NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

February 25, 2013 Today's Headlines

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TOP NEWS Afghanistan Bars Elite U.S. Troops From a Key Province By MATTHEW ROSENBERG Officials cited complaints that Afghans working for American Special Forces had killed and tortured villagers in a strategically important province adjoining Kabul.  Insurgents Launch Attacks in Afghanistan NEWS ANALYSIS A New Cold War, in Cyberspace, Tests U.S. Ties to China By DAVID E. SANGER The Obama administration is weighing how directly to confront China over hacking as it escalates demands that Beijing halt the state-sponsored attacks it insists it is not mounting. Palestinians Dispute Israel's Findings on a Prisoner's Death By JODI RUDOREN and KHALED ABU AKER Israeli authorities said the 30-year-old prisoner died of a heart attack, but Palestinian officials said he was tortured during his interrogation in an Israeli jail. • NYTimes.com Home Page » QUOTATION OF THE DAY "Fiscal questions trump defense in a way they never would have after 9/11. But the war in Iraq is over. Troops are coming home from Afghanistan, and we want to secure the cuts." REPRESENTATIVE TOM COLE, Republican of Oklahoma, on the willingness of many Republicans to accept sharp spending cuts to defense programs in the so-called sequester.

MOVIES Highlights From the 2013 Oscars Red Carpet For all the fashionable events that take place during awards season, the red carpet at the Academy Awards remains the main attraction.   15 Years of Red Carpet OPINION OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR A Costly and Unjust Perk for Financiers By LYNN FORESTER de ROTHSCHILD This huge tax benefit enriches an already privileged sliver of financiers and violates basic standards of fairness and common sense.

WORLD Turks Debate Modest Dress Set for Takeoff By TIM ARANGO Proposed new uniforms for Turkish Airlines flight attendants, including long dresses and Ottoman-style fez caps, have created an uproar over how the flagship carrier should be perceived. Top British Cardinal Faces Accusations of Committing 'Inappropriate Acts' By JOHN F. BURNS Complaints by three priests and one former priest had reached the pope's diplomatic representative in Britain the week before Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, the Observer newspaper reported. 'Framework' Announced for Peace in Congo By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN The plan calls for greater cooperation between Congo's neighbors - some of which are accused of supporting rebel groups - and political changes by its government. • More World News » U.S. Crossed Paths: Chicago's Jacksons and Obamas By JODI KANTOR and MONICA DAVEY The rise of the current leading black political family in the United States is inextricable from the unraveling of an older one. 'Bloodless' Lung Transplants Offer Hint at Surgery's Future By KEVIN SACK Hospitals are working to further innovate "bloodless" operations, both to treat those who shun transfusions and to advance techniques for all patients. Adults Are Flocking to College That Paved Way for Flexibility By TAMAR LEWIN There are almost as many routes to a degree as there are students at Thomas Edison, which has offered adults higher-education alternatives since 1972. • More U.S. News » POLITICS Budget Impasse Signals a Shift in G.O.P.'s Focus By JONATHAN WEISMAN and ASHLEY PARKER Each party thought the other would budge in the face of automatic cuts in military spending or on social programs, but that has not happened. As Governors Meet, White House Outlines Drop in Aid to States By ROBERT PEAR The White House warned on Sunday that automatic budget cuts scheduled to take effect this week would have a devastating impact on programs for people of all ages in every state. POLITICAL MEMO A Complex Role for Medicare in the Standoff in Washington By JOHN HARWOOD A slowdown in health care costs and moderation in Republicans' public stance may complicate President Obama's effort to deliver a bipartisan compromise on entitlement spending. • More Political News » BUSINESS In Turnabout, NBC Prime Time Lands in the Cellar By BILL CARTER As sweeps month nears its end, the network is struggling to recover from an embarrassing and potentially costly ratings plunge. THE MEDIA EQUATION Giving Viewers What They Want By DAVID CARR In any business, the ability to see into the future is the killer app, and Netflix may be getting close with "House of Cards." Lack of Backup Power Puts Cruise Passengers at the Ocean's Mercy By BARRY MEIER and JOHN SCHWARTZ Nearly all cruise ships lack backup systems to help a ship return to port should power fail because to install them would have cost operators more money. • More Business News » TECHNOLOGY Twitter Hackings Put Focus on Security for Brands By TANZINA VEGA and NICOLE PERLROTH Social media platforms have become major advertising vehicles for brands, and with attacks on the Twitter accounts of Burger King, Jeep and others, security is a growing concern. French Tax Proposal Zeroes In on Web Giants' Data Harvest By ERIC PFANNER Google and Facebook know that John Doe "likes" wine, is shopping for a Volkswagen and often e-mails Jane Doe. Soon, in France, they might have to pay for gathering that information. Barnes & Noble Weighs Its E-Reader Investment By LESLIE KAUFMAN The company's underperforming Nook Media division might signal that its substantial investment in its digital future has essentially run its course. • More Technology News » SPORTS Hope for the Teamless in Seattle By GREG BISHOP Seattle fans feel hopeful but also wary, and somewhat guilty, with the sale of the Sacramento Kings and the prospect of the SuperSonics' return. KNICKS 99, 76ERS 93 Shuffled Lineup Clicks, and Knicks Snap to Life By NATE TAYLOR Coach Mike Woodson put Tyson Chandler on the court with his four regular reserves, helping the Knicks earn their first win since the All-Star break.   Box Score Role Limited, Stoudemire Shows All That He Can Do By ZACH SCHONBRUN Twenty-three games into his season, Amar'e Stoudemire has had to return to shape and adapt to a new role. Thus far, he has done both. • More Sports News » ARTS Best Picture for 'Argo' in Varied Oscar Field By BROOKS BARNES and MICHAEL CIEPLY Hollywood gave its top honor to Ben Affleck's "Argo," which was once a long-shot contender, in an awards show that no one film seemed to dominate.   Red Carpet Photos   Award Winners List | Full Coverage » A WORD WITH: AI WEIWEI He May Have Nothing to Hide, but He's Always Under Watch By LARRY ROHTER Ai Weiwei discusses "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry," a documentary that looks at his artistic and political activities. BOOKS OF THE TIMES 'Wise Men' By JANET MASLIN Stuart Nadler's new "Wise Men" follows a father and son on Cape Cod and their complicated relationship.