International Headlines

Date: Sunday, May 30, 2010
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 31 May, 2010

> BP VOWS TO REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO CONTAIN 'DISASTER'
BP is increasing efforts to stop oil spewing from a Gulf of
Mexico well, a leak U.S. officials are calling the "biggest
environmental disaster we've ever faced."

> THAILAND MAY LIFT STATE OF EMERGENCY
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the country was calm
Sunday morning after the first night without a
government-imposed curfew in 10 days, state media said.

> SENIOR UK MINISTER QUITS AMID SCANDAL
The Cabinet minister responsible for slashing Britain's
crippling deficit has admitted using taxpayers' money to rent
rooms from his male partner, as the expenses scandal came back
to haunt the new coalition government.

> BRITISH AIRWAYS HIT BY SECOND STRIKE
A second five-day strike by British Airways cabin crew members
started Sunday after talks between the union and the airline
failed.

> ISRAELI SHIPS APPROACH GAZA FLOTILLA
Defying an Israeli blockade, a convoy of ships carrying food and
aid will resume its journey toward Gaza on Sunday afternoon
after mechanical problems caused a delay.

> COLOMBIA ELECTIONS SET FOR CLOSE FINISH
Colombians will go to the polls on Sunday in a tight
presidential race that many didn't expect would be so close just
a few months ago.

> WOMAN RECOUNTS KIDNAPPING IN YEMEN
An American woman who was kidnapped, then freed, in Yemen last
week recounted the experience Sunday, telling CNN she and her
companion had taken adequate safety precautions and knew the
risks.

> FEDERER, SODERLING IN FINAL RE-MATCH
Top seed and defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the
quarterfinals of the French Open with a ruthless dispatch of
Swiss compatriot Stanislav Wawrinka in Paris on Sunday.

BUSINESS
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> FITCH SLASHES SPAIN'S CREDIT RATING
Fitch downgraded Spain's sovereign debt to a lower investment
grade Friday, adding to continued concerns about European
contagion.

> FIFA LOOKS TO MOBILE TV
With most Africans unlikely to take part in the continent's
first World Cup, soccer's governing body FIFA is hoping that
mobile-phone television coverage can extend the showpiece
tournament's audience.

> CHINA, FOXCONN SEEK ANSWERS TO SUICIDES
Liang Chao was a typical farmer's son who migrated to the city
seeking a better life. So why did this employee of Foxconn --
which makes products for Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and other
companies  -- kill himself?