Trimming the Times: Uncertain Economy; Tightrope on Niagara

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Now that The New York Times pay wall is live, you only get 20 free clicks a month. For those worried about hitting their limit, we're taking a look through the paper each morning to find the stories that can make your clicks count.

The home page, obviously, leads with the news of Thursday's massive stock market fall in the United States, which has led to plummeting markets worldwide as economic woes mount. And that cheery news is followed by another high-up story announcing the likely arrival of a double-dip recession. With all that uncertainty crashing about, a click on the local feature about the guy who wants to tightrope-walk Niagara Falls is worth it for the escapism and the symbolism

World: The lead story here is the one to read first -- a harrowing report alleging Chinese government seized and sold babies officials in a remote, mountainous region of Hunan. Also worth a click, the report on the growing protest movement in Chile includes a dramatic slide show. And if you didn't catch it on some other news feed, Thailand has elected its first female prime minister in Yingluck Shinawatra (if the name sounds familiar it's because she's Thaksin's sister).

U.S.: The top story, on Shell gaining initial approval to drill in the Arctic Ocean, is important news, but available elsewhere. For a more in-depth read, check out the feature, with slide show, on the lengthy clean-up efforts after recent natural disasters. And in a weird crime case, a woman has been charged with the murder of her infant son because she breast-fed him with methamphetamine in her system.

New York: The feature on Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation circus performer wrangling for permission to walk on a tightrope over Niagara Falls, makes for a fascinating read. 

Business: The markets, of course, dominate the section, with the lead stories mentioned above as well as a good sidebar on investors chasing low-risk assets. Once you're caught up, the story to click is the Lede's live-blog on the markets. 

Technology: A smart article at the top of the section points out the trend of digital security companies as prime targets of high-profile hacking cases. 

Science: In case you missed it here on Thursday, check out the report on the newly discovered evidence of water on Mars. Also worth a click, NASA is heading back up to space, this time with an unmanned mission back to Jupiter.

Sports: Assuming you've caught the game story on the Yankees victory over the White Sox, check out the feature on Mets all-star Jose Reyes, who is making a foray into a music career with a new reggaeton single.

Opinion: In the lead op-ed, former assistant secretary of defense Joe Nye makes the case for rethinking the U.S. military strategy and tactics to make smart cuts in the defense budget.

Arts: You'll want to read the review of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, "an amusingly cheerful film about the end of humanity."

Travel: In a very summery 36 Hours, take an armchair trip to San Sebastian, Spain.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.