ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

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Supervising News Editor Monte Plott -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Debate-Main (Will be updated. Debate begins at 9 p.m. ET.)

With the polls narrowing less than five weeks before Election Day, President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney hold their first of three debates Wednesday night in what is the most highly anticipated campaign event to date.

Turkey-Syria-Tension (will update)

Turkey fired on targets in Syria in response to the shelling of a Turkish border town in which five civilians were killed Wednesday, a statement from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said.

Syria-Civil-War (monitoring)

A wave of blasts targeting Syrian government forces killed dozens of people at a popular Aleppo square Wednesday, opposition activists said.

MED-Tennessee-Menengitis (will update)

A non-contagious, fungal form of meningitis has sickened 26 people in five states, killing four, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

INTERNATIONAL

Iran-Sanctions-Security

Iranian riot police swarmed a major bazaar Wednesday in Tehran as demonstrators launched protests against firebrand President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, blaming him for plummeting currency that's leaving families across the country struggling.

Africa Al Qaeda Threat

Al Qaeda is determined to make the fragile African nation of Mali and safe haven and the terrorist threat from the network's affiliate in that country, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, "is spreading while we speak," a senior Europen official said Wednesday.

Vatican-Leaks-Trial

Vatican police who searched the apartments of the pope's former butler, Paolo Gabriele, as they investigated a suspected leak told a court Wednesday how they found more than 1,000 important documents among a stash of hundreds of thousands.

Iran-Sanctions-Security

Gaza-Hamas-Abuses

A human rights watchdog has documented "serious abuses" in the criminal justice system of Hamas, the political movement that runs the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Syria-Civil-War

A wave of blasts targeting Syrian government forces killed dozens of people at a popular Aleppo square Wednesday, opposition activists said.

Turkey-Syria-Tension

At least five people were killed and a dozen injured when a shell landed on a house in the Turkish town of Akcakale, near the Syrian border, a local mayor and the semi-official Anadolu news agency said Wednesday.

Sudan-Peacekeepers-Killed

Four peacekeepers with the African Union-United Nations Mission in the Darfur region of Sudan were killed and eight injured in an ambush by unidentified attackers Wednesday, the group said.

Wales-Missing-Girl

The distraught mother of a missing five-year-old girl broke down in sobs Wednesday as she pleaded for help to find her daughter, April Jones, who was snatched from a street in Wales as she played.

Venezuela-Elections

Singing folk songs and strumming the guitar at his campaign rallies, Hugo Chavez shows no sign that he's facing the strongest challenge to his 13-year rule in Venezuela. He has dismissed his much younger challenger, Henrique Capriles Radonski, as a "fly" not worth chasing, when challenged to a debate earlier this year. Chavez's opponents are confident that this Sunday, Capriles will unseat the long-ruling leftist leader, a refrain previously heard before eventual defeats.

Georgia-Power-Change

It is a momentous day for Georgian democracy -- but a painful one for the man who has led the former Soviet republic for nearly a decade.

Hong-Kong-Ferry-Lamma-React

They stepped onto the evening ferries in Hong Kong's crowded harbor to watch the sky light up with fireworks to celebrate China's National Day. Instead, the night ended in chaos and tragedy. Two ferries collided Monday night, upending one of the vessels and sending passengers into the water. At least 38 people died. Rescuers picked up 123 survivors and are still searching for a countless number of others who are missing.

Australia-Jones-Gillard-Outrage

Australia has a female prime minister. Her name is Julia Eileen Gillard. Australia also has a shock jock commercial radio broadcaster and his name is Alan Belford Jones. The two have been involved in an almighty collision that is proving commercially and politically disastrous for Jones and a likely polling gift for Gillard.

Fish-shrinking

Be prepared for smaller fish. That's the warning from researchers at the University of British Columbia, who say that we could see the maximum body weight of fish shrink by as much as 20% by the middle of the century, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

TECH-Satellites-Sea-Level-Rise

Sea-levels are rising unevenly around the world, with Pacific countries in particular suffering significant increases over the past two decades, according to accurate new satellite data.

Australia-Great-Barrier-Reef-Coral

Australia's environment minister has conceded that years of neglect have contributed to a devastating drop in coral coverage on the Great Barrier Reef along the country's north eastern coast.

SPORT-Schumacher-Hamilton-Mercedes-motorsport

Seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher insists he is still motivated to race in Formula One despite last week's announcement that he will be replaced at Mercedes by Lewis Hamilton.

SPORT-pietersen-england-ecb-cricket

English cricketer Kevin Pietersen has reached an agreement with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which paves the way for return to the national team.

U.S.A.

MED-Tennessee-Menengitis (monitoring)

A non-contagious, fungal form of meningitis has sickened 26 people in five states, killing four, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

Pennsylvania-Terrance-Williams

Pennsylvania's highest court on Wednesday upheld a judge's earlier decision to grant a stay of execution for a man who says the person he killed had sexually abused him years earlier.

Massachusetts-FBI-Terrorist

The FBI says it is deploying Facebook and Twitter to find "a wanted terrorist" who grew up near Boston and may now be living in Syria.

Arizona-Border-Patrol-Violence

Investigators were searching for suspects Wednesday after a shooting that killed one Border Patrol agent and wounded another near the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona.

US-Russia-Illegal-Electronic-Exports

The United States has charged 11 people with illegally exporting U.S. microelectronics to Russia for use by the military and intelligence agencies.

New-Jersey-Missing-Girl

A New Jersey teenager who disappeared Sunday after posting a Twitter message asking followers to call 911 was "found safe and unharmed" Tuesday, police said Wednesday.

Georgia-Band-Suspension

After a month-long investigation, Clark Atlanta University lifted a self-imposed suspension on the school's marching band after finding no evidence of hazing.

MED-penis-suit

A 61-year-old Army veteran is suing the U.S. government for $10 million, claiming negligent care resulted in severe frostbite on his penis, leading to its partial amputation.

TRAVEL-American-Airlines-Problem

American Airlines, already grappling with union issues and bankruptcy fallout, is now confronting a third problem: growing reports of loose seats. On Tuesday, the company another flight had experienced loose seats, bringing the total to three flights on two planes in a week.

Texas-Nidal-Hasan

The beard that has stalled the court-martial of accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan will be the major topic of discussion at an court hearing on October 11.

SPORTS-Debate-Big-Games

This month the fight to win over the heart and minds of voters could turn into a fight for the remote control in some households. Turns out, the presidential and vice presidential debates are scheduled on crucial game days.

US-Schwarznegger-Interview

Arnold Schwarzenegger said there is no one to blame but himself for the breakup of his 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver, who he described as the only true love of his life.

Pennsylvania-Penn-State-Lawsuit

Former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary, who testified that he saw Jerry Sandusky in a shower with an underage boy, filed a whistleblower lawsuit Tuesday against the university, according to a court document from Centre County, Pennsylvania.

US-Mascot-Ends-Losing-Streak

A long-running losing streak dating back to 2006 in Washington has finally come to an end. "Theodore Roosevelt" has won the presidents' race at Nationals Park after more than 500 consecutive losses.

POLITICS

POL-Debate-Walkup

To win in November, Mitt Romney must emerge from his first debate with President Barack Obama as the leader on this campaign's defining question: Which candidate do voters trust more to handle the economy?

POL-Debate-Rules

Just what can viewers expect to see when President Barack Obama and rival Mitt Romney square off at the first presidential debate in Denver Wednesday night? While the conversation might at-times be freewheeling and off the cuff, both candidates will have to operate under the confines of the hard-and-fast rules established by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

POL-presidential-debates-explainer

After months of talking about each other and their policies, the world finally gets to see Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney go toe-to-toe on the same stage in a series of three televised debates ahead of the U.S. election. Unlike other countries, such as the United Kingdom, where the prime minister must defend his policies under televised duress from the opposition nearly every week, face-to-face showdowns between the two men fighting for the White House only happen every four years. And while debates rarely swing the outcome of an election, a gaffe -- or a silver-tongued swipe at the opposition -- under the bright lights can alter the perception of the two contenders, for better or worse.

POL-Ann-Romney-Debate

After her husband's failed 2008 run for president, Ann Romney said she would never do it again -- until she decided she would. And now that Mitt Romney is in the political fight of his life, Ann has become a key advocate and character witness.

POL-BTN-debates

The first of four debates -- three presidential and one vice presidential -- in the final month of the election takes place October 3 in Denver. While we would love to tell you what will happen, the CNN Crystal Ball is out of order. Instead, our best guess of what to expect comes from debates past. Here's a look back, by the numbers, of the trends and surprises of past debates.

POL-Romney-Tax-Deductions

Mitt Romney detailed with fresh specificity this week how he would pay for large tax cuts he's proposed for all Americans, though his campaign says the suggestions were merely options and not a firm look into what policies he would seek to enact as president.

POL-Obama-Video-2008

On the eve of the first presidential debate, conservative media outlets seized on footage of a five-year-old speech by then-candidate Barack Obama, who argued at the time that the federal government discriminated against Hurricane Katrina victims.

POL-Obama-Coal-Ad

The latest salvo in the battle for coal country is an ad from President Barack Obama's campaign, which accuses Mitt Romney of using miners as "props" at a campaign rally that was subsequently used in a television commercial.

POL-Role-Of-Governmnet-Shifts

Hours before the first debate between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, a showdown that will focus on domestic issues, a new national survey indicates that Americans have undergone some major changes on the basic questions concerning the size and role of the federal government.

POL-Campaigns-Spin-Debate

In a spate of expectation-setting ahead of Wednesday night's debate, both campaigns offered their predictions for the first meeting between the two presidential candidates, with President Barack Obama's team arguing the first session between the candidates will be about laying details before voters, and Team Romney looking for unfiltered access to those who remain undecided.

POL-Romney-Campaign-Debate

Going into the first presidential debate in Denver, a senior Romney campaign aide said they are feeling "good" about where they are in the campaign.

POL-Portman-Romney-Prep

Mitt Romney's sparring partner offers glimpse into GOP debate prep.

POL-Poll-Battleground-States

Hours before the first presidential debate here at the base of the Rocky Mountains, new polls indicate that President Barack Obama holds a lead over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in one crucial battleground state, with the race for the White House basically all tied up in two other swing states.

MONEY

MONEY-stocks-markets

U.S. stocks held modest gains Wednesday as investors welcomed improved reports on hiring and the services sector, but gains were tempered by concerns about growth in Europe and Asia.

MONEY-adp-jobs-report

Private sector hiring slowed in September, according to a report released Wednesday by payroll processor ADP. Private employers added 162,000 jobs in the month, ADP said.

MONEY-obama-romney-deficits

Both President Obama and Mitt Romney share a similar goal when it comes to the federal debt: They want to get it under control.

MONEY-tax-avoidance

When big companies offshore profits to dodge taxes, small business owners say they are left footing the bill -- and they're not happy about it. A U.S. Senate panel recently reviewed how Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard shaved billions off their taxes in recent years by moving profits offshore.

MONEY-t-mobile-metropcs-merger

T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS have agreed to merge, joining together two of the nation's largest low-cost wireless carriers.

MONEY-china-luxury

At first blush, it looks like luxury has a China problem. After a blockbuster 2011, two major upscale brands Burberry and Louis Vuitton recently shook up the rarefied world by reporting a slowdown in their China sales momentum.

FEATURES AND COMMENTARY

US-latino-immigrant-voters

Forty years ago, Balbino and Rosario Guevara didn't vote. It had nothing to do with Nixon's landslide or the electoral implosion of the Democratic Party; they were living in El Salvador. And they were simply afraid. "I had two businesses: a restaurant and store. But then, the politics took a turn for the worse. ... People, even teachers, were being kidnapped. It was terrible," Balbino Guevara said. "I told my wife, 'I don't like this. We need to leave.' " The Guevaras watched helplessly as the country hurtled toward a brutal civil war. They fled to the United States in the early '70s, and suddenly, the ballot box became a key part of their identity.

MED-genes-body-image

Blame for a teen's unhealthy body image often falls on the media. The barrage of size-zero supermodels and waif-like celebrities walking the red carpet could push anyone to curse their shape, right? A study published this week in the International Journal of Eating Disorders finds a new culprit may also be partially to blame: Our genes. Researchers wondered why only a small percentage of the population developed an eating disorder when everyone was being exposed to the same images. They hypothesized that certain genes could make a person more or less prone to accepting the "thin ideal."

MED-bullied-lil-jaxe

September 28, 2012, was the most awesome moment that I have ever experienced in my whole entire life. My first reaction was that I was so excited. I could not wait to get to the Air Canada Center and rock the stage. After two weeks of practicing, I was about to go on the same stage as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Elton John and all of my other favorites. So many emotions were running through my head.

TECH-smartphone-zombie-apocalypse-comments

If you're looking for a harbinger of the zombie apocalypse, look no further than all those people on the street pecking at their tiny, handheld windows into a private world.

TECH-google-maps-developers

After last year's record floods ravaged Thailand, developer and entrepreneur Vachara Aemavat had an idea for helping people find higher ground. He built a tool, using Google Maps elevation data, that lets people in the Asian nation look up their homes' locations and see how high above sea level they are. They can share the information on social media to ask for help or offer others a dry place to take shelter.

ENT-Jakob-Dylan-wallflower-album

Well, if it's a comeback you want, then get your hands raised," Jakob Dylan declares on the Wallflowers' first album in seven years, "Glad All Over." So should we raise our hands and call the band's return a comeback? Despite the lyric, Dylan says no. In New York on Monday morning, fresh off a performance for "Good Morning America" -- which he jokingly called "Very Early Morning America" -- the Wallflowers frontman said, "It's not like we were a band that broke up and got back together. We never broke up. We lost the plot a bit, and we needed a break, so we took one. We just needed time to find each other again."

ENT-amityville-horror-house-for-sale

Just in time for Halloween, the owners of the home made famous in the spooky 1970s film "The Amityville Horror" are dramatically slashing the asking price on their Toms River, New Jersey, colonial, which was used for exteriors in the film.

COMMENTARY-granderson-reparative-therapy

CNN Contributor LZ Granderson: Oops, I left my sexual orientation at home.

COMMENTARY-avlon-colorado-swing-voters

Swing voters want to hear specifics, says CNN contributor and Newsweek political columnist John Avlon.

COMMENTARY-Astor-Vets-Candidates

Urban social development professor and author Ron A. Astor asks, Will candidates let returning troops fall off the fiscal cliff?

COMMENTARY-begala-castellanos-advice-obama-romney

Political analysts offer debate advice: Obama, light a cig; Romney, throw deep.

COMMENTARY-Krakauer-presidential-debate

Senior digital producer Steve Krakauer asks, How will the debates sway the undecideds?

COMMENTARY-Martin-Low-Expectations-Debate

Columnist Roland Martin to candidates: Stop vying to be debate underdog.

COMMENTARY-hoover-romney-fix-it

CNN Contributor Margaret Hoover says Mitt Romney's best bet for Wednesday night's debate is to be "Mr. Fix-It."