Econ 101: Stocks took a dive yesterday on the announcement that the International Monetary Fund believes the world economy may never return to its rate of expansion before the great recession. The IMF cut its growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015 and said there’s still a danger of stagnation in the world economy. The Dow Jones dropped 272 points.

Permawar: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that despite coalition air attacks, the Syrian border town of Kobane is about to fall to the Islamic State. Erdogan is calling for more support for rebels fighting the Assad regime in Syria, but he’s reluctant to help the Kurds fighting ISIS, who he sees as an enemy. The Turkish president has not committed his own forces and ISIS would be crazy to attack across the border where Turkish armor is massed. Turkey wants the US to bring more force to bear to topple the Assad regime, rather than focusing on ISIS. Yes, it’s confusing.

Outbreak: A second Spanish nurse is under quarantine showing Ebola-like symptoms. The first nurse to be infected, María Ramos, says she followed procedures and is mystified about how she contracted the virus. Animal lovers are upset about plans to put down Ramos’s dog because it was exposed.

Hong Kong: Protests are dwindling as student leaders and government officials have agreed to talk about the future of democracy. The plan is to discuss changes in the electoral law within the framework of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitution, which may preclude what the students want. They are demanding open nominations for candidates to run for chief executive. Beijing wants to screen and approve who runs.

Nation: An air tanker fighting wildfire in Yosemite National Park crashed yesterday, killing its pilot. The plane was dropping fire retardant when it slammed into a canyon wall. The pilot was flying a small tanker of a type originally built for hunting submarines about 50 years ago. They are the workhorses of the firefighting fleet, but it’s a dangerous business.

Bitter Pill: Walmart, the world’s largest retailer and the biggest employer in the US, says it’s cutting off healthcare coverage for 30,000 part time workers because Obamacare has raised the cost of health coverage. Nearly half of Walmart’s 1.3 million US employees are part time, and many already do not get healthcare coverage. Walmart joins Home Depot, Target and Trader Joe’s in blaming Obamacare for their decision to stop insuring employees.

The Affordable Care Act requires companies with more than 50 employees to give health insurance to employees working 30 hours or more a week. It does cost the company more money and the easy solution is to cut hours and therefore, healthcare. Walmart made a $16 billion profit last year.

Rolling Bolder: Bob Dylan is about to publish a $200 book of his song lyrics, annotated and illustrated. It’s called The Lyrics: Since 1962. The book is 1,034 pages.

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