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U.S. Deficit. U.S. Raises Estimate for 10-Year Deficit to $9 Trillion “The Obama administration blamed an unexpectedly deep downturn for the higher estimate, which rose from $7.1 trillion.” US deficit to soar towards $1.6tn “The US budget deficit will soar to almost $1.6tn this year, the highest on record, both the White House and Congress warn.”
Bernanke. Obama Seeks Stability at Fed by Keeping Bernanke “President Obama cited Ben S. Bernanke’s ‘bold action’ and his ‘calm and wisdom’ as he announced his nomination for a new term.” Obama nominates Bernanke for 2nd term as Fed chief “The president lauds the ‘bold action’ of the Federal Reserve chairman during a time of economic crisis.” Obama to Appoint Bernanke for Second Term as Fed Chairman “President Obama will reappoint Ben S. Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve, administration officials said Monday night, electing to maintain continuity in the nation's most powerful economic policymaking job in a time of crisis.”
Swine Flu. Swine Flu Could Infect Half of U.S., Panel Estimates “Swine flu could infect half the U.S. population this fall and winter, hospitalizing up to 1.8 million people and causing as many as 90,000 deaths -- more than double the number that occur in an average flu season, according to an estimate from a presidential panel released Monday.”
C.I.A. Abuse Cases. C.I.A. Abuse Cases Detailed in Report on Detainees “Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. named a federal prosecutor to examine abuse of prisoners held by the C.I.A., as officials released a 2004 report detailing abuses.” CIA Report Calls Oversight Of Early Interrogations Poor “A partially declassified CIA report released Monday by the Obama administration describes the early implementation of the agency's interrogation program in 2002 and 2003 as ad hoc and poorly supervised, leading to the use of ‘unauthorized, improvised, inhumane and undocumented’ techniques.” Holder Hires Prosecutor to Look Into Alleged CIA Interrogation Abuses “In appointing a prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA interrogation abuses, including episodes that resulted in prisoner deaths, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Monday shook off warnings from President Obama to avoid becoming mired in past controversies.”
Afghanistan Election. First Official Afghan Vote Results Show No Clear Leader “The first preliminary results in the Afghan presidential election released Tuesday showed that President Hamid Karzai had a slender lead.” Karzai Won Election Convincingly, Afghan Official Says “An Afghan cabinet minister said Monday that President Hamid Karzai won Thursday's presidential election with an overwhelming majority of 68 percent.”
2 Koreas. 2 Koreas to Discuss Family Reunions “South Korea and North Korea agreed Tuesday to hold talks this week about arranging reunions of families separated by the Korean War more than 55 years ago.” Koreas to discuss family reunions “North and South Korea agree to hold talks through the Red Cross to help reunite families divided by war in the 1950s.”
Afghan War Death Toll. With 4 U.S. Deaths, Grim Milestone in Afghan War “The 2009 death toll for foreign forces in Afghanistan is the highest since the war began nearly eight years ago.” US soldiers killed in Afghanistan “Four US soldiers are killed by a bomb in Afghanistan, making 2009 the deadliest year so far for foreign troops.”
Health-Care Reform. Calm, but Moved to Be Heard on Health Care “In the health care discussion, the respectful questioners may have more impact than the high-decibel rants.” Parties Trade Volleys on Health-Care Reform “Republicans launched their latest salvo against President Obama's health-care reform plans Monday, rebranding their existing criticism of his proposals as a new ‘Health Care Bill of Rights for Seniors.’ The package immediately drew return fire from Democrats.” Bioethicist Becomes a Lightning Rod for Criticism “Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, the president’s special health care adviser, has come to personify the attacks on the plan.”
Giuliani. Giuliani, Seeing Opening, Mulls a Governor Bid “Sensing that voters are unhappy with Albany, Rudolph W. Giuliani is clearing a path for a possible run in 2010.” Giuliani to run for NY governor? “Is former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani gearing up to run for New York governor in 2010
Home Prices Rise. Index Shows an Improvement in Home Prices The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller’s index shows that home prices in 20 major cities increased 1.4 percent in June, but are still off 15.4 percent.from a year ago. Home prices post 3% quarterly rise “The first national increase in three years could signal that the housing market has turned a corner.”
Afghan Bombing. Dozens killed in Afghan explosion “A massive car bomb explosion in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar brings down buildings and kills at least 30 people.” Huge Bombing Kills at Least 30 in Kandahar “A huge bomb detonated in the center of the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Tuesday night, flattening a two-story building, destroying 20 homes and shaking the entire city, witnesses and officials said.”
Iran Nuclear Expansion. Iran nuclear expansion 'stalled' “Iran has not expanded the number of centrifuges enriching uranium at its nuclear facilities since May, diplomats tell the BBC.” Diplomats: Iran's enrichment program stagnates “Diplomats say Iran's output of enriched uranium has stagnated for months, even though Tehran has continued to install machines that carry out the process.”
Editorial. AIDS in the U.S.A. “We cannot write often enough about the terrible toll that HIV/AIDS is exacting on the United States. More than 56,000 Americans become infected with HIV every year.”
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