The latest news on Unemployment, White House Faith Office, Tony Blair at Prayer Breakfast, Economic Stimulus, Women Workers, Abortion, Worker ID, Forgiveness, Army Suicides, Nuclear Weapons, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nuclear Power in Sweden,

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Unemployment. U.S. January job losses worst in 34 years "U.S. employers slashed 598,000 jobs in January, the deepest cut in payrolls in 34 years as the national unemployment rate shot up to 7.6 percent, according to a Labor Department report on Friday that underlined a deepening recession."

White House faith office. Obama expands faith-based programs "President Obama's new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships earned him praise for a diverse approach but also criticism for not issuing a broader order to say that government-funded faith groups cannot discriminate." Faith-Based Office To Expand Its Reach "President Obama yesterday announced the creation of his faith-based outreach office, expanding its agenda beyond funding social programs to work on policies aimed at strengthening family life and reducing abortion." White House Faith Office to Expand "President Obama signed an executive order Thursday to create a revamped White House office for religion-based and neighborhood programs, expanding an initiative started by the Bush administration that provides government support - and financing - to religious and charitable organizations that deliver social services." Obama upholds Bush faith policy "It seemed like a firm campaign promise. Barack Obama pledged to continue President Bush's faith-based office in the White House, but with a key change: Groups receiving federal money would no longer be allowed to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion." Hub pastor to head Obama's faith effort "President Obama yesterday established his own White House office to help religious organizations compete for federal grants and installed a young Boston minister as its leader." THE APPOINTEES "President Obama named 15 people to what will be a 25-person Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new group will advise the administration on government spending for faith-based groups."

Tony Blair at prayer breakfast. At last, Blair is free to 'do God' - and America loves it "Tony Blair gave an extraordinary speech about the global importance of religion yesterday, telling an audience which included the newly-inaugurated President, Barack Obama, that faith should be restored 'to its rightful place, as the guide to our world and its future.'" Blair beats Brown to Obama meeting and reveals true depth of his faith "Tony Blair became the first world statesman to shake hands with President Obama as he delivered the keynote address at a Washington prayer breakfast today and called for religious faith to be restored 'to its rightful place as a guide to our world.'"

Economic stimulus. Bipartisan Group of Senators Seeks to Cut $100 Billion From Stimulus Bill "A bipartisan coalition of senators withheld support for President Obama's economic recovery package yesterday, leaving the scope and timing of his first major initiative in doubt as they sought to cut more than $100 billion from the legislation." Both parties work to trim stimulus bill "Senate leaders called off plans to vote on President Obama's economic recovery plan Thursday night in hopes that a group of centrist lawmakers from both parties would be able to fashion a compromise to cut the cost of the $937-billion bill and win support from at least a few Republicans." Bipartisan Push to Trim Size of Stimulus Plan "A bipartisan group of senators worked furiously in backroom negotiations on Thursday to cut the cost of the more than $920 billion economic stimulus plan."

Women workers. As Layoffs Surge, Women May Pass Men in Job Force "With the recession on the brink of becoming the longest in the postwar era, a milestone may be at hand: Women are poised to surpass men on the nation's payrolls, taking the majority for the first time in American history."

Abortion. Obama Tries to Appease Both Sides of Abortion Debate "In a series of moves, he is attempting to nudge the debate away from the morality and legality of abortion and toward a goal he hopes both sides can endorse: decreasing the number of women who terminate their pregnancies by addressing the reasons they might choose the procedure."

Worker ID. States push worker ID checks "States are increasingly cracking down on illegal immigration by requiring companies to check their employees against a controversial Homeland Security Department database."

Forgiveness. Man asks for forgiveness, 48 years after civil-rights era beating "Elwin Wilson was an unabashed racist, the sort who once hung a black doll from a noose outside his home. John Lewis was a young civil rights leader bent on changing laws, if not hearts and minds, even if it cost him his life."

Army suicides. Suicides in the Army rise sharply in January "January could be the Army's worst month for suicides since record-keeping started in 1980. The service announced Thursday that 24 soldiers may have killed themselves last month." Army reports alarming rise in suicides last month "The Army is investigating a stunning number of suicides in January - a count that could surpass all combat deaths on America's two warfronts last month."

Nuclear weapons. Obama administration seeks new treaty to reduce American and Russian nuclear arsenals "The Obama administration, reversing the Bush administration's limited interest in nuclear disarmament, is gearing up for early negotiations with Russia on a new treaty that would sharply reduce stockpiles of nuclear warheads."

Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan president promises not to endanger civilians; U.N. warns war zone faces food crisis "Sri Lanka's president promised to safeguard civilians caught in the war between government and Tamil rebel forces as the U.N. warned Friday that the entire conflict zone is facing a massive food crisis."

Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe faces 55,000 more cholera cases as disease moves from town to countryside "The toll from Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic will almost double in the next few months as up to 55,000 more people contract the disease, according to private predictions by the World Health Organization."

Iraq. Iraqi Elections Deliver a Victory for U.S. Goals "In voting for Maliki and his allies, Iraqis appeared to be supporting a strong central government and rewarding the prime minister for restoring stability to violent areas. Iraqis favored nationalist politicians who have portrayed themselves as nonsectarian leaders opposed to the fragmentation of Iraq." Prime Minister's Party Wins in Iraqi Vote but Will Need to Form Coalitions "But while candidates in the slate backed by Dawa garnered the most votes of any party in nine of Iraq's provinces, the party fell short of being able to operate without coalition-building. The initial results reflect a vast majority, but not all, of the votes."

Afghanistan. Afghanistan Appeal May Temper European Allies' Ardor for Obama "European leaders cheered when Barack Obama was elected president in November. They cheered again when he proclaimed during his inaugural address that America was 'ready to lead once more' in the world, and yet again when he pledged to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba." Kyrgyz closure of U.S. base 'final' "Kyrgyzstan says its decision to close a U.S. base that serves as a vital supply route for U.S. and Nato operations in Afghanistan is 'final.'"

Nuclear power in Sweden. Sweden to swap green plan for nuclear plants "Nuclear reactors are to be built in Sweden for the first time in nearly 30 years after the Government decided to abandon a decades-old commitment to phase out the power source."

Editorial. A Vote for D.C. (Los Angeles Times) "Since taking office, President Obama has expressed an unusual interest in the District of Columbia -- sometimes a critical interest, as when he ragged Washingtonians about their oversensitivity to winter weather. Obama's engagement with his new home has raised hopes that he will press early and hard to allow district residents a voting representative in Congress."

Opinion. On the Edge (Paul Krugman, New York Times) "Somehow, Washington has lost any sense of what's at stake - of the reality that we may well be falling into an economic abyss, and that if we do, it will be very hard to get out again."