The latest news on the Economic Stimulus, Mortgages, Daschle Withdraws, Sen. Gregg to Commerce, Immigration Raids, Nuclear Weapons, Israel-Gaza, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Bishop Must Recant, and Passing.

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Economic stimulus. Senate Lacks Votes to Pass Stimulus "Senate Democratic leaders conceded yesterday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support, they will seek to cut provisions that would not provide an immediate boost to the economy." Democrats lose Senate vote to add $25 billion to stimulus "The Senate refused Tuesday to pump an additional $25 billion into road, transit and water projects in its economic stimulus package, as lawmakers struggled for ways to craft a bipartisan plan. The vote was 58-39; Democrats needed 60 votes to move the measure forward."

Mortgages. Some relief ahead for troubled U.S. mortgages "An increasing number of lenders are now willing to do what they have long been reluctant to do: reduce the principal of a troubled loan. That shift is in part a recognition that home values have dropped sharply, foreclosure rates are soaring, and the political climate in Washington has shifted." Both Parties Move to Aid Homeowners "Four months after Congress tried to rescue the economy with a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry, Republicans and Democrats are suddenly competing to bail out financially struggling homeowners."

Daschle withdraws. Daschle Ends Bid for Post; Obama Concedes Mistake "Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination as secretary of health and human services on Tuesday after weathering four days of scrutiny over unpaid taxes, prompting President Obama to concede having 'screwed up' in undermining his own ethical standards by pushing the appointment." Obama Says He Erred in Nominations "President Obama acknowledged yesterday that he had 'made a mistake' in trying to exempt some candidates for positions in his administration from strict ethics standards and accepted the withdrawal of two top nominees, including former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle." Dogged by tax issues, Daschle drops bid "The withdrawal of Tom Daschle's nomination Tuesday as secretary of health and human services reflected a growing recognition in the White House that his tax problems were igniting anger across the country over an apparent double standard: calls for economic sacrifice by ordinary Americans, tolerance of laxity on taxes by Washington insiders." Daschle's withdrawal won't derail healthcare reform "If President Obama is to reshape the nation's healthcare system, he will have to do it without a lieutenant who combined a rare understanding of both healthcare and Washington politics."

Sen. Gregg to Commerce. Obama Nominates Judd Gregg, an Independent-Minded Conservative, to Lead Commerce "During a long political career that includes 16 years in the Senate, Judd Gregg has been known as a tough negotiator, a deficit hawk and an independent-minded conservative." A New Member Joins the President's Team, Though He's Not in Lockstep With It "Mr. Gregg, a deficit hawk from New Hampshire who is the senior Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, certainly fits with Mr. Obama's professed desire to create a cabinet with conflicting views. If confirmed, he will be at the top of the list of administration officials having fundamental differences with a president who is enlisting them to advance his agenda."

Immigration raids. Despite Vow, Target of Immigrant Raids Shifted "Instead, newly available documents show, the agency changed the rules, and the program increasingly went after easier targets. A vast majority of those arrested had no criminal record, and many had no deportation orders against them, either."

Nuclear weapons. Air Force fails new nuclear reviews "Air Force nuclear units have failed two inspections in the past three months, providing fresh evidence that the military service that jarred the world in 2007 by mistakenly transporting live nuclear weapons across the United States continues to suffer lapses in its management of intercontinental ballistic missiles."

Israel-Gaza. Hamas police 'seized Gazan aid' "Hamas policemen have seized thousands of blankets and food parcels earmarked for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, U.N. officials say." Olmert's peace efforts put Livni in tight spot "Less than a week before Israeli voters pick a new leader, the candidate most involved in negotiations with the Palestinians is on the defensive over newly reported details of an interim peace accord offered months ago by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert."

Sri Lanka. Under attack, the last hospital in Sri Lanka war zone is evacuated by Red Cross, wounded "The last hospital in Sri Lanka's shrinking war zone was evacuated Wednesday as Red Cross staff and wounded civilians fled attacks that apparently included cluster munitions." Hillary Clinton and David Miliband call for Sri Lanka ceasefire with Tamils "Britain and the United States called today for a temporary ceasefire in Sri Lanka as President Mahinda Rajapaksa predicted that the Tamil Tiger rebels would be defeated within a few days."

Zimbabwe. Archbishop seeks envoy to tackle Mugabe "The Archbishop of Canterbury is to appoint an Anglican envoy to Zimbabwe to address the country's humanitarian crisis. The initiative, revealed as senior churchmen met in Egypt yesterday, is one of several designed to express solidarity with people suffering under Robert Mugabe's regime."

Iran. Iran launches satellite into orbit for first time "Iran's first successful satellite launch was greeted with official celebration in Tehran on Tuesday but with alarm in the West, where it stoked concerns about the Islamic Republic's increased mastery of missile technology that could be used for military purposes." Increase Iran sanctions over satellite "Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday cautioned that the satellite launched into orbit by Iran on Tuesday proved its military potential and was cause for concern for the international community." Hillary Clinton offers united front with Britain over missiles "Hillary Clinton offered David Miliband assurances yesterday that plans to re-engage with Iran would proceed one step at a time - and only after heeding concerns from Britain." For Obama's Iran Plan, Talk and Some Toughness "The Obama administration may take a tough line with Tehran in coming months even as it signals a willingness to move toward direct talks with Iranian officials."

North Korea. With Obama in White House, North Korea Steps Up Big Talk "Stinging insults, sudden cancellations of military agreements and dark warnings of 'unavoidable' war are spilling out of North Korea almost daily. On Tuesday, news media reports here and in Japan said North Korea is preparing to test-launch a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead."

Afghanistan. U.S. supply routes to Afghanistan suffer two huge blows "The U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban suffered two logistical blows Tuesday as the president of Kyrgyzstan announced that he'd shut a U.S. airbase in his country and insurgents blew up a key bridge into Afghanistan." Obama Calls for More Narrowly Focused Policy for Afghan War "As President Obama prepares to formally authorize the April deployment of two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, perhaps as early as this week, no issue other than the U.S. economy appears as bleak to his administration as the seven-year Afghan war and the regional challenges that surround it."

Bishop must recant. 'Holocaust bishop' told to recant "The Vatican has ordered an ultra-traditionalist bishop to publicly recant his views denying the Holocaust. A statement said Bishop Richard Williamson must 'unequivocally' distance himself from his statements to serve in the Roman Catholic Church."

Passing. Millard Fuller, 74, Who Founded Habitat for Humanity, Is Dead "Mr. Fuller walked away from his life as a successful businessman at age 29 to devote himself to the poor and eventually founded Habitat for Humanity International, which built more than 30,000 homes worldwide."