International Headlines

Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 20 April, 2010

> NEW ASH CLOUD COULD EXTEND AIR TRAVEL THREAT
The eruption of an Icelandic volcano, which slowed in recent
days, strengthened Monday, spewing a new ash cloud that
officials said was heading toward the UK.

> ICELAND VOLCANO LEAVES TRAVELERS IN LIMBO
In the empty spot at the dinner table where Stefano Poma should
be sitting, a smiling father's face beams from a laptop screen.

> EXPERTS: WHY PLANES AREN'T FLYING
Commercial European flights will be severely disrupted as long
as some levels of ash are detectable in the air, the UK Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) said.

> IRAQI PM: MILITANT LEADERS KILLED IN IRAQ
Two of the most wanted terrorist figures in Iraq have been
killed in a joint Iraqi-U.S. operation, Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki said Monday.

> ISRAELI FEARS OVER FALTERING U.S. TIES
Israel's defense minister expressed concern Monday about
deteriorating relations with the United States and warned that
"the growing alienation" with President Obama's administration
"is not a good thing for the state of Israel."

> FILMMAKER, EX-INTEL OFFICIALS KIDNAPPED
Militants in Pakistan have kidnapped a Pakistani filmmaker and
two former Pakistani intelligence officials and are demanding
the release of three Afghan Taliban leaders in return for the
release of the three hostages, an Afghan Taliban source said
Monday.

> MARKET BLAST KILLS 22 IN PAKISTAN
At least 22 people were killed Monday and 27 were injured when
an explosion ripped through a crowded market in northwestern
Pakistan, police and hospital officials said.

> BAD WEATHER DELAYS SHUTTLE LANDING
The space shuttle Discovery will not land Monday, NASA said.

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

> VOLCANIC CLOUD OVER EUROPEAN ECONOMY
The cloud of ash from an Iceland volcano is casting a shadow
over the nascent economic recovery in Europe as the cancellation
of flights in key markets entered its fifth day.

> BANK FACES TRANS-ATLANTIC POLITICAL STORM
Prime Minister Gordon Brown attacked the "moral bankruptcy" of
Goldman Sachs after the US Securities and Exchange Commission
accused the world's most famous bank of fraud.

> TOYOTA 'TO PAY' $16.4 M FINE
The Toyota Motor Corp has indicated to the U.S. government it
will pay a $16.4 million fine sought by the Department of
Transportation for failing to notify the agency of a "sticky
pedal" defect in its cars for at least four months, according to
a senior Transportation Department official.