International News

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:02:05 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 15 December, 2008

ANGRY IRAQI THROWS SHOES AT BUSH IN BAGHDAD
U.S. President Bush made an unannounced farewell visit Sunday to
Baghdad, Iraq, where a man threw shoes at him. As the man
continued to scream from another room, Bush said: "That was a
size 10 shoe he threw at me, you may want to know."

IRANIAN TO BE BLINDED FOR BLINDING WOMAN
An Iranian woman, blinded by a jilted stalker who threw acid in
her face, has persuaded a court to sentence him to be blinded
with acid himself under Islamic law demanding an eye for an eye.

CARTER MEETS WITH POLITICAL LEADER OF HAMAS
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met Sunday in Damascus,
Syria, with Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of Hamas'
political wing, a Hamas official said.

BROWN: PAKISTAN LINK TO MOST UK TERROR PLOTS
Britain's prime minister says he wants UK police to interview
Mumbai siege suspects and outlines claims that three quarters of
the most serious terrorism cases investigated by British police
have links to al Qaeda in Pakistan.

90 ARRESTED IN KASPAROV-ORGANIZED RALLY
Police detained 90 people Sunday at an unsanctioned political
opposition rally organized by former chess champion Garry
Kasparov, the Moscow police press service said.

MCCAIN WON'T SAY HE'D BACK PALIN FOR PRESIDENT
Sen. John McCain said Sunday he would not necessarily support
his former running mate if she chose to run for president.

GREEK PROTESTERS: WE WILL NOT STOP
Greek students have called for daily protests starting Monday,
10 days after the police killing of a 15-year-old boy in Athens
sparked demonstrations that have thrown the country into
turmoil.

SOMALI PM: PRESIDENT CAN'T FIRE ME
Somalia's president said Sunday he has dismissed his prime
minister for failing to do his job, a move that could threaten
peace efforts in the the violence-ravaged African nation.

BUSINESS:

WHITE HOUSE MAY BAIL OUT BIG 3
The Bush administration says it will consider using the money
set aside to help banks and Wall Street to rescue the auto
industry.

STOCKS SLIDE ON U.S. AUTO BAILOUT NEWS
World markets endured fresh punishment Friday as U.S. lawmakers'
rejection of a $14 billion bailout for the ailing Detroit auto
industry, weakening currencies in the U.S. and the UK and the
bleak economic outlook weighed on investors' minds.

EU APPROVES $267B BAILOUT PLAN
European Union leaders meeting in Brussels have approved a
€200 billion ($267 billion) stimulus plan for the 27-nation
bloc's battered economy.