The World

1 | Bangkok The 'Final Push'

Thousands of protesters swarmed Thailand's parliament Nov. 24, disrupting a legislative session and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. The demonstrators, who call themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy, surrounded government buildings, cut electrical lines and declared the rally to be the "final push" of their six-month campaign to oust the ruling party. The protests came at the same time as an announcement that Thailand's economy, which has been badly hit by the global financial crisis, is in even worse shape than had previously been predicted.

2 | Washington Recipe for a Credit Rescue

Bailout relief may soon reach the average consumer: the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve have unveiled plans to spend up to $800 billion in an effort to revive lending for housing, cars, students and small businesses.

$100 BILLION Purchases of direct debt of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks

+

$500 BILLION Purchases of mortgage-backed securities covered by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae

+

$200 BILLION Loans to holders of asset-backed securities, which include education, credit-card and auto loans, to jump-start consumer financing

3 | Dallas Muslim-Charity Leaders Guilty

After an earlier mistrial, five former leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development were found guilty of funneling some $12 million to Hamas. A jury convicted the group on 108 criminal counts, including money-laundering--a resounding victory for the Bush Administration in the biggest terrorism-funding case since 9/11. The defendants maintained that Holy Land is a humanitarian organization, and say they will appeal the verdict.

4 | Venezuela A Blow to Chávez--or Not

A record 65% of eligible Venezuelan voters turned up to cast ballots in fiercely contested state and regional elections on Nov. 23. Candidates opposed to leftist President Hugo Chávez won the coveted mayor's post in Caracas as well as governorships in three key states, bringing their total to five and prompting boasts that Chávez's popularity was waning following a failed 2007 bid to extend his presidency. Chávez's Socialist Party remained in control of 17 states, however, which his supporters said reaffirmed Venezuelans' confidence in his leadership.

5 | Mexico A Drug Czar On the Take?

Noé Ramírez (above), the former head of Mexico's antidrug effort, has been arrested and accused of taking a $450,000 bribe from drug cartels in exchange for tips on narcotics investigations. With $400 million in U.S. aid for the drug war partially contingent on rooting out corruption, high-profile arrests are on the rise.

Placed Under Investigation and House Arrest

Ricardo Gutiérrez Vargas Former Interpol liaison

Gerardo Garay Acting federal chief of police

Rodolfo de la Guardia García Former second in command at the Federal Investigative Agency