International Headline News

Date: Monday, February 15, 2010
TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 16 February, 2010

> AFGHAN OFFENSIVE IN 'CLEARING PHASE'
The NATO operation aimed at tackling a "last bastion" of the
Taliban in southern Afghanistan is making progress, officials
say.

> BELGIUM PROBES DEADLY TRAIN CRASH
At least 18 people are dead and others injured after a collision
between commuter trains in the Belgian town of Halle, a
government spokesman says.

> DUBAI POLICE ID SUSPECTS IN HAMAS DEATH
Dubai police Monday identified 11 people suspected in the
killing of a top Hamas official last month and vowed "to hunt
them down."

> MAJOR NEW APP STORE TO TAKE ON APPLE
Some of the world's largest telecommunications companies have
teamed up to create an apps store of sorts that they say will
rival Apple's and those of other smartphone makers.

> SWISS SKIER WINS SHOCK DOWNHILL GOLD
Didier Defago ended Switzerland's gold-medal drought in the
Winter Olympics downhill skiing event as American star Bode
Miller was edged into the bronze position at Whistler in Canada
on Tuesday.

> CLINTON: IRAN MOVING TOWARD DICTATORSHIP
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that she
fears Iran is moving to a military dictatorship and urged allies
to back efforts to help change its course.

> ABBAS CHIEF OF STAFF DENIES SEX CHARGES
The chief of staff for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas is denying allegations that he used the power of his
office to extract sex from a female job seeker.

> INDIAN TROOPS DIE IN 'MAOIST' ATTACK
At least 21 paramilitary troops were killed in an armed assault
on their camp by suspected Maoists in eastern India Monday,
officials said.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~
> TOYOTA COMPLAINTS KEEP CLIMBING
A U.S. government agency said Monday that there has been a spike
in consumer complaints about Toyota cars and trucks in recent
weeks, following the carmaker's recall of millions of vehicles.

> MICROSOFT UNVEILS MOBILE SERIES 7
Microsoft unveils a new operating system for mobile phones
Monday, marking its latest move to reclaim a leading position
against rivals Apple, Research in Motion and Google.

> ATHENS TO RESIST AUSTERITY PUSH
Greece is expected on Monday to resist pressure for an immediate
tightening of its current austerity package as it fights to win
back the confidence of international financial markets and its
eurozone neighbours.