News Headlines - 27 February 2012

▽Russia foils 'Chechen plot' to assassinate Vladimir Putin - Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/9108018/Russia-foils-Chechen-plot-to-assassinate-Vladimir-Putin.html
Russian and Ukrainian security services have foiled a plot to blow up Vladimir Putin shortly after this Sunday's presidential election in Russia, it emerged on Monday.

▽Koran burning protest: car bomb explodes outside Afghan airport - Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9107926/Koran-burning-protest-car-bomb-explodes-outside-Afghan-airport.html
A car laden with explosives detonated outside an airport in eastern Afghanistan, killing nine people in what Taliban militants claimed was retaliation for the burning of Korans by American soldiers.

▽Syria Tallies Votes on New Charter as Battles Continue - New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/world/middleeast/syrian-violence-continues-as-west-dismisses-new-charter.html
Fighting was reported to have resumed on Monday in Syria as state media reported that vote-counting was under way after a referendum on a new constitution, an offer of reform that critics dismissed as too little too late and Western leaders labeled a farce.

▽North Korea: Ready to go to war with U.S., South Korea - CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/27/world/asia/north-korea-tensions/?hpt=ias_c1
North Korea said it's ready to fight a war with the United States and South Korea, as the two allies kicked off their annual joint military drills Monday, according to state-run media.

▽MWC 2012: Sony, HTC and LG announce flagship mobile smartphones - Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mwc/9107664/MWC-2012-Sony-HTC-and-LG-announce-flagship-mobile-smartphones.html
Sony, HTC and LG are among the major manufacturers to have announced their new smartphone ranges for 2012.