Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Monday, March 2, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Mullen: Iran Has Enough Material For Bomb . . . Joint Chiefs Chair shows grave concern, but Gates says Tehran not close to building one, emphasizes diplomacy. Los Angeles Times
Obama Will Sign Spending Bill Laden With Earmarks . . .
It's "last years business," aides say of measure that will keep government running for rest of year. New York Times
Politics
D.C. Voting Right Encumbered by Challenges . . . Gun rights and "fairness doctrine amendments, a legal challenge, among issues that could sink it. Los Angeles Times
Geithner and Summers Take Command . . . Budget bears hallmarks of decade-old alliance that has come to dominate the most pressing issues on administration agenda. Washington Post
Sen. Hatch's Secret Pharmaceutical Links . . . Industry that long has benefited from his legislative efforts funds charity he helped found, hired son as lobbyist. Washington Times
Durbin: Race Was a Factor in Seating Burris . . . Notes that Chicago Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush used racially charged language to defend the appointment. Chicago Tribune
Line Forms to Succeed Burris . . . Contenders include Rep. Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam, and Alexi Giannoulias, state treasurer who plays basketball with Obama. New York Times
Ailing Economy Complicates Obama Health Plan . . . Would be difficult to pass anytime, but now more than ever. New York Times
National Security
U.S. Missiles Kill at Least Eight in Pakistan . . . Attack on militant base. Among the dead are four Arab extremists. New York Times
U.S. Looks Beyond Military in Pakistan . . . Washington seeks to build the state and its economy as a way to wean the country from Islamic extremism. Christian Science Monitor
North Korea, U.S., Hold Military Rare Talks . . . Two sides discussed ways to ease tensions and agreed to further. BBC
Debate Heats Up Over U.S. Cuba Policies . . . Political momentum is building behind efforts to soften America's policy of isolating the country.
USA Today
Business
EU Rejects Rescue for Eastern Europe . . . EU leaders, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, spurn call for sweeping bailout of Eastern Europe. Wall Street Journal
AIG Gets Fresh $30 Bil. Bailout . . . Insurer suffers record $61.7 billion loss. Financial Times
HSBC Cuts 6,100 Jobs . . . Europe's largest bank seeks $18 billion in fresh capital as income plummets. New York Times
International
President of Guinea-Bissau Assassinated . . . Shot dead by renegade soldiers, officials say - just hours after the army chief was also killed. BBC
Over 1,000 Bangladeshi Border Guards Charged . . . Accused of murder and arson in uprising last week that left at least 148 people dead or missing. Associated Press
Clinton Pledging $900 Mil. To Rebuild Gaza . . . Palestinian Authority seeks $2.8 billion in aid at donors' conference. Associated Press
Israel May Face War Crimes Trial Over Gaza . . . International criminal court considering whether the Palestinian Authority "enough like a state" to bring a case. Guardian
Ukraine Teetering . . . Factories and services faltering, currency is wilting and a government default seems possible. New York Times
Also Today. . .
Children's Lead Levels Drop . . . Far fewer kids have high lead levels than 20 years ago, a testament to aggressive efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil. Associated Press
Northeast Pounded by Late-Winter Storm . . . Warnings issued from North Carolina to New Hampshire, with most areas expected to see 8 to 12 inches of snow. Associated Press
New Space Telescope to Find Earth-Like Planets . . . Some astronomers believe spacecraft could find about 50 Earth-like planets, suggesting life. Houston Chronicle
More Than 140 Whales Die Off Australia . . . Out of a total of 200 that have beached. Rescuers bring a few dozen back out to sea. Effort to save more continues. The Mercury
U.S. Muslims Thriving, but Not Content . . . Blacks make up largest group, reporting lower income and more unease. But others among the nation's most prosperous. New York Times
Today's Video
Threat From Mexican Drug War Grows . . . CBS
