International Headlines

Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 19 March, 2010

> DEMOCRATS UNVEIL $940 BILLION U.S. HEALTH CARE PLAN
Democratic congressional leaders unveiled a long-awaited $940
billion compromise health care plan, setting the stage for a
final legislative showdown.

> MUMBAI TERROR SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY
An American pleaded guilty Thursday to his part in two
international terror plots. Authorities said he scouted out
targets for the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 that killed more
than 160 people.

> VICTIMS OF IRAN'S VIOLENCE HONORED
Mourners in Tehran pay their respects to victims of a violent
government crackdown following last year's disputed presidential
elections in Iran.

> U.S. LAUNCHES INQUIRY IN MEXICO KILLINGS
More than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel
have been assigned to an operation intended to find who was
responsible for Saturday's fatal shootings of three people
linked to the U.S. consulate in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, an
official said.

> BISHOPS' SHAME OVER ABUSE SCANDAL
Catholic bishops in the pope's home state of Bavaria in southern
Germany express "deep shock and shame" at recent reports of
abuse in their diocese.

> PRIEST, TEEN ALLEGEDLY TAPED HAVING SEX
A police investigation continued Thursday into a Catholic abuse
scandal in Brazil, which erupted last week when a network aired
a video that it said showed a priest having sex with a
19-year-old altar boy.

> DEMONSTRATORS CLASH AT CUBA MARCH
Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators in Havana, Cuba,
chanted "this street belongs to Fidel" as they surrounded a
slow-moving march of human rights protesters Thursday.

> CLINTON IN RUSSIA FOR NUKE, MIDEAST TALKS
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Russia on
Thursday to jump-start talks on two diplomatic fronts: a new
nuclear treaty between the countries and the stalled Mideast
peace process.

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

> NISSAN TO BUILD PLUG-IN CAR IN UK
Nissan has announced plans to build its much-awaited Leaf
electric car in Sunderland, backed by a £20.7m grant from
Britain.

> NATIONS VOTE DOWN EXPORT BAN FOR BLUEFIN TUNA
Atlantic bluefin tuna will not be added to a list of banned
exports, following a vote on Thursday afternoon in Doha, Qatar.

> RECESSION-WEARY WORKERS TIRE OF JOB-HOPPING
Recession-weary workers have replaced their job-hopping
ambitions with dreams of a job for life, according to a study.