International

Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:01:07 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 31 January, 2009

VOTING UNDER WAY IN KEY IRAQ ELECTIONS
Voting began early Saturday in Iraq's important provincial
elections, an event the top U.N. official there called "iconic"
and could deliver "a symbolic message." The results should spell
out the status of the Sunni Arab "awakening" movement and the
popularity of the Shiite factions.

ZIMBABWE CHOLERA CASES PASS 60,000
More than 60,000 people have now been infected with cholera in
Zimbabwe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

REPUBLICANS GET AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHIEF
Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor, was elected
chairman of the Republican National Committee, the first
African-American to hold the post, as the party tries to recover
from a disappointing 2008 general election.

WATER CUTBACKS ON TAP FOR MEXICO CITY
Five million residents in Mexico City and its metro area could
soon start feeling the effects of water cutbacks imposed Friday
due to drought conditions.

COLOMBIAN HOSTAGES' RELEASE EXPECTED
A Colombian delegation, led by a federal senator, has left for
Brazil on the first leg of a multiday journey to obtain the
release of six hostages held by the FARC guerrilla group.

HOLOCAUST-DENYING BISHOP SAYS SORRY TO POPE
A bishop who denies that Jews were killed in Nazi gas chambers
apologized Friday that his remarks caused "distress" for the
pope.

DEADLY STORM LEAVES PARTS OF U.S. IN DARK
The brutal winter storm that caused havoc from Texas to Maine
has paralyzed swaths of Kentucky, where nine weather-related
deaths have been reported. The storm has caused the largest
power outage in Kentucky's history, with more than 607,000
customers out of power. Andrew Melnykovych, spokesman for
Kentucky's Public Service Commission, said it's "an
indescribable mess everywhere."

ANGER AT UK UNIVERSITIES OVER ANTI-ISRAEL SIT-INS
Britain's top student body has urged protesters to abandon
nationwide university sit-ins over Israel's military actions in
Gaza as others voice concern over increasing hostility towards
Jewish students.

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BUSINESS

WORST JANUARY EVER FOR WALL STREET
The Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500
finished their worst January ever, as investors eyed abysmal
reports on economic growth and quarterly earnings.

U.S. SENATOR: PAY CAP FOR BAILOUT EXECS
One day after President Barack Obama ripped Wall Street
executives for their "shameful" decision to hand out $18 billion
in bonuses in 2008, Congress may finally have had enough.

MERKEL WARNS U.S. OVER AUTO BAILOUT
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged global political and
business leaders to work together to fix the financial system as
the economic crisis returned to the top of the agenda at the
World Economic Forum on Friday.