Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Monday, February 9, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Obama Campaigns for Stimulus . . . A trip to Indiana today, a press conference tonight, and then it's off to Florida Tuesday.
New York Times
Australia Fire Death Toll at 131 . . . Police believe some fires were started deliberately - which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls "mass murder". Toll will rise. BBC
Politics
Democrats Attack Republican Spending . . . As they move to pass $827 billion stimulus, they seek to remind voters of years of GOP excess.
Washington Times
Aides Work to Narrow Stimulus Differences . . . Senate versions is $827 billion, House is at $819 billion. Significant overlap.
New York Times
Obamas Enjoy a Night Out . . . They take in a dance theater show at the Kennedy Center. Associated Press
More Than $3.9 Bil. in Hurricane Aid Unspent . . . Massive effort to fix public works destroyed more than three years ago by the Gulf Coast hurricanes is stalled. USA Today
The GOP Insurgency . . . Republicans sense tactical victory in opposing the stimulus plan and congressional Democrats. Washington Post
National Security
Washington's Man in Iran . . . Philippe Welti represented Switzerland and the U.S. He back outreach, but it won't result in end to nuclear program.
Los Angeles Times
Yemen Frees 170 Thought Tied to al Qaeda . . . They signed pledges not to engage in terrorism. Country has become haven for the terrorist group. Associated Press
U.S. to Combat Afghan Drug Trade . . . Holbrooke to work with Iran in effort to stabilize country. Wall Street Journal
A.Q. Khan Faces Restrictions on Movements . . . Freed Pakistani nuclear proliferator must stay in country, have communications monitored. U.S. skeptical. Washington Post
Business
Geithner Delays Bank Bailout Announcement . . . Pushes rollout to Tuesday to work on passage of the stimulus bill. McClatchy Newspapers
Employers Reducing Workers' Hours . . . Move aims to keep people employed as businesses try to weather recession. Christian Science Monitor
Nissan to Cut 20,000 Jobs Worldwide . . . Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn says firm's "worst assumptions on the state of the global economy have been met or exceeded". BBC
Plan to Curb Mortgage Rates Falters . . . Long term rates rise even as Federal Reserve purchases home loans. Financial Times
International
Sri Lankan Suicide Bomber Kills 24 . . . A sign that Tamil rebels, facing military defeat, may turn to guerilla warfare. Associated Press
Battle in Italy Over Woman's Right to Die . . . Eluana Englaro, in a coma for 17 years, is taken off life support. PM Berlusconi seeks to get her back on. Pope weighs in. Times (UK)
Israel Set to Vote Tuesday . . . Kadima, led by Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, is neck-and-neck with Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al Jazeera
Brazil Plane Crash Kills 24 . . . Four others swim to safety as the plane sank in the River Manacapuru. BBC
Medvedev Steps Out From Putin's Shadow . . .Edges away from prime minister and his economic policies. Signs of strain in relationship. Washington Post
Also Today. . .
Robert Plant - Yes, That One - Leads Grammys . . . Teams with Alison Krauss for best record, album. Lil Wayne and Coldplay also big winners. Los Angeles Times
Getting Away With Murder in Mexico . . . More than 200 Americans have been killed there since 2004. Rarely are the killers caught.
Houston Chronicle
Pot Smoking Doubles Testicular Cancer Risk . . . Smoking drug at least once a week or regular use from adolescence doubles risk of a fast-growing form of the disease. BBC
Today's Video
US Air Pilot Relates Hudson Splashdown . . . CBS
