Friday, January 23, 2009
International
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 23 January, 2009
HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL STUDY GETS GREEN LIGHT
U.S. regulators have cleared the way for the first human trials
of human embryonic stem-cell research, authorizing researchers
to test whether the cells are safe to use in spinal injury
patients, the company behind the trials announced Friday.
CONGO REBEL LEADER NKUNDA ARRESTED
Rwandan authorities arrested Congolese rebel leader Laurent
Nkunda early Friday, Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of
Communications Mende Omalanga siad. Nkunda has been leading
one side of a conflict in eastern Congo, which is effectively an
extension of the Rwandan genocide of the early 1990s.
RIVAL FACTIONS IN GAZA TRADE ACCUSATIONS
In the wake of an Israeli offensive, Gaza's ruling party, Hamas,
is accusing rival Palestinian faction Fatah of spying for
Israel. In return, some are accusing Hamas of "punishment
shootings" against suspects.
JAPAN LAUNCHES SATELLITE TO EYE GREENHOUSE GAS
The Japanese space agency launched a satellite Friday that will
measure greenhouse gases from the earth's orbit.
INDIAN PM SINGH TO HAVE HEART SURGERY
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have heart surgery in
a New Delhi hospital this weekend, his office announced Friday.
NORTH KOREA'S KIM MEETS CHINESE ENVOY
A Chinese official met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in
Pyongyang on Friday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
KILLER DECAPITATES STUDENT, U.S. POLICE SAY
A female graduate student at Virginia Tech was killed Wednesday
night when a man she knew attacked her with a knife and
decapitated her, a school spokesman said.
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BUSINESS
GEITHNER HEADS TO FULL SENATE VOTE
A U.S. Senate panel recommended the full Senate confirm Tim
Geithner as the next Treasury secretary, but five Republican
senators opposed going forward, including the committee's
ranking member.
SINGAPORE ANNOUNCES $13.6B STIMULUS
Citing "a time of grave economic crisis," Singapore Finance
Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam proposed a a $20.5 billion (U.S.
$13.6 billion) "resilience package" to parliament, as the
city-state deals with its deepest recession in its history.
