Bringing you important topics with an international focus – Weekly Newsmakers: a recap of stories making headlines around the world.

This Election, a Stark Choice in Health Care – New York Times (Editor’s Pick)

With the Presidential election rolling around again, we should have a look at the candidates’ proposals for Medicare, Medicaid and health care coverage for the uninsured. Should President Obama retake office, ObamaCare will remain in tact and his health care law requiring that most Americans secure health insurance or risk tax-related consequences will see enforcement. Should Gov. Romney take office, ObamaCare will certainly see financing cuts and Pres. Obama’s plan for universal coverage would play second fiddle (if any fiddle at all) to Romney’s intended goal to control medical costs. Where do you stand on the health care issue? Do you like ObamaCare? Weigh in your thoughts in our comments section below.

TSA Screeners Put Inspection Notices in Bags They Didn’t Inspect – CNN (Editor’s Pick)
Frequent fliers may have been victim to another odd TSA practice. This time around, some travelers found an inspection notice in their luggage, but learned that no one had searched the contents inside. This news comes after the Department of Homeland Security’s independent inspector general announced Tuesday that video footage was discovered showing a number of TSA officers skirting procedures for luggage screening. Would finding a TSA search notice in your luggage annoy you if you realized that the TSA did not actually screen the contents of your luggage? Voice your opinion in our comments section!

Deaths Rise to 12, with nearly 120 Sickened in Rare Meningitis Outbreak – CNN

Contaminated steroid injections is linked to the recent outbreak in meningitis related deaths. Florida recorded it’s first death connected to the outbreak this Tuesday. The public was assured by officials that the outbreak is not contagious.

The Taliban’s Latest Target: a 14-Year-Old Girl – Wall Street Journal
Pakistan’s 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai was the Taliban’s latest target, leaving the teen unconscious after gunmen attacked her school bus and shot her in the head and neck. Mr. Obama found the attack to be “reprehensible and disgusting and tragic.” Many Pakistanis reacted to the shooting with similar sentiments. Ms. Yousafzai’s attack was due to her status as a spokesperson for girls’ rights to education. As of Thursday, Yousafzai’s condition was stable.