International Headlines

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:02:09 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 23 March, 2010

> CLINTON REAFFIRMS 'ROCK SOLID' TIES WITH ISRAEL
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed that U.S.
relations with Israel have not faltered despite a public dispute
between the two allies.

> GOOGLE QUITS CENSORING SEARCH IN CHINA
Google says it has stopped censoring search results on its
Chinese Web site, setting up a possible showdown with the
country's Communist authorities.

> OBAMA TO EXTEND HEALTH CARE TO MILLIONS
After a year-long political fight, U.S. President Barack Obama
will sign his health care bill into law Tuesday, extending
health insurance to roughly 32 million Americans.

> BID TO REOPEN ELEPHANT TRADE REJECTED
Conservationists have welcomed the decision to reject a bid from
Tanzania and Zambia to temporarily suspend a worldwide ban on
trading in African elephant ivory so they can offload legal
stockpiles in a one-off sale.

> KARZAI IN PEACE TALKS WITH INSURGENTS
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has held talks with
representatives of a major insurgent group whose leader is known
for anti-U.S. rhetoric and support for al Qaeda, officials said
Monday.

> 163 ARRESTED IN NIGERIAN MASSACRE
More than 160 people have been arrested in connection with the
massacre earlier this month of scores of people in central
Nigeria, a national police spokesman said.

> CHINA RIO WORKER ADMITS TAKING MONEY
Four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto went on trial Monday in
Shanghai, a court official said, in a case that has raised fears
of a government crackdown on foreign companies doing business in
China.

> BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY IN BA STRIKE
Both sides claimed victory in a bitter dispute between British
Airways and a union representing cabin crews as a strike ground
into its third and final day Monday -- the first working day
when the strike has been in place.

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

> BUSINESS CHILL IN CHINA FOR U.S. FIRMS
Technology firms doing business in China are raising alarm bells
over what they claim are protectionist measures by Beijing.

> ATHENS CRISIS PUTS PRESSURE ON MERKEL
German resistance towards financial aid for Athens highlights
the pressure facing Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, as
Greece lobbies for European help with its fiscal difficulties.

> BA FLIES EMPTY JETS AS STRIKE BITES
British Airways has been forced to fly empty jumbo jets to
cities around the world as it grapples with the first days of a
cabin crew strike that is showing no signs of easing.