The 10-Point: Funding Homeland Security, Protecting European Borders, the Oscars and More

Paying the Piper

The GOP-controlled Congress is back in session just in time for its first major fiscal deadline. Our story examines the imminent showdown over the future funding of the Department of Homeland Security—at issue due to Republican anger over President Barack Obama’s executive action shielding millions of illegal immigrants from deportation. Senate Republicans, still weighing their options, are most likely to end up supporting a short-term extension of the agency’s current funding, potentially for one or two months. Many of them would like to avoid a lapse in national-security funding at a time of high-profile global threats. But a short-term deal could still face hurdles passing the House. Even if funding were to lapse, most of the agency’s 240,000 employees might still have to work, though none would be paid until an agreement was reached.

A Detour to Terror

The wife of Paris terrorist Amedy Coulibaly drove from France to Spain, then flew to Turkey before slipping into Syria days before her husband killed four people at a kosher grocery store last month. Our story looks at how jihadist recruits in Europe are finding alternate routes to join Islamic State fighters despite heightened security. We note that this magnifies a security challenge for EU policy makers: How to catch suspected militants without undermining the bloc’s commitment to free movement across a region where passport and customs checks at national borders have been effectively abolished. A series of high-level EU meetings in Brussels this month is seeking to revamp the region’s counterterrorism strategy by bolstering information exchange. Meanwhile, hundreds of Turkish ground forces, backed by tanks and armored vehicles entered Syria and retrieved an Ottoman tomb and 38 Turkish soldiers guarding it, fearing they were at risk from Islamic State militants. (Pictured above: An airport-screening agent processes travelers at Dulles International Airport in December. Such DHS employees would still have to work even if no funding agreement is reached.)

A Franc Exchange

Switzerland’s decision last month to lift the cap on the franc sent the currency flying 40% higher against the euro. The move has been a blessing for some and a curse for others, but perhaps hardest hit are those who are paid in euros and spend in francs. Our story looks at how the rising franc is disturbing everyday life in Switzerland’s border areas. “Our mantra now is to only buy what’s essential,” says a resident of Campione d’Italia, a tiny piece of Italian territory within Switzerland’s borders. Meanwhile, Campione residents who earn francs but pay taxes in Italy could also face problems, finding themselves in a higher tax bracket due to the strong Swiss currency. And since Campione’s goods and services are priced in francs, visiting Italian gamblers and tourists are being discouraged by the higher costs. Now, the stronger franc leaves Campione “on the edge of bankruptcy,” says the deputy mayor, who is appealing to Italy for aid.

Birdman Soars

After much debate over the past few weeks, “Birdman” was named best picture at the Academy Awards ceremony. Its director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, won for best director, while Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything” and Julianne Moore in “Still Alice” won the top acting honors. We note that the Academy has a history of choosing smaller art-house fare over big blockbusters, but this year’s honorees made that tendency even more pronounced: None of the films represented by the night’s big winners has grossed more than $40 million at the domestic box office. Check out the complete list of the winners. As for the ceremony, host Neil Patrick Harris struggled to maintain momentum throughout the night as several of his jokes fell flat. And Patricia Arquette, who won the Oscar for best supporting actress, ended her speech with a call for equal wages for women. The Oscars crew also welcomed some relief last night from the recent drought when it began to rain.

TOP STORIES

U.S.

Harsh Winter Weather Yet to Take Economic Toll

Security Tightened at Mall of America After Terrorist Video Threat

WORLD

U.S. Weighs a Longer Stay in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province

Greek Leader Seeks to Temper Expectations

BUSINESS

Sony, U.S. Agencies Fumbled After Cyberattack

Employers Watch High Court Case on Religious Garb

MARKETS

Slumping Oil Prices Hit Calgary Housing

As ‘Spoof’ Trading Persists, Regulators Clamp Down

NUMBER OF THE DAY

$10 billion

The amount that Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is expected to pay for Salix Pharmaceuticals—a return to its big deal-making ways after a failed bid for Botox maker Allergan last year.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

‘There are some who want to defund our executive actions and do it in a way that holds up the entire budget of homeland security for this nation. That is unacceptable from a public safety, homeland security view.’

—Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson suggested Sunday that Congress would be jeopardizing national security if it withholds his agency’s funding to undermine President Barack Obama’s immigration policies.

TODAY’S QUESTION

What are your thoughts on Mr. Johnson’s stance? Send your comments to10point@wsj.com.

—Compiled by Khadeeja Safdar

READER RESPONSE

Responding to Friday’s question about Hillary Clinton, Nick Levintowcommented from North Carolina that her “corporate connections are probably a greater problem for her Presidential campaign than they would be for her Presidency, should she win the election. Every President is expected to be a champion for American business. But Presidential candidates are supposed to stand for principles and it’s hard to find the defensible principle behind taking money from corporations for your personal charity while you’re holding a Cabinet position. This is the problem with the Clintons, not just for Democrats, but for America—they have managed to trade on Bill’s Presidency for personal gain in unprecedented ways. The Clinton Foundation simply uses charitable giving as a means to an end: the enduring fame and power of the Clintons. And I say this as a lifelong Democrat.” Gil Allen of Maryland observed that “[t]he Clintons’ connections to Wall Street have been well known across the political spectrum for over a decade now and have not been a detriment to this point. What will be much more problematic for her is facing a seasoned Republican nominee in the general election after her coronation in the Democratic primary. The best thing that can happen to Hillary is for a Martin O’Malley or Elizabeth Warren to get in the race now and force her into the trenches so she will be ready when she gets to the general election.”

This daily briefing is named “The 10-Point” after the nickname conferred by the editors of The Wall Street Journal on the lead column of the legendary “What’s News” digest of top stories. Technically, “10-point” referred to the size of the typeface. The type is smaller now but the name lives on.

Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images