Factbox: German coalition watch – Merkel and SPD agree to talks next week
Leaders from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed to enter negotiations on forming a grand coalition.
India, China near pact aimed at keeping lid on border tension
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – India and China are close to an agreement to stop tension on their contested border touching off confrontation while they try to figure out a way to break decades-old stalemate on overlapping claims to long stretches of the Hima…
South Africa mine workers union says Lonmin activist shot dead
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A senior member of South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was shot dead overnight in the restive platinum belt town of Marikana, a union spokesman said on Friday.
Swiss private bank shuts up shop over U.S. tax row
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss private bank Frey & Co. is to close due to “unsustainable costs” stemming from the country’s dispute with the United States over alleged tax evasion, it said on Friday, making it the second Swiss bank to shut as a result of the row.
Blast at mosque in Russia’s North Caucasus kills suspected bombers
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A bomb exploded outside a mosque in Russia’s North Caucasus on Friday, killing two suspected suicide bombers in a region where Moscow is battling an Islamist insurgency.
Insight: Militia rivalries threaten new war in post-revolt Libya
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – When gunmen snatched Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan from his Tripoli hotel last week, it was a rival armed militia he thanked for his rescue hours later.
Ukraine leader says will sign law to release Tymoshenko
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said he is ready to sign a law to allow jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko to go abroad for treatment, in an attempt to clear the way for the signing of a landmark agreement with the European Union.
Panama to send detained North Korean crew, ship home: minister
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – The North Korean crew and ship detained in Panama for smuggling Cuban weapons three months ago will soon be returned to the reclusive Asian nation, Panama’s foreign minister said Thursday.
Venezuela investigates sports stars in big currency scam
CARACAS (Reuters) – Prosecutors in Venezuela are investigating members of its national motorsports teams for possible currency violations, officials said on Thursday, and the sports minister said tens of millions of dollars were claimed by people forgi…
Japanese cabinet minister Shindo visits shrine to war dead
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese internal affairs minister Yoshitaka Shindo visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead on Friday, a move likely to anger Asian victims of Japan’s past aggression.
