“It is time to deal with America’s problem. How can you raise the debt limit and do nothing about the underlying problems.” 

 

President Obama says he will have the conversation but not as a condition for reopening the government or meeting its existing debt obligations.

 

Among the many consequences of the government shutdown, key economic statistics are being compiled. Steve Beckner of Market News International reports the information lapse is complicating the Federal Reserve’s conduct of monetary policy.

 

Fed policymakers were eagerly awaiting the September employment report scheduled for release Friday morning, but neither that nor other official economic readings will be available until colleting agencies like the Labor Department and Commerce Department reopen. That leaves the Fed in a fog as it approaches a late October monetary policy meeting. Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart among others says the data blackout will make him more careful in deciding whether the economy and jobs are improving enough to justify cramming the Fed’s 85-billion-dollar monthly bond buying. He says the dearth of data makes October a more ambiguous time to reduce quantitative easing. For NPR News, I’m Steve Beckner in Atlanta.

 

Libya is calling for the return of an accused terrorist captured yesterday by US forces in Tripoli. NPR’s Leila Fadel reports the man known as Abu Anas al-Libi has been indicted for participating in the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

 

He has been wanted by the United States for 15 years and was snatched off the streets in Tripoli by US forces on Saturday. A statement from the Pentagon said he’s been detained under the law of war outside of Libya. But it appears that the US did not consult with Libyan authorities before the operation in Tripoli. A statement from the Libyan government on Sunday referred to the capture of the accused al-Qaeda operative as a kidnapping. It also said that the interim government is “keen that all Libyan nationals be tried inside Libya” and that suspects are innocent until proven guilty. The statement added that it hopes the strategic relationship between the US and Libya isn’t harmed by this incident. Leila Fadel, NPR News.

 

In Egypt, more deadly clashes erupted today among anti-military demonstrators, rival protesters and security forces. At least 51 people were killed. In Cairo, those loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohamed Morsi clashed with government forces for several hours. The demonstrations took place as thousands of Egyptians turned out in the streets to mark a national holiday. This is NPR.

 

The Supreme Court begins a new term tomorrow with an agenda that includes government-sanctioned prayer, abortion and affirmative action. Among the cases coming up this week -- campaign finance. Tuesday, justices will hear a challenge to the total limit on how much donors are allowed to give to congressional candidates and political parties. The plaintiffs will argue contributions are protected as free speech. Several cases ask the high court to go against the president.

 

In Afghanistan, today was the deadline for candidates to register for next spring’s presidential election. More than two dozen candidates are now signed up. NPR’s Sean Carberry reports that surpassed expectations.  

 

Afghanistan's election office stayed open late into the night to accommodate the last-minute rush of candidates aiming to succeed President Hamid Karzai. He’s prohibited from seeking a third term. The field of contenders runs the gamut from ministers, parliamentarians and governors to technocrats, to a number of former warlords. Afghanistan has no formal party or primary system, hence the large field. Most analysts and officials expect the race to ultimately focus on no more than a half dozen top-tier hopefuls. One woman has registered to run for president and several other registered as vice presidential candidates. Sean Carberry, NPR News, Kabul.

 

Gas prices are continuing a downward slide, according to industry analyst Trobi Lumberg. 

 

“The past two weeks, they fell 14 cents to an average $3.38 for regular, and in the past month they are down 20 cents per gallon.”

 

Lunberg attributes the decline to lower crude oil prices. The average for a gallon of regular is now $3.38.