Saturday, December 27, 2008
International
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 28 December, 2008
HAMAS VOWS RETALIATION AFTER ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 225
Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza on Saturday, a week after a
cease-fire agreement ended, killing at least 225 people. Israeli
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the airstrikes are a response
to escalating rocket attacks against Israel and will continue as
long as necessary. Hamas has vowed to retaliate.
ZIMBABWE'S CHILDREN 'WASTING AWAY'
Some of Zimbabwe's children are "wasting away" as political
turmoil and economic crisis has caused a severe food shortage,
according to a report from Save the Children.
PAKISTAN PLAYS DOWN TENSIONS WITH INDIA
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari played down cross-border
tensions with India in a speech Saturday, telling citizens
democracy and dialogue will end discord and increase regional
stability.
GOP CHAIR CONDEMNS 'MAGIC NEGRO' SONG
The chairman of the Republican National Committee said he was
"appalled" by a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" on a CD
distributed by one of his political rivals.
CHINA DAIRIES TO COMPENSATE VICTIMS
Victims of tainted baby formula, which caused hundreds of
thousands of infants to become sick, six of whom died, are
expected to be compensated by 22 Chinese dairy producers that
made the milk.
U.S. SLUDGE SPILL GROWS TO 1 BILLION GALLONS
Estimates for the amount of sludge that gushed from a coal plant
in the U.S. state of Tennessee have tripled to more than 1
billion gallons (nearly 3.8 million kiloliters), inundating
homes and railroads and threatening a nearby river.
POLL: 75% GLAD BUSH IS DONE
A new national poll suggests that three out of four Americans
feel President George W. Bush's departure from office is coming
not a moment too soon.
MAN SHOOTS TALKER AT MOVIES, POLICE SAY
A man angry that a family was talking during a movie threw
popcorn at the son and then shot the father in the arm,
according to police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
BUSINESS
JAPAN'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SEES RECORD FALL
Japan's industrial output took the largest drop in history in
November over October, tumbling 8.1 percent -- nearly double the
previous high of 4.3 percent in January 2001, according to a
report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
AMERICANS KEEP TIGHTER GRIP ON CASH
In a troubling sign that U.S. consumers are retrenching this
holiday season, consumer spending and orders for durable goods
fell further in November, according to government reports.
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.
