Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Monday, February 16, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Chavez Wins Referendum . . . Venezuelan president wins vote ending term limits. Could keep him and his brand of socialism in power indefinitely.
McClatchy Newspapers
Japan's Economy Falls 12.7 Percent . . . Steepest drop since 1974. Toyota, Sony, Hitachi firing thousands. Bloomberg
Politics
Burris Fights Back . . . Denies lying under oath about contacts with Blagojevich aides. But he reveals that federal investigators want to talk. Chicago Tribune
Liberals Displeased with Obama's Slow Movement . . . On issues like stem cell policy and faith based organizations, thought they'd see faster results. Los Angeles Times
White House Dampens Stimulus Expectations . . . "This economy is going to get worse before it gets better," says press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Reuters
Next Up for Obama: Housing Woes . . . President will unveil home foreclosure assistance plan Wednesday. USA Today
Stimulus Battle Just Begun . . . Parties position selves to get credit, cast blame. Washington Post
Historians: Lincoln Top President. Bush #36 . . . Survey puts Reagan at #10, Clinton at #15. Washington is #2, while James Buchanan is 42nd and last. C-SPAN
National Security
Taliban Commander Killed in Airstrike . . . Was responsible for surge in violence in his region of Afghanistan. Associated Press
Opinion: Al Qaeda Targeting U.S. Economy . . . Next attack could hit financial infrastructure as Bin Laden seeks to topple tottering economy.
Los Angeles Times
North Korea Hints at Rocket Launch . . . Leaders claim the country has the right to "space development" and "peaceful scientific research." Associated Press
Pakistan Strikes Peace Deal with Taliban Group . . . Would allow Islamic law in part of country supposed to be under government's control. Associated Press
Clinton Discounts North Korean Uranium Threat . . . Suggests Bush administration may have overreacted to revival of program.
Washington Times
Business
Geithner Pressed to Move Faster on Bank Fix . . . G-7 leaders press for action as slump continues to worsen. Bloomberg
Obama Drops 'Car Czar' Idea . . . Instead, Geithner and Larry Summers will lead task force to restructure auto industry. Reuters
Gas Prices Rising Even As Oil Declines . . . With crude prices low, refiners are scaling back production, decreasing gasoline supply.
USA Today
International
British and French Nuclear Subs Collide . . . Happened Feb. 3 or 4 in Atlantic. Everyone's OK, no nuclear leaks, but it could have been a disaster.
The Sun
Australian Arson Suspect Named . . . Prosecutors say Brendan Sokaluk deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died. BBC
Pope's Choice for Bishop Withdraws . . . Father Wagner has described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for New Orleans' sins and Harry Potter novels as satanic. BBC
Tariff Protests Concern Kremlin . . . Ongoing anger in Vladivostok. Some lawmakers in Putin's party join in unusual parliamentary dissent.
New York Times
Big Neo-Nazi Showing in Dresden Spurs Concern . . . They were outnumbered by protestors, but the 6,000 who showed were many more than last year. Der Spiegel
Also Today. . .
Passengers Suffered Wild Ride Before Impact . . . Nose soared up and then down with dramatic tilting side to side. Plane dropped 800 feet in seconds. Globe and Mail
Peanuts Back in the Air . . . Northwest starts handing them out. Delta has for years. Parents of the allergic upset. Chicago Tribune
PETA Targeting McDonalds . . . Says their chickens are slaughtered the wrong way. Protests. boycott planned. Chicago Tribune
Fireball Rips Across Texas Sky . . . Military says it was not related to recent satellite collision. Could have been a meteorite. Dallas Morning News
Today's Video
Armstrong Gets Angry With Reporter . . . CNN
