Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Saturday, January 31, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Economy Falls Off a Cliff . . . Third quarter decline of 3.8 percent is worst in a quarter century. And it could get worse.
Wall Street Journal
Daschle Failed to Pay $128K in Taxes . . . May sink HHS nomination. Involves unreported consulting fees, questionable charitable contributions, and a free car and driver. Washington Post
Politics
Obama to Outline Economic Strategy Soon . . . Will discuss how he'll spend the remaining $350 billion bank bailout fund. Price tag likely to rise. Associated Press
Stimulus Gets Stiff Resistance in Senate . . . Republicans and some Democrats press for big changes amid concern it spends on programs that don't stimulate quickly. New York Times
Biden to Lead task Force on Middle Class Issues . . . Unclear what it means. Biden-Obama relationship continues to develop. They spend four hours a day together. Washington Post
Obama Considering GOP Senator for Commerce . . . But moving Judd Gregg of New Hampshire into administration would give Dems filibuster-proof 60 Senate votes. Washington Post
GOP Elects First Black Party Leader . . . . Michael Steele will lead the Republican National Committee. Bush's nominee ousted, marking a clear break. Washington Post
George Obama Arrested on Drug Charges . . . Half brother of Barack Obama charged in Kenya with marijuana possession and resisting arrest. CNN
National Security
Obama a Hit in the Muslim World . . . Conciliatory words, closing Gitmo, sending envoy the Mideast helpful. But expectations for policy changes that won't be easy are building. McClatchy Newspapers
Iraqis Voting in the Millions . . . No violence reported so far as provincial elections get underway. Telegraph
British Muslim Population Exploding . . . Grows by more than500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years. Rate of increase ten times faster than rest of society. Portion resists integration. Times (UK)
Oxfam: U.S. Afghanistan Strategy Must Change . . . Millions of Afghans struggling to survive and violence at its worst levels since 2001. Reuters
Business
Senator Proposes Limiting Wall Street Pay to $400K . . . "These people are idiots," declares Sen. Claire McCaskill. Obama will also propose limits. Kansas City Star
California Struggling Not to Default . . . Will delay$4 billion in various payments to citizens. Wall Street Journal
Protectionism Fears Rising . . . "Buy America" effort on stimulus would bar foreign suppliers from winning business. Protests in Britain against foreign labor. Wall Street Journal
JP Morgan Exec Warns of Distorted Market . . . Says bailouts could force banks to make loans based on political pressure. Financial Times
International
Australia Enduring Heatwave . . . Officials fear about 20 people have died as temperatures of over 104 degrees hit the south-east of the country. BBC
Mugabe to Share Power . . .Arch rival Morgan Tsvangirai joins unity government as Zimbabwe's economic and humanitarian crises mount. Guardian
Islamist Leader Sworn in has Somali President . . . But he's a moderate. Analysts say Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has a real chance of reuniting Somalis. Reuters
Also Today. . .
FDA Noticed Earlier Problems at Peanut Plant . . . Did not conduct full inspection after finding shipment in April 2008 that had metal parts and was "filthy and putrid." Chicago Tribune
Pets Suffer From Economic Downturn . . . A choice between paying the mortgage and curing Spike. USA Today
Seven Chinese Tourists Killed in Ariz. Bush Crash . . . As vehicle overturns, most of victims were ejected. Associated Press
Government Recommends Ban on Darvon . . . Drug used to treat pain for more than 50 years, but it left a trail of addiction and suicide.
Associated Press
Today's Video
Obama Hiring Plenty of Lobbyists . . . MSNBC
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
