International

Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 19 December, 2008

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.

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.

IRAQI SHOE-THROWER ASKS FOR LENIENCY
The journalist who hurled his shoes at U.S. President George W.
Bush describes his attack as "ugly" and asks the Iraqi
government for leniency.

U.S. AIR FORCE NUCLEAR UNIT FAILS INSPECTION
For the fifth time this year, a U.S. Air Force nuclear weapons
unit failed an inspection, this time because of failure to
document its handling of nuclear missiles and other critical
issues, Air Force officials said.

POISONED MEDICINE KILLS DOZENS OF CHILDREN
Nneka and Chimezie Ononaku unwittingly poisoned their own son,
giving him what they believed was teething medicine -- but which
in fact had been dosed with anti-freeze. Their four-month old
son is now one of more than 30 Nigerian children thought to have
died after taking baby medication.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST BEHEADED IN IRAQ
Gunmen broke into the house of a women's rights activist in the
volatile northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Thursday and beheaded
her, police say.

ORGANIZED LABOR 'THRILLED' WITH OBAMA PICK
Labor unions Thursday praised President-elect Barack Obama's
selection to head the Labor Department, Rep. Hilda Solis.

ADOPTION TUG-OF-WAR GIRL ON NEW LIFE IN CHINA
Anna He is like a lot of kids about to turn 10. She plays with
her brother, fights with her sister, practices piano, and hates
vegetables. For six years, she was at the center of a bitter
custody battle between her parents and the American family who
agreed to help take care of her. Today, Anna is struggling to
adapt to her new life in China.

BUSINESS

OBAMA TAPS SCHAPIRO FOR SEC
President-elect Barack Obama, citing the need for tighter
oversight of the U.S. financial markets, on Thursday named
veteran regulator Mary Schapiro as his choice to head the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

CHINA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF ECONOMIC REFORM
China's president has vowed to continue the economic reforms
that have transformed the once poverty-riddled nation into an
industrial powerhouse.

BA, QANTAS END MERGER TALKS
British Airways and Qantas announced Thursday they have failed
to reach agreement on a potential merger.