Thursday, December 25, 2008
International
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 26 December, 2008
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.
GUINEA COUP LEADER OFFERS SAFETY GUARANTEE
The leader of this week's coup in Guinea assured senior
officials Thursday "they are safe," : a journalist with the
state-run newspaper
'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.
ZIMBABWE POLICE IGNORE ORDER TO FREE ACTIVISTS
Police in Zimbabwe appear to be disregarding a High Court order
to release activists in their custody, a lawyer representing
them said Thursday. "We are hearing reports they have been moved
from the remand center where they were being held ... and we
don't know where they have been taken," the lawyer said.
NOBEL WINNER HAROLD PINTER DIES AT 78
Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter has died, his wife confirmed
Thursday to British media. Pinter -- born in London in 1930 and
the son of Jewish immigrants -- became one of the world's best
known playwrights. His stage career spanned six decades and he
was nominated for an Oscar his screen adaptation of "The French
Lieutenant's Woman."
SAUDI CHILD BRIDE ORDER ANGERS RIGHTS GROUP
The decision by a Saudi judge not to annul the arranged marriage
of an 8-year-old girl and a 47-year-old man has been attacked.
The Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia has
condemned the decision, adding that achieving human rights in
the kingdom means standing against those who want to "keep us
backward and in the dark ages."
SINGER, ACTRESS EARTHA KITT DIES AT 81
Singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died, her publicist, Patty
Freedman said.
IN MUMBAI, FESTIVAL REKINDLES JEWISH HOPE
Hundreds gathered in the Indian city of Mumbai on Thursday to
commemorate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and honor the
memories of the rabbi, his wife and others who were killed in
terror attacks last month on a Jewish center and other
locations.
BUSINESS
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
SCANDAL-TAINTED SANLU FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Sanlu Group, the company at the center of China's tainted infant
formula scandal, has filed for bankruptcy.
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.
