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Earlier this month, the United Nations voted to condemn the United States' economic embargo against Cuba for the 11th year in a row. The United States will undoubtedly ignore the resolution, citing Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism, where basic rights such as freedom of expression are not respected. Last May, island dissidents demanded such rights via a first-ever citizens petition, but Castro's government has still not responded. And now the dissidents themselves are beginning to quarrel among themselves. Gerry Hadden has the story from Havana.

President Bush today signed the law creating a vast new federal department to oversee security efforts within the 50 states. The new entity will include nearly two dozen agencies and more than 170,000 employees -- and it will take time to achieve the information sharing and coordination that are its main goals. NPR's Pam Fessler reports from the White House.

Following the NATO summit, President Bush made a very brief stop to visit President Putin in Russia, where the two made some rather cryptic public comments concerning Iraq. NPR Senior Analyst Daniel Schorr says that these remarks make some sense when one considers Russia's fears about Iraqi oil. Concerns that a successful U.S. invasion could lower world oil prices and damage Russia's economy have led Putin to point out other global dangers deserving attention and led Bush to offer assurances that the United States has no long-term designs on controlling Iraq's oil.

The latest James Bond film, Die Another Day made a reported $47 million at the box office over the weekend. If your $8.50 was among those millions, you saw Pierce Brosnan in the starring role. And if you watched closely, you also might also have caught a glimpse Richard Cohen -- an experienced fencer brought in as an extra. Richard Cohen is the author of then new book BY THE SWORD: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions. (Random House)

Tom Ridge, President Bush's choice to head the new Department of Homeland Security, now faces the daunting task of integrating nearly two dozen different organizations. Ridge has been seeking the advice of corporate leaders who've dealt with large mergers. Robert Siegel talks with one of them. He's Norm Augustine, former chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin.

Federal authorities charge three men with running an identity theft scheme in which credit information was stolen from more than 30,000 victims across the country. Authorities say financial losses of more $2.7 million have already been substantiated. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

Shipping companies and West Coast dockworkers reach a tentative agreement on a six-year labor contract. If ratified, the settlement would end a bitter labor dispute that shut down West Coast ports for 10 days this fall. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

A team of 18 U.N. inspectors arrives in Iraq to begin the first round of checks on suspected Iraqi weapons sites. The U.N. Security Council discusses Iraq and hears from the chief inspector. NPR News reports.

Reversing a policy it has enforced for more than a generation, the Federal Election Commission says candidates for federal office may pay themselves a limited salary from their campaign funds. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Jacki Lyden talks to Richard Baker, Senate historian, about an 18th-century Senate ledger that was misplaced for over a century. It contains notations from several of the founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The ledger was almost tossed in the garbage as the Capitol was being demolished for remodeling.