International Headlines

Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 25 April, 2010

> SOURCE: THAI PM REJECTS PROTESTERS' DEMAND
Thailand's PM rejects a call from anti-government protesters to
dissolve parliament in 30 days, saying other groups' political
opinions must be taken into consideration.

> MISSISSIPPI TORNADO FLATTENS HOMES
A large tornado touched down near Valley Park, Mississippi,
Saturday, the National Weather Service confirmed.

> VICTIMS OF BAGHDAD BOMBING MOURNED
Shiites in Iraq on Saturday mourned the victims of Friday's
bombings in Baghdad, a wave of attacks thought to be retaliation
for the killings of two top militants.

> GERMANS FREED AFTER NIGERIA KIDNAPPING
The two German citizens kidnapped last Sunday in a Nigerian
region where many foreigners have been abducted are now free,
Germany's foreign minister said Saturday.

> THOUSANDS PROTEST RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEAL
Thousands of opposition demonstrators marched in front of the
parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, protesting a
deal reached earlier this week to extend Russia's military
presence in the former Soviet Republic, national news media
reported.

> SPANISH DOCTORS IN FACE TRANSPLANT FIRST
Doctors in Spain say they have carried out the world's first
full face transplant on a man who severely damaged his face in
an accident.

> ABBAS: INTERIM BORDERS WOULD BE 'TRAP'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that
he would not accept a Palestinian state with temporary borders
and described an Israeli proposal for such an arrangement as a
"trap."

> UGANDA NUKE PLEA AS AHMADINEJAD VISITS
The Ugandan president called for a "nuclear weapons-free world"
during a visit with his Iranian counterpart to discuss bilateral
issues with the east African nation.

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

> GREECE SEEKS 30BN EURO RESCUE
Greece will ask its eurozone partners to activate a €30bn
rescue package following a week of intense pressure on financial
markets.

> RICH LIST TYCOON ON TRIAL IN CHINA
One of China's richest tycoons went on trial in Beijing Thursday
accused of stock-market manipulation, insider trading and
bribery.

International Headlines

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:02:07 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 24 April, 2010

> 6 POLICE, 1 CIVILIAN KILLED IN JUAREZ SHOOTOUT
A noon shootout left six police officers and a civilian dead on
the streets of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Friday, city officials
said.

> DOZENS DIE IN IRAQ BOMBING WAVE
A wave of bombings in Baghdad and Anbar province killed at least
43 people and wounded 96 others, Iraqi police say.

> THAI PROTESTERS SET TERMS FOR TALKS
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met military chiefs Friday
as tensions rose between anti-government protesters and security
forces after a series of grenade attacks.

> GREECE TO SEEK €30BN RESCUE PACKAGE
Greece will ask its eurozone partners to activate a €30bn
rescue package following a week of intense pressure on financial
markets, the country's prime minister has said.

> U.S. OFFICIALS EYED PORN DURING CRISIS
As the country was sinking into its worst financial crisis in
more than 70 years, Security and Exchange Commission employees
and contractors cruised porn sites and viewed sexually explicit
pictures using government computers, an SEC investigation
obtained by CNN showed.

> VATICAN SAYS SEX ABUSE SUIT LACKS MERIT
The Vatican said a lawsuit accusing it and Pope Benedict XVI of
covering up sexual abuse by a priest at a Catholic school in the
United States has no merit.

> REPRIEVE HOPE FOR DEATH ROW 'SORCERER'
A Lebanese man sentenced to die for "sorcery" in Saudi Arabia
remains on death row but may not be executed -- at least not
yet, the man's lawyer said.

> BELGIAN BISHOP QUITS OVER CHILD ABUSE
Belgian bishop Roger Joseph Vangheluwe has resigned after
admitting to sexually abusing a child, a spokesman for the
Brussels bishop said Friday.

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

> RICH LIST TYCOON ON TRIAL IN CHINA
One of China's richest tycoons went on trial in Beijing Thursday
accused of stock-market manipulation, insider trading and
bribery.

> OBAMA: WALL ST, WASHINGTON SHARE BLAME
U.S. President Barack Obama tells bankers in New York the goal
of Wall Street reform is to ensure taxpayers never have to pay
for bailing out a firm considered "too big to fail."

> RESCUE LOOMS AFTER GREECE DOWNGRADE
A €40bn rescue of Greece loomed closer after another debt
downgrade and news that the country's finances were worse than
thought drove its borrowing costs even higher.

Markets, Friday, 04/23/2010

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:42:00 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 11,204.28 up 69.99 | S & P : 1,217.28 up 8.61
|
| NASDAQ: 2,530.15 up 11.08 | Bond (10Y): 3.82% up 0.045
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Market at 18-month highs
Stocks rally at the end of a choppy session, with the Dow and S&P 500
closing at the highest point in a year-and-a-half and the Nasdaq at
the highest point in almost 2 years.

Breaking News: Ariz. governor signs immigration bill

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:53:42 -0600

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona's tough immigration enforcement bill will
become law in the southwestern border state, despite being criticized
by President Barack Obama as "misguided." Gov. Jan Brewer signed the
bill into law Friday. It takes effect in 90 days after the current
legislative sessions in the next several weeks. The sweeping
legislation makes it a crime under state law to be in the country
illegally. It would also require local police officers to question
people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect
they are in the USA illegally.

New-home sales surge 27% to 411,000 pace

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:58 -0400

NEW-HOME SALES SURGE 27% TO 411,000 PACE
Boosted by a soon-to-expire tax break, low mortgage rates and
favorable weather, sales of new homes surge 27% in March to a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000 after hitting a record low
in February, the Commerce Department estimates.

GREECE GIVES UP, FORMALLY REQUESTS RESCUE
The Greek government surrenders to the credit markets, formally
requesting the activation of a joint European Union-International
Monetary Fund rescue plan after soaring borrowing costs were seen
making it virtually impossible for the debt-strapped nation to meet
its funding needs on the open market.

EURO ADDS TO GAINS AS GREECE SUPPORT BUILDS
The euro rebounds modestly from an 11-month low versus the U.S. dollar
Friday as Greece formally requests a standy rescue package.

GERMAN BUSINESS CLIMATE BEST IN NEARLY TWO YEARS
German business climate improves in April, according to a key report
released Friday, showing how Europe's largest economy hasn't been hurt
-- and possibly even helped -- by the debt crisis in Greece.

Breaking News: New-home sales surged 27% in March

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:34:56 -0600

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of new homes surged 27% last month, bouncing
off the previous month's record low and blowing past expectations as
better weather and government incentives boosted sales.

The Commerce Department said Friday that new home sales rose in March
to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 411,000. It was the
strongest month since last July and the biggest monthly increase in 47
years.

New home sales surge 27% to an annual rate of 411,000 in March, government says.

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:11:58 -0400

New home sales surge 27% to an annual rate of 411,000 in March, government says.

Stocks turn mixed as investors weigh the Greek bailout request and a weak manufacturing report.

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:17:06 -0400

Stocks turn mixed as investors weigh the Greek bailout request and a
weak manufacturing report.

Stocks tick lower as investors mull weak manufacturing report. Dow loses 11 points.

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:41:14 -0400

Stocks tick lower as investors mull weak manufacturing report. Dow
loses 11 points.

Markets, Thursday, 04/22/2010

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:49:40 -0400
|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 11,134.29 up 9.37 | S & P : 1,208.67 up 2.73
|
| NASDAQ: 2,519.07 up 14.46 | Bond (10Y): 3.77% up 0.034
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------ß

MARKETS:
Stocks make a comeback
Market erases losses in late-day run, but gains are limited amid Greek
debt worries. Obama's Wall Street reform speech also in focus.

Stocks rally to end higher. Dow finishes up 10 points after being down more than 100 earlier; Nasdaq gains 0.6%, while S&P adds 0.2%.

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:45:40 -0400

Stocks rally to end higher. Dow finishes up 10 points after being down
more than 100 earlier; Nasdaq gains 0.6%, while S&P adds 0.2%.

Obama asks Wall Street to join him in bank reform

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:01:08 -0400

OBAMA ASKS WALL STREET TO JOIN HIM IN BANK REFORM
President Obama travels to New York to tell Wall Street to join him in
efforts to reform the nation's banking regulations to make sure a
second Great Depression never happens.

MOODY'S CUTS GREEK CREDIT RATING
Ratings agency Moody's cuts Greece's sovereign credit rating to A3
from A2 and places it on review for a further possible downgrade,
citing worries about the government's ability to stick to an ambitious
program for slashing its deficit.

EUROSTAT CHIDES GREEK DATA AS BONDS SLAMMED AGAIN
Greece's budget deficit was revised higher Thursday, with a warning
that another upward hike may come, as the Eurostat statistics agency
attacked the debt-racked country's accounting.

EURO SINKS, DOLLAR UP AFTER MOODY'S CUTS GREECE

Debt worries continued to plague the euro Thursday, leaving the dollar
to gain ground versus most major rivals.

MOORE CAPITAL WARNS OF EURO-ZONE 'BREAKDOWN'
A leading global macro hedge-fund firm run by Louis Moore Bacon,
warned of a "potential breakdown" of the European Monetary Union and
criticized plans to bail out Greece.

Energy: Eleven still missing as oil rig burns

4/22/2010 8:08:00 AM ET

The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday it's continuing the search for 11
missing workers as a fire continues to burn at the Deepwater Horizon
oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Energy: Energy stocks fall as oil dips below $82 a barrel

4/22/2010 10:04:00 AM ET

Energy stocks joined the broad market sell-off on Thursday, as crude
oil prices retreated below $82-a-barrel.

Stocks fall amid mixed economic news and a renewed push for financial reform. Dow sheds 84 points.

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:17:59 -0400

Stocks fall amid mixed economic news and a renewed push for financial
reform. Dow sheds 84 points.

Initial claims for unemployment fall to 456,000, Labor Department says. Decline follows two straight weeks of increases.

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:43:25 -0400

Initial claims for unemployment fall to 456,000, Labor Department
says. Decline follows two straight weeks of increases.

International Headlines

Date: Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:02 PM
 >TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 22 April, 2010
 

> IRAN EXPECTED TO BEGIN MILITARY EXERCISES IN GULF
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is expected to begin air, land
and sea exercises in the Persian Gulf perhaps as soon as
Thursday, Iran's IRIB news agency says.

> PLANES RETURN BUT EUROPE FACES BACKLOG
Airports across Europe re-open six days after ash from an
Icelandic volcano forced the shutdown of airspace, stranding
thousands of passengers.

> RUSSIA, UKRAINE AGREE ON GAS DEAL
Russia's president and the newly elected president of Ukraine
signed a landmark agreement on Wednesday that signals an end to
years of enmity between the two former Soviet republics.

> POPE: WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON SEX ABUSE
Pope Benedict XVI was "deeply affected" by a meeting with
victims of abuse by Catholic clergy, he said Wednesday, in his
first public comments on the scandal in more than a month.

> AT LEAST 12 MISSING AFTER OIL RIG BLAST
At least 11 people were missing and seven were critically
injured after an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico,
the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.

 > UGANDAN KING, 18, TAKES FULL CONTROL
One of Uganda's last remaining kings turned 18 in a boisterous
four-day ceremony that ended Sunday and allowed him to take full
control of his kingdom in the western part of the country.

> HEATHER LOCKLEAR CHARGED IN HIT-AND-RUN
Actress Heather Locklear allegedly crashed her car into a street
sign near her home last weekend and failed to report the early
morning wreck, police said.



 BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> APPLE SOARS WITH 90% INCREASE IN PROFITS
Apple on Tuesday reported a 90 per cent increase in
second-quarter profit, far surpassing bullish Wall Street
estimates with a 49 per cent increase in revenue.

> RYANAIR WILL LIMIT PASSENGER COMPENSATION
One of Europe's largest budget airlines indicated Wednesday it
might not reimburse passengers for costs incurred while they
were stranded by the volcanic ash cloud -- a potential violation
of European Union rules.

> STRIVING TO PLAY PERFECT MACAU GAME
Steve Wynn raises the back of his shirt, revealing the scars
from spinal surgery that has prevented him from visiting Macau
since November.

Markets, Wednesday, 04/21/2010

Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:12:41 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 11,124.92 up 7.86 | S & P : 1,205.94 down 1.23 |
| NASDAQ: 2,504.61 up 4.30 | Bond (10Y): 3.74% down 0.067
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks seesaw on mixed earnings
Investors remain wary following the latest wave of corporate results.

Stocks close slightly higher as investors react to strong profit reports. Dow gains 5 points.

Date: Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 4:09 PM

Stocks close slightly higher as investors react to strong profit reports. Dow gains 5 points.

Apple shares hit new high on blow-out results

Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:01:01 -0400

APPLE SHARES HIT NEW HIGH ON BLOW-OUT RESULTS
Wall Street cheeres strong quarterly earnings growth, driven mainly by
higher-than-expected sales of the iPhone.

EUROPE LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS RESUMING
Most European long-haul services were back in operation Wednesday as a
trade group estimated that $1.7 billion in revenue was lost for the
industry due to closures from the fears about flying through volcanic
ash.

EUROPE LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS RESUMING
Most European long-haul services were back in operation Wednesday as a
trade group estimated that $1.7 billion in revenue was lost for the
industry due to closures from the fears about flying through volcanic
ash.

AMR POSTS WIDER LOSS AS ITS FUEL BILL CLIMBS 14%
American Airlines parent AMR posts a wider first-quarter loss as
higher ticket prices fail to offset a 14% jump in fuel costs.

U.S. STOCKS WOBBLE ON WAVE OF EARNINGS
Certain sectors, incluidng technology, chalk up gains in the stock
market Wednesday morning following an earnings report from Apple that
far exceeded analysts' expectations. But energy proves a drag.

Stocks inch higher as investors react to strong tech and bank earnings. Dow adds 6 points.

Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:06:12 -0400

Stocks inch higher as investors react to strong tech and bank
earnings. Dow adds 6 points.

International Headlines

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:02:07 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 21 April, 2010

> FIRST FLIGHT IN FIVE DAYS LANDS IN LONDON
A British Airways flight from Vancouver landed at London's
Heathrow airport, the first commercial airliner to do so in five
days after delays caused by a volcano.

> KYRGYZ SEEK OUSTED LEADER'S EXTRADITION
The chief of staff of the Kyrgyzstan interim government says the
country's new authorities will demand the extradition of ousted
President Kurmanbek Bakiev from Belarus once the investigation
into the bloody massacre of April 7 is completed.

> IRAQ COMMUNITY LEADER'S FAMILY KILLED
Gunmen stormed a house north of Baghdad, killing the family of a
local Awakening Council leader, police officials said Tuesday.

> SHUTTLE LANDS AFTER WEATHER DELAY
NASA waved off the first landing opportunity for space shuttle
Discovery on Tuesday morning because of fog and rain near
Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

> STEPDAD HELD OVER PREGNANT 10-YEAR-OLD
A pregnant 10-year-old, allegedly raped by her stepfather, has
become a lightning rod in Mexico's heated abortion debate.

> IRAN CLERIC: LOOSE WOMEN CAUSE QUAKES
Women who dress provocatively and tempt people into promiscuity
are to blame for earthquakes, a leading Iranian hard-line cleric
has apparently said.

> ALLAWI WORRIED ABOUT RECOUNT PROCESS
Former Iraqi Prime MInister Ayad Allawi, whose slate was the
apparent winner of last month's elections, said Tuesday he backs
a manual recount of Baghdad votes ordered by an appeals court
but is concerned that other areas should be recounted as well.

> CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PLANS JACKSON SHOW
Cirque du Soleil and Michael Jackson's estate have struck a deal
to bring the late pop star's music to the big tent starting next
year.

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

> GOLDMAN RECORDS $3.5B PROFIT
Goldman Sachs reported profits of $3.5 billion Tuesday,
delivering a much-needed shot to the U.S. firm's ailing
reputation as it faces questions over its role in structuring a
security tied to subprime mortgages.

> VOLCANO BOOM TO N. ZEALAND BUSINESS
When Grant Rosewarne walked into his New Zealand office on
Monday morning and saw an order for salmon from a distributor in
Dubai, he thought it was a typo: 500 cartons instead of the
usual five.

> AIG EYES ACTION ON GOLDMAN OVER CDOS
AIG is considering pursuing Goldman Sachs over losses incurred
on $6bn of insurance deals on mortgage-backed securities similar
to the one that led to fraud charges against the US bank.

Markets, Tuesday, 04/20/2010

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:56:39 -0400
|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 11,117.06 up 25.01 | S & P : 1,207.17 up 9.65
|
| NASDAQ: 2,500.31 up 20.20 | Bond (10Y): 3.80% down 0.002
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks rise on earnings
A jump in oil and metal prices lift commodity shares. Goldman's strong
report helps boost markets, as fears about the fraud suit's impact
fade.

Stocks finish higher on strong earnings from Goldman and consumer companies. Dow gains 26 points, while Nasdaq and S&P add 0.8%.

Date: Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 4:01 EDT

Stocks finish higher on strong earnings from Goldman and consumer
companies. Dow gains 26 points, while Nasdaq and S&P add 0.8%.

Goldman Sachs doubles quarterly net amid SEC woes

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:01:06 -0400

GOLDMAN SACHS DOUBLES QUARTERLY NET AMID SEC WOES
Goldman Sachs, amid a legal maelstrom, posts a first-quarter net
profit that doubled from its earnings of a year ago.

U.S. STOCKS CLIMB AS EARNINGS TOP ESTIMATES
U.S. stocks Tuesday regained their footing as Wall Street applauded
another round of mostly positive earnings from household names
including Harley-Davidson and Coach Inc.

DOLLAR TURNS UP VS. EURO, GAINS MORE AGAINST YEN
The U.S. dollar recovers versus the euro and added to gains against
the yen as earnings, central bank news and economic data vie for
attention.

LOONIE SOARS AS BANK OF CANADA HINTS AT HIKE
The Canadian dollar rises to parity with the U.S. dollar as Canada's
central bank releases a policy statement hinting that an interest-rate
hike may be sooner than expected.

OIL-SERVICE SHARES LEAD EARLY ENERGY-SECTOR GAINS
Oil-service shares lead the way higher in the energy sector as
investors bid up shares of offshore drillers, while oil prices' climb
back above the $82-a-barrel mark undergirds the bullish sentiment.

Stocks climb in the first moments of trading after Goldman Sachs reports better-than-expected earnings. Dow adds 30 points.

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:48:45 -0400

Stocks climb in the first moments of trading after Goldman Sachs
reports better-than-expected earnings. Dow adds 30 points.

Goldman Sachs reports quarterly profit and revenue that top last year's results and Wall Street estimates. Stock rises 2% premarket.

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:20:18 -0400

Goldman Sachs reports quarterly profit and revenue that top last
year's results and Wall Street estimates. Stock rises 2% premarket.

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.

Markets, Monday, 04/19/2010

Market, Monday, 4/19/2010 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 11,092.05 up 73.39 | S & P : 1,197.52 up 5.39
|
| NASDAQ: 2,480.11 down 1.15 | Bond (10Y): 3.81% up 0.037
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Dow pulls out a gain
Blue-chip average ends a tumultuous session higher. Financial shares
rise on lessening of fears about Goldman fallout.

Stocks fall at the open as investors remain rattled about fraud charges brought against Goldman Sachs. Dow sheds 19 points.

Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:56:43 -0400

Stocks fall at the open as investors remain rattled about fraud
charges brought against Goldman Sachs. Dow sheds 19 points.

International Headlines 4/18/2010

TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 19 April, 2010

> TEST FLIGHTS SHOW SKIES MAY BE SAFE, BUT NO PROMISES
Test flights offered hope that Europe's skies may be safe for
air travel, but officials made no promises that disruptions due
to volcanic ash are about to go away.

> LONG BUS TRIPS FOR EURO SOCCER STARS
Europe's top soccer teams will play their Champions League
semifinals this week after opting to undertake grueling bus
journeys to avoid the flight restrictions enforced due to the
volcanic ash from Iceland which has paralyzed air travel in the
region.

> F1 TEAMS STRANDED IN TRAVEL CHAOS
World champion Jenson Button won a rain-hit Chinese Grand Prix
on Sunday, but the burning question is how Formula One's 12
teams will get their sizeable loads of personnel and equipment
back to Europe for the next race amid the region's ongoing
travel chaos.

> U.S. MILITARY UPDATING IRAN PLANS
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command are updating military
plans to strike Iran's nuclear sites, preparing up-to-date
options for the president in the event he decides to take such
action, an Obama administration official told CNN Sunday.

> POLAND BIDS FAREWELL TO PRESIDENT
The ashen-faced twin brother of the late Polish President Lech
Kaczynski arrives at St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow to lead
mourners at the funeral of his brother.

 > AHMADINEJAD: IRAN TOO 'MIGHTY' TO ATTACK
Iran is so powerful today that no country would dare attack it,
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday during an annual army
parade.

> POPE'S ANNIVERSARY MARKED BY SCANDAL
For the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's papacy on Monday,
the Vatican is expected to do everything it normally does to
celebrate such milestones: the pope will lunch with dozens of
Catholic cardinals from around the world and deliver remarks
from his window above St. Peter's Square, while Vatican
employees will receive an anniversary bonus in their paychecks.

 > SECOND DEADLY ATTACK IN DAYS IN PAKISTAN
A suicide bomber killed three people on Sunday at a police
station in Kohat -- the same northwest Pakistani town where
attackers targeted a camp for displaced people and killed at
least 41 a day earlier.




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


> FEARS VOLCANO CHAOS WILL PUSH INTO MID-WEEK
The cascade of cancellations continued Sunday as an Icelandic
volcano poured out dust clouds four miles high, snarling
international travel and stranding tens of thousands of
passengers at airports across the world.


> AMERICAN OWNERS TO SELL LIVERPOOL
George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, the American billionaire owners
of English Premier League side Liverpool, have announced their
intention to sell the club in a statement on the team's official
Web site.


> BRIC LEADERS: IMF HAS 'LEGITIMACY DEFICITS'
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China called for the
hastening of reform that would give these emerging economies
more power in the International Monetary Fund and the World
Bank.