The latest news on Hurricane Ike, Remembering 9/11, Palin Interview, Domestic Violence, Cost of Killing, Zimbabwe, Child Deaths, West Bank Peace, Iraq, Venezuela, Pakistan, Egypt, India, and Russia.

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Hurricane Ike. Ike is rolling in, Texans are rolling out "Facing a hurricane that Gov. Rick Perry said could have 'extraordinary impact,' authorities ordered the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents of low-lying coastal areas south and east of Houston." Houston residents get what they need to stay or go "Residents across the Houston region scurried and scrounged Thursday stocking up on essentials from gasoline and batteries to water and peanut butter, everything needed to endure Hurricane Ike's arrival - or flee its path." Ike evacuation: 'Hurricane amnesty' to help Gulf's illegal immigrants "But increased raids this past year mean that many undocumented may choose to stay in the storm zone."

Remembering 9/11. President Dedicates Memorial to Attack "'Seven years ago at this hour, a doomed airline plunged from the sky, split the rock and steel of this building, and changed our world forever,' Mr. Bush said under cool, cloudy skies - a day quite unlike the crisp, sunny day on which the attacks occurred. He added, 'Here, we remember those who died. And here, on this solemn anniversary, we dedicate a memorial that will enshrine their memory for all time.'" Bush dedicates 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon "The nearly 3,000 people who died when hijackers commandeered four passenger jets on Sept. 11, 2001, were remembered as President Bush dedicated the first national memorial to the victims and the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates came together in a moment of silence." Campaign set aside as nation remembers 9/11 "John McCain and Barack Obama quieted their political battling for a day to appear jointly at Ground Zero, as the nation remembered the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Thursday with ceremonies at each of the crash sites and the dedication of the first national Sept. 11 memorial." Candidates Promise National-Service Initiatives "Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain pledged to inspire a new commitment to public service, as they set aside the rancor of an intense presidential campaign during a two-hour forum on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks."

Palin interview. In First Big Interview, Palin Says, "I'm Ready" "For the last two weeks, Democrats and even some Republicans have asked: Does Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska have enough experience to hold the second-highest office in the nation, or the presidency if the need arises? 'I'm ready,' Ms. Palin answered without any hesitation in an interview with ABC News." Palin: U.S. might have to go to war with Russia "In her first interview since becoming the Republican nominee for vice president, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said the U.S. might have to go to war with Russia under certain circumstances, and she firmly rejected questions about her readiness for office." Palin touts readiness in 1st interview "In her first full interview since becoming the Republican vice-presidential nominee, Mrs. Palin told ABC News she takes a strong pro-Israeli and activist view of the U.S. role in the world. She said the U.S. 'should not second-guess' Israel's decisions on defense, including a future strike on Iran, and she defended the doctrine of a pre-emptive attack if American lives are at stake."

Domestic violence. Troubling link in domestic violence cases "Immigrants account for a disturbingly high share of domestic violence deaths in Massachusetts, advocates say, raising fears that the nation's heated immigration debate is deterring abuse victims from seeking help."

Cost of killing. Armed killings cost nations billions of dollars each year, UN-Swiss study says "The United States leads the world in economic loss from deaths caused by armed crime, according to a global survey released Friday. The U.S. registered an estimated loss of up to $45.1 billion in terms of economic productivity because of violent crimes."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Rivals Strike a Bargain to Share Power "President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai struck a power-sharing deal on Thursday after more than a month of wrangling." Details of Zimbabwe deal emerge "Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is to retain control of the army and chair cabinet meetings, according to leaks of Thursday's power-sharing deal." Mbeki's quiet diplomacy delivers overdue Zimbabwe deal "Thabo Mbeki, the much-maligned South African president, is likely to portray the deal between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change as vindicating his approach of 'quiet diplomacy.'"

Child deaths. Fewer children dying before age five, says Unicef "The UN children's fund, Unicef, has said the number of children worldwide dying before the age of five has fallen by 27% over the past two decades."

West Bank peace. A West Bank Ruin, Reborn as a Peace Beacon "The aim is to stand conventional wisdom on its head. Instead of a shaky negotiated peace treaty imposing coexistence from the top down, a bottom-up set of relationships that lock the two societies together should, proponents argue, lead to a real two-state solution."

Iraq. Iraq, U.S.-funded militia at loggerheads "A meeting Thursday aimed at sowing faith between Iraq's government and leaders of U.S.-funded paramilitary forces instead highlighted distrust between the sides, three weeks before Iraq takes control of the armed groups." Iraqi government reassures the Awakening, but fighters are wary "The Iraqi government will not turn its back on the men who paid in blood for the country's fragile peace, said the officials on stage in the ballroom at Baghdad's al-Rasheed Hotel, referring to U.S.-paid Sunni militias. But the Awakening leaders listened warily." Iraq Cancels Six No-Bid Oil Contracts "An Iraqi plan to award six no-bid contracts to Western oil companies, which came under sharp criticism from several United States senators this summer, has been withdrawn."

Venezuela. Hugo Chávez expels U.S. ambassador "President Hugo Chávez last night ordered the U.S. ambassador to leave Venezuela within 72 hours and accused Washington of fomenting a coup attempt against his socialist revolution." U.S. sanctions stoke Venezuela row "The U.S. Treasury has frozen the assets of two senior Venezuelan officials it accuses of aiding Colombian rebels, in an escalating diplomatic row."

Pakistan. Pakistan accuses US over terror raids "Pakistan's army chief has criticised the U.S. military for making unilateral cross-border raids in the hunt for al-Qaeda's top leadership, as tensions between the allies reached new heights on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America." Pakistan's prime minister backs army chief's rebuke to the U.S. on Sept. 11 anniversary "Pakistan's prime minister on Thursday backed a harsh rebuke of the U.S. by the Muslim nation's military chief, a sign of a strain in relations seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks forged the two countries' anti-terror alliance."

Egypt. Egyptian Policy Imperils Refugees, Migrants at Israel's Door "Egyptian security forces are killing an increasing number of Darfurian refugees and other African migrants attempting to cross from Egypt's Sinai desert into Israel in pursuit of jobs and a better life, according to refugees, human rights groups and the Egyptian government."

India. World Nuclear Trade Group Agrees to Restrict Sales to India "A 45-nation group that governs trade in nuclear equipment and materials privately agreed last weekend that none of its members plans to sell sensitive technologies to India, according to sources familiar with the discussion."

Russia. Russian leaders talk big, but army and economy are weak "Russia's military is riddled with weakness. Its equipment is outdated. Its technology is decades behind the West. And its capacity for battlefield communications and intelligence gathering is terrible."