Econ 101: Stocks flirted with a record close yesterday after the Federal Reserve announced it will continue to prop up the economy with $85 billion a month in new treasury bonds. Analysts were expecting the beginning of “the taper”, with …

New Landlord: The US is moving to seize a 36-story 5th Avenue building the Justice Department says is owned by a front for the Iranian government. A federal judge ruled that the owners of the building had violated money laundering …

ChemWeps: The UN weapons report says chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian civil war “on a relatively large scale.” The report does not say which side used nerve gas in the Aug. 21 attack, but it does say, …

Shooting: At least 10 people were shot this morning, including police officers, at the Washington Navy Yard. Three victims are reported dead. Police have described a gunman dressed all in black. National: A woman is now the next most likely …

Hurricane Season: Hurricane Ingrid is gathering strength and is on course to hit the Gulf Coast of Mexico sometime Monday. At the same time tropical storm Manuel is churning toward Mexico’s southwest Pacific shoreline. Both storms are expected to bring …

Syria: After three days of talks in Geneva, the US and Russia have reached an agreement to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons by the middle of 2014. Doing it in the midst of Syria’s civil war will require the cooperation of …

Syria: Secy. of State John Kerry yesterday implied Syria could still be attacked if it doesn’t quickly produce an accounting of its chemical weapons. “There ought to be consequences if it doesn’t take place,” Kerry said. Syria asked for 30 …

Putin Says: Writing in today’s NY Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin takes on the mantle of peacemaker in the Syrian crisis saying, “A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism.” Putin said the US must go …

Syria: President Obama yesterday asked Congress to delay voting on authorization to attack while the administration evaluates a Russian proposal for Syrian chemical weapons to be turned over to international control. Urging caution in a live speech to the nation …

Syria: Russia and Syria appear to have seized on an offhand remark by Secy. of State John Kerry to reach a political solution for the Syrian chemical weapons crisis in which Russia would take and dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons. …