By Mark Memmott
Good morning
There's breaking news, as we just reported, about Citigroup announcing it will repay $20 billion in bailout money it got through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
As for other stories making headlines, they include:
-- Morning Edition -- "Rich, Poor Nations Divided Over Reducing Emissions": From Copenhagen, NPR's Richard Harris talked with co-host Renee Montagne about the big differences that world leaders have over a climate deal as they begin the last few days of their summit:
Related story by The Guardian -- "Poor Nations Threaten Climate Deal Showdown At Copenhagen Summit": "A number of African countries indicated their leaders would refuse to take part in the final summit unless significant progress was made in the next three days. The showdown between rich and poor countries came as ministers began arriving in Copenhagen to take over negotiations. However, negotiators failed to reach agreement in key areas such as emission cuts, long-term finance and when poor countries should start to reduce emissions."
From a related story by The Associated Press -- Talks In "Disarray": "U.N. climate talks have been thrown into disarray as developing countries blocked negotiations, demanding that rich countries raise their pledges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Representatives from developing countries said they refused to participate in any working groups Monday at the 192-nation summit until the issue was resolved."
Related story on Morning Edition -- "Pentagon, CIA Eye New Threat: Climate Change": "For the first time, Pentagon planners in 2010 will include climate change among the security threats identified in the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Congress-mandated report that updates Pentagon priorities every four years."
-- The Associated Press -- "Abu Dhabi Bails Out Neighboring Dubai": "Dubai got a $10 billion lifeline from oil-rich Abu Dhabi on Monday, securing a last-minute cash infusion aimed at preventing a default that risked sparking broader fears about the city-state's shaky finances."
From a related story by the BBC -- Markets Cheer: "News of the payment boosted share markets in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai's main share index closed 10% higher, while Abu Dhabi's rose more than 7%. Bank stocks also took heart from the extra funding. Shares in HSBC, Standard Chartered, Banco Santander, Barclays and Lloyds all rose. Meanwhile, the value of both the euro and the pound improved. Both currencies have been unsettled in recent weeks by news of Dubai's debts."
From a related story by The Wall Street Journal -- Troubles Had Shaken Markets: "Dubai rocked world markets in late November when it requested a freeze on $26 billion of debt payments by Dubai World in order to restructure the conglomerate. Dubai World, which last week began talks with banks to restructure the debt, Monday said the new funds will provide 'a stable basis for the restructuring process which continues.' "
-- Times of London -- "Secret Document Exposes Iran's Nuclear Trigger": "Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb. The notes, from Iran's most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion."
Related story by The Washington Post -- "Western, U.N. Officials Assess Secret Iranian Document."
-- The Associated Press -- Lieberman Resists Medicare Buy-In Plan": "Senate Democrats who thought they had found a workable compromise on health care reform learned otherwise from independent Sen. Joe Lieberman over the weekend. The Connecticut senator, whose vote is critical to the bill's prospects, threatened Sunday to join Republicans in opposing health care legislation if it permits uninsured individuals as young to 55 to purchase Medicare coverage."
Related story at CBSNews.com -- "Senators Rockefeller, Nelson And Lieberman Debate Current Bill."
-- Morning Edition -- Along With Broken Nose, Berlusconi Faces More Political Woes": NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome about the corruption trials, nasty divorce and court evidence linking him to the Mafia that is surrounding Italian Prime Miniter Silvia Berlusconi:
-- ESPN.com -- "Saints And Colts Can't Let Up Now": "The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints wouldn't stick it to us, would they? They wouldn't go full fetal position because it's the safe, sensible, PBS-fundraising-dull way of treating the final three games of their seasons, right? They wouldn't dare commit the mortal sin of sports and mess with a streak -- and not just any streak, but a 13-0 streak (times two) -- because that's what the coach-by-the-numbers NFL handbook says, would they?"