Tuesday, January 20, 2009
International
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 21 January, 2009
OBAMA: A NEW WAY FORWARD
Barack Obama uses his inaugural speech as 44th president to
deliver a hopeful but sobering assessment of what America can
become. The first African-American promised "a new way forward
based on mutual interest" to Muslims. To terrorists, he warned:
"You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
WORLD (MOSTLY) CELEBRATES OBAMA'S DAY
Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th U.S. President has been
accompanied by celebrations around the world.
TED KENNEDY COLLAPSES AT INAUGURAL LUNCH
Senator Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, collapsed Tuesday
afternoon during a luncheon held for President Barack Obama in
the Capitol's Statuary Hall, a senator siad.
OBAMA PRAISED BY WORLD LEADERS
Members of the international community have welcomed Barack
Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States -- and
the first African-American to take leadership of his country.
OBAMA PROMISES BOLD ACTION ON ECONOMY
President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural address is one of the
most anticipated speeches in decades, with many expecting his
words to be chiseled into marble some day.
CHANGE WAS QUICK AT WHITE HOUSE WEB SITE
In keeping with the theme that swept President Obama into the
Oval Office, change has come to the official White House Web
site.
107-YEAR-OLD: HOPED IT WOULD HAPPEN IN MY TIME
Ann Nixon Cooper craned her neck and leaned her head forward. On
the television set across the room, Barack Obama moved forward
and put his hand on the Bible.
COMMENTARY: OBAMA THE KIND OF HERO WE NEED
President Barack Obama, our newly inaugurated 44th president,
showed the millions watching around the world and the freezing
millions there in person on the Mall why he won the election --
and why so many believe he can lead us in these troubled times.
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BUSINESS
OBAMA SPENDING PLAN WORRIES U.S. MARKETS
U.S. markets slipped Tuesday on banking concerns and as traders
also faced up to expected rises in government debt. With the
government deficit already exceeding $1 trillion, the rescue
plan that Obama has been touting will mean the government
auctioning off a tremendous volume of debt -- which makes
government bonds unattractive.
FIAT JOINS FORCES WITH AILING CHRYSLER
Italian car giant Fiat is joining forces with ailing U.S.
automaker Chrysler, the two companies say, in a move that will
give Fiat a large stake in one of the Big Three while supplying
Chrysler with access to new technology.
RUSSIA RESUMES GAS FLOW TO EUROPE
Russian energy giant Gazprom resumes pumping natural gas to
Europe via Ukraine, a Gazprom spokesman tells CNN. The long
dispute over gas payments was resolved after meetings between
Russia and Ukraine, negotiations Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko described as "difficult."
