Philippines: The government lowered its estimate of storm dead to about 2,500, down from an original figure of 10,000. About 660,000 people are homeless. Most reports are coming out of the city of Tacloban but there’s little information about conditions …

Philippines: Philippine President Benigno Aquino has declared a “national calamity” as his country digs out from the damage of Typhoon Haiyan. The UN put out a call for $301 million in disaster aid as the risk of hunger and disease …

Philippines: An international relief effort is having trouble getting to storm devastated areas of the Philippines. Thousands of people are dead and food and water scarce. The city of Tacloban is essentially leveled.   The Philippine Daily Inquirer quotes a schoolteacher …

Devastation: The death toll from Friday’s monster typhoon could reach 10,000 in the city of Tacloban alone, Philippine authorities say. Hardest hit were Tacloban and Ormoc on the island of Leyte in the central Philippines, but people are reported dead …

Monster: At least 1,200 people are believed to be dead in the Philippines in aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which has been described as the strongest storm ever to make landfall. The Red Cross reported an estimated 1,000 bodies floating in …

World: A storm 500 miles wide, described as the biggest in recorded history to make landfall, hit the Philippines early today. Sustained winds were 195 mph and gusts reached 235. One woman said, “Galvanized iron sheets were flying just like …

TWTR: Shares of Twitter opened this morning at $45.10, nearly $20 higher than the offering price of $26, or $18.1 billion for the entire company. The 140-character message service has become a player in personal relationships, politics, even war. But, …

The Finish Line: New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio won 73% of the vote to be elected the city’s first Democratic mayor in 20 years. He ran against Mayor Bloomberg’s detested “stop and frisk” police techniques, but his …

At The Polls: NY City today is likely to elect progressive candidate Bill de Blasio as its next mayor. It’ll be a left turn after 12 years of conservative, and effective, Michael Bloomberg.   NPR says Virginia must choose between …

Illegitimate: Deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi appeared briefly in court for the opening of his trial today. It was his first public appearance since he was forced from office in July. Reports from the courtroom were limited, but witnesses in …