Sign up to receive our daily news summary via e-mail »
Unemployment. Job losses less dire than feared “The unemployment rate hit a 25-year high of 8.9 percent, but smaller-than-expected job loss numbers buoyed stocks and indicated some improvement in the economy.” Unemployment Rate Jumps to 8.9 Percent “Although it is the highest jobless rate since September 1983, the pace of job losses slowed appreciably last month compared with February and March, another sign that the severe economic slump might be starting to ease.”
Budget cuts. Obama Unveils New Budget Cuts “President Obama on Thursday unveiled nearly $17 billion in additional budget cuts for the coming fiscal year to underscore what he called an “ongoing” effort to find savings at a time when the government’s costs for bailouts, health care and wars are mounting far faster.” Democrats Assail Obama's Hit List “President Obama's modest proposal to slice $17 billion from 121 government programs quickly ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Capitol Hill yesterday, as an array of Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight White House efforts to deprive their favorite initiatives of federal funds.” Obama administration expects fight over proposed spending cuts “Skeptics have criticized Obama's proposed cuts as meager, as the 121 programs he wants to trim or eliminate would save $17 billion -- or one-half of 1% of the budget. And the mine program illustrates that many of the cuts are unlikely to happen at all, because of deals already struck in Congress and intense opposition from lawmakers.”
Abortion. Obama move on abortion funds riles both sides “President Obama called for overturning a decade-old ban on publicly funded abortions in the District as part of his budget proposal Thursday, but did not overturn the national ban on federal funding, thus angering advocacy groups on both sides of the volatile issue.”
Immigration. Obama reverses stance on immigration “On the thorniest of political issues, President Obama has embraced the enforcement-first position on immigration that he criticized during last year's presidential campaign, and he now says he can't move forward with the type of comprehensive bill he wants until voters are convinced that the borders can be enforced.” Obama's budget proposal cuts border fence funds “President Barack Obama's budget blueprint Thursday canceled plans to extend the border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border beyond the 670 miles already completed or planned,”
Torture. Records suggest Pelosi, others were told of harsh interrogations “Congressional leaders were briefed repeatedly on the CIA's use of severe interrogation methods on Al Qaeda suspects, according to new information released by the Obama administration Thursday that appears to contradict the assertions of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi.” Memo Says Pelosi Knew About Use of Harsh Tactics “Intelligence officials released documents yesterday saying that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was briefed in September 2002 about the use of harsh interrogation tactics against al-Qaeda suspects, seeming to contradict her repeated statements that she was never told the techniques were actually being used.”
Protecting the homeless. Md. becomes first state in nation to protect homeless people under hate-crimes law “Maryland granted a new safeguard to its most downtrodden residents Thursday, becoming the first state in the nation to extend hate-crimes protection to homeless people.”
Green jobs. In the Center of Auto Country, Adapting to an Uncertain Future “Inside a beige, concrete warehouse -- slightly smaller than the size of a football field -- 10 workers toil to assemble rotors for $11,000 wind turbines that go on top of houses. It is the sort of work that city and state officials hope one day will provide a new vein of manufacturing jobs to replace those that have steadily disappeared from the local auto industry.”
Pope in Middle East. Pope expresses 'respect' for Islam “Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of his "deep respect" for Islam as he embarked on the first leg of his Middle East tour.” Pope, Hope in Hand, Is Heading to Mideast “A man whose four-year papacy has been marked by missteps that angered and offended Jews and Muslims will deliver 32 speeches at some of the holiest sites in the world to Muslims, Jews and Christians.” Jordan first stop on pope's Holy Land visit “Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Jordan today on a three-day pilgrimage to bless a tiny Catholic population and improve the Vatican's relations with a Muslim world greeting him with aloofness, anger and a slight hope that he may advance peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Tepid reception expected for Pope Benedict in Israel “When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the Middle East this weekend for his first visit as head of the Roman Catholic church, he will be met by crowds, signs and banners — and not all of them will be welcoming.”
Nuclear arms control. Obama Administration Is Bringing Nuclear Arms Control Back “In an Obama administration characterized by youth, they are a Cold War throwback, the aging arms-control experts who haggled with Soviet officials over nuclear weapons and testing.”
Pakistan. Thousands flee Pakistan fighting “A Pakistani offensive against militants in the Swat Valley has displaced some 200,000 people and 300,000 are on the move or about to flee, the UN says.” Pakistan launches full-scale military assault on Taliban “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a late-night televised address to the nation, said Pakistan would launch a full-scale offensive against Pakistani Taliban guerrillas who've seized control of the vast Swat valley, which is about 100 miles north of the capital.” Pakistan Announces Army Offensive Against Taliban “Pakistan's prime minister told the nation Thursday that the armed forces were being "called in to eliminate the militants and terrorists" who have forcibly occupied part of the country's northwest, sending thousands of civilians fleeing from the region in the past week.”
Afghanistan. U.S. Admits Civilians Died in Afghan Raids “United States officials acknowledged Thursday for the first time that at least some of what might be 100 civilian deaths in western Afghanistan had been caused by American bombs.” Afghans protest civilian deaths as U.S. officials raise doubts “U.S. military officials, meanwhile, expressed doubts that all the deaths in the Bala Baluk district of western Farah province were the result of airstrikes called in by American special operations forces.”
Iraq. Iraqi Forces: Rebuilt and Stronger, but Still Stumbling “Iraq’s security forces, despite significant improvements, remain hobbled by shortages of men and equipment, by bureaucracy, corruption, political interference and security breaches that have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Iraqi and American troops already this year,”
Sudan. Sudan opens up to more aid groups “Sudan's government says it will invite new aid groups to work in Darfur and allow those still operating there to expand their activities.”
Opinion.
A Faith for The Nones (Michael Gerson, Washington Post) “There is a book that everyone will be talking about -- when it appears over a year from now. "American Grace: How Religion Is Reshaping Our Civic and Political Lives," being written by Robert Putnam and David Campbell, is already creating a buzz.”
The Harlem Miracle (DAVID BROOKS, New York Times) “Fryer and his colleague Will Dobbie have just finished a rigorous assessment of the charter schools operated by the Harlem Children’s Zone. They compared students in these schools to students in New York City as a whole and to comparable students who entered the lottery to get into the Harlem Children’s Zone schools, but weren’t selected.”
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!