Obama's Early Brush With Financial Markets A little-known chapter in Sen. Barack Obama's life is the year he spent writing about financial markets for a New York City firm. The job gave him a crash course in market economics — knowledge that some say is still evident on the campaign trail. Windows Media RealPlayer

Iran Test-Fires Missiles In Show Of Defiance Iran test-fired missiles Wednesday, an exercise that Iranian officials say was a response to hostile rhetoric from the United States and Israel. Windows Media RealPlayer

Pentagon To Rule On Disputed Air Force Contract The Pentagon is expected to announce Wednesday that the Air Force is re-opening the bidding process on a multibillion-dollar contract for new air refueling tankers. The contract has been mired in controversy after Northrop Grumman and its European partner, EADS, won the deal earlier in the year. But a government auditor's report last month found major flaws in the procurement process. Windows Media RealPlayer