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Quote of the Day. “We could perhaps reduce the annual Indonesian emissions by 5 percent with this one project. It’s so significant. One project.” Jouko Virta, who works for an Indonesian paper company, on the company’s recent proposal to help stop leaks of greenhouse gases from a peat bog by planting a ring of tree plantations around it. (New York Times)

Afghanistan. Obama Issues Order for More Troops in Afghanistan “President Obama told military leaders of his decision late Sunday afternoon and will spend Monday speaking with foreign leaders.” Obama’s Speech on Afghanistan to Envision Exit “President Obama plans to lay out a time frame for U.S. involvement in the Afghan war when he announces his decision this week to send more forces, officials said.” Britain Presses Pakistan and Afghanistan on Militants “Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded that Afghanistan and Pakistan match plans for increased allied troop levels in Afghanistan by taking tough actions of their own.”

China. China Charges 58 With Covering Up Mine Disaster “Ten journalists and 48 officials have been charged with taking bribes to cover up a mining disaster last year, according to a report Monday in the China Daily.”

Switzerland. Swiss Ban Building of Minarets on Mosques “Switzerland’s political right scored a surprising win, denting the nation’s image as a bastion of tolerance.” Switzerland votes to prohibit the building of mosque minarets “Voters in Switzerland decided Sunday to ban the building of minarets, in a referendum that showed an unexpected level of resentment against Muslim immigrants in a country long known for discretion and tolerance.”

Russia Train Bombing. Sketch of Suspect in Russian Train Bombing “The police released a sketch and a description on Monday of a possible suspect in the bombing of a luxury train that killed 26 people, as well as a description of an accomplice.” Traumatized Russians View Their Dead After Luxury Train Bombing “Across the country, Russians prayed and held moments of silence for the victims of a homemade bomb planted on train tracks.”

Israel. Israel to Recruit More Building Inspectors to Enforce a Freeze on West Bank Construction “Israel’s defense minister told his staff to recruit dozens of new building inspectors to supervise the government’s temporary construction freeze in West Bank settlements.”

Economy. Wall St. Wanders as It Tries to Gauge Dubai Fallout “Wall St. shares fluctuated as investors gauged the fallout from Dubai’s debt crisis and weighed results from the first weekend of holiday shopping.” Shoppers Showed Up, but Spent on Bargains “About 23 million more consumers visited retail stores and Web sites over the weekend, but total spending was about the same as last year.”

Detainee Photos. Court Sides With Government in Detainee Photo Case “The Supreme Court has thrown out an appeals court ruling ordering the disclosure of photographs of detainees being abused by their U.S. captors.”

Somali Pirates. Somali Pirates Seize U.S.-Bound Tanker “Nine pirates seized the tanker, which could be one of the biggest ships ever taken.”

Copenhagen. The Road to Copenhagen: Tree Harvester Offers to Save Indonesian Forest “A paper company proposes to use a ring of tree plantations to help stop leaks of greenhouse gases from a peat bog.”

Iran. A Defiant Iran Vows to Build Nuclear Plants “Iran’s announcement that it would construct 10 more uranium enrichment plans drew criticism on Monday.” Ahmadinejad vows dramatic expansion of Iran’s nuclear program “Iran’s government will build 10 new sites to enrich uranium, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday, a dramatic expansion of the country’s nuclear program and one that is bound to fuel fears that it is attempting to produce a nuclear weapon.”

College Tuition. More of the best and brightest heading to community college “Kira Cassels applied to 11 colleges and got in to every one. The kitchen of her Laurel home came to resemble a high school guidance office, the breakfast table buried beneath brochures and financial aid forms from destinations such as the University of Virginia and Franklin & Marshall College.”

Health-Care Bill. Health-care bill’s ability to reduce deficits debated “As the long battle over health care is rejoined in the Senate this week, experts remain deeply divided over whether the legislation would rein in soaring health-care costs or simply add millions of people to a system that is already driving the nation toward bankruptcy.” Even if health bill passes soon, wait for reforms could be long “The White House has a message for Americans suffering under today’s health insurance system: ‘Help is on the way.’"

GOP. Today’s GOP is both united and divided “The Republican rank and file is largely in sync with GOP lawmakers in their staunch opposition to efforts by President Obama and Democrats to enact major health-care legislation, but a new Washington Post poll also reveals deep dissatisfaction among GOP voters with the party’s leadership as well as ideological and generational differences that may prove big obstacles to the party’s plans for reclaiming power.”

Pakistan. Obama offers new role for Pakistan “President Obama has offered Pakistan an expanded strategic partnership, including additional military and economic cooperation, while warning with unusual bluntness that its use of insurgent groups to pursue policy goals ‘cannot continue.’"

Sojourners’ Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.