Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, July 2, 2009 Make us your homepage
The Latest Breaking News
- Obama Preaches Tough Love for Africa 12:02 pm ET
This Morning's Cut
Leading the News
House Health Bill will Tax the Rich . . . Aiming to raise $540 billion over the next decade with a package of surtaxes on families making $350,000 or more. Wall Street Journal
Pakistan Scaling Back Waziristan Offensive . . . Will rely on air power, which is unlikely to dislodge the Taliban.
McClatchy Newspapers
Tight Mortgage Rules Exclude Good Risks . . . How can the housing market recover, economists ask, if so few qualify for mortgages under rigid new rules? New York Times
Politics
Kennedy's Absence Felt in Health Debate . . . Senators believe process might be further along if he were better able to participate. Boston Globe
Sessions: Sotomayor Not a Done Deal . . . Senators want to probe her "wise Latina" remark. Position on gun rights could cause trouble with some Dems. Washington Times
Ghana in a Frenzy Over Obama Visit . . . "We want him to rule all African countries." The Independent
Obama Meets Pope for Gourndbreaking Talks . . . In a bid to counteract hostility of his own bishops, president discusses abortion stance with Benedict XVI. Times (UK)
Obama Campaign Plane Could Have Crashed . . . An inflated evacuation slide had caused control problems on a flight last summer, says an NTSB report. Los Angeles Times
Obama Pledges Focus on Africa . . . Obama begins visit to Ghana, a rare African success story. Reuters
National Security
Value of Bush Wiretap Program Disputed . . . FBI agents, CIA analysts and other officials had difficulty evaluating its effectiveness. McClatchy Newspapers
North Korea Eyes Releasing Reporters . . . But it may want an apology from the U.S. first. Associated Press
Iran Readies Package for Nuke Talks with West . . . Package of "political, security, and international"' issues can be basis for nuclear talks. Haaretz
Money
U.S. Exports Rise Unexpectedly in May . . . Hints of an economic rebound. Deficits with China rises, though. Los Angeles Times
U.S. and AIG in Talks on $250M in Bonuses . . . Troubled insurer asks Treasury to rule on several types of executive pay.
Washington Post
Bailout May Boost Small Firms . . . In shift, Obama plans to use part of $700B rescue plan to save jobs rather than fix financial system.
Washington Post
International
China to Uproot Uighurs in Ancient City . . . Plan to move families out of old part of town and build apartments. Globe and Mail
Honduras Talks Stall . . . Sitting and deposed presidents refuse to meet until the other backs down. Christian Science Monitor
Eight British Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan in a Day . . . Country bracing for increasingly bloody conflict as UK troops' death toll exceeds Iraq. Guardian
G8 to Commit $20 billion for Farm Aid . . . Aid agencies skeptical, pointing to chain of broken promises and habit of switching around existing budgets. Financial Times
Inside the Iran Crackdown . . . Dirty work done by the Basij militia, the Islamic Republic's most loyal foot soldiers. Wall Street Journal
Also Today. . .
Smoke Fills Cabin of Jet on Ground in Phoenix . . . Passengers describe desperate effort to get out. The Daily Telegraph
Energy Shots are the Rage . . . They're small, expensive, and taste horrible, but they give you a concentrated dose of caffeine.
New York Times
One in Three Breast Cancer Patients Overtreated . . . Patients need to balance risks and downsides of treatment versus possible benefit. Washington Post
Today's Video
Man Gored to Death at Running of the Bulls . . . YouTube
