The Top 10 Stories of February 7, 2012
Quote of the day.
"Dickens's humanity and compassion made an extraordinary impact on Victorian England through his writings, which remain immensely popular. This bicentenary should help renew our commitment to improving the lot of the disadvantaged of our own day." - The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey, on today’s 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth.
(BBC)
1. NY Senate to decide on house of worship ban.
New York City and state officials and religious leaders on Monday urged the state legislature to pass a bill authorizing religious meetings in public school property.
(Christian Post)
2. Congress starts new duel over payroll tax break.
In the first legislative battle of the year, congressional Republicans and Democrats are back at it: another episode of one-upmanship over extending a payroll tax cut for American workers.
(Los Angeles Times)
3. Five things to watch Tuesday.
Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri all hold contests Tuesday, making it the first day of the 2012 campaign that multiple states deliver a verdict.
(Politico)
4. Secret money is funding more election ads.
More than a third of the advertising tied to the presidential race has been funded by nonprofit groups that will never have to reveal their donors, suggesting that a significant portion of the 2012 elections will be wrapped in a vast cloak of secrecy.
(Washington Post)
5. Earmarks fund projects near lawmakers' properties.
EXCLUSIVE | Thirty-three members of Congress have steered more than $300 million in earmarks and other spending provisions to dozens of public projects that are next to or within about two miles of the lawmakers’ own property, according to a Washington Post investigation.
(Washington Post)
6. U.S. hits Iran with new sanctions.
US tightens sanctions on Iranian government and central bank, but Tehran dismisses measures as "psychological warfare."
(Al Jazeera)
7. Syrian forces hit Homs as Russian envoy arrives.
Russia''s foreign minister said he told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday that Moscow wanted to see peace in the Arab world as Syrian forces resumed a bombardment of Homs, a hub of protest and rebellion against Assad''s rule.
(Reuters)
8. U.S. sending commander to repair ties with Pakistan.
A senior American military commander is expected to travel to Pakistan this month in what Obama administration officials say is the first step toward thawing a strategic relationship that has been in effect frozen for more than two months.
(New York Times)
9. Greek unions strike before leaders' talks.
Greek party leaders face crunch talks on Tuesday to secure a new international bailout and avoid a chaotic debt default, caught between EU demands that they accept painful reforms now and a national strike against more austerity.
(Reuters)
10. Egyptian activists react to criminal trial for NGO workers.
Activists and civil society groups in Egypt have reacted with fury to the announcement that 43 NGO workers – including 19 American citizens – will face a criminal trial in what critics of the government say is a politically motivated investigation into the foreign funding of pro-democracy groups.
(Guardian)
