E-mail This Page

Africa  Asia-Pacific  Europe  Latin America  Middle East  North America

Arts & Entertainment  Business & Economy  Environment  Education  Government Programs  Health  In Memoriam  International Organizations  Law  Media  Military  Politics  Religion  Science & Technology  Social Issues  Sports  Terrorism  Transportation  U.S. Presidency  Weather & Natural Disasters

2009 OCTOBER FRIDAY, October 30, 2009 As Afghan Strategy Develops, Clinton Focuses On Pakistan President Obama called in his national security team to the White House on Friday to review U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ended a trip designed to smooth ties between Washington and Islamabad.    2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 News Wrap: Stocks Slide on Weak Consumer Spending In other news, stocks dropped on Friday on news of weak consumer spending, and the White House said it was unhappy with the output of swine flu vaccine.      Clinton: Pakistan 'Making Progress' Against Extremists In a Friday interview with Margaret Warner in Islamabad, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the goals of her Pakistan trip, how she is encouraged by the country's battle against extremists and the administration's upcoming decision on an Afghan strategy.    Politics of Pakistan With Jobs Still Elusive, White House Defends Stimulus President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package has saved or created about 650,000 jobs, the White House said Friday. But with unemployment at a 26-year high, the administration is facing increased criticism about ongoing weakness in the labor market.      In Colorado Desert, Hope Blooms for Pond Scum as Fuel In the latest in a series about innovation amid economic turmoil, Tom Bearden reports on efforts to convert algae into clean fuel.      Shields and Brooks on 'New Candor' with Pakistan, Biden's Poll Numbers Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top stories of the past week, including Hillary Clinton's visit to Pakistan, Vice President Joe Biden's poll numbers, and upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, October 29, 2009 Economy Shows New Signs of Growth, but Jobs Still Lag The U.S. economy ended a year of contraction in the third quarter, expanding by 3.5 percent. While much of the growth is being attributed to President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan, critics continue to ask, when will jobs return?      News Wrap: Iran May Not Send Uranium Abroad In other news, Iran gave no indication it will agree to a U.N. plan to ship most of its nuclear fuel abroad for enrichment, and President Obama traveled to the military post at Dover, Del. to honor 18 American killed in Afghanistan earlier this week.      House Health Care Bill Features Public Option Compromise House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled an $894 billion health care reform bill Thursday that would expand insurance coverage to as many as 36 million people. In a nod to moderates, the plan includes a public option in which rates are negotiated with doctors and hospitals. Betty Ann Bowser reports.      Lahore on Edge as Insurgency Heightens Attacks Lahore, generally considered Pakistan's cultural hub, has experienced several terrorist attacks this year, which has put the city on edge. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the city Thursday and promised more U.S. assistance. Margaret Warner provides an on-the-ground report.    Politics of Pakistan Ex-State Department Official Explains Exit Over Afghan War Strategy In an interview with Judy Woodruff, Matthew Hoh, the first U.S. official known to resign in protest to America's presence in Afghanistan, discusses his objections to the war.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Hard Knocks: Does Playing in NFL Cause Brain Trauma? A House committee on Wednesday heard testimony from medical experts, as well as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to determine whether professional football contributes to brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Ray Suarez reports.      WEDNESDAY, October 28, 2009 Militant Attacks Kill Scores in Afghanistan and Pakistan Taliban militants stormed a U.N. guest house Wednesday in Kabul, leaving 12 people dead, including 5 U.N. staffers, and one American. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, a car bombing in the northwestern city of Peshawar killed more than 100 people. Gwen Ifill reports.      Deadly Car Bombing Clouds Clinton's Visit to Pakistan As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Pakistan for meetings with top diplomats, a car bombing in Peshawar struck a crowded market, killing at least 101 people and injuring scores more. Margaret Warner reports from Pakistan on the attack and its impact on Clinton's visit.      Other News: Obama Expands Hate Crimes Law In other news, President Obama signed an expansion of the federal hate crimes law, and new home sales fell unexpectedly by 3.6 percent in September.      Crackdown Targets Banks Deemed 'Too Big to Fail' The head of a key House committee unveiled legislation Wednesday that would grant the federal government sweeping new powers to police giant financial firms. Jim Lehrer talks to two financial analysts about the debate over "too big to fail" institutions.      Cities Struggle With Access to Green Energy Sources In cities across the country, officials are faced with the task of getting renewable energy from the outskirts of town to the urban centers where demand is greatest. NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels reports from Los Angeles.      No Insurance? On Borneo, This Clinic Accepts Manure On the tiny island of Borneo, the Asri Clinic doesn't take credit cards. Instead, the clinic accepts payments that improve the local ecosystem, be it seedlings for replanting, eggshells for composting, even manure. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.    Social Entrepreneurship For Ben Folds, an Orchestral Backing Makes Classic Sense When rock 'n' roll pianist Ben Folds writes songs, he often does so with an orchestra in mind. Now on tour performing with leading symphonies, Folds is experiencing a homecoming of sorts, reports Jeffrey Brown.      TUESDAY, October 27, 2009 Renewed Public Option Push in Senate Tests Democratic Unity The push by the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to include a public option into a health care reform bill drew sharply different reactions on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with liberals voicing support, moderates airing concerns, and Republicans promising a filibuster.    Rx for Reform News Wrap: October the Deadliest Month in Afghan War In other news, October officially became the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001, and in Iraq a deal that would have cleared the way for national elections has dissolved.      Opt-out Clause on Public Option Puts Role of States Back in Spotlight Among the health reform proposals under debate on Capitol Hill is a plan to allow states to opt out of a public option -- which may help legislation pass through Congress, but how would it work to drive down costs? Two experts discuss the idea with Ray Suarez.    Rx for Reform 'Neglected Infections' Resurface Among America's Poor In poor rural areas, inner cities, and among Latin American immigrants, exotic diseases classified by the CDC as "neglected infections" are now affecting millions of people. As Jeffrey Kaye reports, the rarer the illness, the harder it is to find treatment.    Global Health Watch Labor's 'Bulldog' Trumka Challenged by Dwindling Ranks, Public Perception As AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka works to protect organized labor from the excesses of big business, he faces dwindling ranks, splits among union groups, and diminished public support. Paul Solman reports.      MONDAY, October 26, 2009 In Afghanistan, a Deadly Day for Americans American forces suffered their deadliest day in four years in Afghanistan as 14 troops and civilians were killed in separate air crashes. Kwame Holman reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Security in Iraq Questioned After Massive Bombings In other news, Iraqi forces beefed up security one day after a blast killed 155 people and injured 500 others, and 11 Iranians were arrested in Pakistan for attempting to illegal enter the country.      Kerry: Afghan Troop Push Goes 'Too Far, Too Fast' Margaret Warner speaks with Sen. John Kerry about his recent trip to Afghanistan to persuade President Hamid Karzai to accept a runoff election.      New York Times Reporter Rohde Details His Kidnapping by Taliban New York Times reporter David Rohde recounts being kidnapped by the Taliban for more than seven months while working on a book in Afghanistan. Gwen Ifill reports.      Two Families Describe Battles With H1N1 Betty Ann Bowser takes an in-depth look at two families attempting to cope with the H1N1 flu.      Writer Michael Chabon Explores Regrets, Pleasures Pulitzer-prize winning author Michael Chabon sits down with Jeffrey Brown to talk about his new book, "Manhood for Amateurs."      FRIDAY, October 23, 2009 CDC: H1N1 Vaccine Efforts Not Meeting Goals The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the H1N1 flu's effects have already matched those of the seasonal flu. Ray Suarez reports.    Global Health Watch Other News: Pelosi Promises a Public Option In other news, House speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted on Friday that the House of Representatives' compromise health reform bill will include a public option, and the National Association of Realtors announced a jump in sales of pre-owned homes.      In U.K., Political Extremism on BBC Causes Outrage A heated debate over political extremism in the United Kingdom came to a head this week when the leader of the British National Party appeared on a BBC show.      'Traumatized' Afghanistan Could Take Decades to Fix Margaret Warner speaks with Rory Stewart, who spent two years walking across Afghanistan, about whether President Obama should commit more troops to the war there.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Shields, Brooks: Obama Risks Looking Petty in Fox Fight Columnists David Brooks and Mark Shields review the week's news, including the coming Afghan runoff and the war of words between the White House and Fox News.    Political Wrap Sullenberger: Lifetime of Preparation Led to 'Miracle' Jeffrey Brown speaks with Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger whose emergency landing of a United Airways flight in New York saved the lives of 155 people.      THURSDAY, October 22, 2009 Feinberg Hopes More Companies Adopt Executive Pay Rules The Federal Reserve curbed pay packages for executives of companies that received bailout money in an effort to discourage risky business practices. Jeffrey Brown speaks with executive pay czar Kenneth Feinberg.      Other News: House OKs Consumer Protection Agency In other news, the House voted Thursday to establish a new consumer protection agency, and federal agents carried out a massive 19-state drug bust.      House Panel Approves Curbs for Insurers' Antitrust Exemptions The House approved a bill on Wednesday that would limit the health insurance industry's exemption from federal antitrust laws. Betty Ann Bowser and Judy Woodruff report.    Rx for Reform Indonesia Remains Secular Despite Islamic Revival Despite a resurgence of Islam in the predominately Muslim country, Indonesia has remained politically secular. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.      Stimulus Money Plows Through Tractor Country Ray Suarez speaks with Dante Chinni of the Patchwork Nation project about tracking federal stimulus money as it is dispersed through America.      Poet Sherman Alexie Talks 'Faces' and 'War Dances' Author Sherman Alexie talks about his new book of poetry called "Faces" and his new short story collection, "War Dances."    NewsHour Poetry Series WEDNESDAY, October 21, 2009 Barofsky: TARP Program Fueled Public Distrust The biggest cost of the TARP program might be the public's distrust of the government, according to inspector general Neil Barofsky. Ray Suarez reports.      Other News: Wells Fargo Concerns Drive Market Sell-off In other news, worries about the health of Wells Fargo triggered a late day sell-off on Wall Street, and former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah agreed to the presidential runoff set for November.      Former Car Czar Rattner: No Reason GM Can't Succeed "People will start buying cars again," former car czar Steve Rattner tells Judy Woodruff. He also discusses ousting GM's CEO and how the auto industry will evolve.      Chaos in Clinics Over H1N1 Vaccine Shortage Throughout the nation, concern over a possible H1N1 vaccine shortage is causing chaos at hospitals. Betty Ann Bower visits a clinic in Maryland for more.    Global Health Watch Cancer Society Warns Against Premature Screenings The American Cancer Society warned Wednesday that premature screening could lead to overtreating or overlooking cancer. Gwen Ifill reports.      Report Explores New Models for Journalism Jeffrey Brown talks to Nick Lemann of Columbia Journalism School and former Washington Post editor Leonard Downie Jr. about journalism's future.      TUESDAY, October 20, 2009 Under Pressure, Karzai Endorses Afghan Election Runoff Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed to a runoff election after a U.N. probe determined that the August election was rife with fraud. Gwen Ifill reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror In Afghanistan, Runoff Election Could Strengthen Democracy Afghan President Hamid Karzai bowed to pressure Tuesday and agreed to a runoff election on Nov. 7. The move came as the Obama administration debates the future of U.S. strategy. Gwen Ifill talks to experts for insight.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Obama Renews Vow to Withdraw From Iraq In other news, President Obama vowed to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by next October, and an Iranian-American was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in an Iranian jail for participating in demonstrations against the nation's government.      Suicide Attacks Rattle Pakistan as Offensive Continues Ray Suarez speaks with Washington Post reporter Pamela Constable who has been reporting from Islamabad on the Pakistani army's offensive against militants.    Politics of Pakistan Yoo's Tenure Questioned Over Bush Torture Policy Spencer Michels reports on the ongoing academic wrangling over former Bush attorney John Yoo's instruction at the University of California, Berkeley.      CDC Chief: H1N1 Poses More Risk for Kids, Young Adults Health officials warn that young people are expected to be hit the hardest this year by the H1N1 virus. Margaret Warner speaks with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more.      'Austin City Limits' Style Still Evolving After 35 Years Jeffrey Brown reports on the 35th anniversary of "Austin City Limits," the longest-running music series in television history.      MONDAY, October 19, 2009 In Afghanistan, Disputed Ballots Point Toward Runoff After months of speculation, investigators confirmed on Monday that the Afghan election was rife with fraud. Margaret Warner reports.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Iran Vows 'Crushing Response' to Bombing In other news, Iraq's Revolutionary Guard promised a "crushing response" after a suicide bomb killed five commanders, and nuclear talks with Iran convened in Vienna.      In Pakistan, Offensive Rages Against Insurgents The Pakistani army continues to fight insurgents in the rugged hills of South Waziristan near the Afghan border. Judy Woodruff speaks with experts for more.    Politics of Pakistan In Greenland, Ice Unlocks Climate Change History Scientists dig deep into Greenland's ice to unearth the history of climate change. Climatologist and Climate Central correspondent Heidi Cullen reports.      U.S. Launches New Strategy for Dealing With Sudan The Obama administration announced a new strategy on Sudan, which includes offering incentives in exchange for a resolution on the crisis in Darfur. Ray Suarez speaks with General Scott Gration, special envoy to Sudan, for more.    Crisis in Sudan White House Steps Up Criticism of Fox News Channel Jeffrey Brown reports on the escalating war of words between Fox News and the Obama White House, which recently referred to the conservative leaning channel as a "wing of the Republican party."      Exploring Tensions Between Presidents and the Media Jeffrey Brown speaks with media experts about the ongoing feud between the White House and Fox News channel.      FRIDAY, October 16, 2009 Afghan Runoff Grows Likely Following Fraud Probe An investigation into fraudulent ballots in Afghanistan has reduced President Hamid Karzai's share of the vote to 47 percent, triggering a runoff election between him and his closest challenger, Abdullah Abdullah.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Anticipation Grows Around Afghan Fraud Probe A probe into fraud allegations in Afghanistan's presidential election carries important implications for the Obama administration's deliberations into war strategy there. Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post assesses the possible consequences with Judy Woodruff.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror News Wrap: Police Station Bombing Kills 13 in Pakistan In other news, a suicide bombing at a police station in Pakistan has killed at least 13 people, and in Iraq a bomber opened fire on a mosque in Tal Afar.      Afghan Expert Riedel Weighs Obama's Strategic Options Former CIA officer and terrorism expert Bruce Riedel discusses his book, "The Search for Al Qaeda: Its Leadership, Ideology, and Future" and his work chairing an Afghanistan policy review for the Obama administration.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Bank Earnings Reveal Mixed Recovery on Wall Street Third-quarter earnings revealed a mixed picture on Wall Street as Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase posted healthy profits, while Bank of America continued to struggle under the weight of rising credit card delinquencies and mortgage defaults.      Shields and Gerson Survey Health Care Outlook, Economy Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson sort through the top news of the past week, including a key vote on health care in the Senate Finance Committee, bank earning reports and conflicting data about the health of the economy.    Political Wrap Tensions Surround Honduras Leadership Talks With presidential elections just weeks away, negotiators in Honduras continue to work on an agreement that would temporarily return ousted president Manuel Zelaya to power. Ray Suarez reports.      Casualties Take Heavy Toll on Colorado Military Post Tom Bearden reports on how soldiers at Fort Carson in Colorado are coping with rising casualties from among their ranks, first from the Iraq war and now from Afghanistan.      THURSDAY, October 15, 2009 Obama Visits New Orleans to Gauge Recovery President Obama flew to New Orleans on Thursday to assess the city's recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Margaret Warner reports.      News Wrap: Dozens Killed in Attacks Across Pakistan In other news, at least 39 people were killed in a wave of attacks across Pakistan on Thursday, and the Social Security Administration announced it will not enact a cost of living increase in benefits next year.      Making Sense of the Foreclosure Crisis In the latest in a series of reports making sense of the economy, NewsHour economics correspondent Paul Solman examines the ongoing foreclosure crisis.      IRS Ends Amnesty for Use of Overseas Tax Havens In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman discusses the agency's efforts to close overseas tax shelters.      Exploring the Hazards of Texting, Talking While Driving As new evidence emerges about the hazards of driving while talking on a cell phone, more states are pushing to ban the practice. KCET's "SoCal Connected" takes a closer look.      White House Fiesta Celebrates Latin Music A sampling of Latin music performed at the White House this week at a cultural event hosted by the president and first lady.      WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2009 Dow Closes Above 10,000 for First Time in a Year The Dow Jones industrial average closed Wednesday above 10,000 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2008. Ray Suarez speaks with a Washington Post reporter about the significance.      News Wrap: Obama Seeks More Help for Seniors In other news, President Obama asked Congress to approve extra social security payments for the nation's seniors, and tensions over an American aid package for Pakistan appeared to ease.      Wall Street Set for Record Payouts a Year After Crash Despite heightened scrutiny from both the public and regulators in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, compensation on Wall Street is set for a record year in 2009. Jeffrey Brown reports.      Senate Shifts Focus to Health Care Compromise Top Senate Democrats and White House officials have turned their health reform efforts toward crafting a compromise package that can unite Democrats and avoid a GOP filibuster. Policy analysts examine the different ways a public option could take shape in Congress.    Rx for Reform Cash Strapped California Towns Eye Tax Hikes for Medical Marijuana With budget woes causing cuts to essential services across California, several communities in the state are weighing whether to raise additional revenue through tax hikes on medical marijuana. Spencer Michels reports.      Afghanistan's Disputed Election Complicates U.S. Strategy As President Obama develops a new Afghanistan strategy, rising violence there and an unresolved election have combined to sap public support for the war. Ashraf Ghani, who was one of Afghanistan's presidential candidates, discusses his country's future.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror TUESDAY, October 13, 2009 Health Care Bill Clears Senate Panel with One G.O.P. Vote President Obama's top domestic initiative, health care reform, inched closer to final votes in Congress on Tuesday after clearing a key hurdle in the Senate Finance Committee. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Emanuel: Cost, Competition Central to Health Reform In an interview, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel discusses the Senate Finance Committee's passage of a health reform bill, the future for the public option and more.    Rx for Reform Other News: Obama to Announce Afghan Strategy in 'the Coming Weeks' In other news, President Obama said he will announce whether he intends to send more troops to Afghanistan in "the coming weeks," and military jets bombed a series of militant targets along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.      Va., N.J. Gubernatorial Races May Prove Early Test of Obama Policies Gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia have emerged as an early test of the public's support for President Obama's domestic agenda. Gwen Ifill discusses the implications with two political analysts.      Kenya Devastated by Massive Drought Lindsey Hilsum of ITN reports from Kenya on the worst drought to strike the horn of Africa in more than a decade.      In Honduras, Elections Pose Test for Diplomats With presidential elections just weeks away, diplomats are struggling to resolve the standoff in Honduras between deposed president Manuel Zelaya, and his ouster, Roberto Micheletti.      ScienceNow Looks at Rescuing the Hubble The NewsHour airs an excerpt from a NOVA ScienceNow report on efforts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.      Honduras in Turmoil Three Months After Coup More than three months after a coup removed him from office, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and his rival, interim President Roberto Micheletti, remain at loggerheads. Ray Suarez speaks with Marcelo Ballve of New America Media about the situation.      MONDAY, October 12, 2009 Pakistan Rocked by Suicide Bombing, At Least 41 Killed A suicide car bombing in northwest Pakistan killed at least 41 people on Monday. Jonathan Rugman of ITN reports.    Politics of Pakistan Militant Attacks Renew Questions on Pakistan's Security Violence continued in Pakistan on Monday as militants detonated a car bomb in a crowded market in the northwest of the country. Gwen Ifill talks to a reporter in Islamabad about the renewed attacks.    Politics of Pakistan News Wrap: Afghan Official Leaves Election Commission In other news, an Afghan official resigned from a commission charged with determining whether fraud occurred in the nation's presidential election, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the world will not be deterred by new missile testing in North Korea.      Health Reform Carries Heavy Price, Insurers Claim A new report paid for by the insurance industry has concluded that health care reform would increase the costs of coverage faster and higher than under the current system.    Rx for Reform San Francisco Ramps Up Care for City's Uninsured While the U.S. has struggled with an imperfect health care system, San Francisco has launched its own initiative to extend coverage to the more than 60,000 adult residents in the city without insurance. Spencer Michels reports.      Lawmakers Eye 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Reversal Tens of thousands of demonstrators descended on Washington this past weekend demanding an end to the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Could a reversal be next? Kwame Holman reports.      Historian Taylor Branch on the 'Clinton Tapes' Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Taylor Branch speaks with Jeffrey Brown about his new book, "The Clinton Tapes."      FRIDAY, October 9, 2009 President Obama Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Mixed Reviews President Barack Obama was named this year's Nobel Peace Prize honoree, becoming the second sitting president to win. Ray Suarez reports.      News Wrap: Obama, McChrystal Discuss Afghan Strategy In other news, Obama met with General McChrystal to discuss strategies for Afghanistan, and a suicide bombing in Pakistan killed at least 49 people.      Examining the Road to Becoming a Nobel Laureate Jeffrey Brown speaks to Scott London, co-editor of "Nobel Lectures in Peace," about the selection process for the Nobel Peace Prize.      How the Peace Prize Could Affect Obama's Presidency Judy Woodruff gets reactions from policy experts on President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize and discusses what the award means for his presidency.      Investigation into Rangel's Dealings Intensifies The House Ethics Committee is expanding its investigation into Rep. Charles Rangel over a series of questionable financial dealings. Kwame Holman reports.      Brooks, Marcus Discuss Potential Peace Prize Backfire, Rangel Controversy Columnists David Brooks and Ruth Marcus discuss the week's news, including the potential pitfalls in President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize.    Political Wrap Small Crash on Moon Could Have Big Scientific Impact Scientists hope crashing a probe into the moon will shed light on whether there is much water there.      THURSDAY, October 8, 2009 Health Reform Vote Set for Senate Finance Committee The Senate Finance Committee will vote next week on revamping the nation's health care system. Kwame Holman reports.    Rx for Reform News Wrap: House OKs Hate Crime Protections for Gays, Lesbians In other news, the House voted to include homosexuals in federal hate crime laws, and first-time claims for unemployment fell more than expected last week.      Taliban Claims Credit for Deadly Suicide Bombing Bill Neely of Independent Television news reports on the latest suicide bombing at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan that killed at least 17 people.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Afghanistan Ambassador Warns of Worsening Violence Margaret Warner speaks with Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, Said Jawad, about escalating Taliban violence and what is at stake for the U.S.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Flu Season to Come Earlier, Stronger than Expected The flu season might start earlier than expected, complicating efforts to distribute an H1N1 vaccine before people are infected. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Global Health Watch Tracking Tainted Food a Near Impossibility in U.S. Lee Hochberg reports on the difficulty in tracking the source of tainted foods and the complicated trail from production to sale.      Michelle Obama's Ancestry Reveals Intriguing Slave Tale Jeffrey Brown examines first lady Michelle Obama's ancestral path as the descendant of a slave.      WEDNESDAY, October 7, 2009 Pakistan's Role in Fighting Terror Under Review Pakistan affirmed its resolve to continue fighting al-Qaida and also providing enforcements for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Judy Woodruff reports.    Politics of Pakistan News Wrap: Supreme Court Considers Giant Cross in Mojave Desert In other news, the Supreme Court took up the separation of church and state in a case involving public lands in California, and two Americans and an Israeli received the Nobel Prize in chemistry.      Netherlands Health System Balances Cost With Quality In the last of a series on health care in the Netherlands, Ray Suarez reports on how the European country maintains low health care costs while delivering a high standard of care.    Rx for Reform What the U.S. Can Learn From Health Care Abroad Gwen Ifill speaks with health experts about what the United States can learn from health care systems throughout the world.    Rx for Reform "Obama's War" Commemorates Eight Years in Afghanistan On the anniversary of the U.S. war against the Taliban, Frontline looks into one U.S. officer's mission into a valley outside Kabul.      Student's Death Points to Upsurge in Gang Violence in Chicago Jeffrey Brown speaks with a Chicago Sun-Times reporter about the recent murder of a high school student in Chicago's south side and the increase in gang violence throughout the Windy City.      New Statue Honors Helen Keller A bronze statue of Helen Keller was unveiled to Congress Wednesday. Kwame Holman reports.      TUESDAY, October 6, 2009 Obama Brings Congress Into Afghan Strategy Review Reporters offer insight into President Obama's meeting with lawmakers Tuesday to discuss a strategy shift in Afghanistan and Pakistan.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Other News: Flooding in India Leaves Millions Homeless In other news, flooding in Southern India left millions homeless and hungry, and heating bills are expected to be lower this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration.      Dogfight Video Tests Limits of Free Speech The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether videos of illegal dogfights are protected speech. Marcia Coyle offers insight.    Supreme Court Watch In Netherlands, Insurers Compete Over Quality of Care In the first of a series on health care abroad, Ray Suarez looks at how the Netherlands achieved a massive health care overhaul four years ago.    Global Health Watch Masters of Light: Americans Win the Nobel Prize in Physics Jeffrey Brown reports on three American scientists who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering research in fiber optics and digital photography.      Commercial Real Estate May Be Next Victim of Recession Just two years ago an office space in midtown Manhattan could fetch close to $1.7 billion. Today, the same property trades for about $600 million. A sign the commercial real estate market will be the next shoe to drop in the U.S. economy? Paul Solman reports.      MONDAY, October 5, 2009 New Attacks Add Gravity to Afghan Strategy Review The U.S. toll in Afghanistan climbed after a weekend of heavy casualties as President Obama considers a push from top military commanders to add more troops to the conflict. Two military experts offer their views.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror News Wrap: Bomb Strikes U.N. Office in Pakistan In other news Monday, five people were killed in a suicide bombing at the U.N. World Food Program office in Islamabad, and three Americans were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.      New Court Term Puts Spotlight on Gun Rights, Free Speech, Business The Supreme Court opened a new term on Monday with a docket full of cases concerning corporations, compensation, and the financial markets. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal previews the term with Gwen Ifill.    Supreme Court Watch Among Doctors, Many Opinions on Health Care Reform While President Obama worked to rally doctors around health care reform Monday, fault lines have nevertheless emerged among physicians on topics such as the public option, the role of insurance companies, and the say of patients. A pair of doctors debate their views with Judy Woodruff.    Rx for Reform Dodgers' Vin Scully 'One on One' From the Booth After 60 years in the broadcast booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vin Scully says he still gets goose bumps. In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, the hall of famer discusses his first big break, the thrill of baseball, and his "one on one" approach with the fans.      FRIDAY, October 2, 2009 Job Losses Rise, Dampening Hopes for a Quick Recovery Employers shed 263,000 jobs in September, more than analysts expected, bringing the jobless rate to 9.8 percent. Economics columnist David Leonhardt and labor expert Jacob Kirkegaard look at the numbers.      Other News: Two Survivors Rescued from Quake Rubble In other news, two survivors of the earthquake in Indonesia were pulled from the rubble Friday, while in the Samoan islands, the death toll from Tuesday's deep-sea earthquake and tsunami rose to 169 people.      Chicago Loses Out On Olympics as Games Head for Rio Despite a high-profile push by President Obama and others, Chicago will not host the 2016 summer games. The Olympic Torch will instead land in Rio de Janeiro. Ray Suarez reports on the story and talks to sports writer Christine Brennan.      Key Senate Panel Nears Health Care Reform Vote The Senate Finance Committee has finished a marathon week sorting through hundreds of amendments to Chairman Max Baucus's health care reform plan. Next stop for the bill: a vote by the full committee. Betty Ann Bowser reports.    Rx for Reform Shields and Brooks on Obama's Olympic Trip, Health Care Mark Shields and David Brooks sort through the week's news, including President Obama's trip abroad to tout Chicago's bid for the Olympics, new moves on health care reform and talks with Iran on its nuclear program.    Political Wrap Bening Returns to Stage with Modern Twist on 'Medea' After establishing herself as a star of the silver screen, Annette Bening has returned to her roots as a stage actor with a modern interpretation of Euripides' classical Greek play, "Medea."      THURSDAY, October 1, 2009 Death Toll Mounts From Pacific Earthquakes The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes in American Somoa and Indonesia continued to climb Thursday as aid workers raced to help survivors.   News Wrap: Markets Drop on Mix of Weak Reports In other news, markets fell on a rise in claims for unemployment benefits and drops in auto sales and factory activity, and a key Senate committee neared the end of its work on health care reform.      Disputed Afghan Election Leads to U.N. Staff Shake-up A top U.S. official at the U.N. mission to Afghanistan has been dismissed after he accused his boss of hiding evidence of election fraud. The ousted diplomat, Peter Galbraith, and a U.N. official discuss the dispute.    Afghanistan and the War on Terror Iran Gives Nod to Inspections, More Nuclear Talks Iran has agreed to a second round of discussions over its disputed nuclear program following a meeting in Geneva on Thursday with diplomats from the U.S. and other world powers.    Governing Iran Fossil Find Sheds Light on 'Early Evolutionary Steps' A 4.4-million year old fossil, discovered in Africa has opened a window onto humans' "early evolutionary steps," according to the group of scientists responsible for the find. Ray Suarez reports.      Junk Man: Poet and Professor Albert Goldbarth Poet and toy collector Albert Goldbarth is a two-time winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as the Mark Twain Prize for Humor. In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, Goldbarth discusses his writing, and his latest book of poetry,"To Be Read in 500 Years."    NewsHour Poetry Series 2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997

ABOUT US   |   FEEDBACK   |   SUBSCRIPTIONS / FEEDS:

Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station.

PBS Online Privacy Policy Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.