International

Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:02:03 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 16 January, 2009

JETLINER CRASH LANDS ON HUDSON RIVER
Passengers have scrambled to get off a sinking jetliner after it
went down with more than 150 people on board in New York's
Hudson River. All passengers are believed to have escaped from
the US Airways jet, which was en route to Charlotte. "I think
that's miraculous," a passenger said.

HAMAS ADMITS MINISTER KILLED
Hamas-controlled Al-Aqsa TV announces Hamas Interior Minister
Saeed Siam has been killed in an airstrike, along with his son
and brother, as Israeli ground forces -- backed by massive air
power and heavy shelling -- push deeper into Gaza City. The
United Nations' main relief compound is damaged during heavy
fighting earlier in the day.

UK: 'WAR ON TERROR' PHRASE DID HARM
The phrase "war on terror" is misleading and may have done more
harm than good as countries around the world fight extremism,
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Thursday.

SRI LANKAN JOURNALIST PREDICTED OWN EXECUTION
A crusading Sri Lankan journalist shot dead last week knew he
would be killed -- he said so in a dramatic, posthumously
published column touching a raw nerve in his war-torn island
nation.

BUSH GAVE FAREWELL ADDRESS TO NATION
President Bush made his last public appearance as commander
in chief in a prime-time television speech Thursday.

U.S. SENATE OKS USE OF REMAINING BAILOUT FUNDS
President-elect Barack Obama's political clout is being put to
the test Thursday, just days before his inauguration, as the
Senate votes on whether to tap into the second half of the $700
billion bailout package.

GREEK TERROR GROUP: WE SHOT POLICEMAN
Greece's most militant terror group has claimed responsibility
for shooting and critically injuring a 21-year-old policeman,
according to a long statement published Thursday in a local
newspaper.

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BUSINESS

NEW BANKING WOES DRAG MARKETS
Global stocks continued sliding Thursday as reports that Bank of
America faces a cash shortfall in its purchase of Merril Lynch
dragged Wall Street while and ECB rate cut failed to cheer
Europe.

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.