GAZA CITY (Gaza Strip) - ISRAEL'S air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming Gaza assault on Monday, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home, devastating a security compound and flattening a five-story building at a university closely linked to the Islamic group.

Israel's defense minister said his military is fighting a 'war to the bitter end' against Hamas.

BANGKOK - THAI premier Abhisit Vejjajiva was forced to delay his maiden policy speech until Tuesday after thousands of protesters blockaded parliament in the latest twist to the kingdom's political crisis.

Red-shirted supporters of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, sealed off the gates to parliament Monday and said they would stay until the newly installed Mr Abhisit calls fresh elections.

DUTCH electronics firm Philips is cutting 5 per cent of staff at its consumer lifestyle business in Singapore, or nearly 100 people, due to a restructuring of its global operations, the company said on Monday.

Some job losses will also take place in Hong Kong, Philips spokesman Lim Bee Hong said in a statement.

ISLAMABAD - PAKISTAN'S powerful army chief called Monday for an easing of tensions with India, the military said, one month after the Mumbai attacks sent ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours into a tailspin.

General Ashfaq Kayani made the call during a meeting with visiting Chinese vice foreign minister He Yafei, who was dispatched by Beijing to Islamabad as part of an international effort to restore calm between the South Asian rivals.