stock indexes were mostly higher today, with gains of 7 percent to 9 percent.
The U.S. market also got a boost today from an unexpected quarter. The Commerce Department reported a surprise jump in orders for durable goods in September. It was the largest gain in three months.
And General Motors' stock rose on reports it resolved the major issues in talks to buy Chrysler.
In the presidential race, with just six days to go, Democrat Barack Obama planned a 30-minute prime-time TV commercial. Two major networks and several cable channels were set to air it.
Republican John McCain campaigned in Florida. He said Obama has not shown he has what it takes to protect America. We'll have more on the campaign later in the program tonight.
Iraq today outlined proposals to change a draft security deal with the U.S. They included a ban on using Iraq territory to strike neighboring countries. A government spokesman in Baghdad said, "The Americans must realize that these changes are necessary to persuade the people to accept the agreement."
In Washington, President Bush said he's optimistic about finishing the status-of-forces agreement, known as the SOFA.
GEORGE W. BUSH, president of the United States: We received amendments today from the government. We're analyzing those amendments. We obviously want to be -- we want to be helpful and constructive without undermining basic principles. And I remain very hopeful and confident that the SOFA will get passed.
JIM LEHRER: The leading Shiite religious official in Iraq voiced concern about that security pact today. In a statement, Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani said the draft must do more to protect Iraq's sovereignty.
Syria demanded an apology from the U.S. today over a Sunday raid that killed eight people. The helicopter assault happened just inside Syria near the border with Iraq. It's been reported an al-Qaida leader was killed. The Syrians insisted again all of the victims were civilians.
The government of Pakistan today formally protested U.S. missile strikes inside its territory. It demanded an immediate end to recent attacks on militants near the Afghan border. The Pakistanis say the strikes are killing civilians and hurting support for the war on terror.
U.S. commanders may call for doubling the additional troops sent to Afghanistan. It was widely reported today the number could rise to 20,000, as planners appeal for more support units.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell acknowledged the deployment could increase. He would not confirm numbers. The U.S. already has more than 31,000 troops in Afghanistan. And we'll have more on Afghanistan later in the program tonight.
Rebels in Congo declared a cease-fire today after three days of fighting. It was the latest violence to wrack the African nation in recent years. The truce affected the eastern city of Goma, as government forces and U.N. peacekeeping troops fell back.
We have a report narrated by Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News.
LINDSEY HILSUM: Congolese government helicopter gunships fired on rebel positions north of Goma today, but to little avail. At Kibumba, the troops just milled around; they're losing, and they know it.
They claim that it's not just the rebels firing on them, but that shots are coming from across the border, from Rwanda.
SOLDIER (through translator): You can see for yourselves, the border is over there. All the firing is coming into the Congo from there. It can't be from anywhere but Rwanda.
LINDSEY HILSUM: Government troops retreated south down the road. They're failing to protect tens of thousands fleeing their homes.
Today, people left the camp at Kibumba and started to flee towards Goma. As the refugees searched for somewhere to shelter, government troops were in full-scale retreat, abandoning the town to its fate, expecting the rebel army of Laurent Nkunda at any time.
The U.N. forces can't cope. They're supposed to keep the peace, not fight a war. The Security Council is meeting today, but who wants to send more troops to this intractable conflict?
BERNARD KOUCHNER, foreign minister, France: Is it possible to send some other forces? I don't know, really. All the nations are very reluctant, because it has been done. And last time, it was with a French and Belgian initiative, Artemis operation, very successful for three months or four months. Is it possible to repeat?
LINDSEY HILSUM: Some 45,000 people are on the move. The situation is so dangerous, it's hard for aid workers to get to them and provide the help needed.
JIM LEHRER: The U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, warned today the violence has spawned a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions.
The U.S. Justice Department Today approved a merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines. The decision means the last hurdle to the deal is a lawsuit by air passengers in San Francisco. The combined carrier would operate under the Delta name and become the world's largest airline.
