FIRST SHOTS: Iran gave Afghanistan cash on a plane, goodbye Walkman

The Upshot

Welcome to "First Shots," a daily roundup of early-bird news and a preview of what's to come.

• Afghan president Hamid Karzai confirms that Iran gave his aide bags of cash on an airplane and that this is completely normal. (New York Times)

• The president campaigns today in Rhode Island where (much to the chagrin of the Democratic gubernatorial nominee) Obama will not be referencing the governor's race. (Providence Journal)

• A federal judge today will decide whether Arizona legally obtained a lethal injection drug. One death row inmate's fate hangs in the balance. (Arizona Republic)

• The Chandra Levy trial begins today. (CNN)

• The ongoing strikes in France are costing the country up to 400 million euro ($560 million) per day. (AP)

• After the president makes it through Nov. 2, he faces a tough to-do list with Congress. (New York Times)

• Sony Corp. says the company will soon end production of the Walkman. (Wall Street-Journal)

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