Monday, February 22, 2010
International Headline News
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 23 February, 2010
> NEW YORK TERROR SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY
Najibullah Zazi, charged with conspiring to detonate explosives
in the United States, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to
detonate explosives in the United States.
> U.S. CHIEF: REGRET OVER AFGHAN STRIKE
The head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley
McChrystal, expresses regret after more than two dozen civilians
were killed in a NATO airstrike.
> LUFTHANSA PILOTS STRIKE CANCELLED
Both sides in a pilots strike against Lufthansa have agreed to
suspend the standoff -- which has canceled hundreds of flights
-- at midnight (6 p.m. Monday ET).
> BA CABIN CREWS VOTE TO STRIKE
Union members representing British Airlines cabin crews say they
have voted overwhelmingly Monday to strike, though no date was
announced.
> PORTUGAL MOURNS MADEIRA FLOOD VICTIMS
Portugal declared three days of national mourning Monday amid
fears the death toll from devastating floods and mudslides on
the island of Madeira could rise above 42.
> ERDOGAN: 40 HELD OVER ALLEGED COUP PLOT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said more
than 40 people had been detained in a probe into an alleged coup
plot against Turkey's ruling political party.
> OBAMA UNVEILS HEALTH BILL
President Obama unveiled a $950 billion proposal for reforming
health care, promising it would reduce the deficit over 10 years
by $100 billion.
> EU BLASTS 'THEFT' OF CITIZENS' IDENTITIES
The European Union "strongly condemns" the use of doctored EU
passports in connection with the killing of a Hamas leader in
Dubai last month, a top foreign policy official said Monday.
BUSINESS
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> TOYOTA EXEC BOASTS OF RECALL SAVINGS
A Toyota executive boasted of saving $100 million by negotiating
a limited recall for Toyota Camry and Lexus ES cars over a
problem that could cause unintended acceleration.
> UK OIL RIG BEGINS DRILLING OFF FALKLANDS
A British oil rig is due to start drilling off the Falkland
Islands in a move likely to stoke further tensions between
Argentina and the UK over the disputed South Atlantic territory.
> EXPERTS CLOSE IN ON GOOGLE HACKERS
U.S. analysts believe they have identified the Chinese author of
the critical programming code used in the alleged
state-sponsored hacking attacks on Google and other western
companies, making it far harder for the Chinese government to
deny involvement.
