International Headline News

Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:02:04 -0500
>TOP STORIES as of 0900 HKT -- 08 March, 2010

> MIXED REPORTS OVER ARREST OF U.S. AL QAEDA SPOKESMAN
Conflicting reports emerged Sunday over whether Adam Gadahn, a
U.S.-born spokesman for al Qaeda, has been arrested in Pakistan.

> DESPITE RISKS, IRAQIS TURN OUT TO VOTE
Votes are being counted in key elections in Iraq, marred by
violence throughout the day that left 38 people dead.

> IRANIAN PRESIDENT: 9/11 WAS 'BIG LIE'
Two days before his official trip to Afghanistan, Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, a "big lie" intended to pave the way for the
invasion of a war-torn nation, according to Iranian state media.

> HUNDREDS KILLED IN NIGERIAN CLASHES
More than 100 people were dead after an attack on a
predominantly Christian group in central Nigeria, officials told
CNN on Sunday.

> CHILE MOURNS VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKE
Chile marks three days of mourning starting Sunday, with every
house authorized to hang the national flag in memory of those
who perished in a massive earthquake a week ago.

> ICELANDERS REJECT FOREIGN DEBT DEAL
Iceland's voters overwhelmingly rejected a deal to pay billions
of dollars it owes to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands,
the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

> POLICE: RAIDERS HIT POKER TOURNAMENT
At least four masked and armed men robbed an international poker
tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, making off with an
undisclosed sum of money, police said.

> PIRATES RELEASE THAI SHIP AFTER PAYMENT
Pirates released a Thai-flagged fishing vessel Sunday after a
ransom was paid, a European Union anti-piracy force said. It did
not say how much money was handed over.

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

> TOYOTA CHIEF: WE MUST RESTART
The head of Toyota Motor Corp. told his employees on Friday that
the company must begin again if it is to regain its legacy of
quality that helped make it the world's largest automotive
company.

> GM OFFERS 661 DEALERS 2ND CHANCE
General Motors is in the process of calling 661 dealers targeted
for shutdown to offer them their franchises back, company
executives told CNNMoney.com on Friday.

> WHAT CAN BOSSES LEARN FROM INDIA?
With the Indian economy predicted to grow by 7.5 percent this
year, experts say it could be time for Western CEOs to learn
some lessons from their Indian counterparts.