Edition: U.S. / Global

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Most Popular

Articles most frequently linked to by bloggers as determined by Blogrunner.com.

1.

Obama Is Urged to Sharply Curb N.S.A. Data Mining

The more than 40 recommendations were scheduled to be released in January, but the White House said it was moving up the timetable to let Americans judge the contents themselves.

2.

Obama Commutes Sentences for 8 in Crack Cocaine Cases

With the move, President Obama expanded his administration's push to curtail severe penalties for drug offenses.

3.

N.S.A. Spied on Allies, Aid Groups and Businesses

Documents leaked by Edward J. Snowden reveal that an Israeli prime minister and the heads of international aid organizations were among more than 1,000 subjects of surveillance in recent years.

4.

Uninsured Skeptical of Health Care Law in Poll

The widespread disapproval, reported in the latest New York TimesCBS News poll, underscores the political challenge facing the Obama administration.

5.

How John McCain Turned His Clichés Into Meaning

The brave maverick who became the bitter old man is now learning to let go.

6.

Another Rule in Health Law Is Scaled Back

Millions facing the cancellation of health insurance policies will be exempted from penalties if they go without next year, the White House said.

7.

Target Struck in the Cat-and-Mouse Game of Credit Theft

The retailer said criminals had access to account data from Nov. 27, just before Thanksgiving, through Dec. 15.

8.

Al Goldstein, a Publisher Who Took the Romance Out of Sex, Dies at 77

Mr. Goldstein, the publisher of Screw magazine, was first to present sex to his audience without the slightest pretext of classiness or subtlety.

9.

Baucus, Conflicted Architect of Health Overhaul, Is Obama’s Pick for China

Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is also the conflicted architect of the health care law.

10.

Bitcoin Value Sinks After Chinese Exchange Move

The move by BTC China, the country's biggest Bitcoin exchange, sent the price of the virtual currency tumbling in one of its biggest markets globally.

11.

New Health Law Frustrates Many in Middle Class

Many Americans who don't quality for health care subsidies are facing steep premium prices.

12.

U.N. Ambassador, in Central Africa, Vows Aid and Hears of a Unity Shattered

The American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, landed in the besieged capital of the Central African Republic on Thursday with a message: The United States is watching.

13.

Local Turf-Sharing Accord With the Taliban Raises Alarm in Afghanistan

An Afghan Army commander is said to have brokered a turfsharing deal with the Taliban, a sign of what may come once international troops withdraw.

14.

In Letter, North Korea Warns South Over Rallies

The latest threat came amid concerns that the North Korean leader, Kim Jongun, might stage an armed provocation to raise tensions to consolidate power.

15.

Op-Ed Columnist

Osborne and the Stooges

Who would have ever thought that Curly's logic would one day become the rationale for defending disastrous austerity policies...

16.

Times Publisher Sets Out Plan for ‘Native’ Ads

Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. said in the letter that the content would be labeled as a paid post and appear in a different typeface.

17.

U.S. Prosecutor Defends Charges Against Indian Diplomat

Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan, offered a robust defense of the decision to arrest the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, while India's foreign minister on Thursday called for the case to be dropped.

18.

In Death Penalty’s Steady Decline, Some Experts See a Societal Shift

Capital punishment is still on the books in 32 states, but for the second straight year, only nine of them put prisoners to death.

19.

The Latest New York Times/CBS News Polling Results

Uninsured Americans disapprove of President Obama's health care law at nearly the same rate as those with health insurance, the new poll shows.

20.

Presidential Advisory Committee’s Recommendations for N.S.A.

On Wednesday, a review board issued more than 40 suggested changes at the National Security Agency.