International Headlines

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 20:02:03 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 07 July, 2010

> NETANYAHU, OBAMA CALLS FOR MIDDLE EAST TALKS
Stressing the unbreakable ties between their nations, U.S.
President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu called Tuesday for direct talks between Israel and the
Palestinians.

> FRENCH PARLIAMENT DEBATES BURQA BAN
The French parliament begins debate Tuesday on a bill that would
ban women from wearing Islamic veils, such as the burqa, that
fully cover the face and body.

> 3 KILLED AT FINLAND MCDONALD'S
A quarrel at a drive-through at a McDonald's restaurant in
southern Finland erupted in gunfire Tuesday, leaving three men
dead, police said.

> IDF SOLDIERS FACE CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS
Israeli soldiers face criminal indictments for their conduct
during a three-week incursion into Gaza, including charges of
manslaughter and the use of a Palestinian man as a "human
shield," Israel's chief military prosecutor said Tuesday.

> QUEEN ELIZABETH PRAISES U.N. EFFORTS
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday addressed the United
Nations for the first time in more than 50 years, saying she has
"witnessed great change."

> LOHAN SENTENCED TO JAIL, BREAKS DOWN
Lindsay Lohan has been ordered to serve 90 days in jail for
missing alcohol counseling sessions in violation of her
probation.

> SARKOZY DENIES PAYOFF ALLEGATIONS
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says claims he received cash in
envelopes from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt are
slanderous and "without any element of truth."

> SON PLEADS AS MOTHER AWAITS STONING
Sajjad Mohammedie Ashtiani travels to a Tabriz jail in Iran
every Monday to see his mother.

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

> CHINA BANK READIES RECORD $22.1B IPO
Agricultural Bank of China is set to raise up to $22.1bn in the
world's biggest initial public offering, underscoring the
strength of investor faith in the growth of the Chinese economy.

> STOCKS SURGE ON WALL STREET
Stocks rallied Tuesday as investors scooped up a variety of
shares hit in the battering that sent the major indexes down
more than 15 percent over the past two months.

> LIBYA HINTS AT TAKING BP STAKE
Libya's top oil official said that his country's sovereign
wealth fund should invest in BP to take advantage of its falling
share price.