International Headlines

Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:02:07 -0400

>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 25 March, 2010

> U.N. LEADER SLAMS ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENT EXPANSION PLANS
In a rare direct rebuke to a U.N. member state, U.N. Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon says Israel's latest settlement plans in
East Jerusalem are "unacceptable."

> IRISH BISHOP RESIGNS OVER ABUSE SCANDAL
A second Irish bishop resigns over an abuse scandal which has
rocked the Catholic Church. John Magee said he was sorry for any
abuse that occurred in his diocese.

> AL-MALIKI SUPPORTERS WANT IRAQ RECOUNT
Hundreds of people supporting the political party of Iraqi Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki took to the streets of Basra on
Wednesday to demand a manual recount of Iraq's March 7 election.

> SAUDIS REPORT SCORES OF TERROR ARRESTS
More than 100 people accused of planning attacks against police
and oil installations have been arrested in Saudi Arabia, an
Interior Ministry spokesman said.

> UK WARNING OVER ISRAELI 'PASSPORT FRAUD'
Britain's Foreign Office warns citizens visiting Israel that
that their passport details could be captured for "improper
uses."

> BA STRIPS PERKS FROM STRIKING WORKERS
British Airways carried out its threat Wednesday and stripped
striking cabin crew members of their travel perks.

> PORTUGAL HIT BY DEBT DOWNGRADE
Portugal's parliament will vote on Thursday on a four-year
austerity programme after international confidence in the
nation's public finances was shaken by a downgrade of its
sovereign debt rating.

> INMATE GETS LAST-MINUTE EXECUTION STAY
Texas state lawmakers are among those calling for a last-minute
reprieve for a condemned inmate who is requesting DNA testing of
evidence, even as he is set to die Wednesday night.

BUSINESS
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> RIO TINTO SUSPECTS AWAIT VERDICT
The trial of four Rio Tinto employees charged with bribery and
stealing commercial secrets ended in Shanghai on Wednesday, but
it was unclear when a verdict would be reached.

> UK GOVERNMENT DELIVERS 'BUDGET FOR GROWTH'
Alistair Darling on Wednesday sought to draw a line under the
economic crisis and focus on measures the government will
introduce to secure the fragile economic recovery.

> MESSI TOPS SOCCER RICH LIST
Lionel Messi has replaced David Beckham as the best-paid player
in world football, according to France Football magazine's
annual "rich list".