Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Friday, March 27, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Obama Adds 4,000 Troops in Afghanistan . . . Meanwhile, Mullah Mohammed Omar is reconsolidating power and looks to retake country. Los Angeles Times
Dozens Killed in Blast at Pakistan Mosque . . . Officials say the attack in northwest region was a suicide bombing and the mosque has collapsed. BBC
Stocks' Momentum Building . . . Rally pushes Dow up 21 percent from its recent bottom - a new bull market by a common Wall Street definition. Wall Street Journal
Politics
Bumpy Road for Obama's Financial Reforms . . . Congress wants a look. Lobbyists want to kill them. People need to decide what kind of economy we'll have. Reuters
Obama's Online National Confab . . . Virtual town hall draws more than 104,000 questions and 3.6 million votes. Lots of questions submitted about pot. Globe and Mail
Political Giving Slows . . . Between economic turmoil and a campaign that endlessly taxed donors, drop in fundraising by the parties.
Washington Post
Obama Discourages Hiring of Foreigners . . . Recipients of bailout funds face hurdles hiring guest workers. Cutbacks sought for seasonal employers. Wall Street Journal
National Security
Kim Jong-Il Moving to Reassert Power . . . Drive to launch rocket part of effort to reassert control over society after illness.
Wall Street Journal
Pakistani and Afghan Taliban Unite . . . Bury the hatchet and close ranks to launch a new offensive in Afghanistan. New York Times
Talks on Kyrgyz Base Continue . . . Sounds like someone's holding out for more money. Associated Press
Hezbollah Smuggling Drugs Into United States . . .Uses Mexican routes to send in drugs and people, threatening U.S. security. Activity helps finance its operations. Washington Times
Radical Youth . . . The next generation of Islamist badguys looks even worse than this one. Christian Science Monitor
The Mistakes in Afghanistan . . . How the "liberation" became a slow-motion disaster. The Independent
Business
Confidence in Economy Jumps . . . In a poll, 29 percent took the optimistic view — the highest number since July 2007. USA Today
Washington Post, NY Times Seek Cost Cuts . . . Dramatic declines in advertising revenue. Times lays off 100 workers and is cutting non-union salaries. Reuters
Mortgage Rates Lowest Since at Least 1971 . . . Average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages drop to 4.85 percent this week, lowest level since survey began. Associated Press
International
Israel Struck Convoy in Sudan . . . Bombs hit convoys smuggling arms, but Sudanese say more than 100 killed. New York Times
Scores Die as Indonesian Dam Bursts . . . Hundreds of homes flooded on outskirts of Jakarta. BBC
Japan Readies Defenses for Missile Debris . . . Will try to shoot down any junk that falls on its territory. Reuters
Berlusconi Unites With Mussolini's Heirs . . . Italian Prime Minister in huge political gamble unites his party with right-wing faction.
Times (UK)
You Think Your Commute is Stressful? . . . About 150 people commit suicide on the Moscow metro each year. Figures are expected to rise as more Russians are laid off. The Independent
Also Today. . .
Ghost Twitterers . . . You think big shots have time for all that nonsense? New York Times
Fargo Scrambles to Prepare for Flooding . . . Red River Reaches record level. USA Today
Hot Tea Linked to Esophageal Cancer . . . Cooling it with milk eliminates the risk. BBC
Do Crustaceans Experience Pain? . . . Crabs appear to sense pain and also remember and try to avoid it. Sure you want to throw that lobster in the pot? BBC
Are Your Pets Killing You? . . . An average of 86,629 Americans visit the emergency room each year after a fall caused by pets or their junk.
Washington Post
Today's Video
Radio Anchor Killed After Ad for Rough Sex . . . CNN
