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Heavy U.S. air and artillery bombardment continued Monday night in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, as Marine and Army battalions began entering the city. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Anne Garrels.

President Bush's first term brought some of the largest tax cuts in U.S. history. In his second term, he wants to revamp the tax code altogether; some in Congress favor a tax based on what people spend, not on what they earn. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.

As President Bush considers ways to reform the Social Security system, he's said to be considering a plan that would reduce benefits for retirees. Many people on both sides of the Social Security debate believe the administration is seriously considering indexing benefits according to inflation rates rather than current prevailing wages. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Three U.N. workers kidnapped in Afghanistan are freed. Afghan Interior Minister Ahmad Jalali made the announcement Tuesday. The workers were helping with the Afghan election won by incumbent President Hamid Karzai. Hear NPR's Paul Brown.

The strongest earthquake in 40 years hit Southeast Asia Sunday morning, setting off tsunamis that killed thousands. Measured at 8.9, the earthquake is the most powerful recorded since a 9.2 quake hit Alaska in 1964.

President Bush begins his second term, urging Americans to expand the frontiers of freedom around the world and challenging young people in particular to "serve in a cause larger than your wants." The speech was the centerpiece of a day devoted to tradition and tribute.

Brigadier Gen. Ken Gluck, deputy commanding general of a U.S. military task force rushing to aid to areas hardest-hit by Sunday's earthquake and tsunami, calls the devastation along the west coasts of Indonesia and Thailand "overwhelming," and details American plans to provide relief.

The Aceh region of Indonesia, at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, was one of the hardest-hit areas of Sunday's earthquake and tsunami. The city of Bande Aceh is all but destroyed, and in smaller towns along the coast the death toll continues to grow. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.

Charities helping victims of last week's Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami report receiving a huge outpouring of money from Americans. Some groups have been overwhelmed by the response, but all are heartened at the level of contributions. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.

Iraqis have voted in large numbers in the country's first multi-party elections in more than half a century. A string of suicide bombings and mortar attacks, mostly in Baghdad, left at least 30 people dead and dozens wounded. NPR's Emily Harris reports.