International

Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 21 December, 2008

U.S. MAY DOUBLE TROOP STRENGTH IN AFGHANISTAN
Up to 30,000 additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan
next year, roughly doubling the number already there, military
officials said Saturday. Some 20,000 of the additional personnel
would be combat troops, said Col. Gregory Julian, spokesman for
U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

IRAQ'S FIRST TRY AT LAW TO KEEP FOREIGN TROOPS FAILS
After heated arguments, the Iraqi parliament turned down the
first draft of a bill Saturday that would have allowed foreign
troops, including British forces, to remain in Iraq after
December 31.

TERROR-DEVASTATED MUMBAI HOTELS TO REOPEN
Two luxury hotels in Mumbai are due to partially reopen Sunday
less than a month after being caught up in the terror attacks on
the Indian city in which more than 160 people died. The tower
wing of the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi-Trident both
suffered extensive damage during three days of sieges and fierce
fighting.

IRAQI MILITARY 'PLOTTERS' RELEASED FROM JAIL
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said the recent arrests
of military and security officers linked to Saddam Hussein's
Baath Party were based on fabricated charges and rebutted
implications that those seized were plotting to overthrow the
government.

PALESTINIAN MILITANT KILLED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE
A Palestinian militant was killed Saturday during an Israeli
airstrike, Palestinian sources said.

BECKHAM PRESENTED AS AN AC MILAN PLAYER
David Beckham revealed that he has missed playing football "at
the highest level" after being presented as an AC Milan player
ahead of his three-month loan deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

6.5-MAGNITUDE QUAKE OFF JAPANESE COAST
A strong earthquake centered about 90 miles off Japan's east
coast, measuring a 6.5 magnitude, was recorded by seismologists
at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on Saturday.

OBAMA TEAM DISCUSSES NEW STIMULUS PLAN
Senior Democratic congressional staffers met Friday with senior
aides from President-elect Barack Obama's transition team to
discuss the broad outlines of an economic stimulus package.l

BUSINESS

BANKING GROUP HYPO SLASHES WORKFORCE
German financial giant Hypo Real Estate said Saturday it planned
to halve its 1,800 strong workforce by 2013 as part of
cost-cutting measures. The banking group received €50 billion
($70 billion) in emergency government funding in October.

BUSH ANNOUNCES $13.4B AUTO BAILOUT
U.S. President George W. Bush has announced a short-term $13.4B
rescue plan from federal loans to aid ailing U.S. automakers.
The money will come from the $700 billion fund set aside to
bailout Wall Street firms and banks in October.

MEXICAN AUTOMAKERS LOOK FOR BAILOUT
Mexicans welcomed Friday's report that U.S. automakers will get
federal money to help them survive the economic crisis, but
industry here is already talking about a possible bailout for
the Mexican market as well.