TOP NEWS
Italy's Debt Cost Dips, but Its Economic Perils Remain
By RACHEL DONADIO
Financial market pressure on Italy eased temporarily on Wednesday, but the political pressure on Prime Minister Mario Monti to stimulate the country's economy remained high.
Bishops Say Rules on Gay Parents Limit Freedom of Religion
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
For Roman Catholic bishops, a fight over adoption rules in Illinois is prime example of what they see as an escalating campaign by the government to trample on their religious freedom.
North Korean Mourners Line Streets for Kim Jong-il's Funeral
By CHOE SANG-HUN
Wailing crowds mourned Kim Jong-il at a Wednesday funeral procession in Pyongyang that also offered glimpses of who will be guardian to Kim Jong-un, North Korea's untested new leader.
The Lede: U.S.-Made Limos Stand Out 1:55 PM ET
The Caucus
Latinos Support Obama, Despite Deportation Policies
By JULIA PRESTON
In a poll of Latino voters, President Obama is overwhelmingly favored over the Republican presidential candidates. "--- Although Latinos strongly disapprove of President Obama’s immigration policies, which have brought high numbers of deportations, they would favor him by wide margins over a Republican candidate in the presidential race, according to a poll released on Wednesday by the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group in Washington. The Pew poll is the first to put numbers on the growing discontent among Latinos with Mr. Obama’s immigration policies, which have led to nearly 400,000 deportations in each of the last three years. According to the poll, 59 percent of Latinos disapprove of the deportations; only 27 percent approve.--- " >> http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/latinos-support-obama-despite-deportation-policies/?nl=afternoonupdate&emc=aua2
Arts & Leisure
Apropos Appropriation
By RANDY KENNEDY
Beyond the legal questions in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving the artist Richard Prince, the case asks if the flow of creative expression, riding a tide of instantly accessible digital images, can be slowed.
World
Slide Show: Kim Jong-il's Funeral ProcessionOpinion
Opinionator
Bacteria 1, F.D.A. 0
By MARK BITTMAN
We need to free our meat supply from bacteria that antibiotics can't treat.
BUSINESS
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| Every five days or so, workers wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at the Azure Solar Plant in Khadoda, India. |
In Solar Power, India Begins Living Up to Its Own Ambitions
By VIKAS BAJAJ
Two years ago, India said it would drastically increase its use of solar power by 2020. Many analysts said it couldn't be done. Now they aren't so sure.
Italy's Borrowing Costs Drop Sharply at Auction
By HARVEY MORRIS
The successful sale of six-month Treasury bills appeared to reflect the impact of a new austerity package in Italy, as well as an infusion of liquidity into euro zone banks last week.
Noise Level Rises Over Iran Threat to Close Strait of Hormuz
By RICK GLADSTONE
The belligerent tone between the U.S. and Iran escalated over an Iranian vow to close a vital Middle East waterway for oil tanker traffic, if Western powers attempt to stifle Iran's petroleum exports. " --- “The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity,” Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the Fifth Fleet command in Manama, Bahrain, said in an emailed response. “Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated.” The statement also said “The U.S. Navy is a flexible, multi-capable force committed to regional security and stability, always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation.” ---" >> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/world/middleeast/noise-level-rises-over-iran-threat-to-close-strait-of-hormuz.html?nl=afternoonupdate&emc=aua22
DealBook
Morgan Stanley to Cut 580 Jobs in New York
By BEN PROTESS
Morgan Stanley will slash 580 jobs in New York as part of a broader wave of layoffs underway at the bank, according to a public filing.
Slicing Costs, and Still Serving
By WILLIAM NEUMAN
Kept open by bankrupt chains, zombie restaurants make just enough to cover basic costs, resulting in a glut of eateries chasing after scarce dining dollars.
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| From the net |
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| Admiral Habibollah Sayari says Iran could easily close the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf - and the oil-producing states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - to the Indian Ocean. About 40% of the world's tanker-borne oil passes through it. Source: BBC >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16344102 |
