Top Stories - The Christian Science Monitor

Atlanta - Facing more than 500 complaints a year about giant alligators in suburban swimming pools, ditches, and culverts, South Carolina has joined seven other Southern states in an ambitious effort to recruit thousands of would-be gator wranglers to cull the toothy and well-armored brood.

New York and baltimore - America runs on credit.

New York - The dramatic changes in the US financial system – the debt write-downs and consolidation of corporate balance sheets – are now mirrored at kitchen tables around the United States.

A dispute over what to do about 17 Chinese Muslims detained at the Guant??namo Bay military prison is developing into a major showdown over the power of the judiciary to enforce fundamental constitutional rights in the war on terror.

Tawila, Sudan - During the US vice presidential debate last week, Sen. Joe Biden (D) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R) found common ground on at least one topic: Both support imposing a no-fly zone in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

Baghdad - Tears rarely roll down Iraqi farmer Hassan Mohammed Hamoud's proud, sun-creased face.

Washington - In a bid to fix blame for the meltdown in financial markets, the lead House oversight panel this week launched into the bailout of insurance giant American International Group (AIG) – and the non-bailout of Lehman Brothers investment bank.

Washington - The eagle has crash-landed – or has it?

Washington - We get it. And we can move more quickly, and in a more united fashion, than you think.

Pune, India - These gumshoes don't wear trench coats or dark glasses. They don't even carry weapons.

New York - The Federal Reserve is now stepping in where financiers fear to tread.

Oakland, Calif. - A promo for CNN's citizen journalism site, iReport.com, reads: "You won't believe what people are uploading." Maybe readers should take that literally.

If you think all colleges in the US are all liberal, think againYoung first-time voters could play a significant role in deciding the outcome of next month's presidential election.

Federal prosecutors of Illinois political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who has ties to Gov.

Jerusalem - Yazan Khalaf has no shortage of big dreams. Aspiring to be a pilot, the young Arab-Israeli entering the 10th grade is also trying to "change the whole world."

Pankisi Gorge, Georgia - When Russian tanks rolled toward Tbilisi, Georgia, in August, shops closed and streets emptied as residents stayed indoors, glued to their televisions and radios. A hundred miles northeast, in the mountainous enclave of Pankisi Gorge, Chechen refugees also watched Russian troops advancing on TV, but with less stupefaction and more cynicism.

Washington - The US Supreme Court is set to hear a case this week that will provide important practical advice to workers asked to participate in an internal company investigation of alleged sexual harassment by a senior manager.

Washington - Battered by successive shocks, the world economy may be slipping into multicontinent recession.

Baghdad - The Johara Hotel was a backpacker's delight. Rooms were just $12 at the tiny, 10-room inn that was part youth hostel and part rooming house. European, Asian, and American tourists stayed there, even as embargoes tightened on Iraq ahead of the invasion.

Islamabad, Pakistan - For Pakistan, moments of success have been few in the fight in its northwestern tribal area against members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Washington - The military is expanding the number of airplanes for reconnaissance and surveillance in Iraq and Afghanistan in response to demands from the Pentagon chief to assume a "war footing" in getting more planes into the air.

Washington - Wall Street now runs through Washington.

New York - Pink slips are now being handed out at the fastest pace since 2003 – an economic event that may have ramifications from the ballot box to the Christmas tree.

Tshipesong, South Africa - On the way home from school, Thabang Thimbela stops off to visit his girlfriend, a few blocks from the tin shack where he and his foster parents and seven foster brothers and sisters live.

Washington - The new term at the US Supreme Court is a little like a vegetarian buffet, plenty of interesting items but nothing really meaty. At least not yet.

New York - Brace yourself. The credit squeeze that almost every financial expert has warned about is here.

Tskhinvali, South Ossetia; and Moscow - Who started the Russia-Georgia war?

Toronto - One way or another, Canada's Green Party leader Elizabeth May will make history Wednesday and Thursday nights.