Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days
July 24th, 2011
07:35 PM ET

Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days

More than a week remains before the day the U.S. Treasury Department says lawmakers must raise the nation's debt ceiling, but legislators have said they'd need to start voting this week, and no deal has yet emerged. Here is a look at this and other stories that CNN plans to follow this week:

Debt talks go to the wire

Republicans have insisted that any vote to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling be tied to a plan for reducing budget deficits through spending cuts. Democrats and Republicans have yet to agree on a deficit-reduction plan, with Republicans saying Democrats are insisting on tax increases that Republicans oppose.

As of Sunday afternoon, Republicans were pushing a two-step process in which the debt ceiling would be raised enough to last the country through 2011, and then raise it again to last through 2012 after a commission found ways to reduce the debt through spending cuts and tax reforms, congressional sources said. The first step also would include spending cuts of about $1 trillion, the sources said.

President Barack Obama, though, prefers that the ceiling be raised now through 2012.

The Treasury Department has warned that failure to raise the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2 could lead to a possible default on its loans, skyrocketing interest rates, a plummeting dollar and jittery financial markets.

Suspect in Norway attacks heading to court

A man arrested on suspicion of carrying out a bombing and shooting that killed at least 93 people in Norway last week is expected to have his first court appearance Monday.

Authorities allege the man  - identified by local media reports as Anders Behring Breivik, 32 - set off a car bomb outside government buildings in Oslo on Friday, killing seven, then ambushed an island political youth retreat in a shooting spree that killed at least 86.

Norwegian investigators are studying a 1,500-page manifesto that authorities believe was published online Friday. The document, which identifies Breivik as the author, rants against multiculturalism, Muslims' growing presence in Europe and "cultural Marxists." Norwegian authorities have not confirmed that the man in their custody wrote the manifesto.

U.N. emergency meeting on drought-stricken Horn of Africa, East Africa

The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization will hold an emergency meeting in Rome on Monday to mobilize international aid for Somalia and neighboring countries hit hard by drought.

The U.N. has declared a famine in parts of Somalia, which is battling its worst drought in 60 years. Tens of thousands have walked from Somalia to Kenya and Ethiopia in search of food and water. Aid agencies estimate that 10 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda and Somalia are at risk for famine.

A long-running conflict in Somalia has complicated the crisis, with an Islamist insurgent group linked to al Qaeda banning foreign aid workers from parts of the country it controls.

Officials from the FCO's 191 member countries as well as nongovernmental organizations and development banks have been invited to Monday's meeting.

Amy Winehouse autopsy expected

An autopsy to determine what killed singer Amy Winehouse - found dead in her London apartment on Saturday - will not be scheduled before Monday morning, London's Metropolitan Police has said.

Police said Sunday that the 27-year-old's death was "being treated as unexplained" and that no arrests had been made in the incident. Her death came less than two months after her latest release from a rehabilitation program - she had a history of battling drugs and alcohol - and weeks after she was booed offstage by fans in Serbia.

Warren Jeffs' trial begins Monday

Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is due to begin standing trial Monday on sexual assault charges stemming from a 2008 raid on his church's Texas ranch.

Jeffs was charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child and one count of bigamy after Texas authorities raided a compound operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a breakaway sect of the mainstream Mormon church. The sexual assault charges stem from an alleged "spiritual" marriage to a 12-year-old girl.

Authorities removed 400 children whom they feared had been sexually abused. While some of the men at the ranch were charged with sexual abuse, most of the children were later returned to their families.

The church advocates plural marriages, including marriages that involve girls younger than 18. Church members have denied sexual abuse.

The trial on the sexual assault charges is in San Angelo, Texas. Jeffs is expected to go on trial to face the bigamy charge later.

NFL players reviewing deal that could end lockout

The National Football League's players could vote this week on a labor deal that would end the league's four-month lockout.

Team owners last week approved the plan, which would cover the 2011-2020 seasons.  SI.com's Don Banks writes that some issues still need to be settled, the deal is expected to go through.

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Filed under: Ahead of the curve
soundoff (17 Responses)
  1. Guesstimate

    I read from two places that Norway shooter can only get a max of 21 or 40 years. They have 4 weeks to hold him without trial, so I hope they can change the law before he's charged. That's insane.

    July 24, 2011 at 8:08 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Name*Kathie

    When a family gets to a point like the current debt crisis they respond in two ways, cut spending and get a second job to raise money to pay off the old debts. In the federal budget crisis this requires both, cut spending and raise revenues. Unfortunately, this means taxes, but temporary ones that can be removed by future administrations as needed and possible.

    July 24, 2011 at 8:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • crazybme

      It seems to me wherever they "cut spending", someone will lose their job, or their check. Taxes is the best way to get for-sure money, everyone should be willing. But the biggest issue is the jobs we don't get to have because it's cheaper to pay someone who lives in another country, in a different economic system altogether! We need our jobs back–shut the door by either creating laws, taxes, treaties, tarriffs, whatever, that will hinder these employers from doing that! Yes it will show up in the price tag for the consumer, but that's the only way there will BE any consumers no matter what the price tag would be! Give us the jobs, we'll buy the products, we always have, but without jobs, we can't buy anything! Who can afford a car anymore, new or used; we have no money saved, can't afford the payments, or the upkeep on an old car, plus insurance is mandatory, plus registration, gas, oil, etc. Businesses are still closing up, houses & cars being lost, the dominoes are still falling! This is a catastrophe! We need good paying jobs–careers! Bring the manufacturing back to THIS community, where we can all share the wealth–that's what capitalism is all about; it's an economic system, and it cannot work when there's a disconnect, a gap. How can we American's compete with the wages they get overseas? WE CAN'T COMPETE, SO WE LOSE THE GAME! We know who the winners are, though, don't we?

      July 25, 2011 at 1:32 am | Report abuse |
  3. Jason Borne

    @Kathie: The lost tax revenue is from the 8 million jobs we lost in the past 10 years. How about targeted taxation on companies that outsource? Nobody is suggesting that. The only people responsible for the financial meltdown are a very few select people that are supposed to be brilliant geniuses.. They should fix it not us.

    July 24, 2011 at 8:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      I have suggested it! They should also tax imports and screw the treaties. The treaties have nothing to do with foreign relations but everything for greedy corporate interests. It's time for a New Deal and the redistribution of capitalist power...now!

      July 24, 2011 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  4. banasy

    I've seen where you have suggested that, Mmmmm.
    It's a good idea, too...too bad you're not one of our reps, maybe something could be done...

    July 24, 2011 at 9:36 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Great Gonzo

    @Banasy: I've written to many congress members and the White House, but it falls on deaf ears. It will take someone who can't be bought in order to fix the situation. Obama tries to look like he cares, but it's a mask for showing the public so he can work his scams behind all the smoke and mirrors. Someone from CNN or Washington has read these ideas about taxing companies that outsource, but they are in on it too. We're not the only ones with the idea.

    July 24, 2011 at 10:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • crazybme

      We the people just have to demand they return their loyalties to us instead of all over the globe. Somebody's twistin' somebody's arm for all this to be happening, and for all these right things to not be happening. They've got their hands in each other's pockets. It's gonna take severing the ties, and that could get a lot of people upset, but if done diplomatically, and apologetically, and temporarily, it could be done! We need those jobs back, or else, we're all gonna be beggin for bread, literally!

      July 25, 2011 at 1:45 am | Report abuse |
  6. The MĂĄd RĂĄp3r

    That is quite possibly the most depressing 5-pack of pics i've seen in recent memory. Each one is a monument to the suck and failure of the modern world. At least its only a few more months to the Rapture.

    July 24, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mmmmm

    (sigh!) someone once said I picked the wrong trade and should have gone to law school instead of cab driving. Lol!

    Yall can just write me in on the ballot for president...however I will need some help in forming my brain trusts. Lol!

    July 24, 2011 at 10:24 pm | Report abuse |
  8. fernace

    What have we humans come to, Or have we always been here but not known it!? The Norge thing is so bad. Scandinavia is well known for it's peacefulness! Now they have to find how this guy became the monster he is & if he worked alone!The budget/ debt ceiling is all about power! We middle class people have given our sacrifice, now it's up to the rich & corporations! Better not let America down!!

    July 24, 2011 at 11:15 pm | Report abuse |
  9. justathought

    There has been severl posts on this site, which suggest in one way or another, that the government do something about offshore manufacturing. But my friends, we, the victums, can do nothing about it except 'clean house' of both parties at the polls. It is all to obvious that the politicans only have their own intrest at heart and not the people who put them in office. It seems to me that there is more intelligence shown on this blog tha in all congress.

    July 25, 2011 at 12:53 am | Report abuse |
    • Mmmmm

      Hear! Hear!

      July 25, 2011 at 1:19 am | Report abuse |
    • crazybme

      I don't even care what the people who put them in office want–they should be able to think for themselves and do the right thing for our country–their in the middle of it, they got the power, they got the knowledge of all that's involved–we don't, we're from the outside lookin in! To simply do what we ask would be insane. Even the Republicans (who say that's what they are doing) know better than that!

      July 25, 2011 at 1:50 am | Report abuse |
  10. Chris

    Who's making CNN's picks for "Overheard Comments" on various news stories? Should be called "A lot of ignorant remarks repeated" picked by someone who likes ignorant remarks. Lots of other comments I read had at least a hint of intelligence.

    July 25, 2011 at 1:00 am | Report abuse |
  11. justathought

    If this is a part of evolution, are't we all in a bad fix?

    July 25, 2011 at 1:02 am | Report abuse |
  12. justathought

    If this is a part of evolution, aren't we all in a bad fix?

    July 25, 2011 at 1:04 am | Report abuse |
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