The latest news on the Inauguration, Israel-Gaza, Economic Stimulus, Health Insurance, Immigration, Foreclosures, Employment, Guantanamo, Torture, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan-India, and Select Op-eds.

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Inauguration. Inaugural security plans go high-tech "Record crowds expected for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration are prompting unique law enforcement strategies, including an unprecedented deployment of technology and a small army of police officers and military personnel." Security Net Wraps Capital for Inaugural "Federal authorities have begun to seal off a security zone extending miles from the Capitol, where President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in, drawing on disparate lessons gleaned from terrorist attacks in London and Mumbai, the Sept. 11 attack at the Pentagon and even annual Fourth of July celebrations on the Mall." Finding Havens for the Homeless "Homeless Washingtonians are being encouraged to decamp during the inauguration for shelters in the city's outer neighborhoods. The District will open all of its shelters for 24 hours, offering warm beverages, food and television feeds of the ceremonies."

Israel-Gaza. U.S., Israel near deal aimed at halting Gaza arms smuggling "A memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Israel on security and intelligence cooperation aimed at countering the smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip is being prepared and may be signed as early as Friday." U.N. headquarters in Gaza struck by Israeli shells "The main United Nations compound in Gaza came under fire today as Israeli troops pushed deeper in Gaza City, sending terrified civilians fleeing. A media building was also hit." Gaza War Generates Debate on Civilians "A war that began almost three weeks ago as an effort by Israel to stop Hamas rocket fire from killing Israeli civilians has been consumed by a bitter debate over who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip." Sderot longs for end to rockets "As the Israeli military has pounded Gaza, the daily barrage fired into Israel has been reduced, but not stopped." War on Hamas Saps Palestinian Leaders "Israel hoped that the war in Gaza would not only cripple Hamas, but eventually strengthen its secular rival, the Palestinian Authority, and even allow it to claw its way back into Gaza. But with each day, the authority, its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, and its leading party, Fatah, seem increasingly beleaguered and marginalized." Israeli soldiers say they have OK to use tough tactics in Gaza "In interviews earlier in the week with embedded pool reporters and Wednesday with a McClatchy reporter along the Gaza Strip border, Israeli troops said a freer military hand has given them a decisive edge over outgunned Palestinian militants in the 19-day-old conflict."

Economic stimulus. Hopes for bipartisan stimulus package fade "President-elect Barack Obama's hopes of scoring significant bipartisan support for his stimulus package are fading as the debate over the nearly $800 billion plan morphs into a classic Washington impasse: two rival parties in irreconcilable conflict."

Health insurance. Long Stalled by GOP, Expansion of Children's Health Insurance Program Is Approved in House "The House easily approved an expansion of government health coverage for low-income children yesterday, a top priority for President-elect Barack Obama and the first in a series of stalled measures expected to move quickly through the Democratic Congress as President Bush leaves office." House votes to expand healthcare for children "Congressional Democrats pushing to overhaul the nation's healthcare system -- a priority of President-elect Barack Obama -- notched an early legislative victory as the House easily passed a bill to expand federally funded health coverage for children." Health costs rising with unemployment "As unemployment grows, so will health-care costs for everyone, according to several new studies."

Immigration. Recession Unlikely to Drive Away Illegal Immigrants, Report Finds "Although the U.S. economy's nosedive has probably contributed to a substantial drop in the number of illegal immigrants coming into the United States, those already here will be less motivated to return home."

Foreclosures. 2008 foreclosure filings set record "Foreclosure filings surpassed 3 million in 2008, setting a record that has Washington, D.C., policymakers calling for more aggressive efforts this year to aid troubled homeowners."

Employment. Companies spread pain instead of cutting jobs "Layoffs are still the preferred way to cut costs. But as the recession deepens, managers are opting to cut wages, freeze pay or offer furloughs to avoid staff reductions."

Guantanamo. One in five Guantanamo Bay detainees is on hunger strike "Nearly a fifth of the detainees held at Guantánamo Bay have gone on hunger strike with the aim of attracting the attention of Barack Obama, military officials have told The Times. Most of them are being force-fed."

Torture. Religious Groups Seek Swift Ban From Obama on Torture "A broad coalition of religious groups is calling on President-elect Barack Obama to issue an executive order on his first day in office banning the use of torture."

Afghanistan. Soldier suicides in Afghanistan rose sharply last year "Soldiers in Afghanistan committed suicide in record numbers in 2008, in step with a dramatic spike in combat deaths in the country, new military figures show."

Sudan. Bashir 'war crimes' call arrest "Sudanese Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi has been arrested after calling on President Omar al-Bashir to hand himself in to face war crimes charges."

Iraq. Military Planners, in Nod to Obama, Are Preparing for a Faster Iraq Withdrawal "Military commanders are drawing up plans for a faster withdrawal of American troops from Iraq in anticipation that President-elect Barack Obama will reject current proposals as too slow."

Pakistan-India. Pakistan dismisses Indian dossier on Mumbai attacks "Tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi have been reignited after the Pakistani prime minister dismissed India's dossier on the Mumbai terrorist attacks as 'not evidence.'"

Opinion. Where Sweatshops Are a Dream (Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times) "I'm glad that many Americans are repulsed by the idea of importing products made by barely paid, barely legal workers in dangerous factories. Yet sweatshops are only a symptom of poverty, not a cause, and banning them closes off one route out of poverty." Obama's call to service can't start soon enough (Alan Khazei and David Gergen, USA Today) "As Barack Obama's economic advisers work with Congress, they are turning to weighty academic studies of the Great Depression. But for inspiration, they should also read an Obama favorite: Jonathan Alter's The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope. Central to Alter's account is that Roosevelt created not only jobs but also a renewed belief in the future