Global Financial Crisis » The head of the government's $700 billion financial rescue plan said that officials are assembling a "toolkit" of methods to implement the program, including investing money directly into banks and buying individual mortgages from them ... meanwhile, Europe's major economic powers presented a unified response to the global financial crisis for the first time. At an emergency summit Sunday, leaders agreed to temporarily guarantee bank debt... The British and German governments were the first to act this morning, as each announced they would pour billions of dollars into their banking systems ... U.S. markets surged this morning as details of global efforts to stem the financial crisis continued to emerge. — The Washington Post

Gift to FDA Panel Chairman's Center Raises Questions » A retired medical supply manufacturer who considers bisphenol A -- a chemical used in baby bottles and aluminum cans -- to be "perfectly safe" gave $5 million to the research center headed by the chairman of a Food and Drug Administration panel about to rule on the chemical's safety. — The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Sign of Tougher Times? » Saddled with debt, some Washington area residents have taken to torching their own cars to scam their insurance companies. Some investigators say they expect more of this as the economy falters. — The Washington Post

Stevens' Trial » Senator Ted Stevens' chief lawyer in his corruption trial has focused his defense on the prosecution's failure to follow rules about disclosing evidence... meanwhile, federal prosecutors have subpoenaed correspondence between the Alaska senator and his wife, Catherine, including emails she may have sent to others about renovations to their home and gifts the senator may have received. — The New York Times, The Anchorage Daily News

Watchdog Report Slams TSA » A report by the Department of Homeland Security revealed that the agency overseeing security at the nation's airports failed for years to track security passes and uniforms of former employees, creating vulnerability to terrorists. — USA Today

Reactions to Palin Report » Former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan said in an interview on the Today Show that he believes Gov. Sarah Palin's image has been damaged by a state ethics inquiry report ... The McCain campaign released a statement about the report which seemed to ignore the report's more negative conclusions. — The Associated Press, Salon.com