Spat over ‘looted’ art overshadows Merkel’s visit to Russia
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel’s trip to Russia on Friday to meet Vladimir Putin was overshadowed by a spat about a museum event, apparently canceled by Russia, where she was due to refer to German art seized by the Soviets …
Two dead in suspected Renamo attacks in Mozambique
MAPUTO (Reuters) – Gunmen killed two people in ambushes on vehicles in Mozambique on Friday, two days after the opposition Renamo party threatened to sabotage transport routes in the mineral-rich southern African country.
Magnitude 5.2 quake hits Italy, minor damage in rural areas
MILAN (Reuters) – A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was felt across central and northern Italy on Friday, causing some minor damage in rural areas but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Putin launches investment drive, hails energy deals
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin announced a major infrastructure investment drive on Friday to revive the Russian economy, which has slowed since his return to the Kremlin last year.
Russia to sack under-performing state sector managers: deputy PM
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) – The Russian government will dismiss senior managers in underperforming state-owned companies in a bid to improve performance, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Friday.
Support for Czech ruling party at record low after scandal: poll
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Public support for the center-right Czech ruling party dropped to an all-time low after a bribery and spying scandal that forced Prime Minister Petr Necas to resign, an opinion poll showed on Friday.
Greek coalition in disarray as small party meets over threat to quit
ATHENS (Reuters) – The Democratic Left party may pull out of Greece’s ruling coalition on Friday after talks to resume state television broadcasts collapsed, plunging the nation into fresh turmoil.
Italy government easily wins first confidence vote
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta won his first confidence vote in parliament on Friday, using the procedure to push through a series of measures including funding for regions hit by earthquakes last year.
Turkish PM on campaign trail, asserts authority after protests
KAYSERI, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan kicks off a weekend of rallies in his conservative strongholds on Friday, displaying his grassroots support after weeks of often violent anti-government protests.
Germany presses Ukraine over jailed ex-PM
KIEV (Reuters) – Germany’s foreign minister urged Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich on Friday to let his jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko go to Germany for medical treatment and he warned against the use of “selective justice” in the ex-Soviet repu…
