AT TIBNAH, Syria -- A new satellite image of a Syrian military facility that was reportedly bombed by Israeli warplanes shows the site has been turned into a vacant lot.David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, a nonprofit research group, said the commercial satellite photograph suggested that Syrian officials took swift steps to remove evidence of the project -- which some U.S. officials believe may have been a nuclear reactor -- ... [full story]

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Economic corruption by Iraqi insurgents and sectarian militias hinder the official government’s effectiveness and provide a source of revenue for rebel groups.Graft schemes involving oil, cement, soft drinks and real estate generate millions of dollars to finance the Iraqi insurgency, officials said.A former official with an Iraqi government corruption watchdog group said that insurgent groups have infiltrated every aspect of the oil sector, telling the Los Angles Times that “this has resulted ... [full story]

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish officials said Friday they were “determined to take all necessary steps” to end the threat from Kurdish militias based in northern Iraq.Turkish President Abdullah Gul told an assembly in Ankara that “we are totally determined to take all necessary steps to end this threat,” noting a Turkish ground offensive remained an option if diplomatic efforts fail.Turkey is threatening the Iraqi government with harsh economic sanctions against the relatively stable autonomous region ... [full story]

JERUSALEM -- Israel's prime minister Friday promised his nation wouldn't cause a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip to retaliate for rocket attacks on southern Israel.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met over lunch at his home in Jerusalem with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Haaretz reported.Senior government officials said Olmert's pledge to Abbas came despite Israel's threat to cut electricity to parts of Gaza unless the rocket attacks stop. An unidentified official said the two ... [full story]

TEHRAN -- Senior Iranian officials said the imposition of new unilateral sanctions against three Iranian banks shouldn't have any major impact on Iran's economy.The United States imposed unilateral economic sanctions against three of Iran’s major banks Thursday in an effort to cut Iran off from the international economic community.Mohammad Nahavandian, the head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines told the Islamic Republic News Agency Wednesday -- before the sanctions were announced -- that ... [full story]

TOKYO -- The U.S. ambassador to Japan warned the Bush administration that diplomatic efforts regarding North Korea’s nuclear program may harm relations with Japan.In a private cable to U.S. President George Bush, J. Thomas Schieffer said Japanese officials expressed concern over removing North Korea from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism prior to addressing Japanese issues with North Korea.Japan said North Korea first must provide information regarding the abduction of Japanese civilians during ... [full story]

GDANSK, Poland -- A 69-year-old man in the Baltic city of Gdansk is suing Germany for injuries reportedly inflicted by Wermacht soldiers in occupied Poland in 1944.Winicjusz Natoniewski filed a legal claim against Germany seeking $383,000 in damages for injuries he received during World War II when he was 6 years old in his native village of Lublewo, near Leby, in northeastern Poland, the Polish daily Fakt said Friday.This is believed to be the first ... [full story]

Five Steps to Get You Back on Track The housing market is in shambles and every day the bleak news seems to get worse. With foreclosures at a record high, economists predict the pace won’t slow down for at least another 6 months. Behind these grim statistics are families who are struggling and desperate, trying to figure out how to hang on to their homes and ease their money woes.  If you’re one of those ... [full story]

Mortgage Availability Improving But Hampered September Existing-Home Sales Temporary problems in the mortgage market are easing and are expected to free some pent-up demand, but disrupted existing-home sales and distorted prices on sales closed in September, according to the National Association of Realtors. Even so, prices rose in the Northeast and Midwest. Total existing-home sales -- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops -- fell 8.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate(1) of 5.04 million ... [full story]

Mortgage rates dropped notably this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 6.31 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.34 discount and origination points. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage, popular for refinancing, plunged from 6.17 percent to 6.00 percent. The average jumbo 30-year fixed rate retreated to 7.04 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates declined as well, with the average ... [full story]