Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, May 21, 2009 Make us your homepage
This Morning's Cut
Leading the News
Four Accused of Targeting Bronx Synagogues . . . Plotted to bomb two Bronx temples and shoot down military planes. New York Times
Thousands Abused in Ireland Church Schools . . . Child-molesting church officials protected as generations of kids assigned to misery from 1930s to 1990s. Associated Press
Obama Moves to Regain Initiative on Gitmo . . . In a speech today, will defend his plans. Mulling "preventative detention" system for those who can't be tried. New York Times
Politics
Bill Changing Credit Card Rules Sent to Obama . . . Rule allowing loaded guns in national parts is included.
New York Times
California Braces for Brutal Budget Cuts . . . Gov. Schwarzenegger sees a voter mandate for his plan to slash billions, and Democrats will go along. Los Angeles Times
Conservatives Take Aim at Court Candidates . . . Prospective nominees are hit by blogs and in chat rooms, and with campaign-style attack ads. Los Angeles Times
RNC Condemns Dems 'March Toward Socialism' . . . But decide not to re-nickname Democratic party as the "Democrat Socialist Party."
Washington Post
Daschle Still a Key Player on Health Care . . . Four months after tax troubles forced him to forgo his plan to lead HHS, former senator Tom Daschle has re-emerged. USA Today
Obama Picks Pal to be Ambassador to Britain . . . Chicago friend Louis Susman chosen for plum posting despite president's promise to end cronyism. Times (UK)
Mueller: Bringing Detainees to U.S. Poses Risk . . . FBI Director says Gitmo detainees a risk to national security, even if incarcerated in high-security federal prisons. Boston Globe
National Security
Deadly Bombs Strike Iraq Cities . . . At least 23 people, including three US soldiers, are killed in Baghdad and Kirkuk. BBC
One in Seven Freed Detainees Rejoins Fight . . . Pentagon believes about one in seven of 534 transferred abroad from Gitmo returned to terrorism. New York Times
Russia Ties Arms Talks to Missile Shield . . . Foreign minister warns Moscow will demand US plans for a missile defense system be on the table during nuclear talks. Boston Globe
U.S., Pakistan, and Indian Share Intel on Militants . . . Exchange between Pakistan and India, with U.S. prodding, is an unprecedented effort at cooperation. Wall Street Journal
U.S. Pullout a Condition in Afghan Peace Plan . . . Leaders of armed groups in Afghanistan are talking to intermediaries about a potential peace agreement. New York Times
Money
Wider Confidence Lifts Economy . . . Financial system's thaw owes less to any single program than to a growing confidence that the government will take action. Washington Post
Fed Unconvinced 'Stabilization' Will Persist . . . Policy makers, meeting April 28-29 in Washington, saw “significant downside risks” to the outlook for the economy. Bloomberg
Greenspan: Financial Crisis Not Over Yet . . . Says banks still have large unfunded capital requirements. Bloomberg
International
Outrage Grows Over Trial of Myanmar Dissident . . . Army-ruled Myanmar faced more pressure on Thursday to stop the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Reuters
Children in Congo Forced Into Exorcisms . . . A growing number of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being accused of witchcraft. USA Today
Concerns Grow Over Fate of Tamil Refugees . . . Children being snatched from camps by armed thugs, Tamils claim. Times (UK)
Also Today. . .
Sexual Harassment Cases Plague UN . . . The UN, which aspires to protect human rights around the world, doesn't protect its own.
Wall Street Journal
Vitamin D Boosts Mental Agility . . . Getting more of the "sunshine vitamin" may make you brighter later in life. Reuters
Older Adults May Have Some Swine Flu Immunity . . . People who got a related H1N1 virus that circulated between 1918 and 1957 could have some protection. Wall Street Journal
American Idol Churns Out a New Star . . . In a surprise, viewers choose the modesty over glitz, and with scary efficiency, a star is born.
New York Times
When Religion Conflicts With Medicine . . . Mother who vanished with cancer-stricken son spotlights debate over whether parents can refuse treatment on religious grounds. USA Today
Today's Video
Flooding Causes Havoc in Australia . . . MSNBC
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