Afghan president suggests poll delay to avoid snow, organizers say
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has suggested delaying April elections to avoid heavy snow, organizers said, an idea that will rattle the United States and critics who fear he may be trying to drag out his second and final term.
China punishes 20,000 officials for being too bureaucratic
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has punished almost 20,000 officials in the last year for breaching rules to cut down on bureaucracy as well as pomp and ceremony, the government said on Monday.
Operator of Japan’s Fukushima plant wins rare praise, hurdles remain
TOKYO (Reuters) – The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant won rare praise from monitors on Monday for its efforts to decommission the site, but the specialists also said the company still faced steep challenges, particularly in managing con…
Britain’s Cameron pushes EU-China trade deal in Beijing
BEIJING (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in China on Monday saying he wanted to lay the ground for a multi-billion-dollar free trade deal between Beijing and the European Union, despite growing unease about his own country’s mem…
Death tolls rises to nine in Scotland helicopter crash
LONDON (Reuters) – The number of people killed after a helicopter crashed into a pub in Scotland’s biggest city Glasgow rose to nine, police said on Monday.
Analysis: Saudis have few options as they push tougher foreign policy
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia seems to have few viable options for pursuing a more independent and forthright foreign policy, despite its deep unease about the West’s tentative rapprochement with Iran.
Three injured in Antarctic chopper emergency-landing
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Two Australian scientists and their pilot were injured when their helicopter made an emergency landing in Antarctica, leaving them stranded overnight on the ice, the Australian Antarctic Division said on Monday.
Iran says seeks stronger cooperation with Saudi Arabia
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Iran said on Sunday it wanted stronger cooperation with U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, as it seeks to ease concerns among Gulf Arab neighbors about a potential resurgence in its influence following a nuclear deal with world powers.
Insight: UK power price rises prompt questions of network owners, regulator
LONDON (Reuters) – In 2006, Britain’s energy regulator reviewed how the gas and electricity market was functioning. Summarizing its findings, it noted the possibility that its rules on pricing had been overly generous to the network owners.
China’s Dagong sees lower U.S. rating, no China local debt default
BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States may see further sovereign rating downgrades if it fails to improve its debt service capability, although a near-term cut looks unlikely, the head of Chinese credit rating firm Dagong said.
