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Texas Gov refuses unemployment aid. Texas Gov. Rick Perry rejects stimulus money for jobless claims "Gov. Rick Perry, joining a handful of his fellow Southern Republican leaders, said Thursday that he was rejecting $556 million in federal stimulus money for unemployed Texans because it had too many strings attached." Texas Democrats aim to overturn Perry's stimulus fund rejection "Gov. Rick Perry's decision on Thursday to turn down $555 million for expanded unemployment benefits from the federal stimulus package became an instant issue in his re-election campaign and provoked a confrontation with Democratic lawmakers who vowed to try to overturn the decision."
Homelessness and health care. Sacramento tent city just one of dozens in U.S. "Across America, from Washington State to Nevada, Georgia and even Florida, homeless advocacy groups and city agencies are reporting the biggest rise in homeless encampments in a generation, as the U.S. economy takes a spectacular plunge." Public health centers struggle to keep up "Oakhurst is among 1,200 community health centers, 1,100 public hospitals, and nearly 3,000 local health departments that are primary strands in the nation's healthcare safety net. Most say they have become significantly busier in the last seven months, as the economy has worsened."
Abortion. RNC Chair's Remarks on Abortion Draw Criticism "Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele was on the receiving end of a fresh round of criticism from prominent party members yesterday after an interview was released in which he referred to abortion as an 'individual choice.'" In Interview, Republican Chairman Strays From the Party Line on Abortion "On Thursday Mr. Steele found himself yet again explaining what he had meant to say, this time after a lively interview with GQ in which he seemed to suggest, among other things, that women should have the right to decide whether to have an abortion."
Pope concedes mistake. Pope Concedes 'Mistakes' in Bishop Controversy "Pope Benedict XVI, acknowledging 'mistakes' that he 'deeply regretted,' issued an unusual letter Thursday attempting to quiet a storm of protest over his embrace of an excommunicated bishop who denied that Nazis killed Jews in gas chambers." Pope Admits Online News Can Provide Infallible Aid "'I have been told that consulting the information available on the Internet would have made it possible to perceive the problem early on,' Benedict wrote. 'I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news.'" Rabbis after pope meeting: Crisis over "'The Jewish people, who were chosen as the elected people, communicate to the whole human family knowledge of and fidelity to the one, unique and true God,' Pope Benedict XVI told a delegation from Israel's Chief Rabbinate on Thursday in Rome."
Darfur. Darfur kidnappers ask for ransom "Kidnappers who took three aid workers from the Belgian office of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Sudan's North Darfur region have reportedly asked for a ransom." Sudan pinpoints kidnapped workers "The Sudanese government has located three international aid workers from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres taken in Darfur and is in contact with the kidnappers, a foreign ministry official said today."
G20 finance ministers meet. G20 meets to tackle world crisis "Finance ministers from the world's leading countries are gathering near London to discuss plans for coordinated action to tackle the economic crisis." U.K. backs Rudd push for second G20 summit "The British Government has signaled that it supports Australia's push for another special G20 summit - potentially in Asia - as part of a united push to ensure that global efforts to stem the fallout of the economic crisis are not just 'a one-day wonder.'"
U.S.-Mexico. U.S. won't rule out troops at Mexican border "With drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border growing more deadly, the United States is willing to consider deploying troops to the Southwest, but only as a last resort, a Department of Homeland Security official told members of Congress on Thursday." National Guard called last resort at border "A top Homeland Security official told Congress Thursday that National Guard troops will intervene on the U.S.-Mexico border only as a 'last resort' to combat drug violence."
Climate change. Scientists: world leaders must act on climate now "The world is on the brink of dangerous climate change and immediate action is needed to avert it, scientists said yesterday, issuing one of the bleakest assessments yet of the state of the planet." Full text of the statement from the International Scientific Conference on Climate Change
Afghanistan. Obama Afghan Plan Focuses on Pakistan Aid and Appeal to Militants "The emerging outlines of President Obama's plan for Afghanistan include proposals to shift more American efforts toward problems in neighboring Pakistan and to seek some kind of political reconciliation with the vast majority of insurgents in the region, according to administration officials."
Pakistan. Pakistan protests 'to intensify' "A Pakistani lawyer involved in an anti-government rally has said that the cross-country protest will be intensified despite a police crackdown." U.S. and Britain seek deal to end Islamabad's deepening crisis "Britain and the U.S. are trying to broker a compromise between Pakistan's two major political parties as confrontation threatens to push the country towards collapse." U.S., U.K. try to avert political collapse in Pakistan "The United States and Britain made a last-ditch effort Thursday to avert the collapse of nuclear-armed Pakistan's government, calling on the country's two major political parties to reach a compromise and avoid what many fear could be a violent confrontation next week."
Hamas. Hamas criticizes Gaza rocket fire "The Palestinian Hamas group that governs the Gaza Strip has criticized recent rocket fire directed at Israel and denied responsibility."
Hezbollah. U.S. disagrees with British decision to engage Lebanon's Hezbollah "A senior U.S. official Thursday expressed strong disagreement with the British decision to begin contacts with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, revealing a rare split between the two closely allied nations."
El Salvador. A win for El Salvador leftist appears less certain "For much of the 16 months he's been campaigning to become El Salvador's first leftist president, Mauricio Funes seemed headed for a landslide victory. But three days before Salvadorans vote, there are signs that the outcome is far from certain as tensions rise throughout this violent, polarized country."
India. As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists "Small, sick, listless children have long been India's scourge - 'a national shame,' in the words of its prime minister, Manmohan Singh. But even after a decade of galloping economic growth, child malnutrition rates are worse here than in many sub-Saharan African countries, and they stand out as a paradox in a proud democracy."
Opinion. How to Leave Afghanistan (Leslie H. Gelb, New York Times) "Mr. Obama needs to consider another path. Our strategy in Afghanistan should emphasize what we do best (containing and deterring, and forging coalitions) and downgrade what we do worst (nation-building in open-ended wars). It should cut our growing costs and secure our interests by employing our power more creatively and practically."
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