News Headlines - 17 March 2012

▽Archived papers reveal Thatcher secrets - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17366040
Margaret Thatcher had a secret meeting with Rupert Murdoch at Chequers weeks before his 1981 purchase of the Times newspapers, newly released files show.

▽Public servants in poorer areas to get 'pay freeze' - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17411117
Workers in poorer parts of Britain should have their pay frozen until it falls in line with the private sector, Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce in Wednesday's Budget.

▽George Clooney arrested in Washington at Sudan protest - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/george-clooney-arrested-in-washington-at-sudan-protest/2012/03/16/gIQAWnuxGS_story.html
Actor George Clooney was arrested outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington during a protest against attacks by the country’s government on its southern regions and blocking of humanitarian aid.

▽Osama bin Laden plotted to kill Barack Obama to throw US into crisis - Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/9149511/Osama-bin-Laden-plotted-to-kill-Barack-Obama-to-throw-US-into-crisis.html
Documents found in bin Laden's Pakistani compound disclose that he told senior allies killing Mr Obama would see America descend into chaos under the leadership of Vice-President Joe Biden.

▽Blasts hit Damascus as Syria gears up for monitors - AFP
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iEG9R6OQBjbLdyT1gJ26FQNehEaQ?docId=CNG.06d4b53471276cf7f83c514412f6affc.4f1
Twin bomb blasts wreaked death and destruction in the heart of Damascus on Saturday, as international peace envoy Kofi Annan geared up for a monitoring mission to end the year-long bloodshed.