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Friday, April 17, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Memos Detail Harsh Interrogation Tactics . . .
White House releases secret memos describing CIA methods, but it won't prosecute those who performed them.
New York Times
Obama Auto Task Force Leader Under Scrutiny . . . Steven Rattner was involved with payments being probed in alleged kickback scheme. Wall Street Journal
Banks Show Signs of Recovery . . . A number are looking better, aided by improvements in the economy and new business gleaned from rivals that stumbled. New York Times
Pakistan on Track to Become Islamic State . . . Many experts believe there's little hope of preventing Pakistan from disintegrating into Islamist fiefdoms. McClatchy Newspapers
Politics
Pelosi Wants to Probe Financial Crisis . . . She backs creation of a special panel that will investigate the meltdown. Washington Post
Obama Pledges Help in Mexico's Drug War . . . But he says a revival of the U.S. assault weapon ban is not in the offing. Los Angeles Times
Obama Wants High Speed Rail . . . The president says $13 billion in federal money will be a down payment on the "long-overdue" railway system. Los Angeles Times
Va. Gubernatorial Candidate's Funds Questioned . . . Defense firms with business before Rep. James Moran give thousands to his brother Brian's campaign. Washington Post
Veterans Offended by Report . . . Homeland Security Sec. Napolitano released report saying veterans could be used by right wing extremists to launch attack. Washington Times
National Security
Obama: Next Move is Cuba's . . . During visit to Mexico, president says U.S. will wait for new gestures from Havana before taking further action. Wall Street Journal
Taliban Exploit Class Rifts in Pakistan . . . Militants organize landless tenants against wealthy landlords in a strategy that poses broad dangers for the rest of Pakistan. New York Times
U.S. Soldiers Turn Tables on Taliban . . . Successful ambush a rallying point and a vindication of training. New York Times
Mottaki: Iran Could Respond to New Tone . . . But Washington must turn tenor of its words into reality, foreign minister says. Reuters
Pirate to be Tried in United States . . . Somali teenager captured by navy during confrontation with will face U.S. trial. BBC
Business
Citi Records First Profit in Six Quarters . . . Bank's revenues double to $25 billion. Financial Times
Banks Not Loving Chrysler Deal . . . Auto task force plan has creditors surrendering claims to most of the $7 billion automaker owes them.
Washington Post
GM May Scrap GMC and Pontiac . . . Examining whether it makes sense to keep the two brands going. USA Today
Mall Owner Succumbed After Risky Moves . . . Historic bankruptcy by General Growth Properties reflects risky decisions and a commercial real estate decline. USA Today
Volkswagen May Be World's New No. 1 Automaker . . . May have passed Toyota, helped by robust demand while its Japanese rival suffered sharp declines. Reuters
International
U.S. and Israel at Odds . . . Envoy George Mitchell seeks two-state solution, but Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman says a "new approach" is needed. Los Angeles Times
Dozens Feared Killed in Afghan Quake . . . Villagers wail in grief and scramble through rubble to recover bodies of people killed by 5.5 magnitude earthquake. Reuters
Thai Opposition Leader Shot . . . Leader of "Yellow Shirt" movement which helped bring down former Thai PM Thaksin in 2006 is shot and injured in Bangkok. BBC
Crew Members Tell Gripping Tales of Captivity . . . "There was a lot of yelling shouting and screaming. I was attempting to kill him," one sailor says. Associated Press
Afghanistan Anti-Women Law Sparks Protests . . . Hundreds in Kabul stage a rare rally, defying counterprotesters' stones and insults. Christian Science Monitor
Also Today. . .
New York Governor Offers Gay Marriage Bill . . . Paterson's proposal will face a close vote in the state Senate. New York Times
Health Advocates Tout Female Condom . . . A less costly, more user-friendly version that they hope will vastly expand its role in the global fight against AIDS. Associated Press
World Trade Center Rebuild May Take Decades . . . Demand for office space has shrunk with Wall Street's falling fortunes. Reuters
Laughter is Medicine . . . Believed to help with many ailments, it's now shown to increase good cholesterol. Daily Telegraph
Today's Video
Hitler's Paintings Up For Auction . . . MSNBC
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