International Headlines

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:02:08 -0400
TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 23 July, 2010

> STORM DISRUPTS GULF OF MEXICO RELIEF WELL OPERATION
More than 2,000 workers involved in efforts to dig a relief well
are preparing to evacuate as Tropical Storm Bonnie heads for
areas affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

> AUSTRALIAN PM LAYS OUT CLIMATE PLAN
Australian PM Julia Gillard on Friday embraced the same policy
on climate change that her predecessor failed to pass, but said
any action would be delayed until 2012.

> ISRAEL TO LIMIT USE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS
Israel pledged to limit the use of munitions containing white
phosphorus and make greater efforts to protect civilians during
conflicts, in a report this week to the United Nations.

> U.N., N. KOREA DISCUSS SINKING OF SHIP
The second round of talks between North Korea and the U.S.-led
U.N. Command on the peninsula ended Friday.

> VENEZUELA BREAKS TIES WITH COLOMBIA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday that he is
breaking off relations with Colombia and called the country's
president "crazed."

> COURT: KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE LEGAL
Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 did not
violate international law, according to an advisory opinion
issued by the International Court of Justice.

> U.N. STEPS UP DEFENSE OF ITS BOSS
The United Nations stepped up its defense Thursday of its
beleaguered boss with high-level staffers speaking out in
support of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

> EUROPE BANKS SET FOR STRESS TESTS
European officials are scheduled to issue report cards Friday
afternoon following stress tests of 91 major banks. The tests
will rate how big banks would fare in another economic downturn.

BUSINESS
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> GULF SPILL COULD COST REGION $22.7 BILLION IN TRAVEL DOLLARS
Perception is the wild card in how the oil disaster will affect
the Gulf coast region's travel revenue, according to analysis
conducted by Oxford Economics for the U.S. Travel Association.

> AIR-LEASE PIONEER PREDICTS AVIATION GROWTH
Aircraft leasing pioneer Steven Udvar-Hazy tells CNN the
aviation industry is finally bouncing back from the economic
downturn as he places orders valued in the region of $10 billion
at the Farnborough Air Show.

> BECKHAM BOOSTS LEGO TAJ MAHAL SALES
At $300, Lego's Taj Mahal model replica is considered the
biggest and one of the most advanced models developed by Lego
Group to date.