blog for sinoam: 01/04/2009

International

Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:01:04 -050
0TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 11 January, 2009

GAZA SOURCES: ISRAELI SHELLING KILLS GIRL, BURNS 49
Israeli shelling ignited several buildings, including a U.N.
school, in southern Gaza on Saturday, killing a girl and
severely burning 49 other people, local hospital sources said.
Meanwhile, Hamas militants fired 20 Grad long-range rockets into
Israel on Saturday, injuring four civilians, according to an
Israeli Defense Forces spokesman.

BUSH TAKES FINAL FLIGHT TO SEE DAD HONORED
An aircraft carrier named after the first President Bush was
commissioned Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia.

BUS TUMBLES INTO RAVINE IN PERU, KILLS 32
Thirty-two people were killed and 25 others injured when a bus
skidded off a rain-slicked mountain road and tumbled into a
ravine in northern Peru early Saturday : a transit police
spokesman

REPORT: EU, RUSSIA EDGE TOWARDS GAS DEAL
The European Union president held meetings in the Russian
capital Saturday to try to resolve a natural gas dispute between
Russia and Ukraine.

SOMALI PIRATES FREE TANKER AFTER RANSOM
Pirates holding a Saudi-owned oil supertanker off the coast of
Somalia have set the vessel free after receiving a ransom
payment, a piracy monitor in neighboring Kenya said Saturday.

LLOYDS TSB FINED OVER U.S. SANCTIONS BREACH
British bank Lloyds TSB has agreed to pay a $350 million penalty
to the U.S. authorities for illegal financial transfers that
violated sanctions, British media reports have said.

SUNNI-SHIA CLASHES IN PAKISTAN LEAVE 17 DEAD
Seventeen people have been killed and 30 wounded in clashes
between Sunni and Shia groups in villages in the Hangu District
in northwest Pakistan, police said Saturday.

ZIMBABWE INTRODUCES $50 BILLION NOTE
Zimbabwe's central bank will introduce a $50 billion note --
enough to buy just two loaves of bread -- as a way of fighting
cash shortages amid spiraling inflation.

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BUSINESS

INDIAN OIL WORKERS END CRIPPLING STRIKE
Facing intense government pressure, Indian oil workers agreed to
call off a three-day strike and go back to work, the Oil and
Petroleum Ministry announced.

OBAMA CALLS FOR 'DRAMATIC ACTION'
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said Congress must take
"dramatic action" on his economic aid package as soon as
possible, warning that a failure to do so would have devastating
long-term consequences for the nation.

RUSSIA, UKRAINE REACH MONITORING DEAL
Russian energy giant Gazprom stated Thursday it was ready to
resume pumping gas to European markets through Ukraine as soon
as independent monitors are in place following EU-hosted talks
in Brussels.

worldNews

Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:07:46 -0800 (PST)

Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
01/10/09 07:32 AM, EST
Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the
southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson
Lt. Stefani Cacho.

Somali pirates free tanker after ransom
01/10/09 04:23 AM, EST
Pirates holding a Saudi-owned oil supertanker off the coast of Somalia
have set the vessel free after receiving a ransom payment, a piracy
monitor in neighboring Kenya said Saturday.

VP-elect Biden arrives in Afghanistan for talks
01/10/09 03:37 AM, EST
Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Sen. Lindsey Graham arrived in
Kabul on Saturday for meetings with U.S. military commanders and
Afghan leaders, a U.S. military spokesman said.

Analyst: China Internet move part of global trend
01/10/09 03:00 AM, EST
China this past week released a list of major online portals and Web
sits that it claims provide and spread pornographic or obscene
content, state media reported.

International

Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:02:03 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 10 January, 2009

ISRAEL: OVERNIGHT STRIKES TARGET HAMAS
The Israeli military says it carried out air attacks on 40
targets in Gaza and killed 15 Hamas fighters in battles
overnight and Saturday morning. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
Israel was disregarding a U.N. vote in favor of a cease-fire
because the resolution will not be heeded by "murderous"
Palestinian groups.

SOMALI PIRATES FREE TANKER AFTER RANSOM
Pirates holding a Saudi-owned oil supertanker off the coast of
Somalia have set the vessel free after receiving a ransom
payment, a piracy monitor in neighboring Kenya said Saturday.

5 WOUNDED IN CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL DRIVE-BY
Five people were shot Friday outside a Chicago high school,
police said.

INDIAN FORCES GUN DOWN SUSPECTED INSURGENTS
Indian forces gunned down two suspected insurgents Saturday in
Assam, killing one of them, a day after a bomb explosion in the
remote northeastern state, the federal home ministry said.

U.S. VP-ELECT BIDEN ARRIVES IN AFGHANISTAN
Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Sen. Lindsey Graham arrived
in Kabul on Saturday for meetings with U.S. military commanders
and Afghan leaders, a U.S. military spokesman said.

'SUICIDE BOMBER' CAUGHT AFTER LAHORE BLASTS
Three explosions rocked Pakistan's second largest city Friday,
according to Lahore police.

OBAMA TRAIN TRIP POSES SECURITY ISSUES
President-elect Barack Obama's January 17 train trip from
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington is intended to make
the inauguration the most open and accessible in history.

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BUSINESS

EU: RUSSIA GAS SUPPLY SHOULD RESTART
Gas should start flowing again through the Ukraine from Russia
immediately after a deal was reached for EU monitors to
supervise the system, the EU says. The standoff has affected
millions of people across Europe, who have been forced to cut
down on gas heating or live without it amid freezing
temperatures.

INDIA RUNNING DRY AS OIL STRIKE BITES
Fuel pumps across India ran dry Friday as a strike by workers at
state-run oil companies entered a third day.

OBAMA CALLS FOR 'DRAMATIC ACTION'
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said Congress must take
"dramatic action" on his economic aid package as soon as
possible, warning that a failure to do so would have devastating
long-term consequences for the nation.

International

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 20:01:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 10 January, 2009

ISRAEL, HAMAS BRUSH OFF U.N. CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION
Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza, hitting more than 50
targets, despite calls for an immediate cease-fire by the U.N.
Security Council. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel was
disregarding the U.N. vote because the resolution will not be
heeded by "murderous" Palestinian groups.

'SUICIDE BOMBER' CAUGHT AFTER LAHORE BLASTS
Three explosions rocked Pakistan's second largest city Friday,
according to Lahore police.

BLAGOJEVICH IMPEACHED IN OBAMA SEAT ROW
The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday voted almost
unanimously to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

OBAMA NAMES NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEFS
President-elect Barack Obama will announce Friday that he is
naming Leon Panetta as CIA director and Dennis Blair as director
of national intelligence, two officials close to the transition
said.

'RANSOM PAID' TO PIRATES FOR SAUDI SUPERTANKER
Pirates holding a Saudi-owned supertanker off the coast of
Somalia have set the vessel free, according to Andrew Mwangura
of the Kenya Seafarers Association.

CHARLES TAYLOR'S SON SENTENCED FOR TORTURE
The son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor Sr. was
sentenced Friday to 97 years in prison for charges including
torture and conspiracy, according to a federal court in Florida.

'CANCER-FREE' BABY GIRL BORN IN LONDON
A woman gives birth to the first child in Britain known to have
been screened as an embryo to ensure she does not carry a gene
linked to breast and ovarian cancer, a spokesman for University
College London said.

14 DEAD, 22 MISSING AFTER COSTA RICA QUAKE
Fourteen people have died and another 22 are missing after a
6.2-magnitude earthquake Thursday in north central Costa Rica,
officials said Friday.

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BUSINESS

EU: RUSSIA GAS SUPPLY SHOULD RESTART
Gas should start flowing again through the Ukraine from Russia
immediately after a deal was reached for EU monitors to
supervise the system, the EU says. The standoff has affected
millions of people across Europe, who have been forced to cut
down on gas heating or live without it amid freezing
temperatures.

INDIA RUNNING DRY AS OIL STRIKE BITES
Fuel pumps across India ran dry Friday as a strike by workers at
state-run oil companies entered a third day.

OBAMA CALLS FOR 'DRAMATIC ACTION'
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said Congress must take
"dramatic action" on his economic aid package as soon as
possible, warning that a failure to do so would have devastating
long-term consequences for the nation.

Tech: Losses sweep across sector at maket close

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:00:12 -0500

Tech Stocks: Losses sweep across sector at maket close
1/9/2009 4:11 PM ET
Technology stocks close with losses across the board as the sector
slumps along with the broad market following the latest round of
disappointing unemployment figures.

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Rambus shares plunge after defeat in patent lawsuit
1/9/2009 5:22 PM ET
A federal judge in Delaware rule that the memory chip designer
couldn't enforce12 of its patents in claims against Micron Technology.

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Palm shares soar as new smart phone wins Wall Street praise
1/9/2009 4:09 PM ET
Palm stock surges, marking the company's second day of strong gains
following the debut of its new touch-screen smart phone.

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Outgoing Dell executives to cash in
1/9/2009 4:06 PM ET
Two top Dell Inc. executives who are leaving the computer maker as
part of another major shakeup are slated to receive more than $11
million in severance pay.

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Electronics business isn't getting easier for Best Buy
1/9/2009 1:42 PM ET
Analysts say Circuit City's viability remains in question, and even
though BestBuy is likely to pick up additional market share, the
company is in for a tough fight of its own, with general-merchandise
retailers like Wal-Mart expanding their efforts in the sector.

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Telecom Stocks: Qwest, Alcatel-Lucent lead retreat
1/9/2009 11:29 AM ET
Telecommunications stocks mostly declined in Friday
action after the latest monthly U.S. employment report showed a loss
of more than half a million jobs.

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Indications: U.S. stock futures turn slightly higher after jobs report
1/9/2009 9:18 AM ET
U.S. stock futures turn higher on Friday as a government report that 524,000
jobs were shed last month wasn't quite as bad as the market's most
pessimistic estimates.

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Satyam slumps again as investors dump shares
1/9/2009 3:56 AM ET
Shares of Satyam Computer Services plunged for a second straight session Friday
as worried investors dumped stocks in the wake of reports that the software
giant may be strapped for cash and some clients are reviewing contracts.

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CES reporter's notebook: SanDisk targeting tech neophytes
1/9/2009 1:46 AM ET
SanDisk Corp., the developer of flash memory cards and solid state storage
devices, offered an interesting twist on digital music players at the
Consumer Electronics Show.

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Thomas Kostigen's Ethics Monitor: NASA can bring space advancements
down to benefit Earth
1/8/2009 7:50 PM ET
NASA is promoting itself in more down to earth terms these days: It
claims the technology it develops to explore life in outer space can
actually help sustain life on this planet.

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Stocks to Watch: Stocks in focus for Friday
1/8/2009 6:35 PM ET
Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Friday's session are KB Home, MSCI, General Mills, and Chevron.

Markets Friday, 01/9/2009

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 17:31:03 -0500

MARKETS:
Stocks knocked by jobs report
Dow ends down 1.6% as investors fret the loss of another 524,000 jobs
in December.

Citi in talks to sell brokerage business, reports say

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:01:30 -0500

Citi in talks to sell brokerage business, reports say

Citigroup Inc.'s brokerage business is reportedly for sale as the
giant bank tries to recover from a near-collapse that's left it on
government life support.

BIG BOND DEALERS SEE YIELDS RISING IN 2009 AS ECONOMY REBOUNDS

Yields on U.S. Treasury bonds will rise from their current near-record
lows by the end of the year as economic growth resumes, but are likely
to stay at historically depressed levels, the biggest bond dealers
say.

ECONOMIC REPORT: CARNAGE CONTINUES WITH 524,000 JOBS LOST IN DECEMBER

The U.S. economy lost 524,000 jobs in December, closing out the worst year for
job losses since World War II, the Labor Department says.

JOHN DVORAK'S SECOND OPINION: CAN PRE REALLY HELP PALM SURVIVE?

Analysts see Palm's new Pre smart phone as something more than a
wannabe iPhone, but it really looks like nothing more than its popular
rival with a slide-out keypad, writes John Dvorak.

Dow finishes nearly 150 points lower after a dreary jobs report spooks investors.

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 16:01:06 -0500

Dow finishes nearly 150 points lower after a dreary jobs report spooks
investors.

Robert Rubin resigns from Citigroup: Wall Street Journal

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:13:30 -0500

Robert Rubin resigns from Citigroup: Wall Street Journal
1/9/2009 3:10:59 PM EDT

USnews

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:37:07 -0800 (PST)

Obama to name intelligence appointments Friday, sources say
01/09/09 08:56 AM, EST
President-elect Barack Obama will announce Friday that he is naming
Leon Panetta as CIA director and Dennis Blair as director of national
intelligence, two officials close to the transition said.

Stem cell discovery could mean faster healing
01/09/09 08:34 AM, EST
Researchers have found a way to prompt bone marrow to release a flood
of certain stem cells which could help heart attack patients recover
faster.

Carnage continues with 524,000 jobs lost in December

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:01:02 -0500

Carnage continues with 524,000 jobs lost in December

The U.S. economy lost 524,000 jobs in December, closing out the worst
year for job losses since World War II, the Labor Department says.

RECESSION TO DEEPEN IN FIRST HALF: BOSTON FED CHIEF

The U.S. economic recession is set to deepen in the first half of the
year, but could begin to show signs of improvement later in the year,
Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren said in a speech
late Thursday.

LEHMAN TO SPIN OUT PRIVATE EQUITY ARM -- WSJ

The private-equity arm of failed Wall Street brokerage Lehman Brothers
has reached a deal to be spun out as an independent entity, according
to a media report Thursday.

SATYAM SLUMPS AGAIN AS INVESTORS DUMP SHARES

Shares of Satyam Computer Services plunged for a second straight
session Fridayas worried investors dumped stocks in the wake of
reports that the software giant may be strapped for cash and some
clients are reviewing contracts.

Breaking News

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:42:12 -0800 (PST)

Gov. Blagojevich impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives.

International

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 10:21:07 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 09 January, 2009

SECURITY COUNCIL PASSES GAZA TRUCE RESOLUTION
The U.N. Security Council overwhelmingly approves a resolution
calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. All members of the
council vote in favor except the United States, which abstains.

HAMAS OFFICIAL SAYS FIGHTERS 'STILL STRONG'
A senior Hamas official who had crossed the border into Egypt
from Gaza said Thursday his fighters are "still strong" and
vowed to continue fighting despite a continuing ground and air
assault by Israel that has killed more than 700 people in the
Palestinian territory.

LEBANESE PM CONDEMNS ROCKET ATTACK ON ISRAEL
Four rockets fired from from Lebanon strike northern Israel,
wounding two people, Israeli police and emergency medical
services say. A statement from the Lebanese Army says the
rockets were launched by "an unknown group" and that the Israeli
retaliatory fire inflicted no casualties.

U.S. HOUSE TO VOTE ON ISRAEL RESOLUTION
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote Friday on a
resolution "recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against
attacks from Gaza," Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday.

BIDEN ARRIVES IN PAKISTAN FOR HIGH-LEVEL TALKS
Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Sen. Lindsay Graham arrived
in Islamabad Friday afternoon for scheduled talks with senior
Pakistani government officials on a variety of regional issues,
according to a U.S. Embassy spokesman.

U.S.: TOP AL QAEDA CHIEFS KILLED IN PAKISTAN
Two top al Qaeda terrorists have been killed in a U.S. missile
strike on a building in northern Pakistan on New Year's Day,
according to two senior U.S. officials.

RUSSIA, UKRAINE TO ALLOW GAS MONITORS
The heads of Russian energy giant Gazprom and Ukraine's
state-run gas company Naftogaz held brief talks overnight in
Moscow to discuss the impasse on natural gas deliveries, a
Gazprom spokeswoman said Thursday.

DEADLY QUAKE STRIKES COSTA RICA
Two girls died in a landslide Thursday triggered by a
6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck near Costa Rica's capital
of San Jose, the National Emergency Commission of Costa Rica
said.
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BUSINESS

OBAMA CALLS FOR 'DRAMATIC ACTION'
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said Congress must take
"dramatic action" on his economic aid package as soon as
possible, warning that a failure to do so would have devastating
long-term consequences for the nation.

SOUTH KOREA AUTOMAKER FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
Ssangyong Motor Co., South Korea's fifth largest automaker,
filed for bankruptcy Friday, citing the company's worsening
finances.

Energy: Oil falls for fourth session after U.S. jobs data

Date: 9 JAN 2009 14:30:39 GMT

Crude-oil futures fall Friday for a fourth consecutive session,
heading for a weekly loss of more than 11%, after government reports
showed that the U.S., the world's biggest oil consumer, lost the most
jobs in 2008 since World War II.

Employers shed 524,000 jobs in December and 2.6 million in '08 - worst year since 1945, U.S. says. Unemployment rate spikes to 7.2%.

Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 08:33:03 -0500

Employers shed 524,000 jobs in December and 2.6 million in '08 - worst
year since 1945, U.S. says. Unemployment rate spikes to 7.2%.

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:04:13 -0500

Gazprom says it will resume pumping gas through Ukraine once EU
monitors are in place.

Moderate earthquake hits Southern California 55 miles east of Los Angeles

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:07:20 -0500

Moderate earthquake hits Southern California 55 miles east of Los Angeles
1/8/2009 11:04:41 PM EDT

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 21:32:03 -0500

U.N. Security Council passes resolution calling for Gaza cease-fire,
with United States abstaining from vote.

Energy: Stocks in focus for Friday

Date: 8 JAN 2009 23:36:15 GMT

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Friday's session are KB Home, MSCI, General Mills, and Chevron.

Tech: EMC, Palm highlight late-session gains

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:00:11 -0500

Tech Stocks: EMC, Palm highlight late-session gains
1/8/2009 4:28 PM ET
Technology stocks gain ground late in the session in reaction to EMC
Corp.'s upbeat preliminary earnings and Palm Inc.'s new smart phone
and software.

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Thomas Kostigen's Ethics Monitor: NASA can bring space advancements
down to benefit Earth
1/8/2009 7:50 PM ET
NASA is promoting itself in more down to earth terms these days: It
claims the technology it develops to explore life in outer space can
actually help sustain life on this planet.

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CES reporter's notebook: Sony gets into netbook game, sort of
1/8/2009 5:06 PM ET
The Japanese giant is going its own way in the fast-growing market for
netbook computers.

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Palm debuts new touch-screen phone, operating system
1/8/2009 4:18 PM ET
Palm Inc. introduces a long-awaited new operating system and
touch-screen wireless phone following a nearly two-year long
restructuring effort designed to revamp the company's product
portfolio.

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EMC shares get lift on earnings, restructuring plans
1/8/2009 11:54 AM ET
EMC Corp. shares rise as much as 5.5% in the wake of the storage-technology
company reporting upbeat preliminary fourth-quarter results and saying
it would cut 2,400 jobs as part of a broad cost-reduction plan.

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Satyam faces lawsuits, issues action plan amid fraud revelation
1/8/2009 11:52 AM ET
Top executives at Satyam Computer Services Ltd. vow to restore
confidence among investors and customers, as two class-action lawsuits
are filed against the Indian software giant after its founder admitted
to inflating its balance sheet by more than $1 billion.

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Telecom Stocks: Phone stocks advance; vendors mixed
1/8/2009 11:23 AM ET
The telecommunications sector moved modestly higher
in Thursday trades after a negative opening, with wider gains
occurring among phone stocks.

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Analysts await Intel's results -- and its forecast
1/8/2009 11:12 AM ET
Intel Corp.'s back-to-back sales-forecast cuts confirmed what many
tech analysts already suspected: Tech demand pretty much evaporated in
the fourth quarter of 2008.

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GameStop's holiday same-store sales rise 10%
1/8/2009 10:46 AM ET
GameStop Corp. says same-store sales during the 2008 holiday season
rose 10%, aided by strong sales of new video software games.

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Israel Stocks: Market down for 2nd day as rockets hit northern Israel
1/8/2009 9:44 AM ET
Israeli stocks fall for a second day on Thursday, with sharp and broad
declines across a number of sectors and 24 of the 25 blue chips
falling, as Israel faces the prospect of a second front in its current
conflict.

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Indications: U.S. stock futures drop on Wal-Mart warning
1/8/2009 9:29 AM ET
U.S. stock futures stage a major retreat as retailing giant Wal-Mart
Stores scales back earnings expectations, citing a worse-than-expected
same-store
sales performance for December.

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Dell to axe 1,900 jobs in Ireland as it moves production east
1/8/2009 7:03 AM ET
Computer giant Dell, Inc. on Thursday says it will axe 1,900 jobs at
its main. Irish manufacturing plant and move the bulk of its
production for Europe, the Middle East and Africa to Poland as part of
its cost-cutting program.

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Lenovo warns of loss; 11% job cut set; shares tumble
1/8/2009 4:02 AM ET
Shares of Lenovo Group lost more than a quarter of their value in Hong
Kong trading Thursday after the maker of ThinkPad computers estimated
a "material loss" for the three months ended Dec. 31 and said it would
cut 11%, or 2,500, of its workers because consumer demand has dropped
sharply.

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Microsoft CEO touts new Windows, mobile search deal
1/7/2009 10:32 PM ET
Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer late Wednesday unveiled
the software giant's latest version of its flagship Windows operating
system, while touting a potentially pivotal new partnership that will
provide its Web search
technology to customers of Verizon Wireless.

Markets Thursday, 01/8/2009

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:31:03 -0500

MARKETS:
Stocks fight back
Wall Street cuts losses at the end of a choppy session on worries
about the consumer.

Billionaire investor Burkle bets on Whole Foods

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:01:49 -0500

Billionaire investor Burkle bets on Whole Foods

The investment fund run by Ron Burkle, who made a fortune investing in
supermarkets, hopes to find another payoff in Whole Foods Market, the
high-priced organic grocery chain that has fallen on hard times. See
full
story.

OBAMA WARNS OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES WITHOUT STIMULUS

President-elect Barack Obama urges Congress to get to work on a
massive stimulus plan of new spending and tax cuts, conceding that the
package would be costly in the short term but needed to head off dire
consequences for the
country.

OBAMA ASKS FOR DELAY IN DIGITAL TV SWITCH

The incoming Obama administration asks Congress to postpone the
nationwide switch to digital television, saying too many Americans
would lose their TV signals if the change takes place as planned in
mid-February.

COMMERCIAL PAPER CLAWS BACK TO PRE-LEHMAN LEVELS

Commercial paper volumes have rebounded to their levels before the
collapse of Lehman Bros. sent investors fleeing all but the safest
debt, new Federal Reserve data shows.

Breaking news: Obama urges passage of stimulus plan

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:48:45 -0600

WASHINGTON (AP) - In his first speech since his election,
President-elect Barack Obama warned that the economy could become
"dramatically worse" if Congress doesn't enact a massive stimulus
program. He laid out goals of doubling the production of alternative
energy over three years, updating most federal buildings to improve
energy efficiency, making medical records electronic, expanding
broadband networks and updating schools and universities.

Energy: Canadian stocks decline, led by mining and jobs outlook

Date: 8 JAN 2009 16:46:46 GMT

Equities in Canada edge higher, reversing earlier declines in tandem
with U.S. markets, a weak labor market outlook and falling oil prices.

U.S. stocks reduce losses as Sears offsets Wal-Mart damage

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:01:12 -0500
U.S. stocks reduce losses as Sears offsets Wal-Mart damage

U.S. stocks scale back early losses as Sears Holdings Corp.'s forecast
helps lift the Nasdaq Composite and offsets disappointment that came
after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. cut its earnings expectations.

RECESSION, JOB LOSSES SNOW ON RETAILERS' DECEMBER SALES

Severe winter storms before Christmas, coupled with the recession,
rising job losses and already worst consumer confidence on record,
snowed on retailers' sales in December, their biggest selling month of
the year.

TD AMERITRADE TO BUY THINKORSWIM FOR $606 MILLION

TD Ameritrade Holding said Thursday it has agreed to
buy online brokerage firm Thinkorswim Group in a deal valued at about
$606 million. TD Ameritrade is the industry leader in the number of
stock trades places each day, while Thinkorswim is the industry leader
in retail options trades. "This deal advances TD Ameritrade's growth
strategy for its active trader client segment by introducing new
trading functionality for traders, including advanced options trading,
futures, foreign exchange trading and
portfolio margining," said the company in a statement. Shares of TD
Ameritrade closed at $13.48 Wednesday, while Thinkorswim stock closed
at $5.65.

ECONOMIC REPORT: INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL; CONTINUING CLAIMS
HIGHEST SINCE 1982

First-time applications for state unemployment benefits fall 24,000 to
a seasonally-adjusted 467,000 in the week ending Jan. 3, the Labor
Department saysThursday.

BANK OF ENGLAND CUTS KEY INTEREST RATE TO ALL-TIME LOW

The Bank of England drops its benchmark interest rate to the lowest
level since the central bank's founding in 1694, as policy makers fire
yet another salvo in
the battle against a deep and potentially lengthy recession.

Obama takes campaign for massive economic rescue plan to the public amid 'crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime.'

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:19:05 -0500

Obama takes campaign for massive economic rescue plan to the public
amid 'crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime.'

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 11:04:13 -0500

Gazprom says it will resume pumping gas through Ukraine once EU
monitors are in place.

U.S. benchmark mortgage rate falls for 10th straight week

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:23:12 -0500

U.S. benchmark mortgage rate falls for 10th straight week
1/8/2009 10:21:25 AM EDT

Energy: Petroleum shares gains despite red ink in broad market

Date: 8 JAN 2009 15:17:21 GMT

Shares of petroleum producers and refiners rose Thursday as the group
regained its footing after big losses in the previous session, despite
lower oil prices and plenty of red ink in the broad market.

Energy: Market down for 2nd day as rockets hit northern Israel

Date: 8 JAN 2009 14:45:11 GMT

Israeli stocks fall for a second day on Thursday, with sharp and broad
declines across a number of sectors and 24 of the 25 blue chips
falling, as Israel faces the prospect of a second front in its current
conflict.

Dow industrials down 100, pacing Thursday-morning stock-market retreat

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:56:30 -0500

Dow industrials down 100, pacing Thursday-morning stock-market retreat
1/8/2009 9:54:25 AM EDT

Breaking News

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 01:09:04 -0500

At least three rockets have struck northern Israel from Lebanon,
Israeli police say.

Bank of England cuts rates half point to 1.5%, lowest in over 300 years

Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:02:29 -0500

Bank of England cuts rates half point to 1.5%, lowest in over 300 years
1/8/2009 7:00:36 AM EDT

Number of people filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell last week by 24,000 to 467,000.

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 08:33:03 -0500

Number of people filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell last
week by 24,000 to 467,000.

International

Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 08 January, 2009

ISRAEL MILITARY STEPS UP GAZA AIRSTRIKES
The Israeli air force intensifies its operations across Gaza,
launching strikes against approximately 60 targets in the
Palestinian territory. The attacks came as four rockets fired
from from Lebanon strike northern Israel, wounding two people.

ROCKETS FROM LEBANON STRIKE ISRAEL
Four rockets fired from from Lebanon strike northern Israel,
wounding two people, Israeli police and emergency medical
services say. A statement from the Lebanese Army says the
rockets were launched by "an unknown group" and that the Israeli
retaliatory fire inflicted no casualties.

RED CROSS DEMANDS ACCESS TO GAZA
The International Committee of the Red Cross calls on Israel to
allow it immediate access to Gaza, saying a trip into Gaza City
revealed weak children laying with their dead mothers and other
"shocking" scenes.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE GAS OFFICIALS HOLD TALKS
The heads of Russian energy giant Gazprom and Ukraine's
state-run gas company Naftogaz held brief talks overnight in
Moscow to discuss the impasse on natural gas deliveries, a
Gazprom spokeswoman said Thursday.

REPORT: NORTH KOREA TO HOLD ELECTION IN MARCH
North Korea will hold its delayed parliamentary elections in
March, a sign that leader Kim Jong-il's health is improving,
according to South Korean state-run media.

WOMAN SUSPECTED OF WITCHCRAFT BURNED ALIVE
A woman in rural Papua New Guinea was bound and gagged, tied to
a log and set ablaze on a pile of tires this week, possibly
because villagers suspected her of being a witch, police said
Thursday.

ALLEGED POLYGAMISTS ARRESTED IN CANADA
Two leaders of a Canadian polygamist sect are arrested and
charged with polygamy in what could be a landmark case.

JETBLUE, SCREENERS SETTLE ARABIC T-SHIRT LAWSUIT
JetBlue Airways and two TSA screeners will pay $240,000 to
settle an Iraqi man's claim he was denied access to a flight
until he covered a T-shirt that read in English and Arabic, "We
Will Not be Silent."

----------------------------------------

BUSINESS

AUTOMAKERS FACE GRIM JOB REPORTS
A rebound in sales will be difficult, if not impossible, to come
by for General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler LLC as long as
the unemployment rate keeps rising.

LENOVO TO CUT 2,500 JOBS, RESTRUCTURE
Personal computer maker Lenovo, expecting to report a loss for
the third fiscal quarter ending December 31, announced it would
cut 2,500 jobs as part of a restructuring expected to save $300
million.

CONTINENTAL, BOEING TEST BIOFUELED JET
A Continental Airlines jetliner flew with one engine powered by
a mix of oils from algae and jatropha plants Wednesday in what
the plane's manufacturer called an "outstanding" test flight.

Energy: Stocks in focus for Thursday

Date: 8 JAN 2009 02:07:09 GMT

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in
Thursday's session are Lawson, Chevron, EMC, Crucell and Wyeth.

International

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 20:02:05 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 08 January, 2009

ISRAEL RESUMES GAZA CAMPAIGN AFTER BRIEF HALT
A temporary truce in Gaza that was supposed to last three hours
on Wednesday failed just 15 minutes after it was scheduled to
take effect. The suspension of the campaign from 1 p.m. until 4
p.m. was intended to allow residents of the Hamas-ruled
Palestinian territory to receive food and medical supplies.

ISRAEL TO SEND ENVOYS TO GAZA TRUCE TALKS
Israel will send two envoys to Cairo, Egypt, in the coming days
to discuss a Gaza truce plan which is still in its early stages,
an Israeli Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

U.N.: NO MILITANTS AT SHELLED GAZA SCHOOL
U.N. officials are "99.9 percent certain" there were no
Palestinian militants in or on the grounds of a school that was
shelled by Israeli forces, killing more than 40 people, a
spokesman said Wednesday.

WANTED SADDAM ALLY URGES PALESTINIANS TO FIGHT
An audio message attributed to Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the
highest ranking former member of Saddam Hussein's regime still
at large, salutes the "People of Palestine" and calls on them to
fight back against Israel in Gaza.

SATYAM SHARES DIVE AFTER FRAUD ADMISSION
The chairman of India's fourth-largest software-services
provider resigned Wednesday after confessing to inflating the
company's profits for years with "fictitious" assets and
non-existent cash.

GAS ROW SENDS SHIVER THROUGH ICY EUROPE
Gas supplies to Europe from Russia remained cut or reduced
Wednesday as Russia and Ukraine continued their dispute over the
supply of natural gas.

OBAMA TO CALL FOR 'URGENT ACTION' ON ECONOMY
President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday will announce his pick
for "chief performance officer," a newly created position that
will work on the federal budget and to reform government.

MEXICAN PRESIDENT UNVEILS RECOVERY PLAN
Mexican President Felipe Calderon outlined a series of economic
recovery measures Wednesday, including freezing gasoline prices
for the rest of the year and lowering natural gas prices by 10
percent.

-------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

M&S TO CUT UP TO 1,230 JOBS
British retail giant Marks & Spencer unveiled its worst sales
figures for almost a decade Wednesday and announced plans to cut
up to 1,230 jobs.

CHELSEA'S ABRAMOVICH LOSES RICH-LIST STATUS
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has lost his position at the top
of football's rich list but David Beckham remains the wealthiest
player.

BOA SELLS 5.6B SHARES IN CHINESE BANK
Bank of America has sold 5.6 billion shares, or $3 billion, of
its holdings in China Construction Bank, a spokesman for the
Chinese bank said Wednesday.

Tech: Intel leads broad tech losses after warning

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:00:10 -0500

Tech Stocks: Intel leads broad tech losses after warning
1/7/2009 4:27 PM ET
Technology stocks close with broad losses as a revenue warning issued
by Intel Corp. and a fraud committed by one of India's largest
technology services companies highlight a dismal day in the sector.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft wins vaunted Verizon mobile search deal
1/7/2009 5:43 PM ET
Microsoft Corp. has bested rivals Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. by
securing an agreement to become the default provider of Internet
search service to mobile phone customers of Verizon Wireless.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
EMC reports preliminary results, plans to cut 2,400 jobs
1/7/2009 5:14 PM ET
EMC reports preliminary fourth-quarter results that are in line with
its earlier forecasts and says that it would cut 2,400 jobs along with
the salaries of Chief Executive Joe Tucci and other top executives as
it move to cut costs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
As other Clearwire backers get stung, eyes turn to Google
1/7/2009 4:28 PM ET
Strategic investors in Clearwire Corp. post a flurry of bad news
related to their stakes in the wireless services company, drawing
attention to one of its other more prominent backers: Google Inc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Satyam shares crash in Mumbai after $1 billion overstatement
1/7/2009 4:14 PM ET
Shares of Satyam Computer Services crash 77% in Mumbai, after the
founder and chairman of India's fourth-largest software company
resigns, saying the company had inflated its cash and bank balances on
the balance sheet by more than $1 billion.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Intel cuts fourth-quarter sales target again
1/7/2009 4:12 PM ET
Intel Corp. again cuts its fourth-quarter sales outlook, underscoring
the stunning drop in demand in the personal computer market amid a
weakening global economy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CES reporter's notebook: LG goes 007 with watch phone
1/7/2009 1:09 PM ET
Kicking off the first major press conference at the Consumer
Electronics Show, LG Electronics also debuted the first buzz-worthy
product of the event: a touch-screen cell phone built into a watch.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Stocks: Tel Aviv in broad retreat, snapping seven-session win streak
1/7/2009 10:52 AM ET
Israel stocks snap a seven-session winning streak, as investors sell
shares of Israel Chemicals, drug shares, Oil Refineries Ltd., and
Elbit Systems lower.
Investors discount conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
China awards 3G licenses to domestic mobile operators
1/7/2009 9:41 AM ET

China issues the first of its long-awaited licenses for
third-generation mobile phones, with the licenses going to three
state-owned mobile phone operators, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Markets Wednesday, 01/7/2009

Wednesday, 1/7/2009

| Dow : 8769.70 down 245.40 | S & P : 906.65 down 28.05 |
| NASDAQ: 1599.06 down 53.32 | Bond (10Y): 2.49%, 110.84
MARKETS:
Recession woes deck Wall Street
Stocks slump on jobs jitters, Alcoa job cuts and Intel profit warning.
Oil skids on bigger-than-expected crude inventories.

U.S. stocks end sharply lower; worst day for Dow since Dec. 1

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:01:29 -0500

U.S. stocks end sharply lower; worst day for Dow since Dec. 1

Stocks thud lower, with the Dow dropping the most since Dec. 1, as
investors confront more evidence of a deteriorating labor market and
downbeat news from metals giant Alcoa Corp. and technology bellwether
Intel Corp.

BAILOUT FUND INSPECTOR GIVEN OVERSIGHT POWER

Citigroup Inc., General Motors and Chrysler have agreed to account for
how theyare using billions of dollars invested in their corporations
by the Treasury
Department as part of a $700 billion bank bailout fund, according to the
inspector general overseeing the program.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL TUMBLES 12%, THE MOST IN SEVEN YEARS AS INVENTORIES JUMP

Crude-oil futures tumble 12%, marking their biggest one-day percentage
drop in more than seven years, after government reports show U.S.
crude inventories jumped last week and as data indicate deteriorating
troubles in the economy.

MILLIONAIRES JOIN THE REST OF US IN FEELING THE ECONOMIC HEAT

An overwhelming majority of Americans 45 years and older think the economy is
in dire straits. That's not limited to those who live paycheck to paycheck
either. A record 80% of millionaires polled in another survey said this is the
worst financial crisis they have ever experienced.

CES REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: LG GOES 007 WITH WATCH PHONE

Kicking off the first major press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show,
LG Electronics also debuted the first buzz-worthy product of the event: a
touch-screen cell phone built into a watch.

Dow tumbles more than 240 points after dismal job numbers spark a fresh wave of pessimism.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:03:03 -0500

Dow tumbles more than 240 points after dismal
job numbers spark a fresh wave of pessimism.

Oil settles more than 12% lower to $42.63 a barrel - largest percentage decline since September 2001 - as demand worries flare.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 14:52:03 -0500

Oil settles more than 12% lower to $42.63 a barrel - largest
percentage decline since September 2001 - as demand worries flare.

Dow sinks more than 200 points after gloomy job figures spread fear ahead of Friday's unemployment report.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 13:50:03 -0500

Dow sinks more than 200 points after gloomy job figures spread fear
ahead of Friday's unemployment report.

USnews

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:06:33 -0800 (PST)

Real estate power broker dead of apparent suicide
01/07/09 11:28 AM, EST
One of Chicago's most well-known real estate moguls appears to have
shot himself to death, police said.

Coming up in January: Business Traveller airport special
01/07/09 10:30 AM, EST
They are often the bane of our traveling lives. But they are often the
place where we feel the holiday has really begun.

iPhoto update helps show merits of geotagging
01/07/09 09:55 AM, EST
With its launch of iPhoto 09, Apple has begun showing some reasons why
it's worth enduring the hassle of geotagging your photos.

U.S. expects $1.2 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2009

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:01:08 -0500

U.S. expects $1.2 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2009

The U.S. government will run a $1.2 trillion budget deficit in fiscal
2009, the Congressional Budget Office says, offering a stark
assessment of the red ink facing the country and the incoming
administration of President-elect Barack Obama.

ECONOMIC REPORT: ADP DATA SHOW 693,000 PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS LOST IN DECEMBER

U.S. private-sector firms shed 693,000 jobs in December, far worse
than expected, according to the ADP employment index.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. STOCKS PLUNGE AFTER GRIM JOBS DATA

Stocks decline sharply as another report points to a further
deterioration of the labor market, while metals giant Alcoa announces
job cuts and technology bellwether Intel warns about its outlook.

ALCOA SLASHES JOBS, OUTPUT TO COPE WITH TOUGH ECONOMY

Alcoa Inc. says it is cutting 13,500 jobs, closing plants and further
curbing aluminum output to conserve cash as it battens down for a
lengthy recession.

TIME WARNER SEES NET LOSS IN 2008

Time Warner Inc. on Tuesday said it will incur more
than $25 billion in onetime costs, resulting in a net loss for all of
2008. The company also trimmed its forecast for adjusted operating
income.

WorldNews

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:13:44 -0800 (PST)

Woman dies of bird flu in China
01/07/09 12:29 AM, EST
A 19-year-old woman who handled ducks in northern China has died in
Beijing from bird flu, the World Health Organization said

Brain implant better than meds for Parkinson's disease
01/06/09 08:58 PM, EST
People with Parkinson's disease who have a pacemaker-like device
implanted in the brain spend an extra four-plus hours a day free of
tremors and involuntary movements than they do on medication,
according to the largest study of the treatment, which is known as
deep brain stimulation.

Blackwater defendants plead not guilty
01/06/09 08:47 PM, EST
Five former Blackwater Worldwide security guards pleaded not guilty
Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter charges and other crimes stemming
from a shooting incident in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.

NATO-led soldier killed in Afghanistan
01/06/09 08:41 PM, EST
A member of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan has been killed in the
country's volatile south, the International Security Assistance Force
said.

Al Qaeda message blames Obama, Egypt for Gaza violence
01/06/09 07:41 PM, EST
An audio message reportedly from al Qaeda's deputy chief vows revenge
for Israel's air and ground assault on Gaza and calls the Jewish
state's actions against Hamas militants "a gift" from U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama.

Israel to open 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza aid
01/06/09 06:30 PM, EST
Israel has agreed to establish a "humanitarian corridor" to supply
residents of Gaza with aid as international concerns about conditions
among civilians mount, according to a government statement.

Obama will ban earmarks from stimulus bill
01/06/09 06:24 PM, EST
Members of Congress won't be allowed to slip earmarks into the
economic recovery package Congress will soon take up, President-elect
Barack Obama said Tuesday.

Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador
01/06/09 06:04 PM, EST
Venezuela expelled Israel's ambassador to the country Tuesday and
accused Israel of attempting to carry out "genocide" against the
Palestinian people.

Sources: CNN's Gupta approached for surgeon general
01/06/09 04:38 PM, EST
The Obama transition team approached Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief
medical correspondent, about becoming U.S. surgeon general, according
to sources inside the transition and at CNN.

Panetta pick as CIA chief under fire
01/06/09 04:14 PM, EST
Could someone without intelligence experience effectively lead the
United States' top spy agency, particularly in a time of war?

Oil prices tumble after government reports much bigger-than-expected surge in crude and gasoline inventories.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 10:32:18 -0500

Oil prices tumble after government reports much bigger-than-expected
surge in crude and gasoline inventories.

Intel updates on quarterly revenue, citing end-demand weakness, inventory reductions

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:05:01 -0500

Intel updates on quarterly revenue, citing end-demand weakness,
inventory reductions
1/7/2009 9:03:16 AM EDT

Energy: Oil falls on expectations U.S. inventories had risen

Date: 7 JAN 2009 14:24:46 GMT

Crude-oil futures come under pressure for a second session, on
expectations that data will show higher U.S. petroleum inventories
last week.

Stocks open sharply lower after worse-than-expected job reports; techs under pressure after Intel warns; Dow hurt by Alcoa job cuts.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:32:08 -0500

Stocks open sharply lower after worse-than-expected job reports; techs
under pressure after Intel warns; Dow hurt by Alcoa job cuts.

U.S. budget deficit in 2009 will rise to record $1.2 trillion, or 8.3% of GDP, not counting any Obama stimulus, government estimates.

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 10:07:03 -0500

U.S. budget deficit in 2009 will rise to record $1.2 trillion, or 8.3%
of GDP, not counting any Obama stimulus, government estimates.

International

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 07 January, 2009

ISRAEL OFFERS SHORT RESPITE FROM STRIKES
Israel will halt its bombardment of Gaza for three hours every
day to allow residents of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory
to obtain much-needed supplies, a military spokesman says.

ISRAEL MULLS EXPELLING VENEZUELAN DIPLOMAT
Israel said Wednesday it may expel Venezuela's top diplomat from
the country in a tit-for-tat gesture after the South American
nation ordered the Israeli ambassador to leave over the
increasingly bloody ground war in Gaza.

AL QAEDA NO. 2 BLAMES OBAMA FOR GAZA
An audio message reportedly from al Qaeda's deputy chief vows
revenge for Israel's air and ground assault on Gaza and calls
the Jewish state's actions against Hamas militants "a gift" from
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.

GAZA DOCTORS: HOSPITAL CROWDED WITH CIVILIANS
Far more civilians than Hamas fighters are arriving for
treatment of war wounds at Gaza's main hospital as Israel's
military incursion into the territory continues, two doctors
say.

FRENCH SHIP FREED AS ANTI-PIRATE PATROLS START
Two Chinese destroyers and a supply ship were patrolling the
waters in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia on Wednesday, according
to news reports, and at least 15 vessels have requested their
protection.

RUSSIAN GAS DISPUTE SQUEEZES EUROPE SUPPLIES
Gas supplies to Europe from Russia remained cut or reduced
Wednesday as Russia and Ukraine continued their dispute over the
supply of natural gas.

VIDEO SPURS PROBE OF U.S. POLICE SHOOTING
A New Year's Day shooting in which a subway police officer fired
a deadly shot into the back of an unarmed man has the San
Francisco Bay Area demanding answers as authorities appeal for
patience.

BLACKWATER GUARDS DENY IRAQ SHOOTING CHARGES
Five former Blackwater Worldwide security guards plead not
guilty to voluntary manslaughter charges and other crimes
stemming from a shooting incident in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis
dead.
-----------------------------------------
BUSINESS

BOA SELLS 5.6B SHARES IN CHINESE BANK
Bank of America has sold 5.6 billion shares, or $3 billion, of
its holdings in China Construction Bank, a spokesman for the
Chinese bank said Wednesday.

GERMAN BILLIONAIRE KILLS SELF
German billionaire Adolf Merckle, one of the richest men in the
world, committed suicide Monday after his business empire got
into trouble in the wake of the international financial crisis,
Merckle's family said Tuesday in a statement.

Breaking News

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:33:04 -0500

Israel's temporary pause in fighting in parts of Gaza has taken
effect, according to U.N. and Israeli spokesmen.

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:19:08 -0500

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows
1/7/2009 8:17:07 AM EDT

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows

Date: Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:19:08 -0500

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows
1/7/2009 8:17:07 AM EDT

International

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 07 January, 2009

ISRAEL TO OPEN GAZA AID 'HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR'
Israel has agreed to establish a "humanitarian corridor" to
supply residents of Gaza with aid as international concerns
about conditions among civilians mount, according to a
government statement.

GAZA DOCTORS: HOSPITAL CROWDED WITH CIVILIANS
Far more civilians than Hamas fighters are arriving for
treatment of war wounds at Gaza's main hospital as Israel's
military incursion into the territory continues, two doctors
say.

SYRIA: HAMAS WILL TALK PEACE IF ISRAEL LEAVES GAZA
Any cease-fire in the Gaza conflict will require "clear and
definitive action" to halt the smuggling of weapons and money
into the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday.

VENEZUELA EXPELS ISRAELI AMBASSADOR
Venezuela expelled Israel's ambassador to the country Tuesday
and accused Israel of attempting to carry out "genocide" against
the Palestinian people.

GAS ROW FLARES AS SUPPLIES TO EUROPE CUT
Several European countries said Tuesday their supply of natural
gas from Russia had been cut or reduced amid a dispute over
payments between Russia and Ukraine.

GERMAN BILLIONAIRE KILLS SELF, FAMILY SAYS
German billionaire Adolf Merckle, one of the richest men in the
world, committed suicide Monday after his business empire got
into trouble in the wake of the international financial crisis,
Merckle's family said Tuesday in a statement.

JUDGE: ZIMBABWE ACTIVISTS MUST REMAIN IN JAIL
A leading Zimbabwean human rights activist must remain in
custody until the Supreme Court decides whether the charges
against her are valid, a judge ruled Tuesday.

APPLE PRESENTS ILIFE AT MACWORLD SWANSONG
When Apple vice president Philip Schiller takes the stage here
Tuesday morning for the keynote address at the Macworld
Conference & Expo, he'll face a good-news, bad-news scenario.
--------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

U.S. ECONOMIC STIMULUS MEETING RAISES HOPES
Congressional leaders from both parties are optimistic that U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama's package of tax cuts and spending
proposals will revive the beleaguered economy.

OBAMA: $300 BILLION IN TAX CUTS
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama launched his campaign for a
massive package of tax cuts and spending proposals aimed at
reviving an economy mired in recession.

GLOBAL MARKETS BUILD ON GAINS
European stocks traded mostly higher Tuesday morning, adding to
Monday's gains. London, Paris and Frankfurt were all up about
half a percent.

World News

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:04:52 -0800 (PST)

Ebola outbreak forces Angola to close Congo border
01/06/09 09:35 AM, EST
An outbreak of the deadly ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of
Congo has prompted neighboring Angola to close its border with that
country, Angola's state news agency reported Tuesday.

Tech: Semiconductor stocks lead sector rally; Apple slides

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:00:08 -0500

Tech Stocks: Semiconductor stocks lead sector rally; Apple slides
1/6/2009 4:15 PM ET
Most technology stocks post gains as the broader market advances on a
rally in energy shares.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Apple makes final appearance at Macworld
1/6/2009 5:33 PM ET
Apple Inc. begins its swan song at the Macworld Expo with the absence
of Chief Executive Steve Jobs hanging over the proceedings, as the
company unveils changes in pricing and copy protections for songs
available through its iTunes store.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Israel Stocks: Market higher for 7th day; supermarkets in focus
1/6/2009 10:59 AM ET
Israeli stocks close with a seventh day of gains, as most major
sectors and blue chips advance and shares in the real-estate group
show particular strength.

Markets Tuesday, 01/6/2009

Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 5:31 PM

U.S. Stock Markets:
DOW9,015.10
+62.21+0.69%
_________________
NASDAQ1,652.38
+24.35+1.50%
_________________
S&P934.70
+7.25+0.78%
_________________
10YR110 26/32
-6/32Yield: 2.5%
_________________
5:15 PM ET, 1/6/2009
Stocks recharge rally
Stocks rallied Tuesday as investors looked beyond the Federal
Reserve's dour outlook on the economy and instead scooped up shares
hit in last year's big selloff.

Breaking News Tue., January 6, 2009

Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:23 PM

Senator Norm Coleman Sues Over Outcome of Minnesota Senate Recount
[4:14 p.m. ET]

After the Bell: Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 5:01 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

Alcoa Inc. said Tuesday it is cutting 13% of its
workforce, closing plants, and further curbing aluminum output to
conserve cash as it battens down for a lengthy recession.

BANK OF AMERICA CEO SEES 2008 RESULTS BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Bank of America Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis warns that 2008 results
will fall short of expectations and says executives at the giant
lender, including himself, shouldn't get bonuses for last year,
according to a report.

THE FED: FOMC SAW SPECTER OF DEPRESSION, DEFLATION

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee at their mid-December
meeting saw increasing risks of depression and deflation as they
grappled with employing
new tools to stabilize an economy that was rapidly weakening,
according to truncated minutes of the meeting.

NEW CONGRESS ARRIVES WITH EYE ON OBAMA'S STIMULUS PACKAGE

A new, more Democrat-heavy Congress is sworn in to office with
economic stimulus as its top priority, as lawmakers and
President-elect Barack Obama aim for quick action to jolt the sagging
U.S. economy.

After the Bell: Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 5:01 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

Alcoa Inc. said Tuesday it is cutting 13% of its
workforce, closing plants, and further curbing aluminum output to
conserve cash as it battens down for a lengthy recession.

BANK OF AMERICA CEO SEES 2008 RESULTS BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Bank of America Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis warns that 2008 results
will fall short of expectations and says executives at the giant
lender, including himself, shouldn't get bonuses for last year,
according to a report.

THE FED: FOMC SAW SPECTER OF DEPRESSION, DEFLATION

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee at their mid-December
meeting saw increasing risks of depression and deflation as they
grappled with employing
new tools to stabilize an economy that was rapidly weakening,
according to truncated minutes of the meeting.

NEW CONGRESS ARRIVES WITH EYE ON OBAMA'S STIMULUS PACKAGE

A new, more Democrat-heavy Congress is sworn in to office with
economic stimulus as its top priority, as lawmakers and
President-elect Barack Obama aim for quick action to jolt the sagging
U.S. economy.

Alcoa announces 13,500 job cuts - 13% of worldwide workforce. Freezes salaries and cuts capital expenses by 50%.

Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 4:14 PM

Alcoa announces 13,500 job cuts - 13% of worldwide workforce. Freezes
salaries and cuts capital expenses by 50%.

Dow closes over 60 points higher as New Year optimism breathes life into battered tech and financial stocks.

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:01:05 -0500

Dow closes over 60 points higher as New Year optimism breathes life
into battered tech and financial stocks.

Breaking News Tue., January 6, 2009

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:41:51 -0800 (PST)

Barack Obama Taps CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General [3:30 p.m. ET]

FOMC members discussed mounting risks of deflation, depression at mid-December meeting

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:10:05 -0500

FOMC members discussed mounting risks of deflation, depression at
mid-December meeting
1/6/2009 2:07:52 PM EDT

Oil settles 23 cents lower at $48.58 a barrel as dismal economic news offsets supply fears.

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:05:05 -0500

Oil settles 23 cents lower at $48.58 a barrel as dismal economic news
offsets supply fears.

U.S. stocks lose steam as rally in crude-oil futures fades

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:01:16 -0500
U.S. stocks lose steam as rally in crude-oil futures fades

U.S. stocks pare an early rise as a rally in energy shares loses steam
as crude-oil futures dip to under $49 a barrel and as investors digest
new data that largely confirm a bleak view of the nation's economy.
TALKS TO RESUME BETWEEN RUSSIA, UKRAINE, REPORTS SAY

Ukraine and Russia will reportedly resume talks later this week to
resolve their energy dispute, which has resulted in sharp decreases in
natural-gas imports in several countries in Eastern and Central
Europe.

FUTURES MOVERS: OIL DROPS AS DEMAND CONCERNS OUTWEIGH PRODUCTION CUTS

Crude-oil futures fall after earlier topping $50 a barrel for the
first time infive weeks, as demand concerns outweigh signs that OPEC
will move forward with production cuts.

SOUTH KOREA TO SPEND 37 BILLION ON 'GREEN' PROJECTS

South Korea said on Tuesday said it would spend 50 trillion won ($38
billion) during the next four years on environmentally-friendly
projects in an effort to bolster employment as the nation undergoes
its sharpest slowdown since the 1998 Asian financial upheaval.

TOYOTA ANNOUNCES MORE TEMPORARY JAPAN PLANT SHUTDOWNS

Toyota Motor Corp. will shutter factories in Japan
for a combined 11 days during February and March to in an effort to
reduce capacity amid the global slowdown, according to reports
Tuesday.

Breaking News

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 11:45:06 -0500

At least 30 dead following Israeli artillery strike near perimeter of
U.N. school in northern Gaza, U.N. aid chief says.

International

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 06 January, 2009

TOLL RISES AS ISRAEL ENCIRCLES GAZA CITY
As the Israeli military surrounds densely populated Gaza City,
it says it has killed 130 Hamas fighters since beginning a
ground offensive over the weekend.

GAZA HORRORS SOW SEEDS FOR FUTURE VIOLENCE
Children in Gaza and Israel say they are frightened, having
witnessed terrible images of tragedy during the conflict.
Psychiatrists worry that the violence will sow the seeds for
future violence.

ARAB LEADERS MEET TO PRESENT GAZA RESOLUTION
Foreign ministers from several Arab nations huddle in New York
-- the eve of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' address to
the U.N. Security Council -- to work up a U.N. draft resolution
calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

UKRAINE: RUSSIA CUTS EUROPE GAS SUPPLY
A natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine flared Tuesday
when Ukraine accused the Russian supplier of blocking pipelines
to Europe, and two Eastern European countries said their supply
from Russia had been cut or reduced.

HUNDREDS IN AFGHANISTAN PROTEST GAZA INCURSION
Hundreds of people in southern Afghanistan have burned Israeli
flags and shouted anti-Israel and anti-American slogans to
protest Israel's military action in Gaza, according to
eyewitness accounts from a CNN stringer.

REPORT: CHINA TARGETS WEB SITES WITH 'PORN'
China has released a blacklist of 19 major online portals and
Web sites, including Google and Baidu, that it claims provide
and spread pornographic or obscene content, state media
reported.

TOYOTA EXTENDS SHUTDOWN OF PLANTS IN JAPAN
Toyota announced Tuesday it will idle all 12 of its wholly owned
factories in Japan for an extra 11 days in response to the
slumping auto market.

OBAMA PROPOSING $300B TAX CUTS
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama launched his campaign for a
massive package of tax cuts and spending proposals aimed at
reviving an economy mired in recession.

-------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

U.S. ECONOMIC STIMULUS MEETING RAISES HOPES
Congressional leaders from both parties are optimistic that U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama's package of tax cuts and spending
proposals will revive the beleaguered economy.

ASIA MARKETS UP; U.S. STOCKS LOWER
Asian Pacific markets traded up Tuesday, as a stronger dollar
made export-related stocks favorable to investors.

LEADERS MEET TO END UKRAINE GAS CRISIS
European and Russian leaders are holding crisis meetings Monday
to try to defuse a dispute between the Russian energy giant
Gazprom and Ukraine's state-run gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy.
Gazprom chief executive Alexey Miller, pictured, was to meet
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Demand for factory goods fell for the 4th month in a row, sinking a much-worse-than-expected 4.6% in November.

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:05:03 -0500

Demand for factory goods fell for the 4th month in a row, sinking a
much-worse-than-expected 4.6% in November.

Realtor's group reports number of homes under contract to be sold fell 4% in November - lowest level since 2001.

Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:02:05 -0500

Realtor's group reports number of homes under contract to be sold fell
4% in November - lowest level since 2001.

Energy: Crude reclaims $50 amid OPEC output cuts, Gaza fighting

Date: 6 JAN 2009 14:14:39 GMT

Crude-oil futures extend Monday's rally, reclaiming the $50-a-barrel
mark for the first time since the end of November. Serving as
catalysts are evidence that OPEC's putting into effect announced
production cuts as well as heightened tensions in the Middle East
tied to Israel's ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. stocks rise early Tuesday; Dow industrials up as much as 80 points; crude tops $50

Date: Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:44:15 -0500

U.S. stocks rise early Tuesday; Dow industrials up as much as 80
points; crude tops $50
1/6/2009 9:42:15 AM EDT

News Alert!

Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:35:31 -0800 (PST)

Hundreds in Afghanistan protest Gaza incursion
01/05/09 08:48 PM, EST
Hundreds of people in southern Afghanistan have burned Israeli flags
and shouted anti-Israel and anti-American slogans to protest Israel's
military action in Gaza.

Breaking News

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:41:02 -0500

The Israeli military says three of its soldiers have died as a result
of "friendly fire" from a tank in northern Gaza.

International

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 06 January, 2009

HAMAS DEFIANT OVER ROCKET STRIKES
A senior Hamas official says the Gaza leadership has no
intention of stopping its rocket attacks on Israel, despite
claims from Palestinian sources that more than 500 have died
during Israeli reprisals.

DOCTOR IN GAZA: PATIENTS 'LYING EVERYWHERE'
Gaza's main hospital, already overloaded with Palestinians
wounded in the week-long Israeli air assault, has reached
critical mass, according to a Norwegian doctor volunteering at
Shifa Hospital.

MASKED GUNMEN ATTACK RIOT POLICE IN ATHENS
Gunmen attacked a riot police unit in Athens Monday, seriously
injuring an officer following weeks of violent protests sparked
by the deadly police shooting of a teenager last month.

NEW U.S. EMBASSY OPENS IN BAGHDAD
Just days after the U.S. military formally handed authority of
Baghdad's "Green Zone" over to the Iraqis, the new American
Embassy opened in Baghdad.

OFFICIALS: PANETTA, BLAIR PICKED FOR INTEL JOBS
Leon Panetta, chief of staff in President Clinton's White House,
will be President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be director of
the CIA, two Democratic officials told CNN on Monday.

BOARD CERTIFIES FRANKEN WIN; LAWSUIT LOOMS
In a move that leaves a post-election legal challenge the last
hope for Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota's high court
has denied his campaign's request to consider about 650
additional rejected absentee ballots.

MEETING TO END UKRAINE GAS CRISIS
European and Russian leaders are holding crisis meetings Monday
to try to defuse a dispute between the Russian energy giant
Gazprom and Ukraine's state-run gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy.

INDIA HANDS MUMBAI ATTACKS FILE TO PAKISTAN
India says it has handed evidence it says links the November
massacre in Mumbai to "elements in Pakistan" over to Pakistani
government officials.

-------------------------------------
BUSINESS

MARKETS REOPEN AFTER TURBULENT 2008
Europe's major markets open higher at the start of the first
full trading week of 2009. London, Paris and Frankfurt were all
up less than a percent.

BRITISH FINE CHINA MAKER CALLS IN RECEIVER
Fine china and glasswork maker Waterford Wedgwood has called in
a receiver -- the British equivalent of bankruptcy.

RICHARDSON BOWS OUT OF U.S. COMMERCE JOB
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's pick for commerce secretary,
Bill Richardson, is withdrawing his nomination, citing the
distraction of a federal investigation into ties to a company
that has done business with his state.

Tech: Apple stock a lone winner as tech sector slumps

Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:00:09 -0500

Tech Stocks: Apple stock a lone winner as tech sector slumps
1/5/2009 4:33 PM ET
Most technology stocks slide, but Apple shares rally after Steve Jobs
declares. he's healthy enough to stay on as CEO.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Therese Poletti's Tech Tales: Macworld won't be the same without Apple
or Steve Jobs
1/5/2009 5:59 PM ET
Shareholders deserve more information than what
Apple Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs was willing to disclose about
his health Monday.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Analyst sees chips rebound 'a few months away'
1/5/2009 4:15 PM ET
Semiconductor stocks rise after a Wachovia analyst says that an
industry rebound is "a few months away."

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Apple's Jobs addresses health concerns on eve of Macworld
1/5/2009 4:14 PM ET
Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs is suffering from a "hormone imbalance"
that's caused him to steadily lose weight, but he says he's healthy
enough to continue
as the company's chief executive -- for now.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T, Verizon tumble on dour forecast
1/5/2009 2:15 PM ET
Giant U.S. phone companies AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
have been seen by anxious investors as a near-term oasis for their
money, but an influential analyst says such a view might be a mirage.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telecom Stocks: AT&T, Verizon decline; vendors higher
1/5/2009 12:34 PM ET
Shares of AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
fell sharply Monday after a brokerage cut its rating on both phone
companies, saying the recession and a saturated U.S. wireless market
are likely to retard growth in 2009.

Markets Monday, 01/5/2009

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 17:31:03 -0500

| Dow : 8952.89 down 81.80 | S & P : 927.45 down 4.35 |
| NASDAQ: 1628.03 down 4.18 | Bond (10Y): 2.48%, 111.00
MARKETS:
Stocks finish lower
Markets churn on auto sales, surging oil and Obama stimulus. Dow ends
below 9,000.

After the Bell: U.S. stocks finish down for first session in four

Date: Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 5:01 PM
U.S. stocks finish down for first session in four

U.S. stocks fall as automakers report declining car sales and as
investors contend with underlying anxiety before Friday's jobs report.

AUTOMAKERS END YEAR WITH BIG SALES DROPS IN DECEMBER

Ford and General Motors report that December U.S. vehicle sales are
off more than 30% each, closing the books on one of the toughest years
the domestic auto industry has ever seen.

APPLE'S JOBS ADDRESSES HEALTH CONCERNS ON EVE OF MACWORLD

Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs is suffering from a "hormone imbalance"
that's caused him to steadily lose weight, but he says he's healthy
enough to continue as the company's chief executive -- for now.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE
http://www.marketwatch.com/pf/?siteid=nwtpm

AUTO REVIEW: THE BEST CARS OF 2008, INCLUDING THE CAR OF THE YEAR

MarketWatch auto reviewer Ron Amadon selects the top cars from among those he
test drove this year. See full story.
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=93a891fbbe9d44a2b1d2a4b66e1f457b&siteid=nwtpm&sguid=En4PdJsrg0Wxj6iEMEUscg

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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News Alert!

Date: Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 5:09 PM

Officials: Panetta to be tapped for CIA director
01/05/09 03:11 PM, EST
Leon Panetta, chief of staff in President Clinton's White House, will
be President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be director of the CIA.

Stocks fall as investors mull dismal auto sales numbers, Obama's stimulus plans and rising oil prices.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:02:06 -0500

Stocks fall as investors mull dismal auto sales numbers, Obama's
stimulus plans and rising oil prices.

Oil rises $2.47 to settle at $48.81 a barrel as Middle East tensions flare.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:51:04 -0500

Oil rises $2.47 to settle at $48.81 a barrel as Middle East tensions flare.

Chrysler reports sales plummeted 53% in December.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 15:08:04 -0500

Chrysler reports sales plummeted 53% in December.

Breaking News Mon., January 5, 2009

Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:54:57 -0800 (PST)

Former Congressman, Leon Panetta, Tapped by Obama to Head CIA. [2:47 p.m. ET]

Ford U.S. December sales down 32.4%

Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:51:04 -0500

Ford U.S. December sales down 32.4%
1/5/2009 12:49:11 PM EDT

Ford Motor reports a 32% drop in December auto sales - slightly better than expected.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 12:48:04 -0500

Ford Motor reports a 32% drop in December auto sales - slightly better
than expected.

Apple's Jobs addresses health concerns on eve of Macworld

Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:01:11 -0500

Apple's Jobs addresses health concerns on eve of Macworld

Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs is suffering from a "hormone imbalance"
that's caused him to steadily lose weight, but he says he's healthy
enough to continue as the company's chief executive -- for now.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. CONSTRUCTION SPENDING FALLS 0.6% IN NOVEMBER

Outlays for construction projects in the United States fall a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.6% in November, undermined by a
drop in outlays on home construction, government data show.

Energy: Oil futures fall, as U.S. dollar rises vs. rivals

Date: 5 JAN 2009 13:59:02 GMT

Oil futures fell more than 1% early Monday, coming under pressure as
the U.S. dollar rallied against other major currencies.

Stocks open lower as investors digest Obama's stimulus plan and await the latest reading on December auto sales.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:32:05 -0500

Stocks open lower as investors digest Obama's stimulus plan and await
the latest reading on December auto sales.

International

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 05:02:08 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 1000 GMT -- 05 January, 2009

ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA AS HAMAS ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES
Hamas rocket fire into southern Israel persists despite a now
10-day campaign of Israeli airstrikes and two nights of ground
combat in northern Gaza.

DOCTOR IN GAZA: PATIENTS 'LYING EVERYWHERE'
Gaza's main hospital, already overloaded with Palestinians
wounded in the week-long Israeli air assault, has reached
critical mass, according to a Norwegian doctor volunteering at
Shifa Hospital.

THAI CLUB OWNER CHARGED OVER DEADLY FIRE
Thai police charge a Bangkok nightclub owner in connection with
a New Year's Eve fire that claimed the lives of at least 64
people, police said.

INDIA HANDS MUMBAI ATTACKS FILE TO PAKISTAN
India says it has handed evidence it says links the November
massacre in Mumbai to "elements in Pakistan" over to Pakistani
government officials.

EX-COMIC FRANKEN SET TO WIN U.S. SENATE RACE
An election board is expected to announce on Monday that
Democrat Al Franken has defeated Republican incumbent Norm
Coleman in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, state officials say.

RICHARDSON HANDS OBAMA CABINET VACANCY
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has a Cabinet seat to fill
after New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced he was
withdrawing his nomination to be commerce secretary.

10-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED IN INDONESIA QUAKE
A 10-year-old girl was killed and 35 other people wounded in a
major earthquake near the north coast of West Papua, Indonesia,
government officials said.

EUROPEAN MARKETS FOLLOW ASIA HIGHER
Major markets in Europe and Asia open higher at the start of the
first full trading week of 2009.

------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

WALL STREET BRACES FOR BAD NEWS
Wall Street opens Monday to start the first full week of trading
after a classic holiday rally on Friday. But the weeks ahead
will prove the true test, as market pros return to digest a
barrage of bad economic news and corporate profit warnings.

GAZPROM FILES LAWSUIT OVER GAS DISPUTE
Russian energy giant Gazprom, in the midst of a standoff with
Ukraine over payments for gas, has filed a lawsuit to stop what
it claims is illegal siphoning, chief executive Alexey Miller,
pictured, says.

AUSTRIA TAKES OVER BANK HIT BY MADOFF CASE
The Austrian government has taken control of a private bank with
significant exposure to the alleged fraud by Bernard Madoff.
Austria's market regulator, the FMA, installed a supervisor to
take control of Bank Medici, saying the move would address the
danger that the bank would not be able to pay its creditors.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says a hormone imbalance is causing his weight loss. Will continue as CEO during recovery.

Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:41:04 -0500

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says a hormone imbalance is causing his weight
loss. Will continue as CEO during recovery.

news Alert!

Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:34:58 -0800 (PST)

Panel to declare Franken winner of Senate race
01/04/09 06:33 PM, EST
A state election board on Monday will announce Democrat Al Franken has
defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota's U.S. Senate
race.

International

Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 20:02:07 -0500
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 05 January, 2009

DOCTOR IN GAZA: PATIENTS 'LYING EVERYWHERE'
Gaza's main hospital, already full of Palestinians wounded in
the week-long Israeli air assault, reached critical mass on
Sunday, according to a Norwegian doctor at Shifa Hospital.

PALESTINIAN SOURCES: DEATH TOLL TOPS 500
Palestinian medical sources say Israeli forces have killed 37
Palestinians -- both civilians and militants -- since moving
into the territory Saturday night. With those deaths, at least
507 Palestinians, including about 100 women and children, have
been killed in the week-long military operation, and 2,600
Palestinians have been injured, most of them civilians, sources
said.

EU, RUSSIA SENDING DELEGATIONS TO MIDEAST
International envoys scrambled to the Middle East Sunday to try
to end an Israeli assault on Gaza in response to months of
rocket fire from Palestinians.

BILL RICHARDSON BOWS OUT AS COMMERCE NOMINEE
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is withdrawing his nomination to
be commerce secretary, he and President-elect Barack Obama said
in statements Sunday.

DOZENS KILLED IN IRAQI PILGRIMAGE BOMBING
A suicide bomber killed at least 37 people and injured 53 --
many of them women -- during a Shia pilgrimage in northwestern
Baghdad Sunday,.

HUGE QUAKE KILLS AT LEAST 2, INJURES 35
A major earthquake struck Sunday near the northern coast of West
Papua, Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

PAKISTAN SUICIDE BOMBING KILLS SIX
A small explosion struck a cafe in northwestern Pakistan Sunday
evening and, as police gathered to investigate, a suicide bomber
detonated his explosives, killing six people, according to local
police and the town's mayor.
-------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS

GAZPROM FILES LAWSUIT OVER GAS DISPUTE
Russian energy giant Gazprom, in the midst of a standoff with
Ukraine over payments for gas, has filed a lawsuit to stop what
it claims is illegal siphoning, chief executive Alexey Miller,
pictured, says.

AUSTRIA TAKES OVER BANK HIT BY MADOFF CASE
The Austrian government has taken control of a private bank with
significant exposure to the alleged fraud by Bernard Madoff.
Austria's market regulator, the FMA, installed a supervisor to
take control of Bank Medici, saying the move would address the
danger that the bank would not be able to pay its creditors.

WALL STREET STARTS YEAR WITH A BANG
Stocks rallied today, with investors starting off the new year
on the right foot after an abysmal 2008. The Dow closed above
9,000 for the first time since November. Analysts and investors
are cautiously optimistic that Wall Street will recover some in
2009, but the extent of any recovery will depend on a variety of
factors.

Bill Richardson withdraws as Commerce secretary nominee

Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:14:18 -0500

Bill Richardson withdraws as Commerce secretary nominee
1/4/2009 2:12:27 PM EDT

Internationa

Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 20:02:05 -0500>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 04
January, 2009

ISRAELI TROOPS, TANKS ENTER GAZA
Israeli ground forces crossed into Gaza on Saturday night, in
the second phase of its assault on the Hamas-ruled territory, an
Israeli spokeswoman said. Earlier Saturday, the Israelis began
firing artillery into Gaza, following a week of in airstrikes.

7.6 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES OFF INDONESIA
A major earthquake struck Sunday near the northern coast of West
Papua, Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

MARS ROVERS MARK 5 YEARS ON RED PLANET
NASA's Mars rovers are celebrating their fifth birthday on the
Red Planet, with no end yet in sight to their work

AUTOPSY MONDAY FOR JOHN TRAVOLTA'S SON
The 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta has died after
suffering a seizure while vacationing with his family in the
Bahamas.

AUSTRIA TAKES OVER BANK HIT BY MADOFF CASE
The Austrian government has taken control of a private bank with
significant exposure to the alleged fraud by Bernard Madoff.

IRAQIS: AMERICANS SHOT WOMAN WITHOUT WARNING
An Iraqi TV employee who was shot and critically wounded on New
Year's Day said the U.S. soldiers who fired at her gave no
warning, her supervisor said Saturday.

GAZPROM ACCUSES UKRAINE OF SIPHONING GAS
Russian energy giant Gazprom has accused Ukraine of siphoning
off gas intended for European customers as the standoff between
them worsens.

114-YEAR-OLD U.S. WOMAN TO BE WORLD'S OLDEST
Gertrude Baines, a spry 114-year-old California resident, will
likely be crowned the world's oldest woman, according to the
organization that keeps track of such honors.

-------------------------------------
BUSINESS

WALL STREET STARTS YEAR WITH A BANG
Stocks rallied today, with investors starting off the new year
on the right foot after an abysmal 2008. The Dow closed above
9,000 for the first time since November. Analysts and investors
are cautiously optimistic that Wall Street will recover some in
2009, but the extent of any recovery will depend on a variety of
factors.

FORMER SANLU CHIEF FAULTS POOR REGULATION
The head of major Chinese dairy firm Sanlu Group argues that
the country's lack of regulations regarding a toxic chemical
contributed to a tainted milk scandal that sickened nearly
300,000 infants, state-run media reports.

SINGAPORE'S GDP SLUMPS 12.5 PERCENT
In a further indication of the weakening Asian economy,
Singapore on Friday said GDP had declined by 12.5 percent in
real terms in the fourth quarter of 2008 and revised downwards
its growth estimates for 2009.

Breaking News

Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 02:20:21 -0500

At least 30 people missing and two confirmed dead after boat capsizes
on Nepal's Koshi River, police say.

blog for sinoam

BFSA - Blog for Sino-American 中 美 网 >> http://sinoam.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 10, 2009

International

worldNews

International

Friday, January 09, 2009

International

Tech: Losses sweep across sector at maket close

Markets Friday, 01/9/2009

Citi in talks to sell brokerage business, reports say

Dow finishes nearly 150 points lower after a dreary jobs report spooks investors.

Robert Rubin resigns from Citigroup: Wall Street Journal

USnews

Carnage continues with 524,000 jobs lost in December

Breaking News

International

Energy: Oil falls for fourth session after U.S. jobs data

Employers shed 524,000 jobs in December and 2.6 million in '08 - worst year since 1945, U.S. says. Unemployment rate spikes to 7.2%.

Breaking News

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Moderate earthquake hits Southern California 55 miles east of Los Angeles

Breaking News

Energy: Stocks in focus for Friday

Tech: EMC, Palm highlight late-session gains

Markets Thursday, 01/8/2009

Billionaire investor Burkle bets on Whole Foods

Breaking news: Obama urges passage of stimulus plan

Energy: Canadian stocks decline, led by mining and jobs outlook

U.S. stocks reduce losses as Sears offsets Wal-Mart damage

Obama takes campaign for massive economic rescue plan to the public amid 'crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime.'

Breaking News

U.S. benchmark mortgage rate falls for 10th straight week

Energy: Petroleum shares gains despite red ink in broad market

Energy: Market down for 2nd day as rockets hit northern Israel

Dow industrials down 100, pacing Thursday-morning stock-market retreat

Breaking News

Bank of England cuts rates half point to 1.5%, lowest in over 300 years

Number of people filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell last week by 24,000 to 467,000.

International

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Energy: Stocks in focus for Thursday

International

Tech: Intel leads broad tech losses after warning

Markets Wednesday, 01/7/2009

U.S. stocks end sharply lower; worst day for Dow since Dec. 1

Dow tumbles more than 240 points after dismal job numbers spark a fresh wave of pessimism.

Oil settles more than 12% lower to $42.63 a barrel - largest percentage decline since September 2001 - as demand worries flare.

Dow sinks more than 200 points after gloomy job figures spread fear ahead of Friday's unemployment report.

USnews

U.S. expects $1.2 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2009

WorldNews

Oil prices tumble after government reports much bigger-than-expected surge in crude and gasoline inventories.

Intel updates on quarterly revenue, citing end-demand weakness, inventory reductions

Energy: Oil falls on expectations U.S. inventories had risen

Stocks open sharply lower after worse-than-expected job reports; techs under pressure after Intel warns; Dow hurt by Alcoa job cuts.

U.S. budget deficit in 2009 will rise to record $1.2 trillion, or 8.3% of GDP, not counting any Obama stimulus, government estimates.

International

Breaking News

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows

U.S. private sector shed 693,000 jobs in December, ADP payrolls survey shows

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

International

World News

Tech: Semiconductor stocks lead sector rally; Apple slides

Markets Tuesday, 01/6/2009

Breaking News Tue., January 6, 2009

After the Bell: Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

After the Bell: Alcoa slashes jobs, output to cope with tough economy

Alcoa announces 13,500 job cuts - 13% of worldwide workforce. Freezes salaries and cuts capital expenses by 50%.

Dow closes over 60 points higher as New Year optimism breathes life into battered tech and financial stocks.

Breaking News Tue., January 6, 2009

FOMC members discussed mounting risks of deflation, depression at mid-December meeting

Oil settles 23 cents lower at $48.58 a barrel as dismal economic news offsets supply fears.

U.S. stocks lose steam as rally in crude-oil futures fades

Breaking News

International

Demand for factory goods fell for the 4th month in a row, sinking a much-worse-than-expected 4.6% in November.

Realtor's group reports number of homes under contract to be sold fell 4% in November - lowest level since 2001.

Energy: Crude reclaims $50 amid OPEC output cuts, Gaza fighting

BFSA - Blog for Sino-American 中美网 >> http://sinoam.blogspot.com