Sunday, February 28, 2010

World News Briefs -- February 28, 2010



Major Earthquake Strikes Chile; Hawaii, Japan Escape Without Tsunami Damage -- Washington Post

SANTIAGO, CHILE -- One of the most powerful earthquakes on record jolted central Chile on Saturday, smashing homes and bridges and unleashing tsunami waves that coursed across the Pacific, prompting alerts in Hawaii and dozens of countries. More than 300 people have died in the coastal South American nation.

Waves generated by the 8.8-magnitude quake started to smack Hawaiian beaches about noon local time, but they were smaller than the six-foot monsters scientists had feared. The water surged more than three feet in Kahului Bay in Maui. But there were no reports of flooding or damage, and the tsunami warning was canceled in the early afternoon, officials said.

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MIDDLE EAST

Israel police storm holy site to quell protest.

Iranian rebel 'admits US links'. Iranian insurgent group chooses new leader.

Dubai: Hamas operative drugged, suffocated.

W. Bank sealed off for Purim.

Yemen arrests 21 separatists in south as tensions rise.

ASIA

US, Afghan forces clear last parts of Taliban area.

Suicide car bomber kills four in NW Pakistan.

Thai PM orders more security after bank blasts. Thailand’s Ex-Premier vows to keep up fight.

AFRICA

Robert Mugabe annexes white-owned firms.

Nigeria's Presidential spokesman denies leadership rift.

EUROPE

Germany's frugality bemoaned for inhibiting euro zone growth.

Eta 'leader' Ibon Gogeascoetxea arrested in France.

Violent storms kill at least 15 in France.

Renewed tension looms in Turkey after military arrests.

AMERICAS

Rescuers struggle to save lives after Chile quake. Navy pulls ships from Pearl Harbor ahead of tsunami.

Haiti plans to shrink capital, shift settlements.

Colombian election race starts, Santos favored. Colombia's Uribe blocked from re - election.

Olympic Wire...

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

WTC firm says terror attack cost it $1 billion.

Taliban and Al Qaeda financiers are tied at the hip!!

New Obama interrogation unit not deployed to question captured Taliban chief.

ECONOMY/FINANCE

Man who broke the Bank of England, George Soros, 'at centre of hedge funds plot to cash in on fall of the euro'.

US Economy likely expanding at half of 5.9% government estimated for last quarter.

Germany, France mull 30 billion-euro aid for Greece, WSJ says.

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