itsjohntime

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:02:03 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 22 January, 2009

CLINTON CONFIRMED AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE
The U.S. Senate has approved the nomination of Hillary Clinton
as secretary of state by a vote of 94-2. Republican John Cornyn
had delayed the vote by a day after wanting more time to discuss
the foundation run by her husband, former U.S. President Bill
Clinton.

OBAMA SIGNS IN 'NEW ERA OF OPENNESS'
U.S. President Barack Obama is calling for "a new era of
openness in our country." On his first full day in the job he
signed executive orders setting ethics guidelines for his staff,
and earlier he suspended prosecutions of prisoners at Guantanamo
Bay.

OFFICIALS: OBAMA SET TO ORDER GITMO CLOSED
In one of his first acts in office, President Obama has ordered
the U.S. government to suspend prosecutions of prisoners at
Guantanamo Bay for 120 days, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

REPORT: CASTRO WATCHED OBAMA INAUGURATION
Fidel Castro told Argentina's president Wednesday that he
watched U.S. President Obama's inauguration on TV, apparently
belying widespread speculation that the former Cuban leader had
suffered a major relapse or died, Argentina's official news
agency said.

NEW JOB LOSSES HIGHLIGHT GLOBAL TURMOIL
The scope of economic problems sweeping the world was
highlighted Wednesday with stock markets taking new hits and
thousands more job losses being announced.

PILOT ACCUSED OF FAKING DEATH INDICTED
A man suspected of trying to fake his death by parachuting from
a plane before it crashed has been indicted on charges of
willfully damaging an aircraft and triggering a Coast Guard
rescue attempt.

POLL: AMERICANS SEE NO END TO RECESSION
A new national poll suggests that a majority of Americans think
it will take the country two years or longer to recover from the
current recession.

IRAN DECLARES BBC PERSIAN TV ILLEGAL
The activities of the week-old BBC Persian TV channel are
illegal, a top Iranian official said Wednesday, the
semi-official Fars news agency reported.
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BUSINESS

MINING GIANT BHP BILLITON CUTS 6,000 JOBS
BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, said Wednesday
it will cut about 6,000 jobs due to the deteriorating outlook in
the global nickel market.

EX-KGB BILLIONAIRE BUYS UK NEWSPAPER
A Russian billionaire and former KGB agent is buying a
controlling stake in the venerable Evening Standard, the London
newspaper announced Wednesday.

CELL PHONE GIANT ERICSSON CUTS 5,000 JOBS
Swedish-based telecommunications company Ericsson announced
Wednesday it is cutting 5,000 jobs as part of cost-reducing
measures.