Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Stocks Soar on Toxic Asset Plan . . . Stocks surged worldwide after the White House unveiled its plan to clean up banks' balance sheets. Dow Up 497 points. Wall Street Journal
Reaction to Rescue Plan Mixed Markets exult over plan to buy up toxic assets, but some investors, banks and taxpayers are wary. Washington Post
Likud and Labor Agree on Coalition . . . Plan brings Ehud Barak into government. He and Netanyahu agree Israel will seek Middle East peace deal. Haaretz
Politics
Pelosi Adapts to Second Banana Role . . . Says she's delighted to let Obama lead the party. But tensions emerge on a variety of fronts. Los Angeles Times
Obama Lacks Secretary of Sales . . . Geithner & Co. may know policy, but they've proven less than adept at inspiring the public to accept tough medicine. Los Angeles Times
Senate Tables Plan to Tax AIG Bonuses. . . Growing concerns about consequences and a cool reception from the White House prompt delay.
Washington Post
Obama Heads to Capitol Hill to Tout Budget . . . Skepticism grows after Congressional Budget Office says costs far greater than Obama predicts.
Washington Post
Sen. Gregg Trains Fire on Obama . . . Since withdrawing as Commerce pick, Republican Judd Gregg has been one of the president's harshest critics. Boston Globe
Obama Army's a Bust . . . Backers fanned out across the nation over the weekend to drum up support for his budget. Lawmakers are largely unaware of the effort. McClatchy Newspapers
Sibelius in Trouble With Catholic Church . . . Prefect for Vatican's highest court declares HHS pick should not receive communion because of abortion views. Washington Times
National Security
U.S. to Boost Civilian Aid to Pakistan . . . Assistance would rise to $1.5 billion or more as part of new Afghanistan strategy aimed at curbing support for insurgents. Los Angeles Times
NATO Identifies Top Taliban Commander Killed . . . Maulawi Hassan was responsible for numerous roadside bombings and suicide attacks against NATO forces. New York Times
U.S. Troops Confront Wily Afghan Insurgents . . . Relentless struggle with a fleet-footed, clever enemy points to no quick victory. McClatchy Newspapers
Britain: Chemical or Nuclear Attack More Likely . . . Home Secretary points to changing technology and the theft and smuggling of dangerous materials. The Independent
Business
Government Looks to Cap Firms' Risks . . . Geithner suggests the Obama administration may limit the ability of big firms to take risks.
Wall Street Journal
Obama Dials Down the Rhetoric . . . Starts to play nicer with Wall Street as he scrambles to woo top bankers and financiers to back his latest bailout plan. Wall Street Journal
IRS Probing AIG Bonus Unit . . . Analyzing tax deals structured by AIG Financial Products, same unit under scrutiny for employee bonuses.
Wall Street Journal
Many AIG Bonuses Being Repaid . . . Fifteen of the top 20 bonus recipients in financial products division return bonuses totaling $50 million. New York Times
International
String of Iraq Bombings . . . Latest kills at least 25 and injures at least 45. Reflects rising tensions between Iraq's Kurds and Sunni Muslim Arabs. McClatchy Newspapers
Mexico Offers Big Cash for Drug Lords' Capture . . . Dangles millions for information leading to capture of 37 drug lords. Clinton visits Wednesday. Wall Street Journal
Kremlin Critic Attacked in Sochi . . . Mayoral candidate Boris Nemstov, critical of Olympics planning for the city, is doused with ammonia. No lasting injuries. Associated Press
Japanese Man Survived Both A-Bombs . . . He was in Hiroshima on a business trip for the first and returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in time for the second. Associated Press
Also Today. . .
Three Families Among 14 Dead in Montana Crash . . . Seven are children under age ten. Plane may have been carrying too much weight, but icing also suspected. Los Angeles Times
NPR is Hot. NPR? . . . While rest of industry lags, interest in National Public Radio's news shows soars. Washington Post
Eat Meat and Die . . . Daily consumption of beef, pork or processed meats increases risk of premature death, study finds. Washington Post
EPA Wants Regulation of Greenhouse Gases. . . Finding will force White House to decide whether to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Washington Post
Go Out and Play . . . Fun is vital to our health in depressing times, author says. USA Today
Today's Video
Indian Company Unveils World's Cheapest Car . . . CNN
