Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »
Quote of the Day. "The majority of our immigrant families are 'mixed families,' meaning that some members are legal United States citizens and some are not. Because of this reality, these families will stay together and we will continue to have some people living in the shadows of legality. Both the Congress and our president have the responsibility to help bring an end to these people living in the shadows of our society -- often deprived of basic human rights and exploited by employers -- and onto a path which would eventually bring them into full legal residence." Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, in his Lent message. (San Fernando Valley Sun)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Dalai Lama meets Obama in US despite China anger "Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is meeting US President Barack Obama at the White House, despite objections from China." Dalai Lama's visit to White House gives activists hope "Activists say they are hopeful that a visit to the White House today by Tibet's spiritual leader signals a change in President Obama's foreign policy toward China and its abysmal record on human rights."
8 of 10 missionaries freed from Haitian jail, return to U.S. "Eight of 10 U.S. missionaries jailed in Haiti on charges of child abduction were released on their own recognizance Wednesday pending a continuing criminal investigation and a possible trial in Haitian courts." US missionaries: Lessons from Haiti adoption or 'child kidnapping' case "Now that they are free, experts in kidnapping and global adoption hope that the incident provides lessons about caution and patience in future disasters."
Anglicans urge 'carbon fast' for Lent, pope urges renewal "Several prominent Anglican British bishops are urging Christians to keep their carbon consumption in check this Lent."
Under Indonesia's Surface, an Intricate Quilt of Faiths "About 90 percent of Indonesians are now Muslim, with only pockets of Buddhists and Hindus left. But Hinduism and Buddhism, Java's dominant religions for a much longer period, permeate the society and contribute to Indonesia's traditionally moderate form of Islam."
NEWS AT HOME
Stimulus & Jobs. White House crafts jobs bill, a year into stimulus effort "The giant economic stimulus package enacted a year ago has helped stabilize the economy but has not made much of a dent in the nation's vast unemployment." Obama and Republicans Clash Over Stimulus Bill, One Year Later "President Obama defended his year-old economic stimulus package on Wednesday, as Republicans and Democrats took to the Internet and the airwaves to wage a furious partisan battle over whether the bill was a monumental waste of taxpayer money or had rescued the economy from catastrophe."
Foreclosure Prevention. Administration pushed to expand foreclosure-prevention program "The Obama administration is facing increasing pressure from lawmakers and housing advocates to retool its troubled mortgage relief program a year after its debut as the housing crisis continues to deepen and spreads to more creditworthy borrowers." Number of modified mortgages jumps sharply "The number of mortgages with permanently lowered monthly payments under the Obama administration's foreclosure prevention program increased dramatically in January."
Education. Lawmakers to launch bipartisan effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind "Senior House Republicans and Democrats plan to announce Thursday that they will team up to rewrite the No Child Left Behind education law, a rare show of bipartisanship in the polarized Congress."
Free Speech or Supporting Terrorism? Activist's case will test U.S. anti-terrorism law "He is the lead plaintiff in a Supreme Court case to be heard next week that will test whether speaking out on behalf of an oppressed foreign minority -- represented by a group that's been deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S. -- can result in a long prison term."
Food Politics. Food politics in L.A.: Hungry for change "The business of government often has been conducted over a meal, but these days it's food itself that's on the public agenda: how to get more and better food to poor people, how to improve what children eat at school, how to encourage access to farmers' products and community gardens, how to combat obesity, and more."
Environment. Environmental Advocates Are Cooling on Obama "The early optimism of environmental advocates that the policies of former President George W. Bush would be quickly swept away and replaced by a bright green future under Mr. Obama is for many environmentalists giving way to resignation, and in some cases, anger."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Afghanistan. Taliban resistance slows coalition forces in Marja, Afghanistan "Lt. Col. Cal Worth, who commands one of two Marine battalions leading the offensive against Taliban fighters here, set off at 7 a.m. Wednesday for the return journey to his battalion headquarters from a combat outpost less than four miles away." Snipers Imperil U.S.-Led Forces in Afghan Offensive "In five days of fighting, the Taliban have shown a side not often seen in nearly a decade of American military action in Afghanistan: the use of snipers, both working alone and integrated into guerrilla-style ambushes." Taliban ammunition 'running low' "Taliban militants battling troops in southern Afghanistan, are running out of ammunition, Nato officials say."
Pakistan. Senior Taliban arrested in Pakistan "Two senior Taliban officials were arrested in Pakistan this month in what appears to be a crackdown against Afghan militants operating on Pakistani territory." Pakistan captures two senior Taleban leaders "Pakistan has captured two more leaders of the Afghan Taleban, Afghan officials revealed today, in the latest indication of a new level of cooperation between US and Pakistani intelligence agencies."
Iran. UN fears Iran nuclear arms move "The UN nuclear watchdog has expressed concern that Iran may currently be trying to develop a nuclear payload for a missile." Iran may be seeking nuclear warhead, U.N. watchdog says "United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Thursday that there are signs Iran is trying to develop a nuclear warhead that would fit atop a missile, its bluntest assertion to date questioning Tehran's claims to have an exclusively peaceful nuclear program."
Dubai and Mossad? Dubai points finger at Mossad over Hamas 'hit' "Officials in Dubai have all but given up hope of catching the killers of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh after admitting that Mossad is its prime suspect." Israelis Share Suspicions in Hamas Leader's Killing "The initial nods, winks and pats on the back here over the assassination last month of a senior Hamas official in Dubai are turning to puzzlement and concern as mounting evidence, including extensive surveillance videos, points to a remarkably clumsy operation many Israelis deem unworthy of their intelligence service, Mossad." Fake passports fuel questions about Israeli role in Hamas official's slaying "Pressure mounted Wednesday for Israel to respond to speculation that its Mossad spy agency killed a Hamas operative in a Dubai hotel last month, with Britain's prime minister promising to investigate the use of forged British passports by the alleged assassins and analysts in Israel taking unusual aim at the country's vaunted undercover organization."
Egypt. Cairo protest over anti-women vote "Dozens of Egyptian women and human rights activists have staged a protest in Cairo against a recent decision that bars women from holding judicial positions."
Somalia. U.N. Criticizes U.S. Restrictions on Aid for Somalia "United Nations officials intensified their criticism of the American government on Wednesday, saying that Washington was imposing 'impossible' conditions on aid deliveries for Somalia and holding up tens of millions of dollars of desperately needed food based on unfounded accusations that it would be diverted to terrorists."
OPINION
Troubling questions from Dubai (Haaretz, Editorial) "If Israel is behind last month's assassination of senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, it may be assumed that anybody who tried to appropriate some of the glory regrets it now. Dubai's police investigation may present the Israeli government and intelligence community with tough questions, even if the government did not take responsibility for the assassination, which the foreign press attributes to the Mossad."
Do We Really Want the Status Quo on Health Care? (Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times) "The debate about health care in recent months has focused on the shortcomings of the reform proposals
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!