Wednesday, December 24, 2008
International
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 25 December, 2008
COUP LEADER NAMES HIMSELF GUINEA PRESIDENT
A military junta that toppled the Guinean government announced
its new leader Wednesday. Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara declared
himself president of the National Council for Democracy, which
he said was an interim body to oversee the country's return to
democracy.
SAUDI WOMEN'S GROUP SLAMS GIRL'S MARRIAGE
A group fighting for women's rights in Saudi Arabia condemned a
judge Wednesday for refusing to annul the marriage of an
8-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man.
WOMAN BURIED IN SNOW FOR 3 DAYS FOUND ALIVE
No one expected to find Donna Molnar alive.
JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF ZIMBABWE ACTIVISTS
A human rights activist who was abducted in Zimbabwe three weeks
ago is to appear in court Wednesday, accused of trying to
overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe, the
state-run Herald newspaper reported.
EIGHT BODIES FOUND IN GARBAGE BAGS IN MEXICO
The record number of killings in Mexico continues to climb, with
the discovery of eight bodies stuffed in black garbage bags in
the southeastern state of Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border,
authorities said.
BUSH ORDERS PARDON RE-EXAMINED
President George W. Bush on Wednesday ordered one of 19
presidential pardons granted earlier in the week to be
re-examined before making a final decision.
AHMADINEJAD: JESUS WOULD SUPPORT OPPRESSED
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver a Christmas
message on a British TV network.
HOSTAGES TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH PIRATES
More than 260 people will spend Christmas Day held hostage at
sea by armed pirates.
BUSINESS
POLL: MOST BACK OBAMA'S $800B STIMULUS PLAN
A new national poll suggests most Americans favor an economic
stimulus package even if it comes with an $800 billion price
tag, although that support doesn't indicate the public wants to
see a new era of big government.
MADOFF INVESTOR IN APPARENT SUICIDE
Thierry de la Villehuchet, a hedge fund adviser and investor
whose firm said he lost $1.5 billion investing with Wall Street
adviser Bernard Madoff, was found dead in his office in an
apparent suicide, police said.
JAPAN'S CABINET APPROVES RECORD BUDGET
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet on Wednesday approved
a record budget, including an emergency economic stimulus
package, for the 2009 fiscal year.
