News Wrap: Fears of recession trigger stock market sell-off

Judy Woodruff:

A sell-off swept all street and the world, as rising interest rates in the U.S. and many other countries are intensifying fears of recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average hit its low for the year, down 486 points, to close at 29590. The Nasdaq fell nearly 200 points. The S&P lost 64. For the week, all three stock indexes were down 4 to 5 percent.

Voting has begun in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine on whether to join Russia proper. Moscow went ahead with the referenda today, despite Western opposition. The U.S. and others charge that the votes are illegitimate and preordained to go Russia's way.

We will get a detailed report after the news summary.

Hurricane Fiona is closing in on Canada tonight after blowing past Bermuda, with driving rain and winds gusting to 100 miles an hour. The storm churned up rough seas and knocked out power as it passed to the west. Islanders had boarded up windows in advance. Fiona will begin lashing Canada's Atlantic provinces late tonight. Hurricane watches extend from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.

Meanwhile, 60 percent of Puerto Rico's homes and businesses spent another day with no electricity.

Counterprotesters in Iran marched in support of the Islamic regime today. That followed growing unrest over a young woman's death in the custody of so-called morality police. Several thousand demonstrators turned out in Tehran, waving Iranian flags. They accused anti-government protesters of being guided by foreigners.

Fatemeh Balaee, Pro-Government Protester (through translator):

The protesters and rioters that took to the streets are not ordinary people. They are trained groups that have entered our country to destroy the ruling system. Definitely, we won't allow this to happen.

Judy Woodruff:

The government claimed that the counterprotests were spontaneous.

A disaster at sea off of Syria grew even worse today. Officials in Lebanon and Syria raised the death toll to 77 in the sinking of a migrant boat. The victims were Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrian refugees likely bound for Europe. Syrian state TV showed survivors brought on shore and taken to hospitals. It is the deadliest incident yet in an exodus driven by Lebanon's economic collapse.

Protests in Japan are intensifying against holding a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Hundreds of people rallied today in Tokyo, denouncing Abe, who was assassinated in July. His pro-military policies made him one of Japan's most divisive leaders since World War II. Abe was cremated after a private funeral four days after his death.

And back in this country, in person voting for the midterm elections has officially begun. People began turning out today at voting centers in Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming. In all, 46 states and the District of Columbia will offer the option of voting early in person this year.