Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Sunday, August 16, 2009 Make us your homepage
The New News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
No Quick Recovery for Home Prices . . . Housing prices may be bottoming out, but there are no signs they will return to precrash levels anytime soon. Wall Street Journal
Wildfires Scorch California Schwarzenegger urges residents to heed mandatory evacuation orders. Associated Press
Afghan Poll Imperiled by Brazen Attack . . . Suicide attack outside Nato's Kabul headquarters could wreck Thursday's election if repeated in next few days. Financial Times
Politics
Obama Puts Health Care Focus on Consumers . . . Promises protections against insurers as he tries to switch focus from government program. Los Angeles Times
Health Care Ads Swamp Airwaves . . . Cascade of commercials in the health care fight is helping to create a full-blown national political campaign.
New York Times
Emanuel Wields Power Freely . . . Rahm Emanuel is emerging as possibly the most influential White House chief of staff in a generation.
New York Times
National Security
North Korean Makes Nuclear Threat . . . Denounces U.S.-South Korea joint military drills and says would "wipe out" the countries with nuclear weapons if they threaten it. Reuters
Iran Puts 25 on Trial . . . Activists and opposition supporters, including a Jewish teenager, tried for their alleged involvement in the post-election turmoil. Associated Press
Nigerian Police Raid Islamic Sect, Detain Hundreds . . . Action taken weeks after an uprising by a radical sect killed almost 800 in the remote northeast. Reuters
British Swimmers Told to Cover Up . . . Pools enforce Islamic swim times during which men and women must adhere to dress codes.
Sunday Telegraph
GI Jane Breaks Combat Barrier . . . Before 2001, America’s military women had rarely seen ground combat, but the Afghanistan and Iraq wars have changed that. New York Times
Money
Lenders Fail to Modify Mortgages . . . In the deepest U.S. housing slump in generations, lenders are modifying only a small number of problem mortgages. McClatchy Newspapers
A Rally With Troubling Aspects . . . Signs are the rally has already priced in a lot of good news and may soon stall. Financial Times
GM Claim of 230 mpg for Volt Questioned . . . The "exaggeration of the century" obscures that you have to pay for electricity too.
Consumer Reports
U.S. Economy Still Struggling . . . One can hardly argue that the worst is over, only that the rate of decline has moderated.
Financial Times
International
Kuwait Wedding Tent Fire Kills 41 . . . Victims are women and children. Structure was consumed in three minutes. Associated Press
Burma Releases Aung Sang Suu Kyi Swimmer . . . Sen. Webb held a private meeting with the head of the Burmese military today and secures the release of US prisoner. The Guardian
Hamas Quickly Crushes Opposition . . . Al Qaeda-linked group had tried to establish an Islamic emirate in the Gaza Strip. Haaretz
Britain's Biggest Jewel Heist Ever . . . A plot worthy of a movie script as thieves make off with £40 million worth of gems.
The Independent
Gambian Witch Hunters Strike . . . Group allied with country's president rounds up 1,200 suspected witches, both men and women, for exorcism that kills at least six. The Sunday Times
Also Today. . .
June's Ocean Temps Warmest on Record . . . Draws concern of fisherman, enviros, though not yet clear it's global warming.
McClatchy Newspapers
The Saga of Ben Novack . . . Son of the Fontainebleu Hotel founder was murdered in a steamy saga of wealth, privilege, kinky sex games, marital disharmony - and voodoo. Miami Herald
Beer May Aid Women's Bones . . . Women who drink moderate amounts of beer may be strengthening their bones. BBC
The Gospel of Getting Rich . . . According to the "prosperity gospel," if you have faith in God and the Bible and donate generously, God will multiply your offerings. New York Times
Today's Video
California Fires Continue to Rage . . . MSNBC
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