TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
U.S. jets hit Gaddafi’s forces; coalition continues strikes
Arab League voices concern about civilian deaths, and leading Republicans demanded clarity on the campaign’s ultimate goals.
(By Peter Finn and Greg Jaffe)
The emperor’s speech
Akihito of Japan’s address to his stricken nation has a symbolic resonance.
(By Monica Hesse)
Photos show soldiers with dead Afghan civilian
The photos show members of the 5th Stryker Brigade with a man killed in an incident the Army has classified as a murder.
(By Craig Whitlock)
Arlington National Cemetery’s struggles
Years of sloppy recordkeeping have left officials with no reliable data on how many plot reservations exist.
(By Christian Davenport)
Pompeo draws liberal groups’ ire
Contributions from Koch Industries and its employees put freshman Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) in the middle of a broad partisan battle over the role of corporate money in U.S. politics.
(By Dan Eggen)
POLITICS
PROMISES, PROMISES: Early retirement credit for Guard, Reserves doesn't apply to all
WASHINGTON — A law meant to provide early retirement as a reward for National Guard and Reserve members who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan is instead leaving many of them perplexed and frustrated.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Obama's health care overhaul hits 1-year mark; some welcome benefits while others fear costs
WASHINGTON — A year after President Barack Obama signed his health care overhaul, the law remains so divisive that Americans can’t even agree on what to call it. Even so, it is taking root in the land.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission to get update on Japan crisis, begin review of U.S plant safety
WASHINGTON — Nuclear energy regulators are meeting Monday to receive an update on the status of Japan’s stricken nuclear complex and begin short-term and long-term reviews of U.S. nuclear safety.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Pentagon: Pro-Gadhafi forces scattered after air assault; US moving to relinquish command
WASHINGTON — A U.S.-led coalition has succeeded in scattering and isolating Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi’s forces after a weekend of punishing air attacks, Pentagon officials say, and American military authorities are moving to hand control of the operation to other countries.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Pompeo draws liberal groups’ ire
Contributions from Koch Industries and its employees put freshman Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) in the middle of a broad partisan battle over the role of corporate money in U.S. politics.
( by Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Date Lab
Sense of humor can have so many meanings..
(, The Washington Post)
Closer Inspection: Small but deadly
Bullets from the National Museum of Crime & Punishment tell morbid tales.
(, The Washington Post)
MP3s meet reality at South by Southwest
These days you don’t go to the Austin festival to discover your new favorite bands. You go to see if they can do justice to the MP3s you’ve been gorging on all winter.
( by Chris Richards in Austin , The Washington Post)
Ever Wondered Why: You need exercise?
Mom and Dad say it’s good for you, and they’re right. Here’s why. . .
(, The Washington Post)
Readers give the advice
Sometimes complaining is a disguised form of bragging.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Bonds trial to start Monday, more than three years after charges filed
SAN FRANCISCO — The Barry Bonds perjury trial is finally scheduled to get under way, more than three years after baseball’s all-time home run leader was charged with lying to a federal grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Sepp Blatter ally slams Mohamed bin Hammam's FIFA presidency bid
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A former top official of the Asian Football Confederation slammed Mohamed bin Hammam on Monday for challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, saying the organization would be “doomed” if the Qatari wins.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Brazil stars score late goals for Chelsea in 2-0 win over Man City in EPL
LONDON — Chelsea boosted its slim chances of retaining the Premier League title by beating Manchester City 2-0, while Liverpool closed in on fifth-place Tottenham with a 2-0 victory at Sunderland on Sunday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
President Obama picks 10 teams in round of 16, still has 3 Final Four squads alive
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has correctly picked 10 of the 16 teams that advanced to the regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
NY Mets accuse Madoff bankruptcy trustee of making false allegations to force settlement
NEW YORK — The New York Mets owners filed legal papers Sunday disputing a court trustee’s claim that they owe more than $1 billion because they should have known that their investments with Bernard Madoff were fraudulent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Japanese nuclear plant withdraws workers after troubled reactor emits gray smoke
FUKUSHIMA, Japan — Plant operators evacuated workers from Japan’s tsunami-stricken nuclear complex Monday after gray smoke rose from one of its reactor units, the latest of persistent troubles in stabilizing the complex after it was damaged in a quake and tsunami.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Militants kill 4 men in Pakistan for allegedly giving US info used in contentious drone attack
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — Pakistani intelligence officials say militants assassinated four men for allegedly providing the U.S. with information used in a recent drone attack that Pakistan claims killed many innocent civilians.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gates hopes to expand US-Russian cooperation despite debate over missile defense shield
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Russia Monday to take a final personal shot at easing Moscow’s worries over a missile defense shield in Europe and to expand a military relationship that has grown dramatically since his Cold War days at the helm of the CIA.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Cruise missile blasts Gadhafi's compound near iconic tent; US, allies mull endgame
TRIPOLI, Libya — A cruise missile blasted Moammar Gadhafi’s residential compound in an attack that carried as much symbolism as military effect, and fighter jets destroyed a line of tanks moving on the rebel capital. The U.S. said the international assault would hit any government forces attacking the opposition.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gulf bloc chief says Qatar, UAE part of military coalition striking Libya
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The head of the Gulf’s main political bloc says Qatar and the United Arab Emirates remain part of the international military coalition seeking to halt Moammar Gadhafi’s offensives in Libya.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Home Front: Design advice from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza
John and Sherry Petersik, of the DIY blog YoungHouseLove.com join the weekly chat.
(, vForum)
Talk about Travel
Have a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel section's editors and writers are at your service.
(, vForum)
Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, March 18)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)
ComPost Live: Your weekly digest with Alexandra Petri
The Compost, written by Alexandra Petri, offers a lighter take on the news and political in(s)anity of the day.
(, vForum)
Japan Nuclear Emergency: An Insider's Look of Fukushima and US Nuclear Power Plants
Former nuclear engineer Richard Lahey, who oversaw General Electric's safety research in the early 1970s for the nuclear reactors used in Fukushima, will answer questions about Fukushima's nuclear reactor, nuclear crises, and nuclear power plants in the United States.
(, vForum)
EDITORIAL
School board reclaims Potomac farmland
Hawks used to look out to watch over for this piece of farmland for trouble. Soon, it will be parents and umpires monitoring kids pounding cleats on the land Nick Maravell once tilled. The change in land use tells a more complex story about school development, particularly at a time when open space is scarce and school enrollments are high.
( by Robert Samuels , The Washington Post)
BUSINESS
Oil rises to near $103 as allied coalition bombs Libyan forces, Gadhafi vows to fight on
SINGAPORE — Oil prices jumped to near $103 a barrel Monday in Asia after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi vowed a “long war” amid a second night of allied strikes in the OPEC nation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Google says China is blocking Gmail service
Google said Monday the Chinese government is interfering with its email services in China, making it difficult for users to gain access to its Gmail program.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Official: Report finds Vietnam's PM, cabinet members made mistakes over shipbuilding scandal
HANOI, Vietnam — A senior official says that Vietnam’s prime minister and several cabinet members made mistakes in managing a shipbuilding company that almost went bankrupt.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
USDA invests $60M in 3 new research projects on effects of climate change on crops and forests
MINNEAPOLIS — The federal government is investing $60 million in three major studies on the effects of climate change on crops and forests to help ensure farmers and foresters can continue producing food and timber while trying to limit the impact of a changing environment.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Asian stock markets rise as Japan nuclear crisis eases
BANGKOK — Asian markets were mostly higher Monday, buoyed by news over the weekend that Japan was making progress in its battle to control radiation leaks at a nuclear complex that was severely damaged in the March 11 earthquake.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
U.S. jets hit Gaddafi’s forces; coalition continues strikes
Arab League voices concern about civilian deaths, and leading Republicans demanded clarity on the campaign’s ultimate goals.
(By Peter Finn and Greg Jaffe)
The emperor’s speech
Akihito of Japan’s address to his stricken nation has a symbolic resonance.
(By Monica Hesse)
Photos show soldiers with dead Afghan civilian
The photos show members of the 5th Stryker Brigade with a man killed in an incident the Army has classified as a murder.
(By Craig Whitlock)
Arlington National Cemetery’s struggles
Years of sloppy recordkeeping have left officials with no reliable data on how many plot reservations exist.
(By Christian Davenport)
Pompeo draws liberal groups’ ire
Contributions from Koch Industries and its employees put freshman Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) in the middle of a broad partisan battle over the role of corporate money in U.S. politics.
(By Dan Eggen)
POLITICS
PROMISES, PROMISES: Early retirement credit for Guard, Reserves doesn't apply to all
WASHINGTON — A law meant to provide early retirement as a reward for National Guard and Reserve members who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan is instead leaving many of them perplexed and frustrated.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Obama's health care overhaul hits 1-year mark; some welcome benefits while others fear costs
WASHINGTON — A year after President Barack Obama signed his health care overhaul, the law remains so divisive that Americans can’t even agree on what to call it. Even so, it is taking root in the land.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission to get update on Japan crisis, begin review of U.S plant safety
WASHINGTON — Nuclear energy regulators are meeting Monday to receive an update on the status of Japan’s stricken nuclear complex and begin short-term and long-term reviews of U.S. nuclear safety.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Pentagon: Pro-Gadhafi forces scattered after air assault; US moving to relinquish command
WASHINGTON — A U.S.-led coalition has succeeded in scattering and isolating Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi’s forces after a weekend of punishing air attacks, Pentagon officials say, and American military authorities are moving to hand control of the operation to other countries.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Pompeo draws liberal groups’ ire
Contributions from Koch Industries and its employees put freshman Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) in the middle of a broad partisan battle over the role of corporate money in U.S. politics.
( by Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)
STYLE
Date Lab
Sense of humor can have so many meanings..
(, The Washington Post)
Closer Inspection: Small but deadly
Bullets from the National Museum of Crime & Punishment tell morbid tales.
(, The Washington Post)
MP3s meet reality at South by Southwest
These days you don’t go to the Austin festival to discover your new favorite bands. You go to see if they can do justice to the MP3s you’ve been gorging on all winter.
( by Chris Richards in Austin , The Washington Post)
Ever Wondered Why: You need exercise?
Mom and Dad say it’s good for you, and they’re right. Here’s why. . .
(, The Washington Post)
Readers give the advice
Sometimes complaining is a disguised form of bragging.
(, The Washington Post)
SPORTS
Bonds trial to start Monday, more than three years after charges filed
SAN FRANCISCO — The Barry Bonds perjury trial is finally scheduled to get under way, more than three years after baseball’s all-time home run leader was charged with lying to a federal grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Sepp Blatter ally slams Mohamed bin Hammam's FIFA presidency bid
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A former top official of the Asian Football Confederation slammed Mohamed bin Hammam on Monday for challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, saying the organization would be “doomed” if the Qatari wins.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Brazil stars score late goals for Chelsea in 2-0 win over Man City in EPL
LONDON — Chelsea boosted its slim chances of retaining the Premier League title by beating Manchester City 2-0, while Liverpool closed in on fifth-place Tottenham with a 2-0 victory at Sunderland on Sunday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
President Obama picks 10 teams in round of 16, still has 3 Final Four squads alive
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has correctly picked 10 of the 16 teams that advanced to the regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
NY Mets accuse Madoff bankruptcy trustee of making false allegations to force settlement
NEW YORK — The New York Mets owners filed legal papers Sunday disputing a court trustee’s claim that they owe more than $1 billion because they should have known that their investments with Bernard Madoff were fraudulent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
WORLD
Japanese nuclear plant withdraws workers after troubled reactor emits gray smoke
FUKUSHIMA, Japan — Plant operators evacuated workers from Japan’s tsunami-stricken nuclear complex Monday after gray smoke rose from one of its reactor units, the latest of persistent troubles in stabilizing the complex after it was damaged in a quake and tsunami.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Militants kill 4 men in Pakistan for allegedly giving US info used in contentious drone attack
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — Pakistani intelligence officials say militants assassinated four men for allegedly providing the U.S. with information used in a recent drone attack that Pakistan claims killed many innocent civilians.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gates hopes to expand US-Russian cooperation despite debate over missile defense shield
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Russia Monday to take a final personal shot at easing Moscow’s worries over a missile defense shield in Europe and to expand a military relationship that has grown dramatically since his Cold War days at the helm of the CIA.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Cruise missile blasts Gadhafi's compound near iconic tent; US, allies mull endgame
TRIPOLI, Libya — A cruise missile blasted Moammar Gadhafi’s residential compound in an attack that carried as much symbolism as military effect, and fighter jets destroyed a line of tanks moving on the rebel capital. The U.S. said the international assault would hit any government forces attacking the opposition.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Gulf bloc chief says Qatar, UAE part of military coalition striking Libya
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The head of the Gulf’s main political bloc says Qatar and the United Arab Emirates remain part of the international military coalition seeking to halt Moammar Gadhafi’s offensives in Libya.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Home Front: Design advice from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza
John and Sherry Petersik, of the DIY blog YoungHouseLove.com join the weekly chat.
(, vForum)
Talk about Travel
Have a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel section's editors and writers are at your service.
(, vForum)
Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, March 18)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)
ComPost Live: Your weekly digest with Alexandra Petri
The Compost, written by Alexandra Petri, offers a lighter take on the news and political in(s)anity of the day.
(, vForum)
Japan Nuclear Emergency: An Insider's Look of Fukushima and US Nuclear Power Plants
Former nuclear engineer Richard Lahey, who oversaw General Electric's safety research in the early 1970s for the nuclear reactors used in Fukushima, will answer questions about Fukushima's nuclear reactor, nuclear crises, and nuclear power plants in the United States.
(, vForum)
EDITORIAL
School board reclaims Potomac farmland
Hawks used to look out to watch over for this piece of farmland for trouble. Soon, it will be parents and umpires monitoring kids pounding cleats on the land Nick Maravell once tilled. The change in land use tells a more complex story about school development, particularly at a time when open space is scarce and school enrollments are high.
( by Robert Samuels , The Washington Post)
BUSINESS
Oil rises to near $103 as allied coalition bombs Libyan forces, Gadhafi vows to fight on
SINGAPORE — Oil prices jumped to near $103 a barrel Monday in Asia after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi vowed a “long war” amid a second night of allied strikes in the OPEC nation.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Google says China is blocking Gmail service
Google said Monday the Chinese government is interfering with its email services in China, making it difficult for users to gain access to its Gmail program.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Official: Report finds Vietnam's PM, cabinet members made mistakes over shipbuilding scandal
HANOI, Vietnam — A senior official says that Vietnam’s prime minister and several cabinet members made mistakes in managing a shipbuilding company that almost went bankrupt.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
USDA invests $60M in 3 new research projects on effects of climate change on crops and forests
MINNEAPOLIS — The federal government is investing $60 million in three major studies on the effects of climate change on crops and forests to help ensure farmers and foresters can continue producing food and timber while trying to limit the impact of a changing environment.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
Asian stock markets rise as Japan nuclear crisis eases
BANGKOK — Asian markets were mostly higher Monday, buoyed by news over the weekend that Japan was making progress in its battle to control radiation leaks at a nuclear complex that was severely damaged in the March 11 earthquake.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)
