Great Weekend Reads

U.S. Embassies are being attacked across the Middle East, the Chinese VP Xi Jinping remains missing, and a Drunken North Korean man successfully defects to South Korea by means of a buoyant wooden board.

No matter how you cut it, it's been a big week for the world. Here's a sampling of the most important stories from GlobalPost and a look at some of the news you might have missed.

Rage Against America: Full coverage of Anti-US outrage
Anger that erupted on Sept. 11 over an amateur film denigrating Prophet Mohammed has spread throughout the Muslim world. But the roots of this rage go far beyond a simple film trailer. GlobalPost brings you the latest on this developing story and how it is playing across the Middle East, on the US campaign trail, and around the world.

Life and Death in Aleppo 
Video and Photos: Their names were Issa, Ahmed and Sheik Mahmoud Qasim. They were fathers, brothers, students, teachers and laborers. And, last week, they were all killed by tank fire.

America the Gutted
America's middle class is in trouble. In GP's latest blog, we look at what that fact means for the world's largest economy – and the rest of planet earth.

Rights Blog: Iraqi government targeted gay killings
Investigation finds that the Iraqi government is behind the murders and arrests of scores of homosexuals.

What's next for US-Mideast relations?
The crisis in Libya could well blow a hole in the US election campaign, and set the stage for even tenser relations with the Arab world.

Venezuela's Yanomami massacre mystery
An alleged massacre in the Venezuelan jungle appears to have been hyped by Western media with scant evidence.

Accelerate: Electric safari 
Video: Land Rover designs a better, greener wildlife-viewing vehicle.

If Xi Jinping is OK, let him show his face
Analysis: It would seem easy enough for the Chinese VP to show his face and prove the rumor mill wrong. Why doesn't he?

Planet Pic: The US Open 
Photos: Highlights from one of the world's oldest tennis championships.

And last, but certainly not least…
 

Drunk North Korean man floats to South Korea
A profoundly drunk young man appears to have floated to South Korea from the North on a piece of wood, and will likely be allowed to stay if he chooses.