Terror group's leader: ‘Have to build it’  —  By S.A. MILLER in Washington and TOM TOPOUSIS in New York  —  A leader of the Hamas terror group yesterday jumped into the emotional debate on the plan to construct a mosque near Ground Zero — insisting Muslims “have to build” it there.

Harvard University fund sells all Israel holdings  —  No reason for the sale was mentioned in the report to the SEC.  —  In another blow to Israeli shares, the Harvard Management Company notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday that it had sold all its holdings …

Petraeus Opposes a Rapid Pullout in Afghanistan  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of American and NATO forces, began a campaign on Sunday to convince an increasingly skeptical public that the American-led coalition can still succeed here despite months of setbacks …

Boomers Threaten Economy  —  America's baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—face a problem that could weigh on the economy for years to come: The longer it takes for the economy to recover, the less money they'll have to spend in retirement.  —  Policy makers have long worried …

Why Republicans Must Avoid a ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Battle  —  From left: J. Scott Applewhite / AP; Mike Segar / Reuters  —  Dear Republican Party:  —  Your moment is now.  —  This weekend, President Obama defended the right of Muslims to build a community center and mosque two short blocks …

Exclusive: Feds clear DeLay after six years  —  The Justice Department has informed former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) that the government has ended a six-year investigation of his ties to the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to DeLay's lead counsel in the matter, Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods.

Islam in Two Americas  —  There's an America where it doesn't matter what language you speak, what god you worship, or how deep your New World roots run.  An America where allegiance to the Constitution trumps ethnic differences, language barriers and religious divides.

Conservative group kicks off $4.1-million election ad campaign  —  The ads decrying Washington policies will run in markets including 24 competitive congressional races.  The midterm election appears likely to be the most expensive on record.  —  Reporting from Washington —

Attacking Social Security  —  Social Security turned 75 last week.  It should have been a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate a program that has brought dignity and decency to the lives of older Americans.  —  But the program is under attack, with some Democrats as well as nearly all Republicans joining the assault.

Obama helps governors to help himself  —  President Barack Obama will do more in two days this week for his party's candidates for governor than he has done all year, wrapping his arm around several of the most highly touted gubernatorial hopefuls on the ballot in 2010.

Laid-Off Chinese Bank Workers Refuse to Go Quietly  —  BEIJING — These are heady days for China's state-controlled banks.  Last month, the Agricultural Bank of China made its stock market debut, bringing in $22 billion for the largest public offering ever.

Obama hits new low in Gallup's daily tracking poll  —  Obama approval sinks to 42 percent in Gallup's daily tracking poll.  And this didn't get much play, but earlier in the week Gallup surveyed Americans on how the president was handling a slew of issues.  The only issue where Obama …

Union leader calls on L.A. teachers to boycott Times  —  A.J. Duffy objects to the paper's analysis of the effectiveness of more than 6,000 elementary school teachers.  —  The Los Angeles teachers union president said Sunday he was organizing a “massive boycott” of The Times …