AP - The United States remains "dangerously vulnerable" to chemical, biological and nuclear attacks seven years after 9/11, a forthcoming independent study concludes. And a House Democrats' report says the Bush administration has missed one opportunity after another to improve the nation's security.

AP - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Congress should view the next few months as a "time out" in the highly charged debate over what to do with mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

AP - Hurricane Ike roared toward Cuba's densely populated capital of fragile historic buildings after forcing 1.2 million people to evacuate, killing at least four and ravaging homes elsewhere on the island nation.

AP - President Bush plans to pull 8,000 more combat and support troops out of Iraq by February, a measured drawdown that will leave nearly the same level of U.S. forces in the war zone for the rest of the year.

AFP - European stocks soared Monday in a massive relief rally after the US government bailed out ailing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, easing fears of a global financial meltdown.

AFP - President Dmitry Medvedev pledged Monday to withdraw all Russian troops from Georgia within a month, although Russian forces will remain in two breakaway regions recognised by Moscow as independent states.

Reuters - A California judge on Monday rejected a proposed plea agreement sentence of probation and a fine for Broadcom Corp co-founder Henry Samueli as too lenient, and postponed the sentencing until later this month.

Reuters - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed 23 people, mostly relatives of a Taliban commander close to Osama bin Laden, in a region of Pakistan near the Afghan border on Monday, witnesses and intelligence officials said.

Reuters - The U.S. military said it planned to reopen an investigation into civilian deaths in a coalition air strike in western Afghanistan last month after new evidence emerged about casualties.

Reuters - President George W. Bush on Monday froze a lucrative civilian nuclear pact with Russia, the first big penalty imposed on Moscow after its war with Georgia but one that can be reversed.

Reuters - Hurricane Ike moved over warm Caribbean water off the Cuban coast on Monday after blowing off roofs, toppling trees and flattening sugar cane fields like a giant lawn mower on a path toward U.S. oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reuters - Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are dead even in two public opinion polls released on Monday as they head into the final eight weeks of the race for the White House.

Reuters - Wall Street greeted the U.S. government's seizure of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday, hoping it would provide at least temporary respite from the troubles plaguing housing and credit markets.

AP - New York Mets closer Billy Wagner needs elbow surgery that will sideline him through the 2009 season.