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EUROPE NEWS AT 1200 GMT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOP STORIES: EUROPE-FINANCIAL CRISIS PARIS _ European leaders are poised to sign off on a second bailout for Greece that would put the country into default, sparking fears that allowing slower repayment of bonds to banks and other private investors could cut off funds to Greece's banking system and drag down bigger economies such as Spain and Italy. By Gabriele Steinhauser. BRITAIN-PHONE HACKING _ Britain's phone-hacking scandal gives the country a chance to clean up improper relationships among politicians, journalist and law-enforcement officials, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says. He defends Prime Minister David Cameron over questions about improper discussions with executives of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. about its hope of taking full control of cable network British Sky Broadcasting. By Robert Barr. IRELAND-CATHOLIC ABUSE DUBLIN _ From the pews and even the pulpits, Ireland's Catholics are demanding that the Vatican come clean on its oversight role in decades of child abuse cover-ups. Prime Minister Enda Kenny's denunciation of Vatican arrogance has touched a nerve in a nation that long revered the church _ but no longer. By Shawn Pogatchnik. BRITAIN-KENYA LONDON _ A judge says four elderly Kenyans who claim they were tortured during an anti-colonial rebellion in the 1950s can sue the British government. SERBIA-WAR CRIMES-HADZIC BELGRADE, Serbia _ The lawyer for the last Balkan suspect sought by the U.N. war crimes tribunal says his client could be handed over to the court as soon as Friday. By Jovana Gec. EU-SERBIA BRUSSELS _ Serbia has finally arrested all of its war criminals, a key condition demanded by the EU before it can open membership talks. But tough issues such as ties with its province of Kosovo, the fight against corruption, and the opening up of markets to foreign competition may still delay Serbia's accession until the end of the decade. By Slobodan Lekic and Jovana Gec ITALY-THE CASTE ROME _ Millions of Italians face tough sacrifices from an austerity package passed last week to stave off a financial crisis. But the country's rulers don't seem prepared to abandon La Dolce Vita. The (EURO)70 billion package does not entail any significant reduction in the wages, perks and privileges of Italy's notoriously bloated, handsomely paid political elite, despite repeated promises such cuts would be carried out. By Alessandra Rizzo. BELGIUM-NATIONAL DAY BRUSSELS_ Belgians celebrate their National Independence Day amidst a standstill in negotiations regarding the formation of a new government. TUNISIA-PRESIDENT TRIAL TUNIS, Tunisia _ A Tunisian court opens trial in two new cases targeting the country's ousted president over alleged corruption in lucrative land deals. SPAIN-FINANCIAL CRISIS MADRID _ Spain's Treasury faces another test of investor confidence with a an auction of 10- and 15-year bonds. The country has seen its borrowing costs climb in recent months amid market concern that it might evenutally need a bailout. Investors demanded increased interest rates in two short-term bill sales earlier this week. Thursday's sale coincides with an emergency EU leader meeting to try to hammer out an agreement on handling Greece's severe debt problem. By Ciaran Giles. BUSINESS & FINANCIAL: EU--FINLAND-EARNS-NOKIA HELSINKI _ Mobile phone maker Nokia Corp. has posted a loss of (EURO)368 million ($523 million) as sales slumped in the second quarter. EU--GREECE-FINANCIAL CRISIS ATHENS, Greece _ Greek authorities say striking taxi drivers are disrupting cruise ship arrivals at two major resort islands and blocking highways during the peak of the vital tourist season. ATH110-0326100949. EU--GERMANY-GREECE-INDUSTRY BERLIN _ Germany's industry federation says representatives are meeting with Greece's development minister to explore investment possibilities and ways of improving the debt-laden country's competitiveness. EU--SPAIN-FINANCIAL CRISIS MADRID _ Spain has had to pay steeper interest rates in an auction of 10- and 15-year bonds, reflecting prevailing market uncertainty hours ahead of the European Union's emergency meeting on the Greek debt crisis. EU--SWITZERLAND-EARNS-ROCHE GENEVA _ Swiss maker of cancer-fighting drugs Roche Holding AG announced a 5 percent drop in net profits during the first six months of the year Thursday, blaming Switzerland's strong currency for dampening results. By Frank Jordans. EU--NORWAY-EARNS-TELENOR OSLO, Norway _ Norwegian telecommunications group Telenor says second-quarter net profits more than halved because of a one-time gain that flattered last year's results. WORLD MARKETS BEIJING _ World stock markets were mostly down Thursday after China's manufacturing contracted and uncertain traders watched for progress on the U.S. government debt limit and Europe's debt crisis. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. NYRD105-0718110929. EU--SWEDEN-EARNS-ERICSSON STOCKHOLM _ Strong demand for mobile broadband boosted wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson's sales in the second quarter but restructuring costs kept the rise in profits below expectations. By Karl Ritter. EU--NETHERLANDS-EARNS-AKZO NOBEL %mark_on _ Akzo Nobel NV, the world's largest maker of paints and coatings, revealed Thursday that rising commodity costs, weak consumer demand, maintenance stops at its chemicals factories, and a strong euro combined to reduce second quarter earnings by 1.8 percent from a year ago. OIL PRICES SINGAPORE _ Oil prices fell below $98 a barrel Thursday in Asia as a stalemate dragged on among U.S. lawmakers over raising the country's debt ceiling and a survey showed a contraction in China's manufacturing. By Alex Kennedy. EU--NETHERLANDS-RANDSTAD AMSTERDAM _ Randstad Holding NV, the world's second-largest staffing company, says it is offering $14 ((EURO)9.34) per share or $771 million in cash, for U.S. staffing company SFN Group, in a deal backed by SFN's management. By Business Writer Toby Sterling. SPORTS: CYC--TOUR DE FRANCE PINEROLO, Italy _ Tour de France leader Thomas Voeckler defends his yellow jersey in Stage 18, a 205-kilometer (125 mile) mountainous route finishing atop the legendary Col du Galibier at 2,645 meters (8,700 feet) the highest race finish in the Tour's 108-year history. Stage finishes around 1500 GMT. By Jamey Keaten. GLF--SENIOR BRITISH OPEN WALTON ON THE HILL, England _ Germany's Bernhard Langer begins the defense of his Senior British Open title at the parkland Walton Heath course, south of London. Three-time winner and eight-time regular-tour major champion Tom Watson is among the favorites following his impressive display at last week's British Open. First copy expected about 1300 GMT. By Steve Douglas. BKO--TURKEY-KOBE BRYANT ANKARA, Turkey _ Turkish club Besiktas said on Thursday it was in talks with Kobe Bryant's representatives about the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers star playing in Turkey during the NBA lockout. Moved. CRI--ENGLAND-INDIA LONDON _ The 2,000 match in the history of test cricket gets under way at Lord's as England meets India in the first of a four-test series. No 1-ranked India won the toss and chose to bowl in cloudy and damp conditions. Toss moved. First copy by 1230 GMT. By Fred Atkins. SOC--FIFA-GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY ZURICH _ Nine goal-line technology systems are to undergo tests to try to win approval for match-day use next year, FIFA said Thursday. Moved. ___ YOUR QUERIES: The Europe Desk in London can be reached at +44 207 427 4300. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |