Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Survey Shows Broad Support for Obama . . . Approval rating at 63 percent. Most fault GOP for response to Obama, saying opposition to stimulus political. New York Times
New Bank Plan Could Lead to Nationalizations . . . Revamped terms of emergency aid could culminate in controlling government stake.
Washington Post
Politics
Obama Calls for Fiscal Restraint . . . Seeks to assure he'll address runaway government deficits, despite adding red ink now to battle the economic crisis. Wall Street Journal
Washington Gov. Locke Likely Commerce Choice . . . First Chinese American governor would be Obama's third choice. New York Times
Questions Raised About Rahm's Room . . . Tax Experts and GOP bloggers scrutinize propriety of chief of staff Emanuel's free digs.
Chicago Tribune
Stanford Linked To Biden Family Fund . . . Run by two Biden family members, fund was marketed by firms controlled by Allen Stanford, who is charged with $8 billion fraud. Reuters
Burris to Claim Statements not Inconsistent . . . Will submit claim to Illinois probe of whether he lied about contacts with former Gov. Blagojevich. Chicago Tribune
Palin Defends Her Expenses . . . Says she was correct to charge state for expenses incurred at home. Spent less than predecessors. But she'll drive herself. Anchorage Daily News
Clooney Gets Obama Promises on Darfur . . . Meets with president and Biden, who vow a "full-time, high-level envoy" to the region.
Washington Times
National Security
Gitmo Detainee Arrives in Britain . . . Released after hunger strike and international outrage over crimes not proven. Claims he was tortured. McClatchy Newspapers
Pakistani Taliban Unite Against U.S. . . . Three major commanders join forces, posing significant threat to Pakistan's stability and U.S. efforts in region. Washington Times
North Korea May Test Long-Range Missile . . .Claims it's just launching a satellite. Move comes amid heightened tensions with South Korea. BBC
EU Resists U.S. Demands for Afghan Troops . . . Wants to keep its hands clean with civilian aid instead. Deutsche Welle
Business
Regulators Try to Quell Bank Fears . . . Government "stands firmly behind bank system" with "strong presumption" that "banks should remain in private hands." Wall Street Journal
SEC Received Numerous Warnings on Madoff . . . Complaints from 2003 to 2006 urged the agency to investigate. USA Today
Murdoch to Take Control at Fox . . . Fails to reach agreement with News Corp. president and COO Chernin to stay, so he'll run it himself. Financial Times
AIG Seeks Bailout #2 . . . Already 80 per cent-owned by the government, wants fresh capital to absorb expected fourth-quarter loss and gain more time to sell assets. Financial Times
Stocks Sink Some More . . . S&P at lowest level since 1997 after broad selloff. New York Times
International
Looted Baghdad Museum Reopens . . . About 8,500 of 15,000 items stolen during 2003 ransacking were recovered. Associated Press
Japan PM Visits Obama Today . . . Concern in Japan that relationship with the United States had been in decline. First foreign leader to come see Obama. BBC
The Steep Decline of the British Economy . . . Almost nowhere has the downturn been worse. Der Spiegel
Illegal Immigration Falls . . . Tough economic times discourages sneaking into United States. USA Today
Also Today. . .
TV Watching Hits All Time High . . . Average American watches more than 151 hours per month. Now on the Internet and cell phones too.
Los Angeles Times
Social Network Sites May Harm Kids' Brains . . . Short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathize and a shaky sense of identity, top neuroscientist says. Guardian
Degrading Lyrics Linked to Teen Sex . . . Those who listen to rap and pop songs with explicit lyrics more likely to engage in early sexual activity. The Independent
Lower Threshold for Warming Crisis . . . Earth won't have to warm up as much as thought to cause serious consequences, experts say.
Associated Press
Anger May Kill You . . . Appears to raise risk of arrhythmias over time. Associated Press
Beatles Outtake Pops Up . . . Ten minute recording shows the link between White Album's Revolution 1 and Revolution 9. Chicago Tribune
Today's Video
Two Legged Dog Walks Upright . . . DarynKagan.com
