Sunday, February 21, 2010
International Headline News
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 21 February, 2010
> DUTCH GOVERNMENT FALLS OVER AFGHAN RIFT
The future of around 2,000 Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan is in
doubt following the collapse of Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende's coalition government.
> AFGHAN OFFENSIVE FACES STIFF RESISTANCE
Foreign and Afghan forces encountered stiff resistance Saturday
as their offensive in southern Afghanistan entered its second
week, and a civilian was mistakenly shot dead.
> 41 DEAD IN MOROCCO MINARET COLLAPSE
At least 41 people died when a centuries-old minaret collapsed
at a mosque in Morocco on Friday, the country's official news
agency reported on Saturday.
> AIRSTRIKES KILL 30 MILITANTS IN PAKISTAN
Thirty militants were killed in airstrikes targeting hideouts in
Pakistan's tribal region Saturday, the Pakistan army's spokesman
said.
> MAGIC AMMANN MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY
Swiss ski-jumper Simon Ammann made history with his second gold
medal of the 2010 Winter Olympics on Saturday, while Andrea
Fischbacher denied downhill champion Lindsey Vonn a double in
women's alpine skiing speed events when she claimed a surprise
victory in the super-G.
> MUDSLIDE KILLS 30 ON PORTUGUESE ISLAND
At least 30 people have died in a mudslide on the Portuguese
island of Madeira, which was hit by heavy downpours overnight, a
government official said Saturday.
> TYMOSHENKO DROPS UKRAINE VOTE APPEAL
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has withdrawn her appeal to
contest the results of the Ukrainian presidential election held
earlier this month, her press office said Saturday.
BUSINESS
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> CASHING IN ON INTERNET CENSORSHIP
An growing number of software companies are capitalizing on an
unexpected business opportunity: Internet censorship.
> LUFTHANSA EYES OPTIONS TO HALT STRIKE
Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline by revenues, is considering
legal action to head off a four-day strike by its pilots
starting at midnight on Sunday.
> GUCCI TO CONTINUE MCQUEEN LABEL
The fashion brand created by Alexander McQueen is to survive
despite the designer's suicide last week, the label's majority
stakeholder Gucci Group has confirmed.
