International

Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:02:07 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 28 January, 2009

RED CROSS: CRISIS UNFOLDING IN SRI LANKA
A major humanitarian crisis is unfolding in northern Sri Lanka
with 250,000 unprotected civilians trapped in the crossfire
between government troops and rebel forces, the Red Cross says.

REFUGEES IN THAILAND FACE TRIAL
A group of refugees who survived being at sea for a month, then
being beaten and burned, now await the next turn of their fates
in the Thai court system.

ISRAELIS STRIKE AT GAZA BORDER, REPORTS SAY
Israeli missiles struck near the Gaza border Wednesday morning,
even as George Mitchell, President Obama's envoy to the Middle
East, was scheduled to arrive in hopes of shoring up a fragile
cease-fire there.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS BEGIN IN IRAQ
Special provincial elections began Wednesday morning in Iraq, a
precursor to the monumental elections that will be held this
weekend in the country.

GATES BACKS DEADLINE TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO BAY
Closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility is necessary and
U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to set a one-year
deadline was probably the only way to get it done, U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates says.

BOMB ROCKS BOGOTA NEIGHBORHOOD
An explosion killed two people and destroyed a building in an
upscale northern Bogota, Colombia, neighborhood Tuesday morning,
police said.

ROBINHO DENIES SEX ATTACK ALLEGATION
Brazilian football star Robinho denies any wrongdoing after
being interviewed by English police over allegations of a
serious sexual assault.

CHAVEZ WILL CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY WITH SUMMIT
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will celebrate 10 years in
power next week by holding a rare summit with some of his
closest leftist allies in Latin America.
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BUSINESS

JAPAN'S AUTOMAKERS CUT PRODUCTION
Japan's top three automakers all slashed global production last
month to the dismay of workers, as the world financial crisis
deepened.

YAHOO! BEATS ESTIMATES DESPITE LOSS
Yahoo Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net loss, but the Internet
search engine's earnings, after adjusting for certain one-time
charges, beat analysts' expectations.

OBAMA, REPUBLICANS TALK STIMULUS PLAN
U.S. President Barack Obama told Republican House leaders he
plans to stand firm on the part of his $825 billion economic
recovery plan that calls for tax rebates for nearly all working
Americans.