The latest news on the National Prayer Service, Closing Foreign Prisons, Ethics Rules, Oath Do-Over, Foreign Policy, Economy, Cabinet, Immigration, Abortion, Medicaid, Israel-Gaza, Iran, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Polio, and Select Op-eds.

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National Prayer Service. A Diverse First Presidential Morning Prayer "President Obama spent his first morning as president in a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral that highlighted the nation's religious diversity while unveiling a lineup of clergy members who may serve as advisers and supporters of his administration." Clergy offer Obama counsel "A bevy of religious leaders, including the first woman to preach at an inaugural prayer service, gave newly sworn-in President Obama plenty of spiritual advice Wednesday."

Closing foreign prisons. Obama Starts Reversing Bush Policies "President Obama moved swiftly yesterday to begin rolling back eight years of his predecessor's policies, ordering tough new ethics rules and preparing to issue an order closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba." Obama to Close Foreign Prisons and Guantánamo Camp "President Obama is expected to sign executive orders Thursday directing the Central Intelligence Agency to shut what remains of its network of secret prisons and ordering the closing of the Guantánamo detention camp within a year."

Ethics rules. On Day One, Obama Sets a New Tone "President Obama moved swiftly on Wednesday to impose new rules on government transparency and ethics, using his first full day in office to freeze the salaries of his senior aides, mandate new limits on lobbyists and demand that the government disclose more information." Lobbying Rules Surpass Those of Previous Presidents, Experts Say "New lobbying and records rules issued by President Obama yesterday appear to go beyond changes implemented by previous presidents, and could usher in an era of openness in federal government, according to ethics experts and open-government advocates."

Oath do-over. Oath Is Administered Once Again "In 25 seconds, President Obama became president again. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. re-administered the oath to Mr. Obama on Wednesday evening, one day after the two men stumbled over each other's words during the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol." Obama takes presidential oath from Supreme Court chief justice after much-noticed stumble "After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Obama on Wednesday night at the White House - a rare do-over."

Foreign policy. Obama Meets With Officials on Iraq, Signaling His Commitment to Ending War "President Obama gave his national security team a new mission to end the war in Iraq, nearly six years after United States-led forces invaded, but he held off ordering a troop withdrawal right away to hear concerns and options from his military commanders." Obama sets out world agenda as White House team move in "The new Obama administration is willing to talk to Iran 'without preconditions' and will work towards the abolition of nuclear weapons, the White House said yesterday."

Economy. Obama administration prepares sweeping strategy to repair the economy "The Obama administration is preparing a comprehensive strategy to address the escalating financial crisis, stem home foreclosures and jump-start the overall economy, signaling that the president hopes to deal with the problems systematically instead of case by case."

Cabinet. Hillary Clinton confirmed for Cabinet, but Eric Holder delayed "The Senate approved the nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state today, but postponed taking action on President Obama's nominee for attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr." Republicans Obstruct Holder's Path to Justice Dept. "Republicans put new obstacles in the path of Eric H. Holder Jr.'s quest to become attorney general, raising concerns that he would prosecute intelligence agents who engaged in potentially illegal interrogation techniques and postponing consideration of his nomination."

Immigration. Immigrant Advocates Call for End to Raids "Several hundred immigrant supporters and religious leaders from across the country marched to the Southwest Washington headquarters of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency yesterday, strumming guitars, beating drums and waving colorful homemade banners exhorting President Obama to halt immigration raids and promote legislation offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship."

Abortion. On Roe v. Wade anniversary, GOP lawmakers press Obama "Republican lawmakers on Wednesday urged President Barack Obama to reconsider his support of legal abortions as anti-abortion activists arrived in Washington for a protest on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling."

Medicaid. Growing Need for Medicaid Strains States "Medicaid rolls are surging, by unprecedented rates in some states, as the recession tightens its grip on the economy and Americans lose their employer-sponsored health coverage along with their jobs."

Israel-Gaza. Israel works to reinforce Gaza cease-fire "Israeli leaders worked at home and abroad Wednesday to reinforce a fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and respond to international criticism of civilian casualties inflicted by their 22-day offensive against Hamas militants who control the Palestinian enclave." Fighting stopped, Gaza's tunnels reopen "Israel invaded Gaza partly to put an end to a flow of rockets and other weapons it says are smuggled through the tunnels and says its bombing raids destroyed 80 percent of them. But on Wednesday, smugglers on both sides said that at least some of the tunnels are operating again, just three days after hostilities came to an end." Hamas arms smuggling never stopped during IDF op in Gaza "Although the Israeli air force bombed the Phildelphi corridor along the border thousands of times during the course of the Cast Lead campaign, smugglers acknowledge that some tunnels running under the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip have remained in use, and were in operation even during the fighting."

Iran. Iran urges new Mideast foreign policy from Obama, waiting to see 'practical policies' on Iran "Iran said Wednesday it is 'ready for new approaches' from President Barack Obama, as across the Islamic world, countries cautiously welcomed his promise of mutual respect between the U.S. and Muslims."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe cholera death toll soars "More than 2,700 people have now died in Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic - a 20% rise in a week, the U.N. says."

Somalia. With Ethiopian Pullout, Islamists Rise Again in Somalia "The departure of the last Ethiopian tanks from Somalia's capital is ushering in a new phase of conflict in a nation known for clan warfare: a battle for power among militias flying Islamist banners."

Polio. $630 Million Donated Toward Polio Eradication Efforts "On Wednesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the British and German governments announced the injection of $630 million to help keep the cause of polio eradication alive for another few years, with the hope of finally bringing the disease under control in its last four bastions and other countries to which it has spread." Bill Gates, Rotary donate more than $630 million to polio eradication effort "Bill Gates and other donors are giving more than $630 million to the international effort to eradicate polio, after the disease spiked and spread to seven countries that were previously polio-free."

Opinion. Obama's Vision: Old, True and Radical (E. J. Dionne Jr., Washington Post) "President Obama intends to use conservative values for progressive ends. He will cast extreme individualism as an infantile approach to politics that must be supplanted by a more adult sense of personal and collective responsibility. He will honor government's role in our democracy and not degrade it. He wants America to lead the world, but as much by example as by force."