LONDON -- International stock markets hemorrhaged hundreds of billions of dollars yesterday, as countries scrambled to save their own banks and bolster whatever investor confidence remained. (Today)

WASHINGTON -- The now-bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers arranged millions in bonuses for fired executives as it pleaded for a federal lifeline, lawmakers learned yesterday, as Congress began investigating what went so wrong on Wall Street to prompt a $700 billion government bailout. (Today)

WASHINGTON -- China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, U.S. officials told The Associated Press yesterday. (Today)

WASHINGTON -- Turns out rescuing the economy will take a rocket scientist. (Today)

BEIJING -- Two earthquakes jolted the capital of Tibet and surrounding areas yesterday, killing more than 30 people and collapsing hundreds of houses, China's state news agency said. (Today)