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Hurricane Rita is losing power as it makes its way through eastern Texas. The Texas towns of Galveston, Lumberton and Port Arthur and Lake Charles, La., absorbed the brunt of the storm so far. Rita reached land early Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane.

The Pentagon is defending its use of a toxic agent called white phosphorus to smoke out and capture insurgents in last year's battle for Fallujah. If ignited particles of the chemical land on a human, they can burn through flesh and bone. John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org discusses the controversy.

The Pentagon plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by early next year. Bradley Graham of The Washington Post discusses his reporting on the plan, which entails tentatively cutting U.S. forces in Iraq by up to three combat brigades, compared to 18 now.

Peasants relocated to make room for a reservoir in northern China's Hebei province claim local leaders pocketed more than $7 million in compensation funds owed to them. Those who tried to organize a recall vote were bribed, beaten or jailed into submission. The case typifies recent rural protests.

Russia was expected to dominate the skies over Ukraine. But Ukrainians are still shooting down helicopters and planes, making Russian pilots very wary about venturing into Ukrainian airspace.

Harry Whittington, the Texas lawyer shot by Vice President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident Saturday, suffers a mild heart attack Tuesday while undergoing evaluation of his condition. Doctors are optimistic about his recovery, but will keep him in the hospital another week.

House Republicans basked in triumph after razor-thin passage of a sweeping budget cut plan in the wee hours of Friday morning. But intra-party tensions are sure to flare again when negotiations begin next month on a House-Senate compromise measure.

The outcome of the Tour de France is in question after test results showed that race-winner Floyd Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone during the event. Landis was suspended by his team following the announcement. Another sample from the race will be tested before any permanent action is taken. Andrew Hood, of VeloNews, talks with Alex Chadwick about the allegations.

The Conservative Political Action Conference is in Hungary this week, with a keynote from Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He has clamped down on democratic institutions and targeted minority groups.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing on BP's corrosion problems in Alaska. A leak forced the shutdown of half the Prudhoe Bay oil field. Committee Chairman Joe Barton says evidence indicates the problem was caused by BP's poor maintenance of the pipeline.