WORLD NEWS Happy 2009! going green!

Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 02 January, 2009

TOP HAMAS LEADER KILLED IN GAZA AIRSTRIKE
The Israeli air force has bombed the homes of two top Hamas
military figures, killing at least one of them. The Hamas
television showed the body of Nizar Rayan, a commander in
northern Gaza, being pulled from the rubble of his house in
Jabalya, pictured.

CLUB FIRE VICTIMS DIED FROM SMOKE, TRAMPLING
At least 58 people are dead following a fire at a Bangkok
nightclub where hundreds of revelers had gathered to celebrate
the New Year. Police said sparks from a fireworks display may
have caused the blaze. Many of the victims were killed in a
stampede for the exits as panicked clubbers attempted to escape
the flames.

IRAQIS TAKE CONTROL OF 'GREEN ZONE'
The U.S. military formally handed authority over Baghdad's
"Green Zone" to Iraqis on Thursday as new pacts governing the
mission of international troops replaced a U.N. mandate.

LONGTIME U.S. SEN. CLAIBORNE PELL DIES
Former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, who was largely responsible for
the Pell grant program for U.S. college students, died Thursday
morning at his Rhode Island home, his family said.

PROTESTERS ATTACK TEHRAN HOME OF NOBEL WINNER
A group of demonstrators attacked the Tehran home and office of
Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi on Thursday, trampling a sign
in the front yard and accusing her of supporting Israel, her
office said.

TRIBUTES PAID TO ANTI-APARTHEID CRUSADER
Anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman, twice nominated for a
Nobel Peace prize, died Thursday at her home in Johannesburg,
South Africa. She was 91.

DISPUTE OVER DEATHS OF AFGHAN POLICE OFFICERS
Taliban fighters ambushed the home of an Afghan government
official in the southern Helmand province, killing 20
bodyguards, a spokesman for the provincial governor said
Thursday.

SUSPECT SURRENDERS IN DANISH MALL SHOOTING
Two Israeli citizens were shot and suffered minor injuries
Wednesday at a shopping mall in the Danish town of Odense, a
police spokesman has said.

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BUSINESS

GAZPROM CUTS OFF GAS SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE
Russian energy monopoly Gazprom said Thursday it had cut off
supplies of natural gas to Ukraine after a payment deadline
expired. Ukraine owes the energy giant about $2 billion for past
natural gas deliveries.

SLOVAKIA HOPES EURO MOVE BRINGS STABILITY
Slovakia became the first of the larger ex-communist EU members
to join the European single currency on Thursday amid hope the
move will provide stability in the global economic storm.