The latest news on the Economic Stimulus, Economy, D.C. Voting Rights, Immigration, Pope and Holocaust, Egypt Protester Freed, Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Israeli Election, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka.

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Economic stimulus. Congress Reaches Stimulus Accord "Congressional leaders agreed yesterday on the details of a nearly $790 billion stimulus package, an unprecedented attempt by the federal government to jolt the economy, create millions of jobs and ease the financial woes facing individuals, businesses and states." House and Senate negotiators agree to leaner stimulus bill "House and Senate Democratic leaders, negotiating into the night to forge a compromise with three moderate Republican senators, reached agreement Wednesday on a $789-billion economic recovery bill that President Obama has called crucial to pulling the country out of its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression." Stimulus Victory for Obama, but in a New Political Climate "It is a quick, sweet victory for the new president, and potentially a historic one. The question now is whether the $789 billion economic stimulus plan agreed to by Congressional leaders on Wednesday is the opening act for a more ambitious domestic agenda from President Obama or a harbinger of reduced expectations." Here's who will benefit from stimulus accord "The $789-billion compromise worked out by House and Senate negotiators Wednesday contains a long list of new ways that Americans can get money from Washington as they struggle through the worsening recession."

Economy. More Employers Fight Unemployment Benefits "More than a quarter of people applying for such claims have their rights to the benefit challenged as employers increasingly act to block payouts to former workers." Housing's good news: Foreclosures down 10% "Foreclosures dropped in January, a possible sign that efforts to slow foreclosures through moratoriums and mortgage modifications are having some effect."

D.C. voting rights. D.C. voting rights advances in Senate "Senate committee voted 11-1 Wednesday to give the District a full voting seat in Congress, adding momentum to legislation that would end decades of frustration for residents of the nation's capital." Senate Committee Passes D.C. Vote Bill "A Senate committee easily passed a bill yesterday that would give the District its first full seat in the House of Representatives, sending it to the full chamber for a crucial vote expected in the next few weeks or months."

Immigration. Report Faults Homeland Security's Efforts on Immigration "An immigration policy group said Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security's immigration mission has been undermined by wasteful spending along the southern border, law enforcement efforts that focused on snaring illegal workers rather than high-risk criminals, and an often hostile bureaucracy that discourages people eligible for legal entry from playing by the rules." Elderly immigrants find life in U.S. a tough go "Adjusting to life in the U.S. can be difficult for any newcomer, but elderly immigrants have an even tougher time. Unable to find work or receive retirement benefits, many older immigrants depend on family members for financial support."

Pope and Holocaust. Pope condemns denial of Holocaust "Pope Benedict XVI has told American Jewish leaders that any denial of the Holocaust is 'intolerable', especially if it comes from a clergyman." Pope tells Jewish leaders Holocaust denial is 'intolerable' "Pope Benedict XVI, trying to defuse a controversy over his rehabilitation of a bishop who denies the Holocaust, told Jewish leaders on Thursday that 'any denial or minimization of this terrible crime is intolerable.'"

Egypt protester freed. Freed Egyptian Protester Describes Ordeal, but Fate of Seized Blogger Is Unknown "For more than four straight days, Philip Rizk said, he was blindfolded, handcuffed and interrogated around the clock by Egyptian state security agents who abducted him on Friday after he took part in a march in support of Gaza."

Iran. U.S. now sees Iran as pursuing nuclear bomb "Little more than a year after U.S. spy agencies concluded that Iran had halted work on a nuclear weapon, the Obama administration has made it clear that it believes there is no question that Tehran is seeking the bomb."

Afghanistan. Obama Weighs Adding Troops in Afghanistan "President Obama is facing a choice on whether to grant commanders' requests for additional troops in Afghanistan before he has decided on his new strategy there."

Sudan. Judges Approve Warrant for Sudan's President "Judges at the International Criminal Court have decided to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, brushing aside diplomatic requests to allow more time for peace negotiations in the conflict-riddled Darfur region of his country, according to court lawyers and diplomats. International Criminal Court to Issue Arrest Warrant for Sudan's Bashir "The International Criminal Court's pretrial judges have decided to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region, according to an official at the United Nations."

Israeli election. Netanyahu, Livni Start to Build Competing Coalitions in Israel "Opposition candidate Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni began what could be an intense and prolonged campaign to woo smaller parties Wednesday, as each tries to build a coalition government after voters split over who should lead Israel." Election plunges Israel into deal-making frenzy "Israelis were faced yesterday with the strangest political landscape for years: two factions declaring victory, a former nightclub bouncer holding the keys to power and a disastrous result for the party that has been a leading force for more than half a century." Party leaders begin initial coaliton talks with rivals "Leaders of the three largest parties after Tuesday's election began meeting with their rivals and other party heads yesterday in a bid to build a coalition." In Israeli Vote, With Two Parties Nearly Tied, the Winner Is Gridlock "Israelis awoke Wednesday to find that their parliamentary elections had yielded not a new government but political gridlock instead, along with the prospect of weeks of wrangling and deal making before the country's direction becomes clear."

Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai given a hero's welcome "After a decade of bloodshed, sacrifice and suffering, Zimbabweans erupted in joy and jubilation - emotions almost extinct after 29 years of President Mugabe's misrule - as Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister yesterday." Tsvangirai vows Zimbabwe stability "Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said that he would take immediate steps to rehabilitate the country's dilapidated economy." Zimbabwe's jailed 'must be freed' "Human rights group Amnesty International has urged the coalition government taking over in Zimbabwe to release all political prisoners."

Sri Lanka. Red Cross in race to rescue Tamil patients "The Red Cross is to attempt to evacuate the last 160 patients from a makeshift hospital inside Sri Lanka's northeastern war zone today after 16 were killed by shelling on Monday." Sri Lanka refugees in 'welfare villages' "Sri Lanka aims to house more than 200,000 civil war refugees in five 'welfare villages' for more than three years, despite concerns from aid agencies about Tamils being trapped in them and unable to return home."