AFP - Zimbabwe's leaders on Monday signed a historic framework for forming a unity government that splits power among arch rivals in a bid to end the country's political crisis and economic meltdown.

AFP - Investment banking giant Lehman Brothers went bankrupt Monday and Wall Street sent distress signals, sparking a global stocks fall, central bank alarm and widespread fears for the financial system.

Reuters - Pakistani security officials said on Monday that troops had fired on U.S. military helicopters and forced them to turn back to Afghanistan, but both the Pakistani and American militaries denied the incident.

Reuters - Three bomb attacks killed 34 people and wounded dozens more in Iraq on Monday, underscoring the security challenges facing the next U.S. military commander in the country.

Reuters - Bank of America Corp's $50 billion acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc marks the end of a storied name in American finance, but also creates the nation's biggest bank by far.

Reuters - The House of Representatives plans to debate legislation this month to inject another $50 billion of stimulus into the faltering U.S. economy, mostly with the goal of creating new jobs, a senior House Democratic aide said on Monday.

Reuters - Embattled insurer American International Group Inc received New York state approval to post $20 billion of policyholders' assets as collateral as it seeks to stave off a liquidity crisis and works with banks to fix its problems.

Reuters - Ice, bottled water and other vital supplies poured into storm-struck Texas on Monday as the nerve center for the U.S. energy industry struggled without electricity to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

Reuters - Fearing a meltdown on Wall Street, the U.S. presidential candidates sparred on Monday over who could best restore financial health, with John McCain pledging reform and Barack Obama saying hands-off Republican policies were the problem.

Reuters - Stocks slid on Monday on cascading fears about the stability of the U.S. financial system after investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and concerns grew about insurer AIG.

AP - Philadelphia visits the Dallas Cowboys tonight in an early season NFL showdown of teams that are highly regarded as post-season contenders. The Monday night matchup of NFC East foes has both coming off of impressive wins in their season openers.

AP - Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.

AP - Oil prices tumbled to a seven-month low Monday as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch fed expectations of another big liquidation of commodities holdings.