International Headline News

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:02:08 -0500
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 13 March, 2010

> POPE 'DISTRAUGHT' BY GERMAN SEX ABUSE SCANDAL
Pope Benedict XVI is distraught by news of a scandal involving
allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Germany,
the country's highest-ranking Catholic says.

> CLINTON CALLS ISRAELI MOVE 'INSULTING'
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday that Israel's
announcement of new settlement construction in disputed
territory in East Jerusalem was "insulting" to the United
States.

> BELGIAN TERROR SUSPECT 'MET BIN LADEN'
A Belgian woman on trial in Belgium for involvement in terrorism
says her husband -- himself wanted on terror charges -- met al
Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the summer of 2008.

> JUDGE CONSIDERS $650M 9/11 SETTLEMENT
A New York judge may approve a $657 million settlement Friday
for workers who became ill after the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

> AT LEAST 39 KILLED IN PAKISTAN BOMBING
Twin suicide blasts killed at least 39 people and injure 95
others in .

> THAILAND BRACES FOR MASS PROTESTS
Thailand mobilizes security forces ahead of anti-government
demonstrations by "red shirt" supporters of ousted former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

> EX-SPY CHIEF URGES TALKS WITH TALIBAN
Talking to the Taliban leader in Afghanistan may help bring
peace to the country, according to a former Pakistan spy chief
once referred to as the "father of the Taliban."

> JOBLESS YOUNG A 'TICKING TIME BOMB'
It is without a doubt one of the most pressing issues for the
Middle East region today, described by Queen Rania of Jordan as
a "ticking time bomb."

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> LEHMAN REPORT BLAMES TOP EXECUTIVES
A one-year probe into the collapse of Lehman Brothers found
"credible evidence" that top executives, including the former
chief Dick Fuld, approved misleading financial statements and
used an "accounting gimmick" to flatter results.

> BA CABIN CREW TO STRIKE THIS MONTH
Union members representing British Airways cabin crews announced
Friday they will hold two separate strikes this month in a
dispute over working conditions.

> THOUSANDS PROTEST IN GREEK CAPITAL
Thousands of people march through Athens as part of a 24-hour
nationwide strike to protest against austerity measures by the
government.