February 28, 2006

There is growing evidence that in a minority of cases, sibling warfare becomes a form of repeated, inescapable and emotionally damaging abuse.

After receiving a dire warning that the Palestinian Authority was so short of money that it might collapse in two weeks, the European Union on Monday offered $144 million in aid to the Palestinians before a Hamas government takes power. The Europeans acted in partial response to a letter from James D. Wolfensohn, the special Middle East envoy of the so-called Quartet made up of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

Franklin Foer is taking over as editor of New Republic; will face challenges in new role as magazine's circulation has dropped by almost 40 percent and its historical role as maypole for middle-way Democrats is under challenge from countless Web sites and blogs; photo (M)

Antiterrorism Changes Are Given Poor Grade A year after a sweeping government reorganization began, the agencies charged with protecting the United States against terrorist attacks have made some progress but remain troubled by high-level turnover, overlapping responsibilities and bureaucratic rivalry, former and current officials say. PAGE A12 Iran Said to Defy U.N. Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, reported that Iran had refused to provide answers about its nuclear program, which raised suspicions that the activities are linked to making weapons. PAGE A10 India Ready to Assert Itself When President Bush lands in India tomorrow, he will find a nation ready to assert its views, some of which align with Mr. Bush's agenda and some of which do not. PAGE A8 Fats Domino Leads a Comeback at 78 Fats Domino says New Orleans will always be home. In a rare interview, he discusses a new album and life after Hurricane Katrina. THE ARTS, PAGE E1 First Woman at Cooperstown Effa Manley, reminiscing in 1973 with Don Newcombe, who had pitched for her team in the Negro leagues, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. PAGE D3 Early Concern on Port Deal Coast Guard intelligence officials in December raised the possibility of significant security risks associated with the management of some American ports by a Dubai company. But a Coast Guard admiral said those concerns were addressed before the deal was approved. PAGE A15 Justices Take Up Election Law The Supreme Court will take up arguments this week in a campaign finance case from Vermont and a redistricting case from Texas in which legal precedents are either unclear or unsettled. PAGE A14 Otis Chandler Dies Otis Chandler, who as publisher transformed The Los Angeles Times into a respected and widely read newspaper, was 78. PAGE A17

Residents of New Orleans prepare for Mardi Gras in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; traditions that had sprung up in African-American neighborhoods survive despite fact that bulk of New Orleans residents, including those with prominent roles in Mardi Gras celebration, are scattered across country after evacuation; photos (M)