International

Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 05:02:06 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 03 February, 2009

CHAVEZ HOPES FOR BETTER RELATIONS WITH OBAMA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who once called George W. Bush
"the devil," says he hopes for better relations with U.S.
President Barack Obama. Marking 10 years as head of state in the
oil-rich nation, the leftwing leader said he backed
Obama's plans to develop alternative energy -- but said he
doubted the U.S. could shake its oil needs.

MYANMAR REFUGEES FOUND OFF INDONESIA
Indonesian authorities have found some 200 refugees from Myanmaroff
the country's west coast who said they had been drifting in a boat for
three weeks. The discovery comes after allegations arose one month ago
that a group of Myanmar's Rohingya minority had been dumped at sea by
Thai military authorities.

10 ARRESTED IN SPAIN FORGERY INVESTIGATION
Police arrested at least 10 people in Barcelona and Valencia
early Tuesday on suspicion of document forgery, possibly for
Islamic terrorists, a government source said.

ROCKET FROM GAZA FIRED INTO ISRAEL
Palestinian militants fired a long-range rocket from Gaza into
southwestern Israel on Tuesday morning. It was the first such
attack into the city of Ashkelon since the two sides declared a
cease-fire, the Israeli military said.

HILLARY CLINTON TO HEAD TO ASIA FIRST
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and
travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas, diplomats familiar
with the planning have said. Clinton is expected to visit China,
Japan and South Korea on her first trip. The diplomats said she
may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia.

SOMALIA FIGHTING KILLS AT LEAST 39 CIVILIANS
At least 39 civilians were killed in Somalia's capital Monday
after a convoy of African Union peacekeepers was hit by a
roadside bomb, causing the troops to open fire, officials and
eyewitnesses said.

CHINA JOB LOSSES SEND 20M MIGRANTS HOME
Job losses triggered by the global financial crisis have driven
some 20 million Chinese workers from cities back to their rural
homelands, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

SUSPECTED MILITANTS BLOW UP PAKISTAN BRIDGE
Suspected Taliban militants have blown up a bridge in the border
region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, suspending NATO supply
lines.

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BUSINESS

HITACHI POSTS $4B LOSS IN THIRD QUARTER
Japanese electronics company Hitachi on Tuesday announced a
third-quarter loss of more than $4 billion. The company also
reshuffled its executive leadership.

SOURCES: REPUBLICAN GETS TOP COMMERCE NOD
Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire has accepted U.S.
President Barack Obama's offer to be commerce secretary, two
administration officials said.

AUSTRALIA CUTS KEY RATE, UNVEILS STIMULUS
The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday cut its cash rate, or
overnight money market interest rate, by 1 percent to 3.25
percent to stimulate demand and cushion the nation's economy
amid a global recession.