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NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Capitol Hill, where Dick Cheney visited Republican lawmakers to update them on the Bush transition plans. But if Cheney was going through what may have appeared as something just short a victory lap, Republicans faced potential difficulty on another front. The victory of Maria Cantwell in Washington means that the new Senate will be split down the middle -- 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans. Though Cheney, should he become vice president, would break the tie, giving the GOP nominal control, Democrats are insisting on a power-sharing arrangement -- everything from a better ratio of committee members to potential control of some committees.

Cyd Hoskinson of Peach State Public Radio reports Delta Airlines went to court in Atlanta today to block Delta pilots from organizing a work slowdown. Delta says it was forced to cancel over 300 flights over the weekend because pilots are refusing to work overtime. Delta and the Airline Pilots Association have been locked a bitter contract negotiation over a new contract since September of 1999 and the pilots have requested federal mediation. Union officials say they do not condone or support the a "no overtime" stance. They blame the flight cancellations on bad weather or mechanical problems, not crew shortages.

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports from Moscow that Russia looks ready to bring back the Soviet national anthem - without the references to Lenin and the indestructible union of Soviet republics, of course. President Vladimir Putin says the country should keep the melody, because throwing out all symbols of the Soviet past would mean "our mothers and fathers lived in vain." The Russian parliament, or Duma, is expected to vote on the matter Friday. Former President Boris Yeltsin chose a melody by the 19th century composer Mikhail Glinka as the post-Soviet anthem, but the hymn never caught on. Lawmakers could never agree on words.

NPR's Gerry Hadden reports that Mexico has entered a new political era with today's inauguration of President Vicente Fox. His election in July was a huge defeat for the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as PRI, which had dominated Mexican politics since 1929. Fox, a business executive in his previous life, has named a cabinet packed with other businessmen. They began to take up their responsibilities as the day began. Fox, an avowed Roman Catholic, began HIS day by praying at the basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. Later, he took the oath of office in the country's first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that the hottest item on the Japanese music scene is a duo that has adopted an ancient musical instrument called the Shamisan to produce an energetic sound that has elements of rock, flamenco and jazz, all punctuated with occasional grunts. The Yoshida brothers' appearance also is a bit of fusion -- their hair is dyed and spiked, but they dress in traditional kimonos. It's a look that especially seems to appeal to young Japanese women, who are normally faithful listeners of what's known as "J-Pop, " the synthetic sound that is so popular in today's Japan. (4:30) NOTE: The Yoshida Brothers recording is currently only available from Tower Records Japan's Website http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/int/index.html

NPR's Guy Raz reports from Berlin on the debate that has been raging for weeks in Germany over whether foreign-born residents should adopt the country's guiding culture, or "Leitkultur". Leading politicians from the opposition Christian Democratic Union say immigrants should learn the German language and German ways. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder warned this week that the Christian Democrats were leaning too far to the right, using dangerous, nationalist rhetoric. With eight million foreign-born residents, Germany has become much more diverse, so that Germans are now at pains to define the country's dominant, or guiding culture.

Robert talks with NPR's Debbie Elliot in Tallahassee, Florida, about the recount of that state's election ballots. Out of nearly six million votes cast, the first count found that Texas Governor George W. Bush leads Vice President Al Gore by a mere 1800 votes. Under state law, a recount is mandatory when results are this close. Absentee ballots could determine the outcome. There have also been a rash of complaints over defective ballots in a heavily Democratic section of the state which reported a high number of votes for Pat Buchanan. Whoever wins the Florida tally will be the next occupant of the White House.

Susanna Capelouto of Peachstate Public Radio reports that Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has proposed a new affirmative action program for his administration that he hopes will have an impact on the private sector. Under the current plan, a business getting a city contract has to share about a third of the contract with a company owned by women or minorities. Under his new plan, to be eligible for a city contract, a company must show that it is already using minority or women sub-contractors. The earlier plan faces a court challenge from a conservative legal group and the mayor expects them to challenge the new plan, too. Mayor Campbell has said he will do anything in his power to preserve affirmative action in Atlanta.

A Florida court has ruled that Palm Beach County,Florida must considered so-called "dimpled" ballots in its manual recountfrom the November 7th election. NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports that the countyhad stopped counting while it waited for the court's decision on thestandards for counting partially punched ballots. The county canvassingboard rules say at least one corner of a chad must be dislodged for a ballotto count. But Democrats argued to Circuit Court Judge Jorge Labarga (sayGeorge) that the ballots where there is an indentation next to a candidatesname, even if it is not completely punched through, should also count.

NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from new Delhi that a unilateral cease-fire commitment from India in Kashmir raises hopes for bringing an end to a conflict that has killed more than 30-thousand people. New Delhi has announced the cease-fire in Indian-controlled Kashmir for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It is the first such offer by India in eleven years of fighting between Indian forces and Kashmiri separatists. Several militant groups based in Pakistan have rejected the offer, but others have been more receptive and even offered cautious support for the idea of future talks between the government and the militants.