…And the World:

We begin today in China, where a market selloff has prompted a global retreat in stocks. Fear indices are up and yields for the safety currencies as down as weak growth in China’s economy has prompted panic. While there is plenty of good news in the developed world, the developing world has been beset by China’s instability falling oil prices.

The Islamic State has apparently detonated a 2000 year-old temple in the ancient city of Palmyra.

Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan calls new elections after his party was unable to form a government after those held this past spring.

While three Americans and a Brit stopped a terrorist attack on an Amsterdam to Paris train, now Europe must confront how it can protect its soft targets, especially amid such a surge in radicalism. Meanwhile, French officials bestowed the Legion d’honneur on the individuals who subdued the attacker.

The Economist argues that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as head of the Labour party is also bad for the Tories, who currently control the government. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown comes out in support of Yvette Cooper.

Leaks of recordings of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak have roiled the Israeli political establishment. The one-time Labor Prime Minister and later Defense Minister under Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed Bibi’s behavior while the country pondered attacks on Iran and before and after the deal that released captured solider Gilad Shalit. The situation is also fueling speculation about Barak’s return to politics. He may also sue the media over the recordings.

In what has become dog bites man in Brazil, another powerful lawmaker is caught up in a corruption scandal.

The Feds:

With a Biden run possibly in the air, Politico writes it is dividing those within the Vice-president’s circle. This comes after a clandestine meeting with Senator Elizabeth Warren. Meanwhile Massachusetts Rep Seth Moulton seems keen on a Biden bid. But Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair isn’t worried about Biden.

In a solid score for President Obama, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid says he will vote to sustain the deal during anticipated congressional votes disapproving the deal.

The New York Times profiles the Clintons’ lawyer, David Kendall.

Letitia James, the New York City Public Advocate (the position Mayor Bill de Blasio held before his current post) has filed more actions against the city on behalf of city residents than her predecessors did in the previous 20 years.

After some speculation last week, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy confirms it has met with GE officials who have made increasing noises about fleeing the state it has called home since the 1970’s.

The State of Things:

A major project to extend the MBTA’s Green Line could cost as much as $1 billion more than previously expected. The project would bring the line to an area of Cambridge and Somerville that are currently underserved and in need of transit. Thus, The Boston Globe reports, shelving the project is not a preferred option, though downscaling several elements of it is.

Senator Elizabeth Warren does not commit to reelection in 2018.

Last week our Editor-in-Chief Matt Szafranski joined Lioness Magazine’s Natasha Clark and NEPR’s Carrie Healy to discuss a ballot question on caged-chickens, the Department of Children & Families and Gov. Charlie Baker.

Agawam’s Clerk Richard Theroux is leaving his post to seek a Council seat.

NEPR writes about the impending first day of school in Holyoke—which is the also the first day schools will open under state control.

Worcester Magazine considers its home town’s Main Street and finds it rather quiet.

In Longmeadow potpourri: the School Committee established a subcommittee to select a consultant to help in the search for a new superintendent following Marie Doyle’s retirement. In news of particular note to Springfield, Longmeadow hires the city’s deputy DPW director, Mario Mazza to be the town’s new DPW director.

The Fourth Estatements:

Politico Massachusetts launches with its first Playbook produced by former Dorchester Reporter scribe Lauren Dezenski. Though it had a few dry runs last week…

Rolling Stone tries to move on after the UVA Rape story and changes at the top of its leadership.

An influential professor of journalism, particularly the evolving state of college media, at St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia died suddenly.

City Slickers:

ICYMI: Our report from last week’s Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association mayoral forum (sans the incumbent).

Elevator problems had bedeviled its smaller sibling down Chestnut Street. Now Chestnut Towers, the city’s tallest residential building, is having problems with the lifts. Except that building, at the corner of State and Chestnut, has 30 floor to service instead of 17 at Chestnut Park Tower at the corner of Chestnut and Harrison.

Twitter Chatter:

The MBTA’s new costs estimates for the Green Line extension are eye-popping and if its gets shut down due to cost, the results will be devastating. It is easy from Western Mass and declare this project will do no good, but it should not be hard to understand the impact. Sure Union Station’s renovation is far-cheaper, but what if its once-escalating projects killed it off for another generation? All that growth & opportunity Springfield is now counting there woudl be gone. Now imagine the impact of losing a line to clear up congestion of an area choking on the demand for better transit access. Today we award the tweet prize for former Deval Patrick staffer and Alliance for Business Leadership Executive Director Jesse Mermell for underscoring the impact of losing the Green Line extension. A failure to invest in our infrastructure is already killing us and smothering growth. We should not allow stick shock to hold us even further back.