(Image source: ABC News )     BY ZACH TOOMBS     Here’s a look at your top news headlines from Newsy. On sequestration, one thing’s for sure: no one will be accusing the White House of underselling the impact of the automatic spending cuts set to hit March 1 if Congress doesn’t act.   Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned Friday the cuts would mean furloughs at airports nationwide, meaning slower air travel. [Video: ABC News ]   “This is very painful for us because it involves our employees, but it’s going to be very painful for the flying public … We’re going to reduce the number of controllers that will reduce their ability to guide planes in and out of airports.” [Video: Politico / The White House ]   A statement from Republican lawmakers released soon after accused LaHood of exaggerating and said the airline industry was well positioned to absorb spending cuts.   Elsewhere in Washington , President Obama met with new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Although no major announcements were made as a result of their talks, Abe and Japan are central to the Obama administration’s shift in military focus toward the Pacific. The meeting also focused on negotiating a regional free-trade agreement in the Pacific — a plank in Obama’s foreign policy since 2011. [Video: PBS ]   Abe is Japan’s fifth prime minister during Obama’s time in office. Turning to Syria, recent attacks in Aleppo have prompted a decision from the nation’s largest rebel faction to pull out of scheduled talks in Rome and with Russia and the U.S. But Al Jazeera reports another development could help move the conflict toward resolution.   “The Syrian National Coalition, which has been meeting in Cairo has put the ball firmly in the court of the international community. It says its members have reached an agreement on forming a government to rule rebel-held areas.”   And just as the Midwest began recovering from a foot of snow in many parts of the region, the northeast is bracing for major snows of their own. The storm gridlocked much of Missouri and Kansas, all the way up to North Dakota. [Video: CNN ]   Stick with us for more headlines throughout the day. For Newsy, I’m Zach Toombs, highlighting your top headlines and making you smarter, faster.