World News Briefs -- February 16, 2010 (Evening Edition)

U.S. marines protect an Afghan man and his child after Taliban fighters opened fire in the town of Marjah in Helmand province. Photo from The Daily Mail.

U.S., Afghan Forces Work To Secure Key Areas In Marja -- Washington Post

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. and Afghan troops moved into two key parts of Marja on Tuesday in an effort to restart government services and confront Taliban holdouts who continue to shoot at coalition forces.

Facing little resistance, troops secured the central police station and the area where they hope to build a municipal building, moving west by foot on a mine-infested road to achieve a key objective of U.S. commanders.
Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Israel mulling a spring or summer war: Ahmadinejad. Netanyahu: Israel not planning war with Iran.

Israeli PM pushes for Iran sanctions in Russia meet.

Iraq targets tailors to curb militant attacks.

Iran calls U.S. a ‘military dictatorship’.

U.S. encounters limits of Iran engagement policy.

Sex scandal involving Abbas’s top aide Rafiq Husseini rocks Fatah.

Dubai seeks global dragnet for Hamas slaying.Dubai names suspects wanted for killing of Hamas man.

ASIA

Marines link up in Afghan Taliban stronghold.

Taliban leader's arrest a new blow to insurgents.

Sri Lanka's opposition appeals defeat in court.

India Maoist rebels kill 24 troops in West Bengal.

Civilian death toll rises in Afghan offensive.

North Korea celebrates Kim Jong-il's birthday.

India condemns attack by Maoists that killed 24 police officers.

200,000 Bangladesh cyclone victims still 'homeless'.

AFRICA

The Gambia expels Unicef chief Min Whee-Kang.

US envoy in Chad and Sudan over peace, polls.

EU extends Zimbabwe sanctions for another year.

EU deplores Libya visa ban for Europeans.

Somali defense minister survives bomb attack.

EUROPE

Pope meets Irish bishops to discuss clergy abuse.

Ukraine's Yanukovich to be sworn in on February 25.

Germany rejects European fund for Greece. Greece 'faces Europe sanctions without spending cuts'.

France used troops as nuclear "guinea pigs": paper.

Rail strike follows Belgian crash.

AMERICAS

Mexican bishops criticize gov't drug war strategy.

Rainy season a new hardship for Haiti.

Haiti quake fear: What if recovery looks like Managua's?

Venezuela finds dozens of suspected drug planes.

New Orleans readies for Mardi Gras.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Drugs, failed states, and terrorists. Oh my.

Generation Jihad: Young people 'brainwashed with Al Qaeda propaganda on the internet'.

Spain to accept five Guantanamo detainees.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Foreign demand for US Teasury securities falls.

Dollar Up as Europe reels.

Virgin's Richard Branson takes on peak oil.

Eurozone predicts 'fragile' growth in 2010.

World markets buoyed by banks despite Greek fears.

Not expanding drilling may cost U.S. $2.4 trillion.