Newsletter: Today: Why the World Dreads El Niño. The VA’s ‘Hamster Wheel.’

I'm Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don't want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Why the World Dreads El Niño

Torrential downpours. Crop-destroying drought. Cholera and typhoid outbreaks. Though some are looking forward to the rain that El Niño will bring to California and the West, the climate phenomenon inspires dread from Indonesia to Ethiopia for all these reasons and beyond. Read on for more about the global threats El Niño poses.

How to Blow $1 Billion

The BioWatch system is a $1-billion network of air samplers in cities across the U.S., meant to detect a biological attack. A new report by the Government Accountability Office says it can't be counted on to do so, despite past claims by Homeland Security that it can be. Take a closer look at the study, which Congress members sought after a 2012 L.A. Times investigation of the nation's main defense against biological terrorism.

Inside the VA's 'Hamster Wheel'

At the Department of Veterans Affairs, it's known as "the hamster wheel": an appeals process for disability cases that can play out over years. Case in point: Ivan Figueroa Clausell, who filed a claim in 1985 and has been appealing a denial ever since. His case is the oldest among more than 425,000. Here's why officials say the system is badly broken. 

Make Rugs, Not War

The Iran nuclear deal could be good news for Persian rug aficionados. An embargo since 2010 has banned the import and export of Iranian-made rugs, but a provision in the nuclear pact could reopen the door to their trade. In today's Great Read (and video), you'll see why some Iranian families in the U.S. can't wait for the embargo to be lifted. 

Dodgers Get Their Man

It's been about a month since the Dodgers and Don Mattingly parted ways. Now, the team that broke baseball's color barrier with Jackie Robinson is expected to name Dave Roberts as its first minority manager -- a high-pressure job with an engaged front office, team personnel in flux and expectations of a World Series championship. Bill Plaschke tells us why Roberts commands respect, while Bill Shaikin looks at how he will be tested. 

OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

-- Islamic State shows the ability to shift to more sophisticated tactics.

-- Records give a glimpse into the mind of a man accused of killing his three sons.

-- Sharp divisions emerge on campuses as some criticize activists' tactics as intimidation.

-- A former Vernon official may be on the hook for $3.4 million in pension overpayments.

-- A cure for social ills or Big Brother? China prepares to rank its citizens on "social credit." 

-- Selling Stardom: A talent agent and a trail of unhappy clients. 

-- Why political impersonations matter, especially in an election year.  

-- A new, fearless generation makes this a revolutionary moment in American playwriting. 

CALIFORNIA

-- A coalition is seeking a court order to halt construction of a $500-million Port of L.A. rail yard. 

-- The Palladium project in Hollywood is a trial run in the fight over city growth. 

-- El Niño gains strength and is likely to drench a key drought zone.

-- Nola, a northern white rhino at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, has died.

NATION-WORLD

-- Brussels is on its highest terrorism alert as authorities warn of a "serious and imminent" threat.

-- China urges joint anti-terrorism efforts but reveals little about attacks on its soil.

-- Argentina elects a center-right president, repudiating the outgoing leader's policies.

-- President Obama finds that security worries underscore the United States' relevance to Asia.

-- Donald Trump calls for waterboarding to combat Islamic State.

BUSINESS 

-- Retailers are growing anxious as holiday shopping season looms.

-- Pfizer and Allergan are reportedly on the brink of a $150-billion merger.

SPORTS

-- Kyle Busch wins his first NASCAR Cup championship in a big comeback.

-- Sam Farmer on the NFL: Rise of the backup quarterbacks. 

ENTERTAINMENT

-- The Katniss factor: What the "Hunger Games" movies say about feminism and war.

-- The highs and lows of the American Music Awards. 

-- Shanice Williams steps into Dorothy's shoes for "The Wiz Live!"

-- Prepare for Thanksgiving and Black Friday: Recipes, gift guides and more. 

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- The double life of John le Carré. (The Atlantic)

-- First person: "Why I leaked the scandalous Mark Foley messages — and what I regret." (Politico) 

-- A lost island of ancient Greece is discovered in the Aegean Sea. (National Geographic)

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