Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Russia Halts Stationing of Missiles Near Europe . . . Missiles were retaliation against U.S. defense shield on continent. Latest move appears to be an olive branch to Obama. Reuters
Obama Changing War Strategy in Afghanistan . . . Elevates fighting over nation rebuilding. Karzai seen as an impediment. New York Times
Politics
Clinton Speech Fees Topped $4.7 Mil. in 2008 . . . Bill spoke around the world, including Kuwait and China, creating potential conflicts for Hillary. Wall Street Journal
Obama Comes Calling . . . In unheard of move, a president travels to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the other party. Seeks votes for the stimulus. Gets none. Washington Post
Dems View Stimulus as New Social Contract . . . Bill includes novel measures for the poor. Expansion of Medicaid. New York Times
Dems Ease Barrier to Unequal Pay Suits . . . Move overturns Supreme Court ruling, giving more time to file suit. First law to be signed by Obama. Washington Post
Does Obama Know About This? . . . Geithner picks a lobbyist, Mark Patterson of Goldman Sachs, to be chief of staff. Firm is a major recipient of TARP money. USA Today
Illinois Senate Hears FBI's Blago Tapes . . . "The Senate seat is an f-ing valuable thing - you just don't give it away for nothing."
Chicago Tribune
National Security
Gates: Long Slog Ahead in Afghanistan . . . Lowering expectations, says troop boost can achieve only limited goals. Afghans must take over themselves. Washington Post
Adm. Mullen: Armed Force Against Iran Still Possible . . . But only as a "last resort." In interview, Joint Chiefs chairman emphasizes value of engagement. Jerusalem Post
Ahmadinejad: Obama Must Apologize to Iran . . . And he must make "fundamental" change in U.S. policy. Reuters
Business
Treasury Weighs Tough Choices . . . As health of banks and economy health continues to slide, options being considered are both risky and potentially unpopular. Washington Post
Fed Adopts Program to Reduce Foreclosures . . . Would renegotiate loans it owns to reduce principal. A sign Bernanke is in line with Democratic strategies. Washington Post
Yahoo Lost $303 Million . . . But fourth quarter loss is better than expected. Result of costs to cover layoffs and bum investments.
USA Today
House Vote Today on $816 Bil. Stimulus . . . It will pass with overwhelming Democratic support. But measure could change in Senate, where GOP has more power. Bloomberg
International
Gaza Violence Escalating . . . As Obama envoy Mitchell arrives in region, Israel takes out arms smuggling tunnels. Haaretz
Iraqi Politicians Campaign on . . . 'Change' . . . Where'd they get that one? Campaign notable for lack of emphasis on Shiite vs. Sunni divide.
USA Today
Pakistan Takes Only Partial Steps against Islamists . . . Lashkar, the group that launched Mumbai attacks, has been cultivated by Pakistani army. Bloomberg
Global Crisis Could Cost 50 Million Jobs . . . ILO predicts dramatic rise in poverty. Financial Times
Also Today. . .
Factory Knew of Contamination . . . Peanut processor ignored own salmonella tests, knowingly sold tainted products. Washington Post
John Updike Dies at 76 . . . Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, whose prose and intellect made him for decades one of America's foremost literary figures. Boston Globe
Updike Mapped America's Mysteries . . . Man of letters with an art student’s pictorial imagination, a journalist’s sociological eye, and a poet’s gift for metaphor. New York Times
Calif. School Can Expel Lesbian Students . . . Court rules Lutheran school not a business and therefore exempt from state law barring sexual preference discrimination. Los Angeles Times
L.A. Man Kills His Five Kids, Wife, Self . . . Ervin Antonio Lupoe roamed room to room with gun, blasting away. He and wife had been fired from jobs for misconduct. Los Angeles Times
Octuplets Doing Well . . . But with chances of natural conception low, questions among fertility experts about whether doctors did enough to prevent risky pregnancy. Los Angeles Times
Today's Video
Obama Lands on Capitol Hill . . . CBS
