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401 President Bush has signed an order changing rules for intelligence agencies. The order also gives special powers to the nation’s intelligence director Mike McConnell. The order gives him new power over any intelligence information that involves more than one agency. In the past, the central intelligence agency had that kind of responsibility. The order also gives Mr. McConnell the right to purchase new satellites and make other financial decisions. The order also lessens the responsibilities of all 16 American intelligence agencies. 402 The United Nations says North Korea is facing its worst food crisis since the 1990th. The world food program’s country director for North Korea spoke in Beijing Wednesday. He said the food crisis in North Korea is the result of rising grain prices. Flooding lash the year and upward harvest. Mr. de Margerie is urging international donors to give 20 million dollars to the world food program. The money would help more than 6 million North Koreans for the next 3 to 4 month until the next harvest. 403 The United States Central Bank has cut a major interest rate in an effort to help the economy. The bank cut the federal funds rate from 4.25 to 3.5 percent. The Federal Reserve says it acted because of weakening economic conditions and credit restrictions. Stock market surround world have dropped sharply in value in the past two days. Investors are worried that a slowing American economy could hurt businesses in many nations. 404 Dictionaries define patriotism as love and loyalty to ones country. For Americans, patriotism can mean many things -- for example, celebrating the Fourth of July, Independence Day. In the current campaign, Barack Obama has had his patriotism questioned by some people. The expected Democratic Party nominee says that at times this has been a result of his own carelessness. But more often, he says, it has resulted from what he called the desire by some to score political points and raise fears about him. 405