World & Nation

FROM THE PAGES OF THE INQUIRER

Federal court in Phila. prepares for Oprah crowds

By Nathan Gorenstein, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted 2:04am

The federal court in Philadelphia is preparing for an overflow crowd of the curious and the national media if the defamation suit against Oprah Winfrey goes ahead as scheduled a week from Monday.

City gets big money to trim waistlines, smoking

By Don Sapatkin, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted 2:04am

Philadelphia snagged $25 million in federal stimulus grants announced nationwide yesterday and immediately launched an ambitious public-health campaign to cut obesity and smoking.

Health bill votes fluid at the wire - 2:04am: House Democrats are still targeting those on the fence. Abortion is a key sticking point.

By Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON - With the clock ticking down to tomorrow's votes on the $940 billion health-care package, President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi labored yesterday to sustain their momentum in the face of continuing dissent in Democratic ranks over abortion and other issues.
54,000 in Phila. apply for federal rent subsidies - 2:04am: By Jennifer Lin, Inquirer Staff Writer

For the first time in a decade, the Philadelphia Housing Authority opened the door to applications for federal rent subsidies - and faced a stampede of new requests.
Signs from Israel are 'useful,' Clinton says - 2:04am: By Megan K. Stack, Los Angeles Times

MOSCOW - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hailed "useful and productive" signs from Israel yesterday as the so-called quartet of Middle East peacemakers called on Israelis and Palestinians to resume stalled negotiations.
A keenly awaited papal missive - 2:04am: Benedict's planned apology to the Irish on church scandals will have a wider audience.

By Shawn Pogatchnik, Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ireland - Pope Benedict XVI is to address Ireland today in a letter apologizing for the sex-abuse scandal involving that country's church, and the message will be scrutinized by Catholics from Boston to Berlin to see if it also acknowledges decades of Vatican-approved cover-ups of abuse.
7 years after invasion, uncertainty in Iraq - 2:04am: By Rebecca Santana, Associated Press

BAGHDAD - Seven years after the first bombs in the war to oust Saddam Hussein, Iraqis went about their business yesterday with little observance of the anniversary, looking to the future with a mixture of trepidation and hope.
Indian officials seek access to Headley - 2:04am: Associated Press

NEW DELHI - Indian authorities will ask the United States to let them question a Chicago man who pleaded guilty to scouting targets for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the government said yesterday.
Why all that Obama backed isn't in the bill - 2:04am: He lent tepid support to some ideas and Congress nixed others.

By Erica Werner, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - It was a bold response to skyrocketing health-insurance premiums: President Obama would give federal authorities the power to block unreasonable rate increases.
In the Nation - 2:04am