Protesters decrying corporate greed and other grievances maintained a presence in New York City’s financial district Sunday, one day after more than 700 of them were arrested as they attempted to march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The group “Occupy Wall Street” has been camped out for two weeks. On Saturday, the Brooklyn Bridge was shut down for several hours as protesters rallied against what they said was corporate greed, social inequality and other issues.

New York police said the protesters were arrested when they broke off from the bridge’s pedestrian lane and onto the roadway, blocking traffic. The majority were issued citations for disorderly conduct and released.

The killing of extremist cleric Anwar al Awlaki in a U.S. drone attack in Yemen last week highlights the close ties between Washington and Sana’a. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has cast his leadership as critical to U.S. counter-terrorist efforts, and warned of chaos should his numerous opponents force him from power. But the U.S. may still have potential allies in Yemen if Saleh were to leave the scene.

President Saleh has never been the perfect partner in counter-terrorism. Too many extremists were released or “escaped” from Yemeni prisons for America’s taste.  But for years he has said he is the last line of defense against the threat of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. And the U.S. responded with military and economic help that, intentionally or not, gave Saleh far more strength than his opponents believe he deserved.

Disappointment with U.S.

Many of the anti-government protests rocking Yemen this year do not have anti-Americanism as their root. But according to Hakkim al Masmari, an editor and columnist in Sana’a, demonstrators watched the U.S. reaction to other popular uprisings across the region and frustration set in.   

“The pro-democracy students are very ashamed at what the U.S. is doing. They feel that the U.S. is not playing it fair. They feel that the U.S. is not acting democratic and the U.S. is now supporting a dictator at a time when its called for democracy.”

Washington has said it supports reform, and backs a Gulf Cooperation Council proposal that would see a peaceful transition of power in Yemen. How forcefully U.S. officials press for that change, especially in the wake of the cooperation that led to al Awlaki’s death, is unclear. But Stephen Steinbeiser, with the American Center for Yemen Studies in Sana’a, says the potential for a partnership remains.

“The pro-democracy students identify themselves as being kind of the closest allies in Yemen that the U.S. currently has. They dismiss the current regime as being undemocratic, and they point to others as simply not adhering to U.S. democratic ideals.  But they are untested. And so it would really take some time to organize some political strengths and identify some strong leaders and only then begin to really articulate a policy that the U.S. would be interested in working with.”

Engaging others within the opposition

The U.S. has been working with other groups in Yemen. Editor Masmari says the outreach of American diplomats toward tribal leaders has led to very strong connections, in particular with the al-Ahmar family, which heads a powerful tribal federation and is among the most potent of the anti-Saleh forces. Despite a warrior-like image reinforced by fierce street battles in the capital, analyst Steinbeiser says the clan’s true interests may be more pragmatic.  

“The al-Ahmar family is a family of commerce. They’re a business family, so I think they’re more outward looking than a lot of people in Yemen might otherwise be. They have a number of concerns here in Yemen, including major telephone and cellular telephone networks. And I think that they could get on quite well with U.S. policy if it’s conducted on the level of kind of business, commercial exchange.”

Steinbeiser says that in terms of more complicated issues, he would be surprised if the al-Ahmar clan has formulated many specific policies.

A lack of future policy planning is perhaps understandable among others in the widely divergent array of anti-Saleh forces, focused now almost exclusively on removing the president from power.

But Steinbeiser feels at least in the short run, such groups as the al-Ahmar family, military defectors and the traditional opposition – those engaged in the current negotiations over the transfer of power – are likely to continue the current government’s largely pro-U.S. policy. He says that may extend even to many Islamist groups, not the extremists, but those who want a religion-based government.

“My impression overall is that all of the groups realize the imperative of trying to keep Yemen as peaceful and stable as possible right now. Even before this political impasse occurred, Yemen was facing surmounting problems that would pressure a more established, richer nation.  And to have this kind of political wedge thrown into the works right now is very, very dangerous, and potentially very disruptive to any course of progress in Yemen for any of the groups mentioned.”

While U.S. support of Saleh has bred resentment, the same military and financial aid he has enjoyed could well become building blocks for any future alliances, at least in the short term.

Watch this explainer of the situation in Yemen by Davin Hutchins in Washington, D.C, and Tom Finn in Sana’a:

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America’s extensive yet friction-laden economic relationship with China will be the focus of debate in the U.S. Senate this week, as it considers a bill to penalize Beijing for allegedly manipulating China’s currency, the yuan, to benefit domestic exports and disadvantage foreign imports.

China’s export strategy

U.S. officials have long complained that China intentionally maintains an undervalued yuan as part of an aggressive – some might say predatory – export promotion strategy.

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“China’s exchange rate policy is unfair, and hurts the interests of American producers,” said Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary.

A bill garnering bipartisan support in the Senate would treat currency manipulation as a foreign subsidy, triggering U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

‘Illegal’ measures

“China illegally subsidizes their industries,” said Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York, who is a sponsor of the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.
“They underpay their workers. They skirt environmental regulations, and ignore the tenets of global trade rule after trade rule after trade rule. They get away with economic murder.”

Schumer says China’s currency practices have cost the United States more than two million jobs over the last decade.

Also backing the bill is Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who says it is time for the United States to defend its interests.

“During these tough economic times, we ought not to allow any of our trading partners to rig the game in their favor,” he said. “It is the job of American officials to defend the just and fundamental interests of the American workforce.”

Trade worries

Some U.S. industries squeezed by Chinese competition have welcomed the bill. But 50 trade groups representing many of America’s most vibrant export industries have written a letter to Senate leaders arguing the legislation would invite Chinese retaliation and should be rejected.

Trade expert Dan Ikenson of the Washington-based Cato Institute agrees.

“If we do something unilateral, we risk U.S. export sales to China and the jobs that go with it,” said Ikenson.

He says the World Trade Organization would likely reject an American bid to treat currency manipulation as a subsidy. Beyond that, Ikenson says, the bill before the Senate demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of trade in an inter-dependent, globalized economy.

“It used to be the case that it was our producers against their producers,” he added. “But now we have globalization, and there is a lot of value-added from different countries in products that we import from China, that are snapped together [assembled] in China, for example. So currency values cut in many different ways.”

Ikenson warns against sabotaging a vast and increasingly-lucrative export market for the United States, something highlighted by U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner while testifying on Capitol Hill last year.

“China is now consuming more and importing more from the United States,” he said. “As a result, China’s overall trade surplus has fallen sharply, by roughly half as a share of its economy. U.S. exports to China have rebounded much more rapidly than overall U.S. exports to the world.”

Chinese currency

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The Obama administration says China’s currency remains undervalued, but has not endorsed the Senate bill. Chinese officials argue against politicizing trade issues, and point out that, in fact, the yuan has gradually appreciated in value since 2005.

That slow appreciation does not appear to satisfy U.S. lawmakers. With the 2012 general election looming, some legislators seem eager for a fight that will allow them to point fingers and assign blame for America’s economic woes.

Should the bill pass in the Democratic-led Senate, its enactment is far from certain. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has not indicated it will take up the legislation.

U.S. forecasters have downgraded Hurricane Ophelia to a Category 2 hurricane as it continues moving northward towards Newfoundland.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its latest bulletin Sunday that Ophelia’s winds have decreased to 175 kilometers per hour and it is traveling north-northeast towards Cape Race, Newfoundland in Canada.

The eye is expected to pass near or over the Avalon Peninsula early Monday at near-hurricane strength.

The Canadian Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch beginning Sunday evening. Forecasters warn that large swells created by Ophelia will impact the South Coast of Newfoundland, with the largest waves arriving near noon (local time) Monday.

Several hundred anti-Wall Street protestors were arrested Saturday evening as they attempted to march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrators forced the temporary closure of the bridge as they rallied against what they said was corporate greed, social inequality and other issues.

New York police said they arrested some of the protestors when they broke off from the bridge’s pedestrian lane and onto the roadway, blocking traffic.

The Brooklyn Bridge was shut down for several hours but has since reopened.

The “Occupy Wall Street” website describes the protest as a “leaderless movement,” and members have been camped out near New York City’s Financial District for the past two weeks.

In Boston, a similar “Take Back Boston” march rallied against the city’s Bank of America’s offices and more than 20 protestors were arrested.

Paramedics, who rushed to Michael Jackson’s rented mansion the day the singer died, say they arrived within five minutes of being called but that Jackson seemed to have been dead for some time.  They also say his doctor, who was at the home, was “frantic.”

The testimony came Friday in Los Angeles during the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray.  One of the paramedics who tried to revive Jackson, Richard Senneff, said paramedics were optimistic Jackson might live because they arrived so quickly.  But Senneff said they soon saw that Jackson was unresponsive.  Paramedics spent about 42 minutes trying to revive the singer before taking him to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

According to the paramedic, Murray said he had given Jackson a sedative, lorazepam, to help him sleep.  The paramedic testified that Murray said Jackson was being treated for dehydration and exhaustion and he never disclosed administering the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson.  Murray had been giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep, although the drug is not approved for use as a sleep aid.  

Prosecutors have said Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose and lacked the equipment that could have saved the life of the 50-year-old singer, who was known as the “King of Pop.”  Murray’s defense team says the singer’s own actions led to his death, arguing that Jackson took the propofol himself and overdosed, dying so quickly, “he did not even have time to close his eyes.”

Murray, a cardiologist, faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted.  

Michael Jackson died suddenly at his mansion June 25, 2009.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

U.S. President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to quickly pass his jobs bill.

During his weekly address Saturday, Obama said “It’s time for Congress to get its act together and pass this jobs bill so I can sign it into law.”

The president sent Congress the $447 billion bill three weeks ago.  Obama says the American Jobs Act will put thousands of teachers, police and construction workers back on the job.  He also says economists from varied political background say the jobs bill will boost the economy and increase hiring.

^{Watch President Obama’s weekly speech:}

In the Republican address, Representative Morgan Griffith pushed for a reduction in regulatory requirement on businesses.  He said, for years, “excessive regulations have been a source of frustration for businesses trying to stay afloat.”

Republicans like some parts of the president’s jobs bill, such as payroll tax cuts, but they have rejected any tax increases to pay for any spending proposals.  President Obama says he would like to hear from Congress on what parts of the bill they like.

^{Watch weekly Republican address:}

Since mid-September, several hundred protesters have been camped out on a plaza in the heart of New York’s financial district. They call their leaderless movement “Occupy Wall Street” and they are opposed to what they say is a government controlled by corporate money and the growing income gap between the very wealthy and the rest of America.

The office workers and construction crews who lunch in Zuccotti Park on weekdays have had to make way for the colorful, messy encampment. They step around the home-made signs arrayed along the plaza making the demonstrators’ anti-corporate case: “Capitalism is a Violent Monopoly!” and “There Is No Economy on a Dead Planet – End Corporate Ecocide.”

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Community organizer Naif Littles spelled out the basic agenda.

“We need to stop these huge corporations, particularly the big banks on Wall Street, from controlling our members of Congress,” he said. “The top 400 richest Americans have more wealth than 150 million Americans combined.”

Most of the protestors appear to be in their 20s. Some say they have huge college debts, but can’t find jobs. Julien Harrison has a master’s degree, $50,000 in student debt, and wants to be a teacher. He’s been able to find only manual labor.

“Of course, they’re laying off teachers all over the country,” he said.  “It’s getting more and more competitive. I just came from Portland. There’s people with Ph.Ds, masters, undergraduate degrees competing to be a barista at a coffee shop.”

So, he’s a fulltime protester, for now. The demonstrators have made themselves at home, setting up a first-aid station staffed by an emergency medical technician, a haphazard library along one wall of the plaza, and a “kitchen,” where donated meals – mostly pizza – are distributed. Some have even brought in armchairs, and queen-size mattresses. Others nap on the cement.

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons was the most recent celebrity visitor to offer support. Actress Susan Sarandon and filmmaker activist Michael Moore also have stopped by.

“I’m here in solidarity to all the people who are protesting the money-grab and the fierce class warfare that’s been waged on the poor and under-served,” Simmons told the crowd. His listeners recited his words back to him, using what the group calls a “human mic” to amplify the sound, since megaphones are not permitted in the park.

New Yorkers and tourists at Zuccotti Park have varied reactions to the ragtag incursion. Richard Oranger, who said he worked in insurance, expressed contempt.

“Lazy bum Marxist freeloaders,” he said. “Their sign right there saying capitalism doesn’t work? Oh yeah, it doesn’t work?” He gestures sarcastically at the skyscrapers above. “Capitalism built this city up!”

Retired social worker Diane Lloyd wholly approved.

“I’m extremely angry,” she said. “In my opinion most of the problems, the economic problems were caused knowingly by financiers. They are making tons of money after hurting tons of people, and Main Street is suffering.”

“I think it’s very true,” agreed Anne Glass, a tourist from Ireland. “It’s the same all over the world. Same in Ireland. Greedy people, that’s all it is.”

College student Fadil Palgevic jeered.

“They should go home and stop wasting time,” he said. “There’s no point in this. It’s not like they’re going to get jobs like this anyway. They’re not even looking. They’re just repeating each other.”

The protest began with a call in July by a group called Adbusters, but has no formal organization. Protesters meet each day to discuss strategies and goals. Everyone has an equal voice. The demonstrators also assemble for rallies in support of workers and other causes, and for frequent marches on Wall Street.

“We are the 99 percent,” they chant. And “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!”

New York police are with them wherever they go. During a march on September 24, police arrested about 80 people, and used what several onlookers said was undue force. One high-ranking officer, a deputy inspector, sprayed pepper spray in the faces of several demonstrators, including a group of women who had been fenced in by police netting. A police spokesman said the department is investigating the incidents.

There has been no violence since then, and protestors make a point of thanking the police and chanting “professionalism, courtesy, respect!” as they set out on their marches.

Some critics say that “Occupy Wall Street” is too unfocused to gain traction. Supporters reply that it is an exercise in direct democracy – and that their aims are coherent. They say they will keep their demonstration going even into the winter months. Several other New York community groups and several labor unions have announced they will join in the rallies, and meet in Washington for a similar protest being planned a few blocks from the White House.

Many small businesses in the United States are struggling these days because of the economic downturn, changes in technology, and competition from large national chains.

In the small town of Teaneck, New Jersey – not far from New York City – business owners are feeling this crunch. They are finding creative ways to cope with the situation.

Fourth-generation baker Richard Heisler is the owner of this 80-year-old kosher bakery in Teaneck New Jersey. Butterflake Bakery is one of the best-known bakeries in the New York metropolitan area. But Heisler said bakeries are a dying business.

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“Forty years ago there was no place to go but a bakery to buy a loaf of bread, to get a piece of cake. Today the client has a myriad of choices to shop at,” said Heisler.

Those other choices include convenience stores and big chain grocery stores. Many of them have their own bakery inside the store, to provide fresh baked goods and confectionery items under one roof. Heisler is adapting to keep his clients.

“We have niched ourselves [created a niche for ourselves] being a nut-free bakery. We have niched ourselves to the community by challenging ourselves to come with new recipes that are creative. We also service more than just the Jewish community, which is a large staple of the Teaneck community. We also serve the Muslim community, the Hindu community, special dietary-need communities, whether it’s gluten free…  So we have found different avenues to increase our business,” said Heisler.

Cedar lane in Teaneck is home to some of the town’s oldest businesses. Some have reworked themselves to keep their clientele, but others have closed down. The president of Teaneck’s Chamber of Commerce, Larry Bauer, said most business owners do not know they can seek help from his organization.

“I think a lot of times they do not realize that we [the Chamber of Commerce] are here and when they start running into problems they don’t contact us. We can see what we can do possibly to help them be able to survive. Some businesses have gone out because the owners were up in their years; they wanted to retire. Instead of trying to find somebody that might want to take over their business they just close the business,” said Bauer.

To be able to survive, small businesses have to accommodate the needs of the local community, said the owner of the Teaneck General store. The store is a gift shop, and a kosher café with Wi-Fi. Owner Bruce Prince opened it about two years ago.

“The idea that a small business can cater to a community in a different way, be more mindful of what that community needs. Be mindful about prices, so part of what we do, we shop very carefully to guarantee, or hope to guarantee, a better price,” said Prince.

And as part of their efforts to survive – not only are the local businesses in Teaneck becoming more customer-specific – they also make a point of carrying the work of local artisans.

U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey has been sworn in as the nation’s top uniformed officer.

At the event in Fort Myer outside Washington, President Barack Obama described General Dempsey as one of the military’s most battle-tested officers.

The 37-year veteran replaces retiring Navy Admiral Mike Mullen as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dempsey’s career includes two tours of duty in Iraq, and serving as acting commander of all military operations in the Middle East.  

Dempsey moves into his new role as the military faces deep budget cuts to help trim the massive U.S. debt, and also as the U.S. sees strained relations with Pakistan over that country’s apparent failure to dismantle Islamic extremist groups. Mullen recently described the Haqqani terrorist network as a “veritable arm” of Pakistan’s intelligence agency.

President Obama has asked the Defense Department to cut $400 billion from its budget over the next 12 years. During his confirmation hearing last month, Dempsey warned lawmakers that cuts of $800 billion or more would be “extraordinarily difficult and very high risk.”      

Obama nominated Dempsey in May, only a month after the general assumed the post of chief of staff of the Army.