Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Friday, December 11, 2009 Make us your homepage
Top Breaking News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
Blackwater Guards Tied to CIA Raids . . . Blurred the lines supposedly dividing the C.I.A., the military and the private security company. New York Times
Pelosi Open to Senate Medicare Deal Statement raises probability that House and Senate can quickly work out their health bill differences. Wall Street Journal
Pakistan: U.S. Men Were Afghanistan Bound . . . Five men detained in Pakistan sought to fight a holy war against U.S. troops.
McClatchy Newspapers
Politics
McClatchy Newspapers
Vote Nears on Wall Street Rules . . . Republicans went on the attack as House opened floor debate on a sweeping financial overhaul package. Boston Globe
Health Debate Snagged Over Imported Drugs . . . Opposition from the U.S. drug industry could endanger healthcare overhaul.
Los Angeles Times
House OK's $3.9B in Earmarks . . . Democrats say they've cracked down on GOP-era pork-barrel politics, but critics aren't impressed. Los Angeles Times
Federal Salaries Explode . . . The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries jumped during the recession.
Washington Post
Palin Will Hit the Road for FOP Candidates . . . "I'll be taking people up on their offers to assist them in campaigns," she says.
USA Today
Obama Hannukah Flap . . . Did he invite enough people to the White House Hannukah party? Does he like Jews? Is this all "an overblown latke?" Washington Post
National Security
Gates: Iran to Face Significant Sanctions . . . EU leaders express "grave concern" about Iran's nuclear ambitions and also warn of new sanctions.
BBC
Drone Attack Kills top al Qaeda Leader . . . Officials won't say who, but it's not Osama. NBC News
North Korea Wants More Talks . . . Says differences with United States narrowed during visit this week of Obama’s special envoy.
New York Times
Money
Is VAT the Cure for Deficits? . . . Runaway deficits have thrust a politically unsavory savior into the spotlight: a nationwide tax on goods and services.
New York Times
Gilette's Razor Burn . . . It had what seemed an advertiser’s dream team: Roger Federer, French soccer star Thierry Henry, Tiger Woods. Now it's a nightmare. Boston Globe
Shell Wins Iraq Oil Field Rights . . . Consortium led by Shell wins rights to develop Iraq's giant Majnoon oil field, while another contract is given to a Chinese. BBC
Goldman Curbs Bonuses to Quell Uproar . . . Unclear if the move will placate critics of Wall Street pay. New York Times
International
China Racing Ahead of U.S. on Green Energy . . . Needs new fuel sources - especially solar and wind power - to ease reliance on coal and continue growth.
Washington Times
Body of Former Cyprus President Stolen . . . Grave robbery discovered a day before the first anniversary of Tassos Papadopoulos' death. Toronto Globe and Mail
UK Labels Food From West Bank Settlements . . . Stickers could read "Israeli settlement produce," but move is not a boycott, says Foreign Office. The Guardian
Chinese Dissident Faces Subversion Charges . . . Liu Xiaobo's lawyer says prosecutors likely to bring case to court within four to six weeks. The Guardian
You Must Also Know . . .
Times Square Shootout . . . Bullets send a crush of tourists and office workers running for their lives as cops kill a MAC 10-toting thug. New York Post
One in Six in U.S. Got Swine Flu . . . About 47 million were sickened with swine flu from April to mid-November and 9,820 died. Wall Street Journal
From Minnie to Mickey . . . Scientists change sex of a mouse – and reveal gender war that rages in all of us. The Independent
Blue Whale Comeback . . . Songs used by blue whales to attract potential mates are getting quieter, proving their numbers are increasing. Daily Telegraph
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