International Headlines

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 21 March, 2010

> POPE 'TRULY SORRY' FOR ABUSE BY PRIESTS IN IRELAND
Pope Benedict XVI said in a letter released today that he is
"truly sorry" for the abuse suffered by victims at the hands of
Catholic priests in Ireland.

> 5.6-MAGNITUDE QUAKE SHAKES CUBA
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook Cuba Saturday.

> BA CANCELS SOME FLIGHTS AMID STRIKE
Roughly half of British Airways scheduled flights were canceled
Saturday as the airline struggles to mimimize the impact of a
three-day strike by cabin crew.

> OBAMA MAKES FINAL HEALTH CARE PUSH
President Obama plans to address the House Democratic caucus
Saturday to make a final plea for the health care overhaul, a
day ahead of an expected House vote.

> BOY KILLED, 1 HURT IN WEST BANK STRIFE
A 16-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead and another
Palestinian was in critical condition after being shot in the
head during clashes with the Israeli military in the West Bank,
a local medical official said Saturday.

> AT LEAST 12 HURT IN GAZA AIRSTRIKES
At least 12 people were wounded by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza,
Hamas officials said Saturday.

> CYCLONE MAKES LANDFALL IN AUSTRALIA
Australia declared a disaster situation Saturday along the
country's eastern coast ahead of the arrival of Tropical Cyclone
Ului.

> RUSSIAN FIRM EYES U.S. MILITARY CONTRACT
A new twist in the Air Force's 10-year effort to build an aerial
refueling tanker may bring a bid from a Russian state-owned
aerospace company for the $35 billion tanker contract, according
to the company's U.S. attorney.

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

> REBELS CLAIM PIPELINE ATTACK IN NIGERIA
Rebels in oil-rich Nigeria say they have set off an explosion at
a pipeline in the southern part of the country.

> BRUSSELS URGES EU TO REACH GREEK DEAL
The European Commission urged European Union governments on
Friday to reach an explicit agreement next week on a financial
standby facility for Greece to help it overcome its debt crisis.

> REPORT: GOOGLE-CHINA DECISION ON MONDAY
Google will make an announcement on its plans to leave China on
Monday, according to a Friday report in China Business News.