UK Telegraph By Con Coughlin An order from Gen Mohammed Ali Jaafari, the commander of the guards, raised the operational readiness status of the country’s forces, initiating preparations for potential external strikes and covert attacks.… more »

NEW YORK — Wall Street is set to plunge at Monday’s open after rating agency Standard & Poor’s cut the top-tier AAA credit rating of the United States, rattling already jittery investors. The agency’s move came late Friday after a wild week for U.S… more »

WASHINGTON — With time quickly running out to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, the Obama administration is turning to biblical rhetoric to underscore the disastrous consequences if the United States defaults.Other political news of note Fallback pl… more »

Yohkoh / Montana State A 1992 X-ray image from the Yohkoh solar observatory satellite shows the sun and its corona. Cosmic Log Alan Boyle   Don’t panic over those reports that solar storms could cause high-tech disruptions in 2013. But don’t… more »