International Headlines

Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:02:04 -0400
TOP STORIES as of 0900 GMT -- 23 August, 2010

> EX-POLICEMAN HIJACKS TOURIST BUS IN PHILIPPINES
A dismissed police inspector demanding that his job be
reinstated has hijacked a tourist bus in Manila, police said.
There were 25 people on the bus, including 22 foreigners.

> TRAPPED CHILEAN MINERS: WE'RE ALIVE
A note has revealed that the 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine
for more than two weeks are alive inside a shelter, Chilean
President Sebastian Pinera said.

> KARZAI TO LAUNCH ANTI-CORRUPTION UNITS
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expected to announce Monday a
plan for two special anti-corruption units -- set up with U.S.
help and participation -- to operate without government
interference.

> WIKILEAKS FOUNDER DECRIES 'SMEAR'
Julian Assange says Swedish authorities reached "the height of
irresponsibility" by issuing an arrest warrant alleging rape
against him, then revoking it soon after.

> HEALTH THREAT TO PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS
For almost a million Pakistanis, the misery of epic flooding
covering one-fifth of the country has now taken the form of
communicable illnesses.

> IRAN UNVEILS LONG-RANGE BOMBING DRONE
Iran on Sunday unveiled the first long-range military drone
manufactured in the country at a ceremony to mark the nation's
Defense Industry Day, state media reported.

> NETANYAHU: SECURITY VITAL TO LASTING PEACE
The Israeli prime minister said Sunday that talks with
Palestinians will only lead to a lasting peace deal if the
latter guarantees security and recognizes that Israel is the
nation state of the Jewish people.

> AUSTRALIAN LEADERS WOO INDEPENDENTS
With no clear winner emerging from a cliff-hanger national
election, Australian political leaders jostled for support from
a handful of independent lawmakers Sunday.

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BUSINESS
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> APPS POISED TO TOP TELECOM PROFITS
Mobile operators expect app downloads to become their biggest
source of income in developed markets within three years and
want to charge content providers for preferential access to
their networks.

> PAKISTAN'S DIRE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
After weeks of massive flooding that killed at least 1,539
people, water is finally receding in parts of the country. But
for the millions of survivors, another nightmare looms.

> THINK BP OWES YOU? FILE CLAIM HERE
The Gulf Coast Claims Facility begins accepting personal and
business claims from those affected by the Gulf oil disaster,
starting Monday.