Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Monday, December 21, 2009 Make us your homepage
Top Breaking News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
Health Bill Gets 60 Votes . . . Party-line procedural vote proves Dems have votes needed to pass overhaul of the nation’s health care system. New York Times
Clashes as Iran Cleric Buried . . . Death of dissident Grand Ayatollah Montazeri a growing problem for the government. BBC
Philippine Volcano Ready to Blow . . . More than 30,000 people flee their homes ahead of an expected eruption. CNN
Politics
Familiar Faces Among Health Lobbyists . . . Congressional aides lobby their ex-collegues and get results.
Los Angeles Times
Dodd Tracks New Course on Senate Bank Bill . . . Banking chairman jettisons some key reform elements after objections from Republicans. Boston Globe
Obama: Compromiser or Sellout? . . . On health care and climate change, the president goes for what's possible.
Christian Science Monitor
White House Salahi Stonewall . . . Details of meetings that led up to the dinner aree a closely guarded secret. Washington Post
National Security
Pakistan Turmoil Threatens Obama Strategy Bickering leaders distracted from fight against al Qaida and Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
McClatchy Newspapers
Obama's Gitmo Policy Rings a Bell . . . President leaving open possibility of indefinite detentions — a stance that some find too close to Bush policy. Los Angeles Times
U.S. Reaching Out to Former Iraq Enemies . . . U.S. reaching out to followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militia once battled U.S. troops. Associated Press
North Korean Weapons Were Headed to Iran . . . Flight plan of aircraft seized in Bangkok shows its final destination was Tehran.
Times of London
Money
Banks Forced to Cover Losses . . . They'd love to lend to you. But first they have to pay back the government and cover losses of $1 trillion or more on defaulting loans. Washington Times
Fed Was Blind to Banking Crisis . . . Central bank's regulatory failure happened in part because it did not understand risks being taken. Washington Post
Surge in Hiring of Temporary Workers . . . Employers might soon take next step of bringing on permanent workers if they think recovery will stick. New York Times
China Exports Workers . . . China increasingly known for shipping out cheap labor, and a backlash against Chinese workers has grown in Africa and Asia. New York Times
International
China's Satisfaction with Climate Deal . . . Foreign minister says outcome is "significant and positive" despite accusations China hijacked talks.
The Guardian
Auschwitz Sign Found . . . Polish police arrest five men after stolen "Arbeit macht frei" sign from Auschwitz was found, cut into three pieces. BBC
Israel Harvested Organs Without Permission . . . In the 1990s, pathologists took organs from corpses, including Palestinians, without families' OK. Associated Press
Anger As Pope Pius XII Approaches Sainthood . . . One month before first synagogue visit, Pope Benedict advances case of "silent" WWII predecessor. The Independent
You Must Also Know . . .
Actress Brittany Murphy Dead at 32 . . . Star of "8 Mile," "'Clueless," and TV's "King of the Hill" went into cardiac arrest. Foul play unlikely. Los Angeles Times
East Coast Digs Out . . . Cities mobilize to try to save the Christmas shopping season from the massive storm. Christian Science Monitor
Early Sex Linked to Cervical Cancer . . . Having sex at an early age has been linked with double the risk of developing cervical cancer. BBC
Studying How to Teach Young Minds . . . New research on when young brains are best able to grasp concepts is upending conventional wisdom. New York Times
Woodpecker Takes on Ten Foot Snake . . . Startling photos of heroic effort to save chicks, which ends in death. Daily Telegraph
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