International

Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 19 December, 2008

ZIMBABWEAN CHILDREN FLEE RAVAGED HOMELAND
The United Nations and Save the Children report there has been
an increase in the number of children under 18 years who are
making the risky journey south from their homes in Zimbabwe to
South Africa in search of work and food.

WINTER STORM TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS U.S.
After blanketing parts of the Southwest with snow, a major
winter storm headed eastward late Thursday with new strength,
the National Weather Service said.

WATERGATE 'DEEP THROAT' SOURCE DEAD AT 95
W. Mark Felt, who leaked information to reporters under the
moniker, "Deep Throat," about the Watergate break-in, died
Thursday at the age of 95, according to published reports.

JAPAN CUTS KEY RATE TO 0.1 PERCENT
The Bank of Japan on Friday cut its key interest rate to 0.1
percent from 0.3 in an effort boost the country's economy in the
midst of a global downturn Friday.

REPORT: AFGHAN POLICE NEED TO REFOCUS
Efforts to reform the Afghan National Police force have been
stymied by "corruption and lack of political will," and police
are wrongly being used to help fight the insurgency instead of
crime, an independent research group said in a report.

TAIWAN EX-PRESIDENT REMAINS FREE AFTER HEARING
Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, accused of embezzling
about $18 million, has remained free on bail after a nearly
eight-hour court hearing in which prosecutors argued that he
should be jailed.

PIRATES LIKELY TO GET ARMS SHIP RANSOM
Pirates holding a ship full of tanks and ammunition off the
coast of Somalia are likely to be paid millions of dollars in
ransom within days, senior U.S. military officials said.

TRIO FOUND GUILTY OF RWANDAN GENOCIDE
A U.N. tribunal has found Theoneste Bagosora, a colonel in the
Rwandan army, and two other men, guilty of genocide, crimes
against humanity and war crimes. Bagosora ordered Hutu militia
to slaughter rival Tutsis during a 100-day spree of violence in
1994.

BUSINESS

LABOR UNIONS PRAISE OBAMA PICK
Labor unions praised U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's
selection to head the Labor Department, California Congresswoman
Hilda Solis.

EUROPE LOWER; BANK OF JAPAN CUTS RATES
Tokyo stocks closed down 0.9 percent, despite briefly rallying
after the Bank of Japan cut a key interest rate in an attempt to
boost the nation's economic fortunes.

NEW ZIMBABWE $10B NOTE BUYS BREAD
Zimbabwe's central bank introduced a $10 billion note worth less
than 20 U.S. dollars, as the once-prosperous southern African
nation battles against spiraling hyperinflation.