Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Friday, February 27, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Obama Budget Pushes Sweeping Change . . .Plan would raise taxes sharply on rich and open battles on health and education; the "trickle up" agenda.
Wall Street Journal
Obama to Withdraw Iraq Troops By Aug. 2010 . . . But wants to leave 35,000-50,000 behind to advise and protect U.S. interests. Associated Press
U.S. to Hold 30-40 Percent Stake in Citigroup . . . Deal will also see most of the group's board replaced. Reuters
Politics
Obama Plan is the End of an Era . . . Proposal breaks with the conservative principles that have ruled national politics since Reagan. Los Angeles Times
Budget a Test of Obama's Political Skills . . .Must meld coalitions issue by issue while holding Dems together and curbing Republican attacks. New York Times
Obama to Roll Back Abortion 'Conscience' Rule . . . Rule allows health-care workers to deny abortion counseling if it would violate their moral beliefs. Chicago Tribune
Vacancies Abound in Top Posts . . . Agencies struggle to run new projects and enact sweeping policy changes with a mere handful of senior staff in place. Boston Globe
Senate Seeks Probe into CIA Under Bush . . . "Fact-finding" effort seeks details on secret prisons and interrogation methods.
Los Angeles Times
DC Voting Measure Clears Senate . . . But language stripping local gun control laws is strongly opposed by city leaders and could complicate final passage. Washington Post
National Security
Afghan Official Warns Against U.S. Pullback . . . Defense minister says administration's recent comments about lowered goals have Kabul worried. Los Angeles Times
Terrorist Deported After Serving Half Sentence . . . Khalid Al-Jawary was doing 30-years for planting car bombs in 1973 that could have killed hundreds. Associated Press
Pentagon Clears Way for Photos of War Dead . . . Gates reverses Bush policy of barring photographs of coffins by news organizations, saying families should decide. Associated Press
Obama Intel Pick Tied to Saudis . . . Veteran diplomat Chas Freeman, new National Intelligence Council Chairman, heads group getting big money from Saudi Arabia. Washington Times
Business
Cost of Bank Bailout Could Double . . . White House includes a $750-billion reserve fund in its budget outline to be used in case conditions worsen. Los Angeles Times
First Criminal Charge in Stanford Case . . . Former chief investment officer Laura Pendergest-Holt charged with obstruction. Times (UK)
GM Lost $30 Billion Last Year . . . Can't survive much longer without additional government loans. New York Times
Auto Sales Decline Could be Bottoming Out . . . Auto sales continue to collapse, but less sharply than forecasters said. USA Today
Fannie Will Take Another $15 Billion . . . Taps federal line as net worth falls below zero. Financial Times
International
Bangladesh Government Routes Mutineers . . . At least 200 border force members are arrested as hunt begins for missing senior officers.
BBC
Eastern Europe's Fall Puts Continent on Edge . . . Latvia's collapse and the sinking East is hurting Western banks and the ideals of unity. Christian Science Monitor
Thousands Protest Across Pakistan . . . Rage greets decision to ban Sharif from politics. Government puts paramilitaries on alert. Dawn
Turkish Airliner's Engines Stalled on Landing . . . Also had repairs just two days before Amsterdam crash. Times (UK)
Also Today. . .
Scientists Unraveling Secrets of Alzheimer's . . . Recent discoveries offer new leads for drugs to treat the fatal brain-wasting disease. Reuters
The Carlights Are Out on Broadway . . . To speed traffic and give pedestrians more room, city will close five blocks of Broadway around Times Square to traffic. USA Today
U2's Ambitious New Album . . . A kaleidoscopic quest that rivals 1991's "Achtung Baby" for audacity and innovation. USA Today
About to Do Time? . . . White collar criminals not used to rough conditions of prison life often solicit the services of a "jailhouse litigator."
Los Angeles Times
Today's Video
Biden Flubs Join Blooper Hall of Fame . . . CNN
