Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Friday, March 6, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Obama Hosts Health Care Forum . . . Industry leaders and lawmakers express optimism on reform, but ideological differences are also revealed. Los Angeles Times
U.S., Iran Could Meet at Conference . . . Clinton proposes a U.N. meeting on Afghanistan that could bring U.S. and Iranian officials face to face. Los Angeles Times
GOP Blocks Mammoth Spending Bill in Senate . . . Anger over the $410 billion price tag and 8,500 earmarks. Would fund government through Oct. 1. New York Times
Politics
Obama Aides Seek to Revive Katrina Aid . . . President dispatches two Cabinet secretaries to region to show support. Washington Times
Ginsburg to Stay on Supreme Court . . . In an interview, the justice says she expects to remain on the job for years. USA Today
Republicans Strike Back on Limbaugh . . . Accuse White House of cynicism in trying to make controversial radio host a foil.
Washington Post
Nupta . . . CNN's Sanjay Gupta withdraws as surgeon general candidate for "personal reasons" amid backlash from liberals. Washington Post
House Passes Bill to Let Judges Redo Mortgages . . . Would give debt-strapped homeowners a chance to secure lower rates. USA Today
Brad Pitt Storms Washington . . . Meets with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Separately. Angelina films a movie in town. USA Today
National Security
Pakistan Truce Good for Taliban . . . Accord between militants and the Pakistani Army seems to have allowed the Taliban free rein in Swat.
New York Times
Scowcroft: Iran Could Trigger Nuclear Arms Race . . . Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey may seek own nukes to keep up, former NSA chief says. Haaretz
Pakistan Facing 'Mortal Threat' . . . UK Foreign Secretary Miliband says Pakistan must unite to confront militants. BBC
Clinton Vows Thaw Between Russia, NATO . . . Tells NATO foreign ministers Washington wants 'fresh start' with Moscow. Guardian
Business
Blue Chips Laid Low . . . Shares in companies that are household names, like G.E. and G.M., now trade for pocket change. New York Times
Dow's Drop Compares to Early Depression . . . Down 53 percent from October 2007 peak. Lost 58 percent between September 1929 and December 1930. Christian Science Monitor
Getting Back to 12,000 Could Take a Decade . . . So says Mark Zandi, middle-of-the-road economic forecaster who has become our economic oracle. McClatchy Newspapers
Picks for Two Top Treasury Jobs Withdraw . . . a blow to Treasury Secretary Geithner's efforts to build his staff to fight the financial crisis. Reuters
Grim Jobs Report Awaits . . . Losses expected to jump to 648,000 in February. Reuters
International
Former Russian Oligarch Faces New Charges . . . But Mikhail Khodorkovsky, jailed by Putin, hopes Medvedev's vow to change judiciary will free him. New York Times
Sudan Expels Relief Agencies . . . Blowback over International court's decision to indict president threatens Darfur. McClatchy Newspapers
Ten Thousand Ugandans Serving in Iraq . . . Men and women from poverty-stricken Uganda risk their lives for $600 a month in Iraq.
Christian Science Monitor
North Korea Threatens Passenger Planes . . . South Korea diverts flights after North warns it can't vouch for safety of passenger aircraft.
Financial Times
Also Today. . .
Calif. Court Unlikely to Reverse Gay Marriage Ban . . . Judges indicate they'll affirm Prop 8 but grandfather in marriages done before November passage. Los Angeles Times
Statin Drugs Bad for Sex . . . The greater the drop in cholesterol, the more sexual pleasure is reduced, according to study. USA Today
Singer Chris Brown Charged . . . Allegations he savagely beat and bit pop star Rihanna last month and threatened to kill her.
Los Angeles Times
Chimp Attack Victim Still in Critical Condition . . . Chimp tore off her hands, much of her face, and caused traumatic brain injury. Face transplant may not be performed. Cleveland Plain Dealer
Manhunt on for Killer of Five in Cleveland . . . At least three of the victims were children, including toddler twin boys.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Today's Video
Ted Kennedy At White House Health Forum . . . NECN
