Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Market Pans Treasury Rescue Plan . . . Geithner promises to get up to $2 trillion in financing into economy, but lack of detail helps drive stocks down nearly 5 percent. Wall Street Journal
Political Crisis Brewing in Israel . . . Livni is slightly ahead, but both she and Netanyahu are claiming right to form a government.
Globe and Mail
Politics
Stimulus Deal Mired in Details . . . The Senate approves its version of the stimulus, but reconciling it with the smaller House bill won't be easy.
Los Angeles Times
White House Wants to Add to Stimulus . . . Seeks to restore funding cut by the Senate for schools, health insurance and computerizing health records, reduce tax cuts. Wall Street Journal
Geithner Grilled on Capitol Hill . . . Skepticism from Senators on lack of details. Wall Street Journal
Obama Puts Coastal Drilling Plan on Hold . . . Plan announced in final days of Bush presidency will be rewritten or scrapped.
San Francisco Chronicle
Obama Tax Ideas Criticized by Own Adviser . . . Martin Feldstein tells Obama tax rebates in stimulus won't stimulate. Boston Globe
National Security
Taliban Attack Government Buildings in Kabul . . . Reaching into the heavily fortified city to hit Justice ministry and another building, they kill 17 and wound 46. Associated Press
Review Ordered of Media Ban on Casualties . . .Gates to revisit policy barring news coverage of return of American troops killed in action in conflict zones. Bloomberg
Gear for Iraq Army Could Extend U.S. Stay. . . U.S. troops needed for training on use of equipment, some of which won't be delivered until 2012, after withdrawal deadline. Washington Times
Obama to Decide Soon on Afghanistan Troops . . . Gates points to decision in next few days on levels. Army has asked for another 30,000 on top of 37,000 there now. Bloomberg
Business
Banks: 'We're Lending' . . . In appearances before Congress today, major bank chiefs will assert that money received from bailout is getting out the door. Wall Street Journal
Sharp Decline in China's Exports . . . Down 17.5 percent in January, biggest drop in more than a decade. BBC
Worldwide Rage as Global Crisis Worsens . . . French and British unions organizing strikes; Putin sending troops into the streets; Beijing tries to buy itself calm. Der Spiegel
Stamp Price Rising . . . Post office will move price up two cents to 44 cents starting in May. Associated Press
International
Zimbabwe Power Sharing Begins . . . Opposition leader Tsvingarai to be sworn in as PM of a coalition government after bitter disputes with President Mugabe. BBC
Distressing Aftermath of Fires . . . Gruesome scenes of devastation. Official toll at 181, but dozens more are missing. Police search for arsonists. BBC
Brutal Retreat of Congo Rebels . . . Mission to defeat them has led to more than 900 deaths and displaced more than 1,330 since it began two months ago. Christian Science Monitor
Survey Finds Anti-Semitism Strong in Europe . . . A third of Europeans polled blamed Jews for the global economic meltdown.
Associated Press
Koala Rescued From Australia's Fires . . . A little survivor of the raging inferno takes a bottle of water and gulps it down. Death toll for animals may be in the millions. Associated Press
Also Today. . .
Octuplets Could Cost Taxpayers Millions . . . Nadya Suleman has 14 children, no job, no income and owes $50,000 in student loans. Do the math. Los Angeles Times
Aspirin Reduces Chance of Colon Polyps' Return . . . "Multiple lines of evidence" suggest that aspirin has anti-cancer effects in the large bowel. Reuters
Obesity Linked to Birth Defects . . . Obese women more likely to give birth to children with spina bifida, heart problems, cleft palate and a number of other defects. Reuters
Artificial Arm Listens to Brain . . . New procedure allows people better movement of prosthetic arms by using rewired nerves and their brains.
New York Times
At Least Fifteen Killed by Oklahoma Tornado . . . Town devsatated. Dozens injured. Tulsa World
Ten Year Old Spaniel Takes Westminster . . . Sussex spaniel stump becomes oldest dog to snag best in show. New York Times
Health Scares Don't Reduce Waistlines . . . Obese and overweight people lose just two to three pounds after diagnosis of serious illness like heart disease or diabetes. New York Times
Today's Video
Portuguese Water Dog Headed for Obama? . . . CNN
