Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, March 26, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Geithner to Propose Major Regulatory Reform . . . Vast expansion of financial system oversight, regulating hedge funds, insurers and derivatives markets. Washington Post
Rahm Emanuel's Big Freddie Mac Payday . . . Obama Chief of staff served as a director, earning at least $320,000 in 14 months for doing little while scandals grew.
Chicago Tribune
Taliban Getting Pakistan's Help . . . Pakistani intel operatives assist widening Taliban campaign in southern Afghanistan.
New York Times
Politics
House Passes $3.45 Trillion Budget . . . Approves along party lines a plan that embraces many of Obama's priorities but spends slightly less than he sought. Reuters
Questions Raised About Digital Health Records . . . It's a top Obama priority, but studies highlight costs and challenges of making the switch.
New York Times
Obama to Hold Online Town Hall . . . Will be in the East Room today to take questions posed by visitors to White House website. Los Angeles Times
Congress Wary Over Fed's Growing Power . . . New questions about Bernanke's role and decisions. Washington Post
N.Y. Special Election Provides 2010 Test Run . . . Contest for open House seat provides look at how Obama's economic policies may play out on the campaign trail in 2010. USA Today
National Security
U.S. Plans New Drone Attacks in Pakistan . . . U.S. and Pakistani intel officials draw up fresh list of terrorist targets along border with Afghanistan. Wall Street Journal
North Korea Close to Launching . . . They say it's a "peaceful" satellite. We say it's a long-range missile. Reuters
Obama To Keep Agencies' Focus on Terrorism . . . Solidifying Bush move to make top priority of Justice and FBI counterterrorism rather than law enforcement. New York Times
Pentagon Reports Chinese Military Expansion . . . Seeks technology and weapons to disrupt the traditional U.S. advantages. China throws a fit. New York Times
Business
Gas Prices Creep Up and Could Go Higher . . . Jump in oil prices and tightening gas supplies auger higher prices heading into summer driving season. Wall Street Journal
Obama Auto Task Force to Back More Loans . . . Says it sees viable futures for GM and Chrysler - with some sacrifices. Wall Street Journal
Home Sales Rise 4.7 Percent in February . . . First increase in seven months is another sign housing market is thawing. Wall Street Journal
AIG Execs in Europe Want to Keep Bonuses . . . Some feel that pressure on them to give back money may amount to blackmail.
Reuters
Geithner Defends Dollar . . . Says it will remain world's currency, but only after earlier comments caused confusion and prompted greenback's value to fall. Washington Post
International
Clinton: U.S. Shares Blame for Mexico Violence . . . In a visit, accepts that U.S. market for narcotics and trade in U.S. guns contributes to drug violence. Los Angeles Times
Madagascar Isolated After Coup . . . The crisis not only threatens to make the island's poverty worse, it might also lead to extinction of rare lemur species. Christian Science Monitor
Czech Leader Condemns U.S. 'Road to Hell' . . . Holder of rotating EU presidency throws hopes for better relations with U.S. into chaos with comments on stimulus. Financial Times
Taliban Takes Control of Pakistan Region . . . Pakistan surrenders Swat valley to the Taliban, who are enforcing Sharia with public beatings and executions. Times (UK)
Also Today. . .
Pilot Error Focus of Buffalo Crash Probe . . . One of the pilots appears to have reacted incorrectly when warning of a stall sounded in cockpit. Buffalo News
Online Age Quiz Offers Info for Drugmakers . . . RealAge determines your "biological age" by asking a lot of questions, than hands info over to pharmaceutical companies. New York Times
Red River Runs Over . . . Fargo scrambles not to be inundated. Flooding worries extend to other areas of North Dakota and Minnesota.
New York Times
Head Injuries: Looking for Signs and Acting Fast . . . With death of Natasha Richardson, medical community, parents and coaches look at risks and lessons. New York Times
Companies Cut or End 401K Matches . . . Dozens of employers in the past year have already slashed such costs. USA Today
Today's Video
Devastating Floods Plague North Dakota . . . CBS
