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President Bush this week is expected to sign a $70 billion tax-cut package into law. It will lower rates for investors and save billions of dollars for families with above-average incomes. Now Republicans in Congress are turning their attention toward the estate tax. They want it repealed permanently.

Syria's ruling Baath Party opened a congress Monday to discuss political and economic reforms. Syria, which has a centrally planned economy, suffers from a high unemployment rate. Economists and businessmen say they have seen positive changes in recent years, but warn that the government must do more to battle corruption and streamline the inefficient state bureaucracy.

These young politicians have few memories of life under Soviet rule — and they say the war has accelerated their efforts to push for a more Europe-focused future.

Some of the levees in New Orleans patched up after Hurricane Katrina flooded the city were unable to hold back surging waters from Hurricane Rita. Parts of the city that had been mostly drained of standing water are flooded again.

Emergency managers in New Orleans had been debating whether the levee system would work in a major hurricane before Katrina hit. Federal funding cuts left many projects undone and local engineers were not surprised when water surged into New Orleans.

Pakistani security officials now say several terrorist operatives were killed in a U.S. airstrike that claimed 18 lives last week. But the attack missed al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri -- and the outcome illustrates the difficulty of tracking down al Qaeda leaders.

With the nomination of Judge John Roberts as U.S. chief justice likely to be confirmed, the stage is set for what could be a contentious battle over the nominee who takes Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's place. That nominee has a chance to change the direction of the court.

The White House faces renewed criticism after The New York Times reports President Bush signed an order in 2002 that allowed domestic spying. The order authorized the National Security Agency to conduct surveillance on Americans in the United States without court order.

Democrats are running an ad in Montana scorching GOP Sen. Conrad Burns for taking $136,000 from Jack Abramoff, the well-connected lobbyist in trouble for huge casino tribe billings. Burns got a $3 million appropriation for an Abramoff client. The Republicans are crying foul, saying he did it to help two Democratic senators.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been talking tough in his bid to take control of the city's large, troubled school district. Such a takeover could put Villaraigosa at odds with the teachers' union, a group he once served as a labor organizer.