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Saturday

National

Farmers Headed To Combat Zone

Armed with 4 tons of winter wheat and farming tools, members of the Kansas National Guard are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. The Agribusiness Development team will help local farmers with their crops and livestock. Major Blaine Clowser, a member of the "combat farmer" team, talks about his pending trip.

Farmers Headed To Combat Zone

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Smuggling Route Goes Through Ecuador To U.S.

Last June, Ecuador's president tried to turn his belief that borders should be open into reality. He announced that anyone from anywhere could visit Ecuador without a visa. Overnight, Chinese began arriving by the dozens. They apparently were hoping to use Ecuador as a springboard to the United States by tapping into the nation's vast human-smuggling business.

Smuggling Route Goes Through Ecuador To U.S.

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Drug Violence In Mexico Threatens U.S. Borders

A brutal wave of drug violence is ravaging cities near the U.S.-Mexico border, and governments of both countries pointed fingers at each other this week over who's to blame.

Drug Violence In Mexico Threatens U.S. Borders

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Obama Announces Troop Pullout By August 2010

President Obama announced the pullout of combat troops from Iraq Friday at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He spoke to an audience of some 2,000 Marines-- for whom the reduction in Iraq will instead mean more time in Afghanistan.

Obama Announces Troop Pullout By August 2010

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Friday

Middle East

Clinton Delves Into Israeli-Palestinian Politics

The secretary of state leaves this weekend for Egypt, Israel and the West Bank and is bringing with her a $900 million aid package to help rebuild Gaza. That goal is just one of the many challenges awaiting her.

Clinton Delves Into Israeli-Palestinian Politics

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U.S. Goals May Require Longer Troop Stay In Iraq

President Obama says the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will end by Aug. 31, 2010, and he'll honor a previous agreement to remove all forces by Dec. 31, 2011. But officials say both American interests and Iraqi security needs will require a much longer U.S. presence.

U.S. Goals May Require Longer Troop Stay In Iraq

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Shift In Power Heightens Tensions In Iraqi City

Last month's provincial election shifted the balance of power in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh province. The change could bring long-simmering tensions between the region's Arabs and Kurds to the boiling point.

Shift In Power Heightens Tensions In Iraqi City

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Economy

Chinese Investors Looking To Buy U.S. Homes

Cash-rich tourists from mainland China are coming to the United States to cruise neighborhoods with a lot of foreclosures or unsold developments. They are looking for bargain-basement buys. These recent home-buying tours to the U.S. have become one of the most popular tour group packages in China.

Chinese Investors Looking To Buy U.S. Homes

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Shell Sees Global Oil Demand Doubling By 2050

As oil companies plan for the future, they are expecting higher prices and demand. Oil company executives were on Capitol Hill this week to discuss offshore drilling, which they say needs to be part of America's long-term energy policy. Shell Oil Co. President Marvin Odum says he expects global demand to double by 2050.

Shell Sees Global Oil Demand Doubling By 2050

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Palestinians Hold Reconciliation Talks In Cairo

Hamas and Fatah are pledging to continue negotiations toward an interim Palestinian government that would bring the rival movements together. The pledge came after two days of talks in Cairo. Little substance emerged from the discussions, but the pledge itself represents some measure of progress toward ending bitter disputes dividing Palestinians.

Palestinians Hold Reconciliation Talks In Cairo

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CIA And Pentagon Wonder: Could Mexico Implode?

Drug-related violence in Mexico is escalating at an alarming rate and threatening the government of President Felipe Calderon. As the CIA and U.S. military planners envision a worst-case scenario, the American military is quietly stepping in with more training.

CIA And Pentagon Wonder: Could Mexico Implode?

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Thursday

Russian Baths Offer Respite From Bitter Winters

In Russia, the legendary fierce winter starts to seem endless around this time of year. That helps explain Russians' abiding love for a central part of life: the sauna baths Russians call the banya, which have their own traditions and customs.

Russian Baths Offer Respite From Bitter Winters

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Taliban Prepares For U.S. Troops

The Taliban is reorganizing in Pakistan's tribal belt in preparation for the arrival of 17,000 U.S. troops across the border in Afghanistan. It doesn't want to fight on two fronts so it is no longer interested in waging war with the Pakistani army.

Taliban Prepares For U.S. Troops

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