Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, December 24, 2009 Make us your homepage
Top Breaking News
This Morning's Cut
Leading The News
Senate Passes Health Overhaul Bill . . . Party line vote of 60-39. Legislation must be reconciled with House bill and voted on again next year.
New York Time
Iran Security Forces Suppress Protests . . . Basij militia and riot police target mourners of spiritual leader as nationwide demonstrations loom. Times of London
Dozens Dead in Yemen al Qaeda Air Strike . . . At least 30 suspected al-Qaeda militants, possibly including two commanders, are killed. BBC
Politics
McClatchy Newspapers
Carter to Jews: I'm Sorry . . . Apologizes for any words or deeds that may have upset the Jewish community in an open letter.
Washington Times
How Harry Reid Passed Health Care . . . Rahm Emanuel was agitated. The opportunity to pass healthcare legislation seemed to be fading . . . Los Angeles Times
Effort Begun to End Voting on Judges . . . Group led by Sandra Day O'Connor wants "merit" based selection instead.
New York Times
National Security
Army Debuts Vehicle Made for Afghanistan . . . The Pentagon has offered 5,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles.
McClatchy Newspapers
Afghan Success Story . . . Marines storm in to remove Taliban, and a town begins to rebuild. Washington Times
CIA Conned Into Believing Terror Threat . . . In 2003, Tom Ridge spoke of a "credible source" on a new terrorist onslaught. Not too credible, though. The Guardian
Kerry May Visit Tehran . . . May become the first high-level U.S. emissary to make a public visit to Tehran since 1979 Islamic revolution. Wall Street Journal
Money
Blackberry Breakdown Causes User Uproar . . . Will blackberry customers switch to another smartphone after two breakdowns in a week?
New York Times
Consumer Spending Up but Home Sales Drop . . . Spending rose modestly, 0.5 percent, for the sixth time in seven months.
New York Times
Virtual Retail Sales are Hot . . . LaWanda Johnson loves buying virtual jewelry gifts for her online avatar friends. USA Today
International
Colombia's FARC Making a Comeback . . . For the first time since 2002, homicides, rebel attacks and paramilitary activity are on the rise.
McClatchy Newspapers
Child Abuse Scandal Rocks Gerry Adams . . . Irish Republican leader stands accused of failing to protect niece from his brother. Christian Science Monitor
China Pro-Democracy Dissident Tried . . . Trial of Liu Xiaobo for "state subversion" lasted just a few hours. Verdict expected Friday. Christian Science Monitor
Dozens Missing as Philippines Ferry Sinks . . . Search-and-rescue teams comb the waters of Manila Bay for at least 27 people missing. Associated Press
Yemen's Child Marriages . . . Arranged marriages for girls as young as 9 are common in many parts of Yemen, destroying lives.
Washington Times
France Moves to Ban Burqas . . . New effort to outlaw the full-length veil in public trumps earlier efforts to ban it only in some official buildings. Christian Science Monitor
You Must Also Know . . .
Customs Agents Seize Chinese Toys . . . The toys had hazardous materials, including lead paint, or small parts that pose choking hazard. McClatchy Newspapers
Cleopatra's Mausoleum Discovered . . . Door found off Alexandria coast could prove key to riddle of Antony and Cleopatra's final hours together. The Guardian
Virginia Hostage Standoff Ends Peacefully . . . Disabled man in wheelchair surrenders after hold hostages in a small Virginia town's post office. Associated Press
Boy Reunited With U.S. Father in Brazil . . . A Brazilian family delivered a nine-year-old boy to his American father, ending a five-year custody battle. Associated Press
'The Day I Shot a Dictator' . . . Christmas Day killing of Ceausescu haunts former Romanian soldier. Times of London
Balloon Boy Parents Land in Jail . . . He gets 90 days, she gets 20, and no profits related to the stunt for either for four years.
Associated Press
Cut to Your Stocks
Watch the Dow(^DJI), S&P 500 (^GSPC), NASDAQ (^IXIC), Europe (^STOXX), the Nikkei (^N225), and the ten-year Treasury (^TNX). Add your own stocks too.
