Friday, December 26, 2008
International
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 26 December, 2008
CHINESE WARSHIPS SET SAIL TO COMBAT PIRACY
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship set sail for the Gulf
of Aden on a mission to protect Chinese merchant ships from an
increasing number of pirate attacks occurring in the waters off
Somalia, state media report.
PRISONERS, OFFICERS KILLED IN IRAQI JAILBREAK
Seven prisoners were killed Friday while attempting to escape
from an Iraqi police station, according to an Interior Ministry
official.
RECOVERY SEEN 4 YEARS AFTER ASIAN TSUNAMI
Four years since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake spawned massive
waves that swept across the Indian Ocean, leaving more than
230,000 dead according to a U.N. estimate, improvements can be
seen in many of the devastated areas, humanitarian groups said.
SOURCES: U.S. TO ARM AFGHANS TO FIGHT TALIBAN
The U.S. military plans to help the Afghanistan government
recruit, train and arm local Afghans to fight a resurgent
Taliban, U.S. military officials say. The first phase of the
program is expected to begin next year in Wardak province, where
the Taliban have overrun many local government institutions.
59 ARRESTED IN TIBET FOR 'SPREADING OF RUMORS'
Chinese authorities have arrested 59 people in Tibet accused of
spreading rumors and inciting sentiment against the state and
public safety, state-run media reported.
GUINEA COUP LEADER OFFERS SAFETY GUARANTEE
The leader of this week's coup in Guinea assured senior
officials Thursday "they are safe."
'SANTA GUNMAN' FOUND DEAD AFTER PARTY KILLINGS
At least three people were found dead after a man dressed as
Santa Claus started shooting at a party in suburban Los Angeles,
police said Thursday.
FIVE YEARS ON, HOPE, BEAUTY RETURN TO BAM
Till Mayer is a photographer working for the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In 2003
Mayer traveled to Bam, Iran, to chronicle the relief effort
following an earthquake that killed at least 26,000 and
devastated the historic city. This month, five years on, he
returned to Bam to see how the city and its people have changed.
BUSINESS
JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's government releases some key reports indicating the
nation's economy is suffering along with the rest of the world,
with its industrial output tumbling over 8 percent in November.
TWO TRIED OVER TAINTED MILK POWDER
A dealer of a toxic chemical and a producer went on trial Friday
in China, state media reported, in the latest development in the
country's tainted milk powder scandal that left six babies dead
and sickened 290,000 others.
ASIA, PACIFIC MARKETS MIXED
Asia and Pacific markets were mixed in light trading at the end
of the holiday week.
