the latest news on Primaries, Families, Global poverty bill, Health emergencies, Economy, Going green, Race & politics, Torah commentary, Iraq, Pakistan, Kenya, Us bases in Africa, Iran, Gaza, Satellite shot down, and Opinion.

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Primaries. Clinton camp splits on message "Mark Penn, chief strategist and pollster, liked Clinton's emphasis on her "strength and experience," and he defended the idea of her running as a quasi-incumbent best suited for the presidency. Harold Ickes and other advisors said that message was not working. A more promising strategy, they argued, would be to focus on the historic prospect of electing the first woman president." Clinton Aides Split on How to Take On Obama "When Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton meets Senator Barack Obama at a one-on-one debate in Austin, one of her final opportunities to change the course of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, she will again face the challenge that has repeatedly stymied her: how to discredit her popular opponent without hurting herself." Obama, Drawing Criticism on Two Fronts, Fires Back "Coming off a decisive string of victories, Senator Barack Obama pushed back against attacks by his political rivals as the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination entered a combative and critical two-week period."

Families. Most Children Still Live in Two-Parent Homes, Census Bureau Reports "Over all, 7 in 10 children live with two parents, about two-thirds live with two married parents, and about 6 in 10 live with both biological parents, according to the latest analysis," U.S. families data remains steady "America's family trends held steady in 2004, with most American children living with their married biological parents,"

Global poverty bill. Conservative blogs, talk shows attack world-poverty bill - and Obama "It isn't a high-profile bill, but the Global Poverty Act has lit up the conservative blogosphere, and even Rush Limbaugh has gotten into the act. Quietly approved by the House of Representatives last fall with bipartisan support, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., would require the president to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to help reduce extreme global poverty."

Health emergencies. States better prepared for big health emergencies, but 'enormous' work ahead, U.S. says "In the first report of its kind, U.S. health officials said the nation's states and cities made a strong effort to prepare for a flu pandemic, bioterrorism or other emergency health crises, but big challenges remain."

Economy. Bad news for the economy: soaring energy prices "For the economy, the run-up could not come at a worse time. Many economists believe the US economy is teetering on the edge of a recession. Higher energy prices act as a tax on consumers, absorbing money that would normally be used to buy other things."

Going green. Business begins to see profit in going green "Around the country and around the world, more companies and investment funds are walking their talk on tackling global climate change. … It's not just environmental do-gooderism in a power tie. Increasingly, businesses are finding that going green can be profitable."

Race & politics. Race Matters Less in Politics in Deep South "The racial breakthroughs have come gingerly in Alabama over the years: a black mayor there, an old Klansman put on trial here, a civil rights memorial there. And a few weeks ago, voters in a county that is more than 96 percent white chose a genial black man, James Fields, to represent them in the State House of Representatives. It is a historic first,"

Torah commentary. Women take on the Torah "After 13 years of work by 80 women - archaeologists, rabbis, biblical scholars, historians, poets - the first printing of "The Torah: A Women's Commentary" was published in December, and sold out in five weeks. The work promises to have an impact not only on the most integral aspects of Jewish life, but also on biblical study by people of other faiths."

Iraq. Attacks near Baghdad rise; cease-fire in doubt "With deadly attacks against US targets increasing around Baghdad, anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr raised the possibility that he may not renew a six-month cease-fire widely credited for helping dramatically reduce violence." Iraq's Sadr may not extend truce "Aides to Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr cast doubt on his commitment to extending a six-month cease-fire that expires this month, saying U.S. and Iraqi forces had not necessarily earned Sadr's continued cooperation." Sadr weighs renewal of cease-fire "In the coming days, the hard-line Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has a crucial decision to make: whether to renew the six-month freeze on activities of his Mahdi Army militia that has been credited with helping bring down the levels of violence in Iraq."

Pakistan. Exclusive: U.S. urges Pakistanis to keep Musharraf, despite election defeat "The Bush administration is pressing the opposition leaders who defeated Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to allow the former general to retain his position, a move that Western diplomats and U.S. officials say could trigger the very turmoil the United States seeks to avoid." U.S. Payments To Pakistan Face New Scrutiny "Once a month, Pakistan's Defense Ministry delivers 15 to 20 pages of spreadsheets to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. They list costs for feeding, clothing, billeting and maintaining 80,000 to 100,000 Pakistani troops in the volatile tribal area along the Afghan border,"

Kenya. Annan hails Kenya talks progress "Ex-UN chief Kofi Annan has announced considerable progress in talks between Kenya's government and opposition aimed at ending the political crisis." Kenyan parties tackle PM problem "Kenya's government has agreed in principle to the creation of a prime minister's post, as sought by the opposition." Kenya 'at risk of fresh violence' "Further violence could erupt in Kenya unless a solution to the country's political crisis is found urgently," Kenya's youths at center of its violence "Twenty-something Kenyans are more educated, ethnically integrated and exposed to such democratic ideals as human rights and freedom than previous generations. Yet they've reacted more violently, tribally and defiantly than their parents could ever imagine doing."

US bases in Africa. No Bases Planned for Africa, Bush Says "President Bush tried to calm deep fears about expanding U.S. strategic ambitions in Africa, dismissing speculation that he wants to build military bases on the continent as just "baloney." Bush Confronts Hard Questions in Ghana"The suspicion grows out of the administration's plan to establish Africom, a command headquarters that the Pentagon says would involve only operational and planning offices to help train African troops." U.S. not planning bases in Africa, Bush says "With gusto, the president declared "that's baloney" to the notion that the United States was preparing to establish military bases in Africa. "Or, as we say in Texas, that's bull," Bush said at a news conference with Ghanaian President John Kufuor." Ghana: Kufuor Welcomes Bush Assurances on Military "President John Kufuor of Ghana has welcomed an assurance by President George W. Bush that the United States does not intend building new military bases in Africa."

Iran. Iran Affirms Its Defiance On Nuclear Program "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran's determination to continue its nuclear program had brought major powers "to their knees." Iran Urges UN to Condemn Israel "Iran urged the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel's recent warning that it had not ruled out using military force against the country's nuclear program."

Gaza.  Israel faces growing international pressure to change Gaza Strip policy "Ran Koriel, Israel's European Union ambassador, recently warned the Foreign Ministry of a change in EU policy on Hamas, amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its handling of the situation in the Gaza Strip."

Satellite shot down. Missile Strikes a Spy Satellite Falling From Its Orbit "Officials cautioned that while early information indicated that the interceptor's "kill vehicle" had hit the satellite, it would be 24 hours before it could be determined whether the fuel tank with 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine had been destroyed as planned." Navy Missile Hits Satellite, Pentagon Says "A missile fired from a Navy cruiser in the Pacific Ocean hit an out-of-control spy satellite falling toward Earth last night, Pentagon officials said." China criticises US over satellite strike"China today accused Washington of double standards after the US navy fired a missile to destroy a failed satellite 150 miles above the Pacific."

Opinion. The Kosovo precedent t(Timothy Garton Ash, Los Angeles Times)"Amid the kerfuffle around Kosovo's declaration of independence, few have paused to note what an extraordinary document it is. It is so hedged with conditions, obligations and reservations, so replete with commitments to consult, honor and obey the province's international patrons, that it is also a declaration of dependence."