International

Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:01:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 16 January, 2009

PASSENGERS PRAISE 'PHENOMENAL' LANDING
Passengers on US Airways flight 1549 that crash-landed into New
York's Hudson River have praised the courage of Chesley B.
"Sully" Sullenberger. Passengers said Sullenberger's actions
minimized damage to the aircraft and saved its 155 passengers
and crew. Sullenberger has been a pilot with US Airways since
1980, following seven years in the U.S. Air Force.

AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE TO TARGET HAMAS LEADERS
More airstrikes rattled northern and southern Gaza early Friday
morning as Israeli forces stepped up their campaign against the
Palestinian territory's Hamas leaders.

HONDA CUTS JOBS; SUBARU TO POST LOSSES
Japanese automaker Honda announced Friday it will cut production
and eliminate its temporary, part-time workforce of 3,100, while
smaller rival Subaru's parent company warned it would post
losses for 2008.

ZIMBABWE ACTIVIST: 'I FEARED FOR MY LIFE'
Zimbabwe's top human rights activist broke down twice in court
Thursday, as she described being detained and tortured by state
agents last month.

BANK OF AMERICA GETS NEW BAILOUT
Bank of America will get another $20 billion from the U.S.
government's bailout fund, with federal guarantees for another
$118 billion in mortgage-backed securities on its balance
sheets, the Treasury Department announced early Friday.

IRELAND NATIONALIZES ANGLO IRISH BANK
Shares in Anglo Irish Bank have been suspended after the Irish
government stepped into nationalize the bank after the deciding
a planned a recapitalization plan was longer an "appropriate and
effective" way to keep the lender afloat.

BUSH GIVES FAREWELL ADDRESS TO NATION
President Bush will make his last public appearance as commander
in chief in a prime-time television speech Thursday, his
spokeswoman said.

U.S.-UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SIGN NUCLEAR DEAL
The United States signed an agreement Thursday on civil nuclear
cooperation with the United Arab Emirates -- the first such pact
with a Middle Eastern country.
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BUSINESS

EUROPE LASHES OUT AT RUSSIA, UKRAINE
European officials expressed frustration at Russia and Ukraine's
inability to enforce an agreement to resume delivery of natural
gas, amid heat and cooking gas shortages and sub-zero
temperatures endured by millions of people.

ECB CUTS RATES TO RECORD 2 PERCENT LOW
The European Central Bank Thursday cut a key lending rate by
half a percentage point to 2 percent.

BRITAIN: THIRD HEATHROW RUNWAY APPROVED
The British government -- ignoring a firestorm of controversy --
Thursday approved construction of a third runway at London's
Heathrow Airport, saying the move is essential for British
business and would retain the airport's status as a major
European hub.