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Despite deep differences over how to proceed in Iraq, the Senate gives its unanimous approval for Robert Gates to take over the reins at the Pentagon from Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush's second Secretary of Defense is taking office at a time of uncertainty over what will happen next in the war.

The Iraq Study Group report was released this morning. Among its recommendations: new diplomatic efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the mission that will allow U.S. combat forces to leave Iraq.

Nathan Crooks, editor of The Santiago Times, tells Steve Inskeep that the reaction in Chile has been mixed to the death of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. He died Sunday at the age of 91.

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton announces that he will step down at the end of his temporary appointment, which expires in a few weeks along with the current session of Congress. Bolton faced a tough, if not impossible, fight for Senate confirmation.

The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether student placement systems in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, Wash., are acceptable ways to maintain racial diversity -- or are unacceptable quota systems. The programs are being challenged by parents whose children weren't placed in their preferred schools.

The White House says a day-long delay in a planned meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has nothing to do with a newly leaked White House memo questioning whether Maliki can control violence in Iraq. The session has been postponed until Thursday. Michele Norris talks with NPR's David Greene.

This week, the Senate will hold confirmation hearings for Robert Gates to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Now that the Iraq Study Group report is out, conservatives are no happier than they were with the leaked information about it. Many say it amounts to a call for surrender. Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have been among those calling for more U.S. troops to fight the insurgency.

President Bush meets with chief executives from GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler in the Oval Office, urging them to become competitive in a difficult global environment. In addition to competition from Japan, trade restrictions and foreign-currency manipulation are on the agenda.

A former Russian spy who is fighting for his life in a London hospital claims that he was deliberately poisoned by Russian agents because of his criticisms of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin dismisses the claims as "nonsense." Litvinenko had been looking into the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.